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Sports InsiderMichael Jordan: The Greatest NBA Player Ever.
June 22nd 2006 08:37
Now that the NBA season is over and most unsatisfactorily for the
author of this site with a Miami win I am now free to indulge in other writings regarding basketball. However, in saying that, this writer is going to take a more generalist route and write about the one player that is most synonymous with basketball – Michael Jordan.
His Airness is the reason why this most humble of writers is so obsessed with basketball. Like little kids growing up in the 90’s when basketball was a big deal and Michael Jordan was king yours truly was sucked into that world as well. Michael Jordan was the embodiment of cool for impressionable young minds and anything related to MJ was a must-have item. Videos, clothing, basketball jerseys and perhaps most importantly, shoes. Those Air Jordan’s were to die for – metaphorically and literally in some cases.
There aren’t many people on this planet that this writer would be fazed in meeting, but Michael Jordan would come very close.
Here is a little thumbnail sketch of His Airness:
Height: 1.98 cm
College: University of North Carolina
Draft: 1984 (3rd overall)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-1998)
Washington Wizards (2001-2003)
Career Averages:
Scoring: 30.1 points per game
Assists: 5.3 per game
Rebounds: 6.2
Career Highlights:
• College Player of the Year (1984)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
• NBA MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
• NBA Finals MVP (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
• Voted one of NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time
• Olympic Gold Medallist (1984, 1992)
Jordan came onto the NBA scene with a bang, scoring 40 or more points seven times, voted as an All-Star, winning the slam dunk contest and leading the moribund Bulls to respectability, all in his rookie season.
His second season is when he arguably really broke out into the consciousness of the wider American public. In the Bulls first post-season
appearance against the eventual champion Boston Celtics, Jordan dropped 63 points in overtime during a game 2 loss that prompted Larry Bird the superstar for Boston to utter his immortal sentiment that God was disguised as Michael Jordan.
Jordan would be continually frustrated in his attempts in winning an NBA championship and for anyone who has a passing interest in the man would have heard of his almost inhuman competitive streak. MJ and his Chicago Bulls couldn’t overcome for three consecutive years the ‘Bad Boys’ from Detroit, until they finally broke through in 1990 to claim the first of three titles.
Michael would retire from basketball in 1994 in front of a shocked world to pursue his first great love of baseball. Signing with the Chicago White Sox Minor League affiliate team the Birmingham Barons, Jordan was anything but spectacular. Playing in front of sell-out crowds we would witness MJ swing and miss baseballs, while dropping easy catches in the outfield.
The writing was on the wall and he returned to basketball 1995, a bit rusty and seemingly unable to resemble the Michael Jordan of old. There were murmurings from opposition players and teams that Jordan wasn’t the same player before his retirement and that he would be easy pickings.
How wrong they were.
Chicago strengthened by the signing of Dennis Rodman in the 1995-1996 season would begin once again an unbroken streak of three consecutive championships. Whilst re-establishing Jordan’s credentials as the greatest player in NBA history.
The final play ever in Jordan’s Chicago career was a picture perfect final shot
against the Utah Jazz in game six of the NBA Finals that sealed the win for the Bulls.
The above information is by no means a comprehensive overview of Jordan’s career because his achievements within the game of basketball are almost without peer. Arguments around who is the greatest player of all time in this writer’s opinion are redundant because there is no contest – Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. Enough said.
MJ and Scottie Pippen one of the best duos of all time. (Image from Wikipedia)
His Airness is the reason why this most humble of writers is so obsessed with basketball. Like little kids growing up in the 90’s when basketball was a big deal and Michael Jordan was king yours truly was sucked into that world as well. Michael Jordan was the embodiment of cool for impressionable young minds and anything related to MJ was a must-have item. Videos, clothing, basketball jerseys and perhaps most importantly, shoes. Those Air Jordan’s were to die for – metaphorically and literally in some cases.
There aren’t many people on this planet that this writer would be fazed in meeting, but Michael Jordan would come very close.
Here is a little thumbnail sketch of His Airness:
Height: 1.98 cm
College: University of North Carolina
Draft: 1984 (3rd overall)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-1998)
Washington Wizards (2001-2003)
Career Averages:
Scoring: 30.1 points per game
Rebounds: 6.2
Career Highlights:
• College Player of the Year (1984)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
• NBA MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
• NBA Finals MVP (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
• Voted one of NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time
• Olympic Gold Medallist (1984, 1992)
Jordan came onto the NBA scene with a bang, scoring 40 or more points seven times, voted as an All-Star, winning the slam dunk contest and leading the moribund Bulls to respectability, all in his rookie season.
His second season is when he arguably really broke out into the consciousness of the wider American public. In the Bulls first post-season
The greatest basketball team ever put together. (Image from Wikipedia)
Jordan would be continually frustrated in his attempts in winning an NBA championship and for anyone who has a passing interest in the man would have heard of his almost inhuman competitive streak. MJ and his Chicago Bulls couldn’t overcome for three consecutive years the ‘Bad Boys’ from Detroit, until they finally broke through in 1990 to claim the first of three titles.
Michael would retire from basketball in 1994 in front of a shocked world to pursue his first great love of baseball. Signing with the Chicago White Sox Minor League affiliate team the Birmingham Barons, Jordan was anything but spectacular. Playing in front of sell-out crowds we would witness MJ swing and miss baseballs, while dropping easy catches in the outfield.
The writing was on the wall and he returned to basketball 1995, a bit rusty and seemingly unable to resemble the Michael Jordan of old. There were murmurings from opposition players and teams that Jordan wasn’t the same player before his retirement and that he would be easy pickings.
How wrong they were.
Chicago strengthened by the signing of Dennis Rodman in the 1995-1996 season would begin once again an unbroken streak of three consecutive championships. Whilst re-establishing Jordan’s credentials as the greatest player in NBA history.
The final play ever in Jordan’s Chicago career was a picture perfect final shot
Jumpman! Any explanation necessary? (Image from Wikipedia)
The above information is by no means a comprehensive overview of Jordan’s career because his achievements within the game of basketball are almost without peer. Arguments around who is the greatest player of all time in this writer’s opinion are redundant because there is no contest – Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. Enough said.
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Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
I'm far from the biggest bball fan out there, but damn do I admire MJ's achievements. In fact, I have a few vids of him on my PC - him winning the dunk contest and the 40 greatest MJ moments (which is available on YouTube - you should embed it on here Stan.)
And Air Jordan's too! I still have a pair of Air XIII's lying around somewhere. My coveted pair of Air XI's still sits in its box!
Charles.
Comment by Legally Brunette
My Wedding
The guy is truly amazing. We need more role models like him (and maybe fewer rugby beefheads?)
I have to confess, I even bought the Space Jam video AND soundtrack when I was a kid!
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Stanley
ms. brunette - hehe how cute are you calling him 'mikey'? sounds like he is a little kid and we should ruffle his hair! hahaha
cibby - i agree the first 3-peats were way better and more memorable - that move against the lakers with switching the ball in mid-air from hand-to-hand, or the 3-point tidal wave against the blazers. the second 3-peat was more of a validation and circus with dennis around.