Why do NBA players always have to be the next ____(fill in the blank)?

Question

Grant Hill. Kobe Bryant. Vince Carter. Tracy McGrady. Lebron James. Dwayne Wade. All got pegged as the next Michael Jordan as soon as they showed a hint of greatness. Allen Iverson was the next Isaiah Thomas. Dirk Nowitzki got labeled as the next Larry Bird. Even Jordan himself was a next. He was to be the next Dr. J.

Why are fans and the media so obsessed with digging up corpses? All of the aforementioned players are great in their own rights. Jordan grew up watching Dr. J, so naturally, he influenced his game. All those other guys grew up watching Jordan. Gatorade played the Like Mike commercials so much that is was like a subliminal message. Sure Kobe pumps his fist like MJ. Yes Lebron wears 23. Of course Wade has mastered the trick shot. Jordan was who they modeled their games after. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't mean they have to be the Next Jordan. Each of them bring something to the table that Jordan didn't have. So, why can't they be the first _____?

PLEASE READ THE QUESTION BEFORE ANSWERING.
I don't want to know who is the Next. I want to know why it is so important that someone is the Next.

Answer 1

It's the media filtering down to the fans. By comparing players to MJ the media gets fans thinking and interested, even if it isn't true. The media is strikingly good at making mountains out of molehills. People are currently comparing Dwyane Wade to the MJ even when he's smaller and doesn't have a jumper. Why? Publicity. Everyone knows who Michael Jordon is. The media wants to take advantage of that.

Answer 2

Good question, and here goes a good answer....

People always want to see things happen in front of their own eyes. They want to see a "star be born". And they will continue to do this forever, until someone surpasses the "original" stars. If you remember, when Shaq came into league, he could have been the next Wilt Chamberlain. Now, all that talk is gone. Shaq is Shaq, and from here on out, I guarantee you, when a huge powerful center enters the league, Shaq will be their measuring stick. (For the record, people will call Greg Oden the next Shaq) Shaq, hate him or love him, has beenone of the 2 most dominant players of the last 20 years, and top 5 or 10 of all time. Hes got the stats, the championships, so he shook the Chamberlain thing. LeBron may do it, Kobe has a shot, Dirk, these guys may shake it.

Also, especially with MJ, so many players aged 20-30 right now grew up watching him, so they mimic his movements (Kobe is the best example, I think he really forgets that he is NOT Michael Jordan), so youve go the tongue wagging, the spread eagle dunks, and the explosive scoring and potential. Why not compare them to MJ? That story sells, and the NBA is a business, first and foremost.

Now, having said that, we are in the midst of a star in the making. Particularly because these are the NBA finals. Just think, if Dwyane Wade leads the underdog HEAT to a championship. If he continues to average 35-40 points, and for good measure, hits a game winning shot. If you watch footage of Wade and then footage of Jordan, you will see that they play a virtually identical game. And, for the record, through his first four games of the Finals, Wade's stats are better than MJ's were his first four games of the Finals.

Again, Wade (or anyone else) will first have to surpass Jordan or Bird or Magic, for people to start sayng, "He was the one and only Dwyane Wade."....(Or Lebron, or whoever)

GO HEAT!

Answer 3

I guess they can't be the first ________ because they wouldn't actually be the first ________. Unless a new person comes into the NBA and acted and had the same characteristics as Dirk Nowitzki or Kobe Bryant, then Nowitzki and Bryant would become the first _______ and the new person would be the new Nowitzki or Bryant. So, they can't be the first because they aren't going to be the first unless some other person ends up like them. Yeah, they each have their strengths, and maybe those strengths will someday be watched and made like a "copyright" or something.

Answer 4

i totally agree! maybe because the sportscasters or w.e, grew up watching these people (jordan, bird, magic...) and they like to compare people to them. But I don't think it's kool to compare anyone with Michael Jordan, he's too good.

Answer 5

team that wont make the playoffs.. they are duo yet shouldn't in any respect be while in comparison with duos like shaq kobe... nash and stoudamire,etc.. they arent a sturdy duo except they actually can get to the playoffs and win a chain in a playoff.

Answer 6

Jorden

Answer 7

Kobe?

Answer 8

KOBE BRYANT!!!



GO LAKERS!!!

Answer 9

michael jordan *****