I was watching SC this morning and Rick Reily suggested that the #23 be put up on banners thru the whole NBA. Do you agree? He is legendary but would everyone want to do that, especially the j*zz??????
He may be the greatest ever, but that would be a disrespect to the other players that have one more titles, and those that have won as many MVPs. Robinson's number being retired had to do with more than just his being great. He was a symbol for the change this nation was going thru. Robinson will always be the first black MLB player. Michael Jordan will not always be considered the greatest to ever play in the NBA.
No, no, 1,000 times no. This isn't Jackie Robinson with a huge social impact far bigger than the game. This is one player. The last thing the NBA needs to be doing is to continue to assert that the players are bigger than the game. That is not a healthy model for the long term.
Agreed. The only benefit would be that players would be that much more discouraged from trying to imitate him. What an awful decade of SG's we had after he retired.
Probably the best player so far, but not an enduring symbol of real societal progress like Jackie Robinson. I vote no.
Would set a precedent I do not like. (If Kobe wins a couple more championships, would R.R. ask for Kobe's jersey to be retired league wide?)
He also made the argument of Wayne "The Great" Gretzky's 99 being retired by the entire NHL..... Not much of a symbol of history but viewed as the greatest player ever to play the sport. Good thing Tiger doesn't wear a number eh.
