BleacherCoaches.com

After reading an article by JA Adande, I found myself asking, "Is #23 the best, ever?" and "Will there ever be another?"

Here's the link...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... dan-090113

This story doesn't get caught up in stats/championships, but it does semi-question the lore of MJ. There was a "lack of a true challenger", yes, but was that b/c MJ was (and made the team around him) so much better? He did what ever it took to win games. Hardly selfish.

There are plenty "old guys" on here that I'm sure would love to debate this, but as for me, I was in tears at the age of 9 when MJ announced his retirement in 1990. Only 9 and I understood that he was a "true hero". A reporter asked if MJ could "save the world"?!

I honestly hope/wonder if another will come that matches the mistique of MJ...

I was actually reading some information on Michael Jordan about a week ago. I believe without a doubt, yes he was the best ever. Not only the way he played, but the way he also made his teammates play. He was a true leader, and knew what it took to win.

Here are a list of his honors and awards for the people that arent aware of how truly great he was. I was astonished when I saw this list.

* Olympic Gold Medal: 1984, 1992
* NBA Champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
* NCAA National Championship: 1982
* NBA MVP: 1987/88, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1995/96, 1997/98
* NBA Finals MVP: 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98
* NBA Leading Scorer: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98
* All-NBA First Team: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98
* All-NBA Second Team: 1984/85
* NBA All-Star Game: 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03
* NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1987/88, 1995/96, 1997/98
* NBA All-Defensive Team: 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98
* NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1987/88
* NBA Rookie of the Year: 1984/85
* NBA All-Rookie Team: 1984/85
* Third on NBA All Time Scoring List: (32,292 points)
* Second Most Steals of All Time: (2,514 steals)
* 50 Greatest Players in NBA History: 1996
* The Sporting News MVP: 1987/88, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98
* NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner: 1987, 1988
* ACC Freshman of the Year: 1982
* ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year: 1984
* USBWA College Player of the Year: 1984
* Naismith College Player of the Year: 1984
* John R. Wooden Award: 1984
* Adolph Rupp Trophy: 1984
* Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1991
* ESPN North American Athlete of the Century: 1999
* ESPY Athlete of the Century: 2000
* ESPY Male Athlete of the Decade Award: 1990s
* ESPY Pro Basketballer of the Decade Award: 1990s
* Associated Press Athlete of the Century (Second Place): 1999
* Sport Greatest Athlete of the Last 50 years: 1996
* Ranked #1 by SLAM Magazine's Top 75 Players of All-Time
* Ranked #1 by ESPN Sportscentury's Top 100 Athletes of the 20th century
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The article doesnt get caught up in the stats/championships DWG, but it never hurts to bring them up. Wow.

For many years, I thought Kobe Bryant would pass MJ as the best I had ever seen. It just hasn't happened. Kobe's game has evolved a lot over the past two seasons, but he still isn't near MJ's level. If Kobe can win 2-3 more championships, he could maybe argue that he is on MJ's level. Not as good, but close to the same level. Until then, it's not even debatable. I do think Kobe is the best player in the game today. LeBron is approaching him quickly, but I would still pick Kobe over LeBron to take the big shot at the end of a game. The Lakers team this season is really good. They seem to always find a way to win the close ones and that is because of #24. However, #24 still has a lot of work to do if he wants to ever be on #23's level.

Yes, a basketball topic!

I do think MJ was significantly better than anyone before him of since. Older fans talk about Wilt and Russell, but they played at a different time when the athletes in the NBA are not what they are now.

Jordan was so dominant during the late 80s and into the 90s and his teams were not filled with stars. I think his first three rings were won with MJ, Pippen, Armstrong, Cartwright, and Grant as starters. Pippen was a good player, but BJ Armstrong and Bill Cartwright were not NBA starters on even some of the bad teams. MJ also was consistantly a 30 ppg scorer at a time when scoring was down and defenders were allowed to hand check at will. The late 90s were ugly basketball, but MJ still had high averages. I still am upset with Jordan for retiring and ushering the era of the Spurs and boring b-ball.

As for the Kobe- LeBron comparisons. I think Kobe is a better player now, but he will never be at the level of MJ. If LeBron stays in Cleveland and turns them into a consistant power (which he is already doing), I think he could be as good as MJ if not better. LeBron also makes his teammates better. Look at his line-up this year and their record is like 30-7. LeBron, Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, Big Ben, Big Z. Take LeBron out and this group is 7-30. Take Kobe off the Lakers and they are still a .500 team. Plus, LeBron is only 24; MJ did not win a championship until his was 28.