Would Michael Jordan have been loved as universally today?

People love watching a winner. Mj was a winner. I don't think increased coverage of 'dirty laundry' would change that. I think so long as you're winning, you as a journalist look like a tool for bringing up minor character defaults in the eyes of a common fan. This is why journalists can rip LeBron without regard because he simply isn't a winner-yet.

 

Not everyone likes Kobe/Shaq and they are 2 of the greatest winners of this generation.

Today's social media basically exposes everything. Some might find MJ's cockiness distasteful.

 

He would still have a lot of fans but he would have a lot more haters. You can thank Social Networking for this.

 

You have to be like Kevin Durant or Tim Duncan to be in the middle ground. Nobody hates you, but then you're not as popular. Durant has won 3 straight scoring titles and his jersey was the #8th seller this year.

 

Yes he would he wins so much more than lebron and wouldnt abandon his city to go join 2 other superstars.

 

Jordan punching Steve Kerr in the face at practice, the gambling or the mistress? You never read about any of those things?

As mentioned earlier Jordan was the ultimate winner and was the flashiest player in the game. He would still be as popular (if not more) today. Jordan was as skilled as any player in history but it was his work ethic and his desire to win that sets him apart. He simply refused to lose.

 

I'd bet a lot of that is to do with playing in Oklahoma, too.

 

I'm shocked he was 8th even with him playing in OKC. If OKC win a title a lot of people will bandwagon to him though.

 

McGrady had the top selling jersey AND shoe for a 2 year period in Orlando.

 

I think a lot of people knew what an ass MJ was. I hate Kobe, but I still respect him.

Also you are confusing love/respect. They didn't love the guy, they worshiped his skills, but the guy...I think most people could care less about these guys personal lives, their personalities, their vices, etc.

I wonder though, would Kobe be as dominant for so long if he played in MJ's era.

I think they need to get rid of the handcheck rules. Today's NBA is soft!

 

Hard to say, his dirty laundry surpassed LeBron/Shaq/Kobe/Tiger Woods/etc combined. Everyone laughs at how many groupies and women, Tiger had. In reality, Tiger had a modest number of such, compared to most athletes. MJ probably tripled that number in 3 weeks. That may have been a none issue unless he got caught up into something grimy, but even these days he's avoided that and has never been naive, like alot younger NBA stars are.

The gambling and staying out late, not really.

The throwing his teammates and management under the bus and etc. Probably a few dislikes on that regard. There was a reason alot of stars weren't clamoring to go to Chicago. MJ had a reputation for being sort of surly.

The social Network scene, hard to say, but I think he would've used in some capacity, though limited. Courtesy of Nike.


He would've had haters, because of his personality. He was cut from a different breed versus Bird or Magic, but he would make for good interviews.

 

I wonder what Jordan would write on his twitter if he was a player today. I don't think he's the type that would even have an account, but even if he did he'd hire some guy to write his entries.

 

I think he would be like Kobe is today and that is twitterless.

People may hate to compare these two on the court but the type of love/hate you see with Kobe today is what you would see with Jordan if he was playing today in his prime.

 

I think he'd do that, and they'd be pushing his products.

 

MJ was a KG level of douchebaggery....

It's just no one cared back then

 

80s Jordan probably would have been a more controversial figure since he was a bit selfish and his teams couldn't get over the hump. Once he started winning, I think everyone would love him now about as much as they do now. Even when he was playing, a lot of the dirty laundry got aired on, in the press and books like the Jordan Rules.

MJ's smart though. He never made any comments about his personal life, and if people attacked or slighted him, he always used it as motivation on the court but didn't make public statements.

 

Probably not. Based on what kids think is cool today, yeah probably not.

 

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I think it would be the exact same way ppl view Kobe. Some ppl love him some ppl hate him but everyone has an opinion. He's won the most titles since mj and many other accolades that come with being a great basketball player. I think the main similarity between mj and Kobe is their desire to be the best basketball players, not brand in the world. Some of these athlete now days forget why there making so much money off the court. Basketball got these guys in the position there in to get big endorsements and mj and Kobe never forgot that and that's why there widely regarded as two of the best and most respected players from there peers and fans because of their desire to be great.