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Michael Tran
Michael Jordan: The BEST of All Time
12, 192 shots made. 32,292 points scored. 2,514 turnovers created (“All Time Statistics”).
All of these are commendable stat lines, but compared to players like Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Karl
Malone, and Wilt Chamberlain, none of them rank first on the National Basketball Association
stats charts. So how can Michael Jordan, often known as MJ, be considered the greatest
basketball player of all time? Simply put, he transformed and revolutionized all aspects of the
game. In the 80s, the NBA saw great players in Larry Bird and Magic Johnson become the faces
of the league. As the 90s approached, however, Jordan emerged as the new figure of basketball
and helped pave the way for the modern era in the NBA. He drew crowds wherever he played
and brought attention to the league as a marketing and advertisement figure, proving that his
greatness was not completely about the numerical statistics, but also about what he did for the
sport of basketball as a whole. From his physical talents and dominating playing trademarks, to
his marketability and continuing influence on the game of basketball, Michael Jordan is clearly
distinguished from his fellow competitors and is unquestionably the best player to ever put on an
NBA uniform.
In recent years, the discussion about the greatest NBA player has involved a small group
of elite players. Among the group, three names are always compared to each other: Michael
Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. The eras in which all three played or are playing in are
certainly different, with Jordan retired and Bryant and James currently in the league, but the
comparisons are still valid. Bryant and James each have strong cases for being the NBA’s best
and can be supported by some plausible arguments. Bryant has won five NBA championships
with the Los Angeles Lakers, earned multiple MVP awards, and led the league in scoring for
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many seasons. His marketing and advertisement for Nike shoes has become increasingly popular
over the years and is still drawing in numerous fans today. James’ greatness lies in the aggressive
style in which he plays the game, with high-flying dunks and acrobatic lay-ups. His ability to
beat his defender off the dribble sets him apart from others in the league, and his defense is a
force to be reckoned with for opposing players. What makes Bryant’s and James’ arguments
much more appealing is that both came straight out of high school after skipping college for the
NBA draft, while Jordan attended the University of North Carolina before entering the big
leagues. Yet, both Kobe and LeBron, superstars in their own rights, still do not compare to the
level of superiority and magnitude of Michael Jordan.
One of the reasons that distinguished Jordan apart from his competitors and the rest of the
NBA was his overall, raw athleticism. The league had never seen such a fierce body playing the
guard position before. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 195 pounds, Jordan changed the
nature of the shooting guard ("Basketball Statistics & History"). Other great shooting guards
during Jordan’s era included names such as Reggie Miller and Clyde Drexler. Both players
displayed the traditional styles of the position, which relied heavily on outside shooting and
finesse play on the court; these characteristics were evident amongst most players at the time.
Michael Jordan, due to his ability to jump and rise over defenders, created a new stigma for
players of the same position. His style of attacking the basket and forcing his way through his
defenders, instead of moving around them, paved the way for shooting guards of future
generations to follow, namely Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Players depended more on
outside shooting and jump shots, but once Jordan asserted his presence on the game, people
needed to learn how to defend his slashing, aggressive movements. Jordan set a precedent for the
game of basketball, and those after him were only replicating his style of play. Phil Jackson,
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Jordan’s head coach in Chicago and Bryant’s current head coach in Los Angeles, stated, “Kobe
has patterned himself after Michael, and there are a lot of identical things there, but it’s one thing
to hope to be like him, it’s another to be like him” (“Phil Jackson Says”). This epitomizes
Michael Jordan’s influence on the game, showing how even the great Kobe Bryant saw Jordan as
a role model. The physical nature of MJ’s game proved to be a template for shooting guards in
the NBA and has solidified up into the upper-echelon of elite players.
Perhaps the most obvious example of Michael Jordan’s athleticism is seen in his slamdunk contest accomplishments. Winning two contests back-to-back in 1987 and 1988, Jordan
showed off his freakish jumping skills and re-invented the art of dunking (“Slam Dunk
Contest”). Jordan’s competitors do not come close, with Bryant winning only one in his career
and James with zero. Every year, when the dunk contest happens, there is always a reference to
Jordan’s iconic dunk in the 1988 contest in Chicago; Jordan famously placed a strip of athletic
tape near the free throw line, about fifteen feet away from the hoop, and took off from that spot
to slam home the most recognizable dunk in history. There were other great winners before him
in Julius Irving, better known as Dr. J, and Dominique Wilkins, but neither could compare to MJ.
Both Irving and Wilkins performed miraculous dunks, but because of their lanky size and thin
bodies, their dunks were presented only as elegant and graceful. Jordan’s muscular build and
bulky body allowed his dunks to be awe-inspiring and incredible, which created more of an eyepopping effect for the crowd. That image, of number 23 hanging in mid air in his own Chicago
arena, is “etched into our minds forever”, as sports writer Nick DePaula states (DePaula). His
physical stature and ability to jump higher than other players are a few reasons why Michael
Jordan can be seen as the leading figure in the sport of basketball.
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In addition to his physical capabilities, Michael Jordan’s ability to score wherever and
whenever he wanted to adds to the justification that he is the best player in the NBA. The
statistical numbers do not lie, as Jordan is the all-time leader in points scored per game, with an
average of 30.1 (“All Time Statistics”). No other player in history has scored more points than
MJ on an every game basis, and it is evident in his numbers; LeBron James is the next closest
competitor, with 27.7 points per game (“All Time Statistics”). MJ’s ability to put the ball into the
hoop at will was not displayed by any other player of his time. The only way for his team to win,
as Jordan recognized, was if he commanded the ball and scored at the most crucial times, which
he did game in and game out. He developed a mid-range jump shot as well as a deadly threepoint shot, which proved to be the main concerns for opposing defenses in the game. Jordan’s
shot taking and shot making skills are ones that truly distinguish him from the rest of the crowd,
and solidify his greatness in the game.
Great players are typically defined by their repertoire of offensive skills, which Michael
Jordan clearly mastered. What set him apart as a complete player, however, were not only his
scoring and dunking highlights, but also his capabilities on the defensive end of the game.
According to NBA.com rankings, Jordan ranks second all time with 2,514 steals (“All Time
Statistics”). This is a truly remarkable feat for a player who leads the entire history of the league
in scoring per game. With these numbers, it demonstrates that MJ not only helped his team by
scoring points, but by also hustling back on defense and creating turnovers. Both Kobe Bryant
and LeBron James are not even ranked in the top ten in steals; the reason being is that Michael
understood the meaning of playing hard-nosed defense, whereas Kobe and LeBron often times
lack defensive intensity in their games. As defensive player of the year in the 1987-88 season,
Jordan had an astounding 3.7 steals per game and 1.6 blocks per game (NBA and USA
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Basketball). MJ’s defensive skills should be one of his recognizable traits but is often
overlooked. Along with all of the points he scored, Michael Jordan’s impact on stopping his
opponents from scoring approves his validation as the NBA’s best.
The way Michael Jordan played and went about the game could be defined in one word:
leadership. His abilities to direct his team and control the tempo of the game were all related to
his leadership characteristics and qualities. As the star player for the Chicago Bulls, Michael
Jordan led his team to six championships, from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998 (“Michael Jordan
Teammates”). Earning two 3-peat’s in a span of eight seasons is an accomplishment not seen by
any other player in the history of basketball (“All Time Statistics”). Compared to LeBron James’
zero championships, this feat is truly remarkable. Without Jordan, the Bulls would have never
won any of those championships, as seen in the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 seasons. After the
death of his father, James, Michael decided to take a break and retire from the game for a few
seasons. During those seasons, the Bulls suffered and could not make it back to another
championship, showing how much MJ meant to the organization and how he “made the Bulls
indomitable” (Posnanski). Once he returned in 1996, Jordan led his team to yet another string of
three championships. Jordan’s influence on his teammates was the major motivating factor in all
of those championship runs. Former teammate Steve Kerr puts it, “Michael (Jordan) was one of
those that would put pressure on you and he wanted to see if you were the type that could handle
it” (Kelly). This quote demonstrates the important leadership role that Jordan played on all of
those winning teams. His teammates highly respected him and played the game knowing that
Michael was supporting them and pushing them to achieve nothing but the best.
MJ changed the game of basketball not only through his playing styles, but also through
his marketability and advertisement for the NBA. To this day, Jordan is still a legendary icon for
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all sportswear and apparel. After signing with Nike in 1985, he started his new line of Air Jordan
sneakers and had an immediate impact on the league. Before Jordan’s brand of shoes hit the
market, the NBA had a rule that required all-white sneakers for its players. Nike, however,
helped Michael create a shoe that combined red and white color schemes to match the Chicago
Bulls’ jerseys, completely ignoring the rule and bringing fashion to the court. Although this did
not go over very well with the league as Jordan was fined for wearing his shoes, the new look hitops increased in popularity and revolutionized the culture of basketball (“Jordan: History of
Flight”). Kids, teenagers, and adults of all ages started to buy the latest Air Jordan sneakers. As
Darren Rovell of CNBC states, “[Jordan] made buying Air Jordans an annual ritual” (Rovell).
Commercials promoting the brand became mainstream to viewers all across America and all
over the world. Jordan’s line of basketball kicks continued to grow every year, and reached
twenty-four different pairs by 2009, which excludes the women’s line of shoes and the baseball
cleats created in his later years. According to a sports market retailing firm, SportsOneSource,
“The Jordan brand has a 10.8 percent share of the overall US shoe market, which makes it the
second biggest brand in the country and more than twice the size of Adidas’ share” (Rovell).
This is an unbelievable feat, considering all of the famous shoe companies available and a prime
example of Michael Jordan’s widespread influence. His brand also produced different types of
apparel, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, basketball shorts, sweat bands, and other sportswear
accessories. Ira Berkow of the New York Times described Jordan in as a “canny N.B.A.
marketing strategy and [a] reception worldwide as a crossover superstar” (Berkow). He united all
aspects of the commercial world and depicted himself as a true icon in society. Air Jordan’s
“Jumpman” logo has become a trademark for basketball and is a major symbol of MJ’s greatness
on and off the court.
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Michael Jordan’s impact extended even further than the sporting industry. His name
began to circulate on Wheaties cereal boxes, Gatorade bottles, and Hanes underwear. He even
appeared in the hit movie Space Jam, where he acted as himself and played a friendly role with
Looney Toons characters, Bugs Bunny and Tasmanian Devil. Marketers saw the possible interest
that MJ could attract and pursued him to be the face of their companies. As a result of all the
advertisement hype, Jordan has generated enough revenue to make him the first athlete to reach
$1 billion (Rovell). This surpasses not only Kobe and LeBron, but also other infamous
superstars, such as Tiger Woods and Tom Brady. The craze and mania that Jordan has provided
for the NBA, sports, and the brand name businesses are not seen in any other basketball player,
let alone athlete.
Today, Jordan is still closely involved with the NBA. He is currently a majority owner of
the Charlotte Bobcats, helping to develop them into a big time organization. Just by his name and
reputation, Jordan attracts young players currently in the league to come play for his team.
Kemba Walker, a recent first-round pick by the Bobcats in the 2011 NBA draft, was quoted as
saying, “He's the greatest player to ever play the game so, anything I can learn from that man,
I'm going to ask a lot of questions” (Anthony). Jordan has also started to play an important role
in the current NBA lockout. Although keeping quiet at first, he has emerged as a leader for
small-market team owners like himself, and has advocated his plans to settle a deal between the
players and owners. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes, “Chicago Bulls fans well
remember Michael Jordan...coming in to save the day. On Saturday in New York, Jordan...was
one of many in attendance for labour negotiations in an attempt to save the NBA season”
(Johnson). The effect that Jordan has had on the game is still present today and will not fade
away anytime soon.
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When it comes to basketball, Michael Jordan is the leading figure and most influential
individual to ever play the game. His athletic capabilities and powerful body frame allowed him
to transform and dominate the way the game was played. Jordan’s scoring prowess was a
trademark of his playing styles and posed a major threat to other teams. In addition to offense,
defense was another strength of MJ’s game that often times goes unnoticed. His willingness to
help his team on both ends of the court, not just on offense, signifies the type of unselfish player
that Michael Jordan developed into. The leadership traits displayed during all of those
championship runs defined how important Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls and made him the
ultimate player and teammate. Also, Jordan’s vast influence off the court, from marketing shoes
and other products, to dealing with the current NBA lockout, instills Jordan as a complete, wellrounded basketball player, athlete, and legend. A quote from Darren Rovell sums up MJ’s
greatness the best, stating, “[The] next Michael Jordan isn’t…Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.
There is no next Michael Jordan” (Rovell).
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Works Cited
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<http://www.nba.com/statistics/default_all_time_leaders/AllTimeLeadersPTSQuery.html
?topic=4>.
Anthony, Mike. "Kemba Walker Talks Draft, Bobcats, Michael Jordan, UConn, Etc."
Courant.com. Hartford Connecticut Blogs, 23 June 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
<http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2011/06/kemba-walker-talks-draftbobca.html>.
"Basketball Statistics & History." Basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Web. 21
Nov. 2011. <http://www.basketball-reference.com/>.
Berkow, Ira. "Looking Over Jordan." Nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 31 Jan.
1999. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.
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DePaula, Nick. "The Story Behind Michael Jordan's Iconic Free-Throw Dunk Photo.
"Sole Collector. Sole Collector, 23 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
<http://solecollector.com/Sneakers/News/The-Story-Behind-Michael-Jordan-s-IconicFree-Throw-Dunk-Photo/>.
Johnson, K.C. "Michael Jordan Taking the Lead on Behalf of Small-market Teams"
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<http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/historyofflight/>.
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Kelly, Victor. "Steve Kerr Interview." IGN Sports. International Gaming Network, 13
Mar. 2007. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
<http://sports.ign.com/articles/772/772380p1.html>.
"Michael Jordan Teammates in the Championship Years." Michael Jordan's World. 2010.
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<http://www.nbauniverse.com/usa_basketball.htm>.
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Sporting News, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
<http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-03-14/phil-jackson-says-kobe-bryant-notin-michael-jordans-company>.
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