Pretty old vid, but always fun to watch -- thought ya'll would enjoy. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H8M2NgjvicA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H8M2NgjvicA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Jordan was so damn strong that he could dunk through people, if you know what I mean. Take the contact and just punish the defense. I'm not sure if that's a worthy "top ten," because I seem to recall seeing many, many more of similar quality, but nice to watch.
And the weird way he could seem to elevate just a bit higher mid-flight to dunk over people - never seen anyone else do that.
Jordan's greatest move wasn't even dunk. it was a reverse layup where he jumped from one side of the paint, near where the 2nd player would stand when someone is shooting a free throw, and manuevered through 3 opponents to make the basket on the opposite side of the rim. here it is at number 1 <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hxkoGH07ckc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hxkoGH07ckc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
It was Jordans huge hands that really made him special. He could just pick the ball up with one and wave it like a baseball.
Phil Jackson has commented on that in interviews comparing MJ to Kobe. It's just too bad that younger members here didn't get the pleasure to see Jordan, Dream, Magic, Bird, et. al in the 80's and 90's, and think someone like Steve Francis was someone special to watch. Watching the current superstars just reminds me that those in the 80's /90's were that much more special.
well on dunks he perfected the off arm move, so that helped him a lot...dream may have studied him because he later developed it as well.
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Thank you! Those were great. Like KC was trying to say about Jordan seemingly being able to get up higher in mid-jump (yes, it should be impossible, right?), those shots showed his incredible control with the ball. He could do anything with it. There was a stretch of about 4 seasons, before Bird started having problems with his back, where we saw the most amazing basketball. Bird and Magic, Jordan, Drexler... an seemingly endless number of fantastic guards and wings, along with the best big men in history, absent Wilt and Russell. The '80's were magical if you were a fan of the NBA, and we had some damn fine players in Houston to enjoy. Good times!
First couple dunks werent near his greatest works. He's done more wicked in-game dunks than that. Overall some solid dunks. Jordan's dunks made him legendary. But his true influence was his layups I thought. 99.5% kids and local ballers couldnt dunk but they'd mimic some of his agile twisting, contorting, triple pump highlight reel layups. It got lame all the ballhogs with their oh-so-coincidental tongues hanging out. But we were all feeling the MJ inspiration.
jordan had massive hands. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LDmW6JOZq4c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LDmW6JOZq4c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
#1 on the layup list was just epic. Changed directions twice between players for the reverse layup.. the degree of difficulty on that was just amazing. As for the layup where he wedge between the two Hawks defenders for the reverse layup, that should've been higher. That was pretty awesome as well.
The one at the end of this is definitely as fine as any others in his high light reel. He tried to dunk it but seemed about to be blocked, then he just takes the ball back and hang in the air until he got the space to flip it in. It's amazing how much body control he got.
thats not smthg kobe n lbj can learn. they either got it or dont. and everybody post jordan just never seemd as elegant n balanced as MJ. they just lookd like bad copies. AI is the closest finesse wise and VC dunk wise Kobe headwise. MJ was all 3 in one and stayed healthy for the majority of his career. if any kids can imagine that. LBJ is nothing spectacular to watch in comparison to MJ yet or if ever.
Those vids of Jordan snatching the ball out or mid-air are awesome - I remember some biography he put out about 10 years ago were he put photos of his hands to scale. His hands were at least twice the size of mine and I can palm a basketball.
Here's Drexler's top ten in game dunks for comparison... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SvjJA93Xy9Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SvjJA93Xy9Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Advantage Jordan I believe.
