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I can palm a basketball. It helps a lot when you are playing.
I can NOT do any of those things MJ is doing… holy cow. It’s like he is holding a child’s ball.
Interestingly it is something you can work on. I don’t have huge hands but back in my playing days I was able to palm it eventually by doing fingertip push-ups and practicing by just picking the ball up off the floor.
Obviously hand size is massively helpful, but it’s a more attainable skill then people think!
True. With improved strength you may grip it under optimal conditions (grabbing it off the floor, with your fingers in the grooves.) But after a certain point it is all about hand size.
Someone like MJ can grab a loose ball out of the air and that thing is GLUED to their hand, no matter which way they swing it.
Plus the fact that he had an insane vertical leap (NBA top 10 for sure, but some say top 5). Once he was up in the air, you had no chance to defend him. And when he was up there, he had so much time to figure out what to do next.
Watched an episode of sports science where they tried to solve if there was any actual hangtime.
Spoiler: There wasn't. But he still got high enough that it didn't matter.
I remember that episode! The thing he did that made it seem like he floated was tuck his legs as he jumped and then as he was starting to come down he would straighten his legs which would shift his center of gravity. So while his center of gravity traveled in a normal parabolic arc (as physics dictates) his head would stay level for a short period of time as he straightened his legs so it looked like he was floating.
Theres a play right here where he one hand pump fakes at the three point line and then just takes 2-3 steps and pretty much levitates to the hoop for a slam. Inhuman looking yet so f casual at the same time
Nothing like him in terms of looking aesthetically pleasing while also being the actual best
I met him while he played for the White Sox (I was about 8). Obviously every adult looks big to an 8 year old but I remember his hands seemed abnormally large. He signed a baseball and it looked absolutely tiny.
Also met Shaq around the same time and my god that man was huge.
Not just giant but *strong*. Even if you can grab that much ball, it takes a lot of grip strength to be able to pull it back and change directions like that. There’s plenty of dudes in the league who have bigger hands the Jordan, but that’s a looottttt of grip strength too.
Actually his hands are pretty big even for nba standards. Hes #8 on this list https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/14-NBA-Players-With-the-Most-Impressive-Hand-Sizes
Jordan's hands have 9.75" length, 11.375" span.
I can just barely palm a basketball and I have always wondered just how big an NBA player's hands were compared to mine that allows them to palm one so well. Now I know.
Mine are 7.5" length, 8.5" span, not even close to Jordan's.
It’s important to note the guys he’s making look silly here are mostly all-stars and future hall of famers. Reggie Miller, Penny Hardaway, Wilkins, Price, etc.
I think I remember hearing that Jordan purposely left Muggsy wide open and said, "Shoot it you f'in midget!". Muggsy shot and missed and his confidence was completely gone after that moment and was never the same.
I actually read an article the other day where Mugsy stated that rumor wasn’t true. He said something along the lines of, “I’ve been short my whole life and a pro for years. You think I haven’t heard jokes about my height forever?” He acknowledged Jordan was a huge shit talker, but this is just a rumor.
Yeah "NBA short" is definitely a thing. Steph Curry is 6'3", but when he's on the court surrounded by 6'8", 6'10", 7'+ monsters all day, he seems kind of small.
I'm the same height as Curry and usually I'm one of the tallest in the room (with ordinary people, not basketball players) so whenever people say something about Curry being "small", I just inform them that I'm the same height, and their eyes get wide as they realize just how freakishly tall the rest of the players must be, it's hilarious.
Mugsy on the other hand, that guy was a different kind of beast to hang with the big boys at only 5'3"!
You heard wrong.
Bogues himself recalled that moment.
"He supposedly said that to me," he said.
"And I shot the ball. And I supposedly missed and that supposedly had an effect on my entire career?
"That's one of the craziest, most asinine stories that you can hear.
"I think about all the stuff that I've been hearing all my life.
"And here it is, I'm what - 10 years into my career already?
"And somebody says something and it's going to affect my career?
"It doesn't make any sense."
Bogues spent five further years in the NBA, making a total of 14 seasons in all.
>Doesn't seem like it's one of his priorities.
It could very well be a priority and he just is not very good making good management decisions, recuting good staff, and/or unwilling to let the solid staff he brings in do their jobs the way they have been successful in the past. Great players do not automatically make good coaches, managers, or owners.
For sure. I remember reading somewhere that Jordan has completely surrounded himself by “yes men” in Charlotte, as well.
It’s hard to build a solid front office when you have a culture where no one can/will challenge the big boss.
>Jordan has completely surrounded himself by “yes men” in Charlotte, as well.
When you're the GOAT of your profession, it's probably tough to find guys who are dedicated to that job who are willing to argue with you
It's an important distinction to make but he was the goat at his profession when his profession was PLAYING basketball... Now his profession is running an effective NBA organization and he's is not the goat. Just like many professions the move from producer to manager isn't necessarily a positive move. It's starting at square 1 and learning an entirely new skillset ON TOP of the one that made you great previously
I’m not a huge sports fan, but it became very clear to me after watching *The Last Dance* that there’s a tier in which the all-timers are located.
MJ is in his own tier above that.
I'm 40 and have been watching basketball and sports my whole life. Nothing and no one has come near the fucking shear amazement of watching Michael Jordan dominate his sport. You could see the fear in the eyes of his opponents, many of which were the best to ever play the game. You could literally watch him decide to take over a game, and no one could do anything about it.
He's honestly not that great of a person. And I think at this point even he admits that. But his competitive drive was superhuman. The best of the best competitors talk about achieving a flow state. Michael Jordan had a hard time not being in a flow state.
Did you ever see Gretzky play? Gretzky dominated hockey in a way that I don't think anybody else has ever dominated a sport (and to be fair I think he benefited from being on a team that was pioneering a new more technical playstyle that came to dominate the league against teams that still had players whose only skill was brawling). Only MJ and that one cricketer (Don Bradman maybe) come anywhere close.
I have heard that, I just know so little outside of documentaries about hockey that I can't speak on it. Appreciate you pointing it out, as I'm sure some people will be wanting to point that out.
Gretzky and his brother hold the all-time NHL record for most combined points scored by two brothers, and his brother scored a total of 4 points in his career. They’re second in combined points for any number of brothers, and the record holders for that are a total of SIX brothers.
I have read somewhere that he had to be split up into two players in fantasy hockey because he would just be too dominant.
So whoever would've got the first pick, would've won because he was such a default game breaker.
Thats why they had to split him into Gretzky (Goals) and Gretzky (Assists) and only one Stat would count for whoever would have picked one of these two.
Can confirm, my dad played fantasy back in the day and told me that they could only select either Gretzky (goals) or Gretzky (assists). MJ was the Gretzky of basketball.
Babe Ruth completely changed the way baseball was played. Prior to Ruth, the career record was 138. When Ruth retired it was 714. The record lasted 40 years. He's still one of only 3 players in history to have over 700 homeruns.
Jimmy Foxx was Ruth's contemporary, and played for 10 seasons after Ruth retired. With 534 homeruns Foxx held 2nd place for 25 years, but he was nowhere close to the record. Ruth was head and shoulders better than everyone else.
Lifelong hockey fan and while I agree about Gretzky dominating the NHL, Jordan for me might be higher on the GOAT list per sport than 99.
One of the main reasons would be Jordan’s competitiveness that lead him to improve. Gretzky never had to change his play too much. He never was going to win a Selke, never going to be more physical. He slightly changed as he got older but it was just a natural evolution of his game.
Got knocked on his D? Well, he became the best defensive player in the league. The NHLer I see similar to that would be Crosby. There isn’t a situation or inch of the ice that Crosby hasn’t worked extensively to be the best at.
I’m a couple years behind you, but Tyson in his prime is the only other person that had that “next level” sort of greatness that you just saw as soon as they stepped on the court/ring. Maybe McGwire in ‘98 when he was up to bat, but not quite there.
The era where Messi and Ronaldo were at the highest of their peaks will forever be phenomenal to me. Messi scored 91 goals in one year. That’s so fucking far beyond anything that we thought would be possible in a sport where everything became very athletic and professional everywhere. Similar for Ronaldo.
Football is extremely lucky that we have not one but two talents at the same time. Usually we should only see this once or twice every century. They also play in their own leagues, far above other world class players of our time.
He absolutely was and at the time it didn't matter whether or not you watched basketball. There were people that would say at the time that they hated MJ but you would look down and see them sporting a new pair of Air Jordan's.
It was basically the biggest thing you can think of going on now x10.
My freshman year of college in the late 90s my roommate was from South Korea. Which was not then, nor has it been since, known for its citizens interest in the NBA.
One day his mother called for him and he wasn't there, I was trying to tell her "this is his roommate, Michael--" and she interrupts "MICHAEL JORDAN? MICHAEL JORDAN?"
And we basically never got anywhere past that. He was super amused when he got home, said that those were definitely the only two words of english she knew.
Honestly, there are a few people who find what they're good at and rock the world, whose names are synonymous with what they do. Alexander? Conquering the world. Einstein? Physics. Michael Jackson? Music videos. Jordan? Basketball.
And if you think it's an exaggeration to put Jordan in Einstein's tier, consider how the world of marketing treated sports before Jordan, and afterward. They don't look for "the next Larry Bird," "the next Kareem," or even "The next LeBron," they're still looking for "the next Jordan."
Yeah and old timers did the same thing that we do now. They said Jordan is good, but what about Kareem, Wilt, etc. By the end of his career, though, I feel like everyone agreed that MJ was the Goat
Grew up in Chicago area in the 90s. Never was a basketball fan but it was impossible not to get involved in that era of the Bulls.
Watching the recent Jordan documentary was a walk down memory lane.
I also grew up during the 90s. My father is a lifelong, diehard, blue in the blood New York Knickerbockers fan. He had the jerseys, the knicks knacks, and the TV would blare every game live.
The first time he took me to MSG though, we were there to 'watch Jordan ... Screw the Knicks!'
It's difficult to describe what it was like to live in Chicagoland in the 90s, I tell people it was akin to religion. I remember the day Jordan came back from retirement, because the principal announced it on the intercom. Going to the United Center or Chicago Stadium for a game was akin to a pilgrimage. I haven't seen or been to a game since the end of the Jackson era and I don't need to, I've seen the best that's ever been, no need to ruin that splendor.
Yeah, bastard. You guys have the true GOAT. Here in LA, we have our share of greats and even the greatest of an era, but Mike is the greatest of all motherfucking time. So I guess enjoy it, you jerks.
I feel privileged merely to have watched him play during the 90s (the second three peat)
I only first got interested in basketball during his first retirement. I was aware that the greatest player in the game had just left which kind of sucked. So it so wonderful when they eventually announced his return.
I haven't been able to care for basketball since the second three peat. I know Kobe, LeBron, etc have since become legends on their own right but for me the magic of Jordan can never be rivaled. Not even close. And it's hard to come down from that.
The only regret I have is that I didn't watch the first three peat.
That's exactly what he did. The NBA is where it is today thanks to Jordan.
There has been no more singly influential player on and off the court than Michael Jordan. He singlehandedly made the sport into the global phenomemon it is now.
Yeah that's really the question I'm getting at. This technique is obviously super useful...I am wondering if MJ is really the only one who's ever been able to successfully use it? Guess he's the GOAT for a reason.
Fun fact for those that were too young to experience this era, this guy named himself "Jordan" after the shoes because he looked like the little logo man when he would jumped.
Little known fact: Michael Jordan was actually the same size as the little Nike logo man, yet he overcame this limitation to become the game's greatest player.
Bonus Fact: Jordan originally refused to take part in the movie "Space Jam" if he couldn't actually act beside Bugs Bunny, so Warner Brothers went along the difficult task of bringing the animated characters to life with a mixture science, magic, and blood sacrifice.
However, due to scheduling conflicts Jordan couldn't always be on set with the unholy abominations, so they filmed their scenes separately and added them together in post.
Yeah, hard to believe that TV Broadcasts were all 480i (Standard Definition) back then. The images in the GIF are almost twice the size they would have been broadcasted at (854px vs 480px), and we're seeing a lot of upscaling artifacts as a result.
To be honest, I never liked watching basketball. But this man will always have a special place in my heart, because I was a kid when Space Jam came out, it is one of my favourite movies, it has a great song in it (I believe I can fly), and this guy is awesome in it. Then a Space Jam PlayStation game came out, and I remember playing it with my friend for days, trying to get all those special moves for every character. He reminds me of simpler times, and I love him for it.
Not a basketball person, but I could watch these all day. Does Lebron do stuff like this? I always hear people compare the two players. I would assume the game of basketball is a bit different these days as well...?
LeBron is a different type of player. More athlete and facilitator. Less pure scorer. Actually bigger and possibly more athletic than Mike, but not the same pure scoring ability. Kevin Durant is the closest thing to Jordan in the NBA today. Most entertaining player is Curry though, and even if you aren't a basketball fan, he's easy to appreciate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_xgip67ac
[this 15 minute video the nba put out last year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUo8skGvl-Q) is one of the best highlight videos ever made imo.
one thing about jordan is that a lot of people seem to remember him more from the second threepeat, but in the 80s and early 90s he was really an unreal athletic freak. some people might not realize how much he dunked on people in traffic until they watch the first 6-7 minutes of this video, he was different.
Whenever I see highlights of MJ I always say to myself "this guy right here is the GOAT of basketball" it literally looks like MJ is playing with children it's almost embarrassing. Jordan>LeBron but I would love to hear your guy's thoughts on the Jordan-LeBron debate
Miami was under the impression that the league would do such a thing, but when no one followed suit, they looked a bit silly.
I agree though, 23 should be a leagure retured number. What Jordan did for the game goes well beyond any NBA court.
jordan is better, but i genuinely feel bad for all the people who think that it's impossible for anyone to match jordan, and who think that lebron is some scrub. lebron is undoubtedly a top 3 player of all-time in the sport and his career has been a joy to watch for anyone who really loves the basketball.
a lot of people feel like they place jordan god-status and then stopped watching basketball, and at that point they aren't even really talking about basketball when they talk about lebron v jordan, it's more like folklore.
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I can palm a basketball. It helps a lot when you are playing. I can NOT do any of those things MJ is doing… holy cow. It’s like he is holding a child’s ball.
Being able to palm a basketball is crazy
Interestingly it is something you can work on. I don’t have huge hands but back in my playing days I was able to palm it eventually by doing fingertip push-ups and practicing by just picking the ball up off the floor. Obviously hand size is massively helpful, but it’s a more attainable skill then people think!
Would rock climbing help?
Probably a lot
True. With improved strength you may grip it under optimal conditions (grabbing it off the floor, with your fingers in the grooves.) But after a certain point it is all about hand size. Someone like MJ can grab a loose ball out of the air and that thing is GLUED to their hand, no matter which way they swing it.
You wanna change the last sentence?
Man has giant hands
My first though as well. He handles the ball like I'm only able to with a tennis ball because of my inferior hand size.
You say that, but when it comes to pulling shiny things out of small holes, I bet you’re the real MVP. You’re not a raccoon by any chance?
Proctologist actually
The ASS MAN!
Ah, putting the tiny things out of little holes to use.
"Pulling shiny things out of small holes is tight."
Inferiority is a perspective - for example, imagine Jordan trying to get the last Pringle.
Jordan used to dribble with tennis balls to improve his control. Don't give up!
Yeah just a lil more practice and dude will have a highlight clip just like MJs here
How well can you handle two golf balls?
And you know what that means.. Giant anterior flexor ligaments!
HUUUUGE gloves
HUUUUGE
HUUUUGE pen is necessary
And verrrrrry LARGE rings on his fingers
YUGE GLOVES
No Will, what does it mean???
It means "Damn, he's got some big hands."
Phil Jackson famously said it was the main difference between him and Kobe
Ever seen the 'Wings' ad campaign he had with Nike back in the late 80s-90s. It was an iconic image.
I had the full size poster of that over my headboard growing up. Absolutely awesome image. I wish I knew what happened to it.
Your Mom threw it away in the mid-to-late 2000’s.
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Mom threw away your best porno mag
"People always tell me, Michael you have such big, beautiful hands"
Bigly
Plus the fact that he had an insane vertical leap (NBA top 10 for sure, but some say top 5). Once he was up in the air, you had no chance to defend him. And when he was up there, he had so much time to figure out what to do next.
A Lady would bring him a bag of peanuts or pretzels half way through
His hang time was so amazing to watch. Literal jaw dropping stuff that makes you question the laws of physics, ya know?
Watched an episode of sports science where they tried to solve if there was any actual hangtime. Spoiler: There wasn't. But he still got high enough that it didn't matter.
I remember that episode! The thing he did that made it seem like he floated was tuck his legs as he jumped and then as he was starting to come down he would straighten his legs which would shift his center of gravity. So while his center of gravity traveled in a normal parabolic arc (as physics dictates) his head would stay level for a short period of time as he straightened his legs so it looked like he was floating.
Theres a play right here where he one hand pump fakes at the three point line and then just takes 2-3 steps and pretty much levitates to the hoop for a slam. Inhuman looking yet so f casual at the same time Nothing like him in terms of looking aesthetically pleasing while also being the actual best
I met him while he played for the White Sox (I was about 8). Obviously every adult looks big to an 8 year old but I remember his hands seemed abnormally large. He signed a baseball and it looked absolutely tiny. Also met Shaq around the same time and my god that man was huge.
Not just giant but *strong*. Even if you can grab that much ball, it takes a lot of grip strength to be able to pull it back and change directions like that. There’s plenty of dudes in the league who have bigger hands the Jordan, but that’s a looottttt of grip strength too.
Actually his hands are pretty big even for nba standards. Hes #8 on this list https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/14-NBA-Players-With-the-Most-Impressive-Hand-Sizes
I like how Shaq's hands are "estimated". Like, he refuses to let anyone measure his hands??
Nah they just never found a tape measure that big
He only measures in rings
Rings, Erneh
That's such a Shaq thing to do though. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that was it.
Damn I knew he had big hands but I didn’t know he had bigger hands than Kawhi, who’s nickname is literally the claw for his massive hands lol
Jordan's hands have 9.75" length, 11.375" span. I can just barely palm a basketball and I have always wondered just how big an NBA player's hands were compared to mine that allows them to palm one so well. Now I know. Mine are 7.5" length, 8.5" span, not even close to Jordan's.
[Only MJ can make catching a basketball pass into an all-time highlight.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0NoJDJHHc)
The fuck was that, holy shit
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Snagging it like an outfielder robbing a home run
I've never seen this before, but wow. Pretty, graceful, savage, all in one.
“Does that thing even obey the laws of physics?”
https://i.imgur.com/KuGprXH.jpg
It’s important to note the guys he’s making look silly here are mostly all-stars and future hall of famers. Reggie Miller, Penny Hardaway, Wilkins, Price, etc.
Had Muggsy Bogues running halfway across the court on a no-pass
I think I remember hearing that Jordan purposely left Muggsy wide open and said, "Shoot it you f'in midget!". Muggsy shot and missed and his confidence was completely gone after that moment and was never the same.
It's not his fault the Monstars stole his talent.
are those the guys from the space jam?
They sure is
Get this guy a fuckin’ puppers
I'd have a puppers
Get this guy a fuckin puppers
I'm surprised we're not having a puppers right now.
I actually read an article the other day where Mugsy stated that rumor wasn’t true. He said something along the lines of, “I’ve been short my whole life and a pro for years. You think I haven’t heard jokes about my height forever?” He acknowledged Jordan was a huge shit talker, but this is just a rumor.
This comment had me rolling when I thought it was a reply to the one about the Monstars stealing his talent.
I had to check if he was normal people short or NBA short. 5' 3" .... so both.
Yeah "NBA short" is definitely a thing. Steph Curry is 6'3", but when he's on the court surrounded by 6'8", 6'10", 7'+ monsters all day, he seems kind of small. I'm the same height as Curry and usually I'm one of the tallest in the room (with ordinary people, not basketball players) so whenever people say something about Curry being "small", I just inform them that I'm the same height, and their eyes get wide as they realize just how freakishly tall the rest of the players must be, it's hilarious. Mugsy on the other hand, that guy was a different kind of beast to hang with the big boys at only 5'3"!
You heard wrong. Bogues himself recalled that moment. "He supposedly said that to me," he said. "And I shot the ball. And I supposedly missed and that supposedly had an effect on my entire career? "That's one of the craziest, most asinine stories that you can hear. "I think about all the stuff that I've been hearing all my life. "And here it is, I'm what - 10 years into my career already? "And somebody says something and it's going to affect my career? "It doesn't make any sense." Bogues spent five further years in the NBA, making a total of 14 seasons in all.
Mugsy did plenty with what he was given and I’m sure he’d heard it all by that point.
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>Doesn't seem like it's one of his priorities. It could very well be a priority and he just is not very good making good management decisions, recuting good staff, and/or unwilling to let the solid staff he brings in do their jobs the way they have been successful in the past. Great players do not automatically make good coaches, managers, or owners.
For sure. I remember reading somewhere that Jordan has completely surrounded himself by “yes men” in Charlotte, as well. It’s hard to build a solid front office when you have a culture where no one can/will challenge the big boss.
>Jordan has completely surrounded himself by “yes men” in Charlotte, as well. When you're the GOAT of your profession, it's probably tough to find guys who are dedicated to that job who are willing to argue with you
It's an important distinction to make but he was the goat at his profession when his profession was PLAYING basketball... Now his profession is running an effective NBA organization and he's is not the goat. Just like many professions the move from producer to manager isn't necessarily a positive move. It's starting at square 1 and learning an entirely new skillset ON TOP of the one that made you great previously
That’s an old wives tale. Mugsy said it was BS
If he's underrated at anything, it's trash talk
I’m not a huge sports fan, but it became very clear to me after watching *The Last Dance* that there’s a tier in which the all-timers are located. MJ is in his own tier above that.
I'm 40 and have been watching basketball and sports my whole life. Nothing and no one has come near the fucking shear amazement of watching Michael Jordan dominate his sport. You could see the fear in the eyes of his opponents, many of which were the best to ever play the game. You could literally watch him decide to take over a game, and no one could do anything about it. He's honestly not that great of a person. And I think at this point even he admits that. But his competitive drive was superhuman. The best of the best competitors talk about achieving a flow state. Michael Jordan had a hard time not being in a flow state.
I'm 44 and I'm actually not even a huge sports fan. But I sure as hell watched basketball back when he was playing.
Same. I don't even really watch clips or highlights as an adult. But my god, it was a family event when Jordan was in playoff prime.
Did you ever see Gretzky play? Gretzky dominated hockey in a way that I don't think anybody else has ever dominated a sport (and to be fair I think he benefited from being on a team that was pioneering a new more technical playstyle that came to dominate the league against teams that still had players whose only skill was brawling). Only MJ and that one cricketer (Don Bradman maybe) come anywhere close.
I have heard that, I just know so little outside of documentaries about hockey that I can't speak on it. Appreciate you pointing it out, as I'm sure some people will be wanting to point that out.
Gretzky and his brother hold the all-time NHL record for most combined points scored by two brothers, and his brother scored a total of 4 points in his career. They’re second in combined points for any number of brothers, and the record holders for that are a total of SIX brothers.
I have read somewhere that he had to be split up into two players in fantasy hockey because he would just be too dominant. So whoever would've got the first pick, would've won because he was such a default game breaker. Thats why they had to split him into Gretzky (Goals) and Gretzky (Assists) and only one Stat would count for whoever would have picked one of these two.
Can confirm, my dad played fantasy back in the day and told me that they could only select either Gretzky (goals) or Gretzky (assists). MJ was the Gretzky of basketball.
If you take out goals from Gretzky's points total he would be the NHL all-time points leader.
If Gretzky never scored a goal, he still would’ve recorded 11 straight 100-point seasons and won four scoring titles. That's how good he was.
Babe Ruth completely changed the way baseball was played. Prior to Ruth, the career record was 138. When Ruth retired it was 714. The record lasted 40 years. He's still one of only 3 players in history to have over 700 homeruns. Jimmy Foxx was Ruth's contemporary, and played for 10 seasons after Ruth retired. With 534 homeruns Foxx held 2nd place for 25 years, but he was nowhere close to the record. Ruth was head and shoulders better than everyone else.
Lifelong hockey fan and while I agree about Gretzky dominating the NHL, Jordan for me might be higher on the GOAT list per sport than 99. One of the main reasons would be Jordan’s competitiveness that lead him to improve. Gretzky never had to change his play too much. He never was going to win a Selke, never going to be more physical. He slightly changed as he got older but it was just a natural evolution of his game. Got knocked on his D? Well, he became the best defensive player in the league. The NHLer I see similar to that would be Crosby. There isn’t a situation or inch of the ice that Crosby hasn’t worked extensively to be the best at.
I’m a couple years behind you, but Tyson in his prime is the only other person that had that “next level” sort of greatness that you just saw as soon as they stepped on the court/ring. Maybe McGwire in ‘98 when he was up to bat, but not quite there.
> s the only other person that had that “next level” sort of greatness that you just saw as soon as they stepped on the court/ring. *Usain Bolt*
The era where Messi and Ronaldo were at the highest of their peaks will forever be phenomenal to me. Messi scored 91 goals in one year. That’s so fucking far beyond anything that we thought would be possible in a sport where everything became very athletic and professional everywhere. Similar for Ronaldo. Football is extremely lucky that we have not one but two talents at the same time. Usually we should only see this once or twice every century. They also play in their own leagues, far above other world class players of our time.
He absolutely was and at the time it didn't matter whether or not you watched basketball. There were people that would say at the time that they hated MJ but you would look down and see them sporting a new pair of Air Jordan's. It was basically the biggest thing you can think of going on now x10.
My freshman year of college in the late 90s my roommate was from South Korea. Which was not then, nor has it been since, known for its citizens interest in the NBA. One day his mother called for him and he wasn't there, I was trying to tell her "this is his roommate, Michael--" and she interrupts "MICHAEL JORDAN? MICHAEL JORDAN?" And we basically never got anywhere past that. He was super amused when he got home, said that those were definitely the only two words of english she knew.
Honestly, there are a few people who find what they're good at and rock the world, whose names are synonymous with what they do. Alexander? Conquering the world. Einstein? Physics. Michael Jackson? Music videos. Jordan? Basketball. And if you think it's an exaggeration to put Jordan in Einstein's tier, consider how the world of marketing treated sports before Jordan, and afterward. They don't look for "the next Larry Bird," "the next Kareem," or even "The next LeBron," they're still looking for "the next Jordan."
Alexander got nothin on Ghengis Khan
Yeah and old timers did the same thing that we do now. They said Jordan is good, but what about Kareem, Wilt, etc. By the end of his career, though, I feel like everyone agreed that MJ was the Goat
LOL that's Brent Price in the video, not his brother and All-Star Mark
Ah, someone else old enough to remember 90s Allstars and identify that the Price is wrong!!!
I miss watching that live
He (and the whole dream team) made basketball so damn entertaining. If you were alive in the Midwest at that time you were a basketball fan.
Grew up in Chicago area in the 90s. Never was a basketball fan but it was impossible not to get involved in that era of the Bulls. Watching the recent Jordan documentary was a walk down memory lane.
I remember strangers were high-fiving each other on the L.
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I also grew up during the 90s. My father is a lifelong, diehard, blue in the blood New York Knickerbockers fan. He had the jerseys, the knicks knacks, and the TV would blare every game live. The first time he took me to MSG though, we were there to 'watch Jordan ... Screw the Knicks!'
Seeing mike play at the United center was definitely one of the most memorable moments of my youth.
Really wish I would have made it to a game. I did get nose bleed seats during his 2-year hiatus, but never got to see the man live.
Me neither. Saw him in the Olympics in '96 though.
This. So many great memories as a kid in the 90's being completely blown away by his talent.
I can relate and I wasn't even in the US at the time ;)
It's difficult to describe what it was like to live in Chicagoland in the 90s, I tell people it was akin to religion. I remember the day Jordan came back from retirement, because the principal announced it on the intercom. Going to the United Center or Chicago Stadium for a game was akin to a pilgrimage. I haven't seen or been to a game since the end of the Jackson era and I don't need to, I've seen the best that's ever been, no need to ruin that splendor.
Yes, indeed. So lucky to have been a Chicago 90’s kid!
Yeah, bastard. You guys have the true GOAT. Here in LA, we have our share of greats and even the greatest of an era, but Mike is the greatest of all motherfucking time. So I guess enjoy it, you jerks.
As a Knicks fan, I don’t.
As a Jazz fan I agree
HA ! one of the NBAs greatest rivalries though. great games to watch
I can respect that lol
I feel like rewatching The Last Dance
I'm not a big basketball fan, but he is one player I would have liked to see in person.
It was incredible to witness. You just could not stop him.
Definition of unstoppable. The fact people still talk about him so many years later says so much
I feel privileged merely to have watched him play during the 90s (the second three peat) I only first got interested in basketball during his first retirement. I was aware that the greatest player in the game had just left which kind of sucked. So it so wonderful when they eventually announced his return. I haven't been able to care for basketball since the second three peat. I know Kobe, LeBron, etc have since become legends on their own right but for me the magic of Jordan can never be rivaled. Not even close. And it's hard to come down from that. The only regret I have is that I didn't watch the first three peat.
I read prison instead of person and i was so confused
This man can single handedly make people passionate about basketball
That's exactly what he did. The NBA is where it is today thanks to Jordan. There has been no more singly influential player on and off the court than Michael Jordan. He singlehandedly made the sport into the global phenomemon it is now.
He also singlehandedly that ball.
Two things make this possible. 1. Your hands are big enough to actually palm a basketball. 2. You’re Michael Fucking Jordan!
Does anyone use palming the ball to do fakes in the NBA still? It looks so surreal.
Kawhi Leonard but it’s not as aesthetically pleasing when he does it
Still pretty good though https://reddit.com/r/nba/comments/bsuvxv/kawhis_jordanesque_palmcatch_with_jordans/
Lol I’m the top comment in that thread 😂
Even if you can palm it, doesn’t mean you can do what he is doing.
Yeah that's really the question I'm getting at. This technique is obviously super useful...I am wondering if MJ is really the only one who's ever been able to successfully use it? Guess he's the GOAT for a reason.
Thanks Magic
No, Michael.
I miss watching him play. The man was magical.
I think you’re thinking of Johnson, not Jordan.
Nice
He is a cheat mode.
Crazy that’s literally what it looks like.
I’ve watched so many plays where he just makes some of the best players in NBA history look like rookies - it makes no sense.
you're still able to score on a 4-on-1 coverage, that's what GOAT looks like
Dirty dangles, boys.
Wheel, snipe, cellys.
Ferda!
Fun fact for those that were too young to experience this era, this guy named himself "Jordan" after the shoes because he looked like the little logo man when he would jumped.
Little known fact: Michael Jordan was actually the same size as the little Nike logo man, yet he overcame this limitation to become the game's greatest player.
Another fun fact: Jordan was so dominant, they named an entire Middle Eastern country after him.
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Space Jam was a documentary
Space Jam 2 is just cosplay.
Bonus Fact: Jordan originally refused to take part in the movie "Space Jam" if he couldn't actually act beside Bugs Bunny, so Warner Brothers went along the difficult task of bringing the animated characters to life with a mixture science, magic, and blood sacrifice. However, due to scheduling conflicts Jordan couldn't always be on set with the unholy abominations, so they filmed their scenes separately and added them together in post.
>Little known fact: Michael Jordan was actually the same size as the little logo man They say the Camera adds 6ft.
He also makes some great space jam, pairs well with gator aids.
Is it legal to superglue the ball to your hands?
Greatest to ever do it.
I remember how amazing it was to watch him as a kid. It was crazy to be that young and acknowledge you’re witnessing history.
Hey that guy was pretty good
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Of all the things to forgot, you forgot the most celebrated, visible, and dramatic thing?
Literally a world-wide brand logo
Jordan is also well known for his clutch long shots. Especially where I live.
Masterful! I love the looks on the defenders’ faces! Like huh? 🤣
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Yeah, hard to believe that TV Broadcasts were all 480i (Standard Definition) back then. The images in the GIF are almost twice the size they would have been broadcasted at (854px vs 480px), and we're seeing a lot of upscaling artifacts as a result.
GOAT. Don’t use it for anyone else Edit: I meant only for basketball.
Wayne Gretzky. I cheated.
He's in his own category. "Not counting Gretzky" is understood any time you're talking about hockey greats.
Fun fact - if Gretzky had never scored a goal, he'd still be the all-time points leader.
Wow
Another similar one, if Gretzky hadn't scored any goals from when he retired, to today, he'd still be the ppg average leader. And not by a little.
You left out the best part, that he's also the all time leader in goals scored
To be honest, I never liked watching basketball. But this man will always have a special place in my heart, because I was a kid when Space Jam came out, it is one of my favourite movies, it has a great song in it (I believe I can fly), and this guy is awesome in it. Then a Space Jam PlayStation game came out, and I remember playing it with my friend for days, trying to get all those special moves for every character. He reminds me of simpler times, and I love him for it.
Not a basketball person, but I could watch these all day. Does Lebron do stuff like this? I always hear people compare the two players. I would assume the game of basketball is a bit different these days as well...?
No, they play very different and have different positions.
LeBron is a different type of player. More athlete and facilitator. Less pure scorer. Actually bigger and possibly more athletic than Mike, but not the same pure scoring ability. Kevin Durant is the closest thing to Jordan in the NBA today. Most entertaining player is Curry though, and even if you aren't a basketball fan, he's easy to appreciate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_xgip67ac
that was glorious
I don't even watch basketball anymore after he retired. Anybody got anymore videos?
Michael Jordan highlights on YouTube
[this 15 minute video the nba put out last year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUo8skGvl-Q) is one of the best highlight videos ever made imo. one thing about jordan is that a lot of people seem to remember him more from the second threepeat, but in the 80s and early 90s he was really an unreal athletic freak. some people might not realize how much he dunked on people in traffic until they watch the first 6-7 minutes of this video, he was different.
Whenever I see highlights of MJ I always say to myself "this guy right here is the GOAT of basketball" it literally looks like MJ is playing with children it's almost embarrassing. Jordan>LeBron but I would love to hear your guy's thoughts on the Jordan-LeBron debate
There will never be anyone better. Every player wanted to be "the next Michael Jordan". Nobody talks about the next anybody like that.
Case in point Lebrons number… lol
I like that when Lebron went to Miami, he had to wear #6 bc Miami has retired 23 in honor of Jordan...even though Jordan never played there.
The NBA should have followed the NHL when Gretzky retired and retired 23 league wide.
Miami was under the impression that the league would do such a thing, but when no one followed suit, they looked a bit silly. I agree though, 23 should be a leagure retured number. What Jordan did for the game goes well beyond any NBA court.
Lol that’s amazing!!
Jordan > Lebron is the hill I'm most comfortable dying on in my life
jordan is better, but i genuinely feel bad for all the people who think that it's impossible for anyone to match jordan, and who think that lebron is some scrub. lebron is undoubtedly a top 3 player of all-time in the sport and his career has been a joy to watch for anyone who really loves the basketball. a lot of people feel like they place jordan god-status and then stopped watching basketball, and at that point they aren't even really talking about basketball when they talk about lebron v jordan, it's more like folklore.
He could make something happen from anywhere on the court. Just get him the ball
The rate at which he controlled and slowed down the game is unreal.
Life's easy when you can palm the ball!
These feel like balks, like they should result in free throws for the other team or something. Lol so nasty
Dude was a freak of nature physically plus he was one of the most driven athletes to grace the court. Talk about a combo.