The whole concept of "greatest player ever" is silly. Unless bball is abolished, I don't think you can predict that there won't be a person who will surpass MJ. Just look at the 50 best players of all time-I'm sure CP3, DH and LBJ would like to boot people of that list when we look back at their careers 15 years from now.
I think it's understood to mean "greatest player to have played thus far." But even that is problematic. How does one really compare the "greatness" of, say, LeBron James vs Oscar Robertson? People make all sorts of argument listing their respective accomplishments, awards, statistical records, but really what does that prove? There's no clear concept of what it means to be the "greatest".
it would make sense if there was a wider gap between him and the next best player to play in the nba. even though hes a freakin beast its not like he cant be compared to other players.
I wonder what the poll numbers would be if basketball experts were given the choice to start a team with a rookie Jordan or a rookie Magic. I'm no expert, but I'd still pick Magic for the combo of skill, desire, versatility, and physical mismatch.
A definite "no" - Michael was a brilliant athlete but was also (and remains) a selfish, greedy human being. For all the power and fame he's had, he's never used it for anything but his own self-glorification and financial gain. That's his prerogative, and it doesn't mean we shouldn't respect and honor his on-court achievements. But I would only agree to a league-wide jersey retirement for a player who (in addition to his on-court achievements) also made this world a better place - someone who broke racial barriers or who became a devoted advocate for a pressing social issue. Jordan has never done that - he's too busy making millions off of shoes made in sweatshops. Again, that's his prerogative, but that lack of social consciousness is the difference between him and someone like Jackie Robinson or Mutumbo.
If you gonna retire numbers because they are THAT important to basketball, would it be Magic and Bird. I mean they are the one that ushered the game into its current era.
I'm sorry but can someone remind me how Jordan broke the color barrier in basketball? I think I slept that day.
