what in your opinion are the major factors that created the MJ legend

[celticdog]

When I was a boy I was an absolute nerd.  I never played or watched sports.  Jordan was the only athlete I knew because he was everywhere in the pop culture.  Jordan's legend is a combination of raw talent, aggressive captivating persona, one of the best marketing and propaganda campaigns in capitalist history, and being at the right place at the right time.

As a outsider to sports MJ is burned into my brain by the mass media.  I remember:

Michael Jackson/Michael Jordan
Nike Air sneaks
Jordan Cologne
Space Jam
Jordan Wheaties
swoosh sign everywhere riding on MJ's talent

[Eja117]

Somehow Nike managed to market him to everyone all at the same time. Rich kids, poor kids, middle class kids, white kids, black kids, international kids. They managed to do the same thing later with tiger. It's why they hate Tebow, and why we'll never see another Mohammed Ali. MJ was the first major athlete that said nothing meaningful and stood for nothing and would rather sell sneakers that take a stand on anything whatsoever. He was the first human billboard. Quite a few athletes noticed and followed suit.

[D.o.s.]

Jordan's legend is a combination of raw talent, aggressive captivating persona, one of the best marketing and propaganda campaigns in capitalist history, and being at the right place at the right time.

Add in the fact that, often lost in the clutter, is the fact that Jordan is, at absolute worst and most denigrating, a top five player in NBA history.

The thing was, he is a hyper competitive monster, which is what sports fans tend to root for and cherish. That's why so many people hate on Barkley, Vince Carter, TMac, and other guys who never lived up to their potential, and why people hated on LeBron for not having "the will to win."

Once he retired, and his reign was thoroughly in the past, that was when people started to realize that yeah, Jordan won more games, but Charles Barkley would be way more fun to hang out with.

[wiley]

He gained steam with 63 points in a Boston playoff game against Larry's Celtics.
Followed by Larry legend complimenting him.

Also, he wasn't marketed coming out of high school.  He was an underrated late bloomer picked (forgot where he was picked in his draft...4th?)

I think the fact that he surprised the world with his unworldly talent
and came across real humble (not spoiled) in interviews
did a great deal for his legacy.

[CeltsPride]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

[Eja117]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

he was undeserving at the time and is nowhere near the pantheon of greatest players. He mowes the lawn of that place.

[ManUp]

He was unrivaled in his prime (no Bird to his Magic, or Wilt to his Russel) and dominated his peers (Barkley, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, etc). Winning 3 straight, retiring, coming back and winning another 3 straight. He was basically undefeated in his prime and had a strangle hold on the league and the title. Combine his league domination with his insanely impressive and fun to watch style of play with the right marketing and that's 80% of it.

[Finkelskyhook]

The way he was officiated and marketed by Stern and the NBA.

[nickagneta]

The way he was officiated and marketed by Stern and the NBA.

LOL...I was waiting for this post from you.

[Casperian]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

he was undeserving at the time and is nowhere near the pantheon of greatest players. He mowes the lawn of that place.

[CeltsPride]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

he was undeserving at the time and is nowhere near the pantheon of greatest players. He mowes the lawn of that place.

Mowing the lawn? More like at the front door using his dong as a battering ram with all the greats on the other side piled on top of each other trying to hold the door shut. 

[Eja117]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

he was undeserving at the time and is nowhere near the pantheon of greatest players. He mowes the lawn of that place.

Mowing the lawn? More like at the front door using his dong as a battering ram with all the greats on the other side piled on top of each other trying to hold the door shut.

is Scottie pollen on the other side? Maybe some of the kids on the playground that tried to pick up teams so they'd keep winning?

[D.o.s.]

The LeBron phenomenon has taught us that espn can create a money making undeserving legend without much of an excuse. It helps if others like sports illustrated jump on the hype train.  In this case it seemed a little more deserved because other players were in awe of him, and then after dominating America he dominated the Olympics. Also hitting a lucky shot in the championship game just seemed preordained. Things like that have made it harder for bron by comparison

LOL at Lebron being undeserving of the hype. That was a fun argument 2 years. 2 rings, 2 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs and a gold medal later, Lebron has earned the hype.

he was undeserving at the time and is nowhere near the pantheon of greatest players. He mowes the lawn of that place.

Mowing the lawn? More like at the front door using his dong as a battering ram with all the greats on the other side piled on top of each other trying to hold the door shut.

Right now I'd say he has a spare room on exclusive reserve.

Which is pretty astonishing, as he's only 28.

[Donoghus]

Nike, NBC, NBA global expansion marketing of the '90s, 6 championship rings to name a few.