People, please stop! What makes him automatically the greatest ever? It's more disgusting than watching 2 girls one cup.
I can personally think of 4 players to consider over Jordan. Along with 2 maybe when their career's are done.
1. Bill Russell
2. Magic Johnson
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Oscar Robertson
Maybe's
1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
The Case for Russell
He lead the Celtics to 11 Championships....... He literally ran out of fingers.
He is easily the best defensive player ever, if they had the all defensive teams, he would probably have been first team every year. He was the only person who was able to defend Wilt Chamberlain.
He even played as a player-coach for 3 seasons, making him the first African American coach.
- 11x NBA Champion 5x NBA MVP
- 12x NBA All-Star
- 3x All-NBA First Team Selection
- 8x All-NBA Second Team Selection
- 1x NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (In it's first year, his last)
- 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP
- NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NBA 35th Anniversary Team
- NBA 25th Anniversary Team
- 2nd all time in rebounds
Is Jordan still undisputed #1? I think his accomplishments pale in comparison to Russell's.
The Case for Magic
He may very well be the most complete players in league history. He's second all time in triple-doubles are second all-time with 138 (#1 is on my list). He won 5 NBA championships, he could've won more if his career wasn't cut short.
Magic's yearly averages were
PPG- 19.5
Assists- 11.2
REB- 7.2
FG%- 52%
3P%- 30.3% (36.1 his last 3 seasons)
FT%- 84.8%
His offense is better than Jordan's. Look at their total points directly accounted for a game (ASTx2+P).
Jordan- 40.7
Magic- 41.9
Is there still no case for everyone else?
Wilt's case
NO player has ever dominated like Wilt. It's a stroy when someone has 50 in a game, this guy actually averaged 50 in a season! He is the all time leading rebounder, and is probably the best passing big man ever, 4.4 assists (Had seasons with 8.6 and 7.8). And he did win the NBA championship 2x.
He has more 50 point games than anyone. He was the scoring leader 7x (Jordan 9x), he was rebounding leader 11X (Jordan 0x), and was even the Assist leader 1x (Jordan 0x).
Here's a fun fact, Jordan averaged more attempts a game than Wilt.
Oscar's Case
All time triple-double leader with 181. He is a definate possibility, along with Magic, for most complete player of all time.
He Could score (25.7 PPG), he could pass (9.5 APG), and he could rebound (7.5 RPG). He shot 48.5% from the field
The possible case for Kobe
He's just 30 years old and already has 3 rings. Not many people realize that is the same amount that Jordan had at 30.
Kobe has a solid nucleus of you players to make 2-3 possibly 4 championship runs. He definately is talented enough to lead those teams.
What's that? But he never won without Shaq? Well Jordan never won without Pippen.
The possible case for LeBron
Unlike just about any of the people listed above, James has literally carried a sub-par team to the NBA Finals. Jordan, Kobe, Wilt, Magic and Russel all had side kicks.
LeBron has one of the best skill sets ever, he is already making a case for best player in the league and he's just 24 years old.
He is a definite possibility once his career is up.
So please, next time the subject of NBA GOAT please don't immediately say Jordan and refuse any other possibilities. That's what I hate most about Jordan, it isn't his play or his personality, In fact I hate him most for the thing he doesn't have control over, it's the notion that he and only he could possibly be #1.
Cintia Dicker
Taylor Walker
NFL Fantasy Studs Week 11
Back in Time: November 23
Comments (54) Add A Comment
Larry Bird? Magic Johnson said Larry Bird was the only player he was scared of. Bird also immediatelt turned a basement dwelling team into a 60-winner in his rookie season. Just some food for thought.
js.sherlock
Total Comments (2)
11x NBA Champion 5x NBA MVP
12x NBA All-Star
3x All-NBA First Team Selection
8x All-NBA Second Team Selection
1x NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection
1x NBA All-Star Game MVP
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
NBA 35th Anniversary Team
NBA 25th Anniversary Team
2nd all time in rebounds
6x NBA Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
5x NBA MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
14x NBA All-Star (1985-1993, 1996-1998, 2002-2003)
6x NBA Finals MVP (1991-1993, 1996-1998)
1x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
10x All-NBA First Team Selection (1987-1993, 1996-1998)
1x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1985)
9x NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1988-1993, 1996-1998)
1985 NBA Rookie of the Year
1985 NBA All-Rookie Team
3x NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
2x NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner (1987, 1988)
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
I'd say his stack up quite nicely against Russell's....
Steveo16220 says:…
Total Comments (6142)
Listen, your comparisons between these players is atrocious! They have all played different positions than Jordan...so when you sit there and tell me that Wilt and Russell have more rebounds a season or lead the league, that tells me NOTHING. Even in the end Jordan had more assists than those two...
I mean, when Wilt is 1 of 3 players at his height in the league, then yes, you will rebound the sh it outta the boards, and dominate the post...a layup isn't shooting...It doesn't take skill to sit down low and or 5 feet off the board and make lay ups and dink shots, especially when your doing it against players that average a height of maybe 6'0.
Jordan was dunking on 7'0 footers...and fading the Celtics up for 63 in his second playoff season...Recording 200 steals and 100 blocks in one season, or 2nd all time is steals, and 3rd for steals per game...or maybe it was untouchable fade away shot that he would throw in opponents faces as the buzzer would sound, only to be known as "The Shot"...
All these players have dominated their Era's of the sport...but could you honestly sit there and tell me the level of competition between teams was the same in 1950's and 1960's with that of the 80's and 90's? You can't....otherwise they wouldn't have 11 Championships in a row...
I know the point of this Blog is to call Jordan a debatable #1, but i would give him the edge of any player you have mentioned...overall
As for Larry Bird J.S SHERLOCK...."Jordan is god in disguise" quoted from white hope himself
Steveo16220 says:…
Total Comments (6142)
Everyone you mentioned played with multiple Hall of Famers. Jordan had potentially one. And without MJ, Scottie Pippen isn't getting any consideration. Jordan did more to elevate the people around him then any player in history. Second place, which is up for debate between Russell, Wilt and the Big O, is a distant second.
jayhawkfan96
Greenwood , IN
Total Comments (2)
If Jordan was so great why did the bulls replace him with Pete Meyers and still win 57 games. Phil Jackson should receive more credit for the bulls its all Jordan & Pippen and some scrubs.Why do people forget they had the best rebounder and defensive player of his generation along with a great defender at the point for their best three teams.The Bulls also had no great rival after the pistons were broken up. Magic and Bird lost to each other a couple of times magic made the finals 8 times. Look at the last couple of teams magic took to the finals those teams would not make the playoffs without him.
dady1987
Total Comments (1)
This blog seems biased against Jordan... you could choose stats that favor Jordan as well... that said, I'll take Magic. His will to win was equal to Jordans, and had different but equal strengths in his game. Magic was a superior ball-handler, passer (GOAT) post player and rebounder... you can tell me Jordan is "better" than Magic and I can't really argue, but I'll take Magic and no amount of statistical analysis can persuade me otherwise. I don't think Worthy would be one of the 50 greatest without him...
milkymike
El Granada , CA
Total Comments (37)
The time Russell won 11 rings there weren't as much teams as there is in the NBA right now. Jordan won 6 and you bet he would have won more if he hadn't retiered so early in his carear. Jordan set the standards for Lebron, Dwayne, and Kobe pockets. He elevated the NBA to a level where only Magic Johnson could have come close to. In the end I think you a Knicks fan who seem not able to get over those heart broken loses Jordan gave you when he use to dismantle ur team.
kid5
Total Comments (1)
colored? 1963 called, wants "colored" back
imcook
Pittsford , NY
Total Comments (1)
NOTHING is more disgusting than watching two girls one cup.
goblue10
Total Comments (1044)
no doubt. unless you had to be there live. imagine being the camera man for that... guhhhhh...
milkymike
El Granada , CA
Total Comments (37)
Kobe bryant has never won a finals mvp he was basically shaqs sidekick when he won 3 rings hes already too old sorry
buddyuranidiot
Mission Viejo , CA
Total Comments (12)
Michael Jordan became great through the time that multi-media made a big boom. He not only graced your tv but was plastered everywhere. The stars of the past had no exposure. There was no ESPN top ten or Stuart Scott making some crazy reference to Oscar Robertson's triple doubles, or Bill Russel beasting Wilt Chamberlain. Those guys did the same things Jordan did but better. Magic and Larry just entered the media boom when it was first getting started. So by the time Jordan entered his prime its no surprise it was no one around him to have the same " swag" as Jordan did and actually win games. ( Karl Malone and Stockton were too boring, Drexler had no killer extinct, Ewing , Barkley never had teamates) Jordan was great but I have to respect Oscar and Bill before I call Jordan the best ever. Also for that ignorant person who wrote it was no talented players back then. Do your homework this exactly why my case made its point. Thats the ESPN generation for you. If Wilt , Oscar , Bill had highlights every night we wouldnt even be having this discussion.
cire1558ave
Stone Mountain , GA
Total Comments (3)
I do agree Jordan is sightly overrated by the
sports media yet I feel Zen Master's blog is
highly biased against MJ. It's pretty laughable
that he is considering Kobe X=D {did this
guy watch the Finals last year!?!} better than
MJ because the man will never be half the player
Jordan was...Never!! LeBron might prove me wrong
someday but he's got a Loooooong way to go.
I won't argue the legitmacy of his other players,
especially Wilt and Bill. Still, I do believe at worst
Jordan belongs in their exclusive category. And yet
here is here the blogger has a valid argument seeing
how no one dares challenge Jordan's G.O.A.T. status.
Hey if guys like Wayne Gretzky, Jim Brown & Babe Ruth
can get question for all-time status..why not "His Airness"?
PinstripeLegendDoug8…
Total Comments (50)
haha, i said that about the players back in the ERA, and its funny you named three players to back your theory up...that's it....THREE! and even if you names players off, their level of competing against the Beasts of the league were little to what Jordan played against.....not even mentioned more teams haven joined the league...
For you to say the guys of the past did the things Jordan did, but better it absurd...they didn't even do the things Jordan did...and against the level of competition, and it ALWAYS helps to be a 6-11 player in a 6-0 mans game...
Jordan took the jumper and sunk it in your face....he drove the lane and dunked it over your 7 footers...he dished the rock and made everyone around him better...there wasn't a single aspect of the game the he did not have for his position...leadership, there are over 25 games I could cite of where he took the rock and drained the game winner..ALL AROUND the man is the best there has been.
Steveo16220 says:…
Total Comments (6142)
Jordan is not the all time leading scorer..does not have the most championships....and he was selfish...not the "he makes the players around him better" type of player theory that's currently the measuring stick for today's superstars. Maybe the best of his era....maybe... Magic did it all..I give Magic the nod.
Basically I agree with the premise...get off Jordan's nuts!!!
Day Day
Total Comments (43)
jordan could have joined a semi decent team at the age of 38-40 and win championships
fgd
Total Comments (3)
Since my last comment was deleted I will just say, I agree with steveo ENTIRELY!
Nickb23 - Holland…
Arlington , TX
Total Comments (6711)
It's tough to compare a guard with centers, so stacking MJ up against Russell or Wilt is tricky.
The Big O is one of my personal faves, but on the whole Jordan was probably a better player.
I grew up watching Bird and Magic. Magic was a great player, and incredibly versatile. But some of those Laker teams were just jacked with talent. That doesn't take anything away from Johnson, but it has to be considered. All in all, I'd say Jordan was better.
There's no case for Kobe. Jordan smokes him in every category. And it's too early to include LeBron in this group.
Porkins: I stole…
The Triangle, NC
Total Comments (30169)
Did you even watch him play? How good do you think guys like Pippen and Ho Grant would have been without Jordan?
Porkins: I stole…
The Triangle, NC
Total Comments (30169)
Confucius: I'm a dope, you're not the sharpest knive in the drawer. My evidence: "I hate him most for the thing he doesn't have control over". Hello! What right do you have to hate someone for something you freely admit they have no control over?
misterTibbs
Rochester , MN
Total Comments (1)
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