Almost everyone says MJ's the best of all time. Absolutely not. If he is, tell me why. I can most likely disprove anything you say. If you're one of the few who agrees with me, tell your pick for the greatest.
2006-11-03 03:39:51 · 13 answers · asked by ern_linnell 2 in Sports ➔ Basketball
It's silly to make such comparisons anyway. If you argue that Wilt Chamberlain was the best, I'd argue that the game wasn't as developed and the league was less athletic. Also, he commonly played against much smaller centers, including Bill Russell who was only 6-9 and about 215 lbs!
The game is just different in every era. But, if I'm going to make an argument about why I think Jordan may be the best, I suppose I'd have to start with his 6 championship rings in 8 or so years during the 90s. Of course, you'll say something like without Pippen and Phil Jackson he never won a title, in which case i'll list his incredible stats over the years and point out that he was typically a better-than-fifty percent shooter from the field to go along with his million ppg, but then you'll point out how Chamberlain averaged over 50 ppg during one season alone!
There's really no point because it's all about context. Jordan did things that no one else had done and he revolutionized the game. Is he the greatest? It's an irrelevant discussion that people tend to take overboard in my opinion.
2006-11-03 06:41:38 · answer #1 · answered by Philthy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I consider Allen bringing up that remark by means of Jordan. If I consider safely, what Jordan mentioned is that profitable one championship is fortunate. Meaning the entire stars aligned for the profitable staff. The inference being that more than one championships is the real barometer of authenticity and/or greatness. And Jordan's statement was once in part established while Boston didn't even succeed in the finals the following 12 months because of accidents--unhealthy good fortune. Obviously, profitable more than one championship includes a few good fortune, as good. However, the function of the good fortune diminishes as a staff marches time and again to the mountain best, a los angeles the Jordan/Pippen Bulls or the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. These accomplishments talk of unqualified domination.
2016-09-01 06:36:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe Bill Russell is the best. MJ changed the game to being above the rim. Take a look at the numbers basketball had a much larger audience during the 60's, 70's, and 80's before MJ changed the game to dunks and the no pass game. Bill Russell in my opinion is because he was the most dominant player in the NBA and for those that say Wilt take a look at his numbers against Russell. Russell killed him every time they played.
2006-11-03 03:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by Colin L 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well Michael Jordan was always my favorite (probably have the media indoctrination to thank for that), but no you are right he was not the best of all time. He was the best of his era (late 80's to mid 90's), but not the best of all time.
To be the best about all that we have to go on is acheivement; what did a player accomplish over the course of his career? Certainly Jordan's six championships is among the very greatest of acheivements, but there are those who have done as much before.
Wilt Chamberlain holds more than 100 different league records. In addition to the famous 100 point game he also holds another record that will never be broken. He grabbed 55 rebounds in one game. He averaged over 50 points and 27 rebounds in one season. He also led the league in assists one season. He never fouled out of a single game in 13 seasons. He was league MVP four times. Despite all of these personal acheivements he still only won one championship. Does a player who can seemingly do anything he wants to offensively and defensively be considered the greatest if he only reaches the pinnacle of his sport once?
Another player whom I consider to be the greatest is his long time rival, Bill Russell. Bill Russell won 11 Championships in a 13 year span. He was alimited offensive player who only averaged 15pts per game, but grabbed over 22 rebounds. In an era when the shot block statistic was not counted, many Boston area reporters tried to keep track of how many he tallied. It is widely believed that he averaged over 10 per game for his career. Think about that. In today's game if you average 3 per game you will lead the league! His coach, the late Red Auerbach among others, considered him to be the most intelligent player of his or anyother era. He could plan moves and plays a half dozen steps ahead of others. He know where to be and when to be there in order to come up with the big play. He probably had the most positive impact of any player ever. He also had a level of drive and intensity that no one else could match. He was a born winner, and knew how to get the job done.
He went head to head with his rival (the only other man I consider to be in the running for the greatest player) Chamberlain in the NBA and Eastern Conference finals several times. Wilt's team only won once.
So if personal acheivement, offense, acoring and statistical records are you measuring stick, Wilt Chamberlain is the man. If team record, winning and sheer volume of championships decides it for you, then Bill Russell is the greatest. As for myself, I haven't decided which of the two is the best. Its comparing apples and oranges. I can tell you one thing; Michael Jordan doesn't come close.
2006-11-03 07:45:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think he was, any Pro b-ball player putting up as many shots as he did would avg.30-40 points a game,his field goal avg. is below 50% lifetime. I would have to go with Bill Russel just because he was on so many Championship teams with Boston,9 in a row at 1 time,now thats hard to beat.
2006-11-03 05:02:38 · answer #5 · answered by Ricky Lee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
any of the players that were on red aubauchs celtics who won 8 in a row deserves to be the best or any lakers players as well but jordan is one of the greatest of all times
2006-11-03 06:28:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is the best but not by a large margin as people think, I beleive LeBRon will pass him up in 2 years or so. Also the Pistons were the only team that played defense in MJ's era
2006-11-03 05:08:07 · answer #7 · answered by gopistons 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
6 championships! He carried the Bulls on his back. He had an inside and outside game. He even played good defense. Oh yeah and he won a couple slam dunk contests too...that doesn't hurt. He was the most clutch player ever!
2006-11-03 04:41:58 · answer #8 · answered by drekuss1 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
6 rings WITHOUT a dominant big man.
Has defined competitive spirit for this era
Took competitiveness to a new level and therefore influenced great competitors that followed him - Kobe, Tiger Woods, etc.
2006-11-03 04:10:35 · answer #9 · answered by rope-a-dope 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
hes not the best hes all old and crippled =]
2006-11-03 05:36:00 · answer #10 · answered by monk3yboi101 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋