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

[Ogaju]

I believe that MJ more than any player else benefits so well with the stars aligning to create his legend that no one will ever surpass him as a BB legend. Here is why:

1. The acrobatic display in his rookie season that earned him the name AIR JORDAN. I remember folks leaving work and school early to catch Bulls games that rookie season.

2. His foot injury his sophomore year in NBA because that saved him from the sophomore regression. (no the surgery did not give him a bionic foot, or did it?)

3. Nike - Boy did Nike pour a lot of money into pushing the Jordan brand.

4. That 63 point game against Celtics in the playoffs. I think it may have been in the Garden.

5. Probably the most important factor - validation from Bird and Magic, the pioneers of the modern NBA, that Jordan was the greatest.

6. Those Nike commercials directed by Spike Lee.

7. Jordan's charm - I cannot remember any player that hated Jordan - this actually prompted Sir Charles to chastise his teammates for joking with MJ while he burned them on the court.

8. That final shot in a Bull's uniform - story perfect ending.

9. Maybe it was just the shoes. NIKE was a big big part. I think he was the first to have shoes named after him.

I don't think there is any other player that will enjoy the alignment of factors in this manner.

So the three most important factors were NIKE, TV, and Bird and Magic openly saying MJ was the best while they were still playing.

[Roy H.]

Don't forget 6 championships and a 72 win season.  The dunk contests helped, too.

[Ogaju]

I was going to add the championships and Phil Jackson, but I decided against that because while I believe another player can come around and do those things - win 6 chips and 72 game season, that player will still not attain the legend of MJ.

[LarBrd33]

If Jordan was playing in this sports internet culture, he'd be scrutinized probably even more than LeBron James.  Especially those early years where he failed to lead a team to a .500 record and got beaten badly by the Bad Boy Pistons.

If LeBron had played in the sports culture Jordan was raised in, he'd be as glorified and beloved as Michael Jordan.

LeBron's resume at the same age is arguably better than Jordan. 


That said, Jordan is the greatest of all time.  He wasn't "overrated".  His legend was warranted.  He was incredible. 

[lightspeed5]

[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

[rjb182]

I think the main factor, so far unmentioned, was Jordan's insanely, almost weirdly competitive nature. Jordan and Bird (and perhaps Bill Russell, I'm not old enough to say) were in a class by themselves when it came to killer instinct.

Jordan combined this once-in-a-generation temperament with previously unseen skills and Scottie Pippen for a wingman. Result = 6 championships, and I really think it would be eight if not for the baseball hiatus.

Jordan, at the top of his game, was as close to unbeatable as any pro athlete I've ever seen.

[Celtics4ever]

The NBA and Bob Costa created it through the media.   Nike and Jordan himself with rings and unlimited advertising.

[PhoSita]

6 championships including two threepeats, most dominant player ever -- statistically or otherwise, numerous MVPs and a DPOY, a NCAA championship, countless "clutch" moments in the regular season and the playoffs, including tons of moments in the Finals . . . .


MJ is not overrated.

[nickagneta]

One thing that gets over looked by guys, Michael Jordan was, and still is for his age, a very handsome man. He became an advertising colossus through his prowess as a player, his ability to communicate and because the camera absolutely loved him. His cross over appeal to women was probably the best in history and helped to bring women into watching the NBA and becoming basketball fans.

[Eja117]

I think the fact that there were no other Jordan's at his time matters. If he plays in the 80s he has two or three rings tops, and if he plays against Kobe and Shaq or Duncan he has a couple less

[Eja117]

One thing that gets over looked by guys, Michael Jordan was, and still is for his age, a very handsome man. He became an advertising colossus through his prowess as a player, his ability to communicate and because the camera absolutely loved him. His cross over appeal to women was probably the best in history and helped to bring women into watching the NBA and becoming basketball fans.

I disagree to disagree on this point. This post is insightful and makes me think

[CelticsFanNC]

Jordan was amazing. No doubt about it.  The best I've ever seen.  Those 6 titles though to me are a bit over stated or boosted his legacy more then maybe they should.

Do his Bulls teams win 6 titles or even any titles in the 1980's rather then the 1990's.   Were his teams as great as Magic's Lakers of Bird's Celtics?  I don't think they do or were.    The best teams of the 1980's were absolutely stacked. They had more talent and better depth then any of Jordan's title teams did.   Go position by position and I just don't see Jordan's Bulls of the 90's beating either the 80's Celtics or Lakers.  Bulls Finals foes weren't exactly consistent powerhouses either.

Why were the 90's a weaker decade at the top then the 80's?  There was a tremendous amount of expansion from the mid 80's through the late 90's. expansion tends to water down the entire product and spread the talent more thinly.  We're any of Jordan's finals opponents or the teams he beat to get to the Finals even close to as stacked as the teams at the top in the 80's or even today?

I just believe the Lakers and Celtics of the 80's had a much tougher road to the title then Jordan's teams did.

If NBA titles are one of the major factors in measuring greatness at the highest level then of course Bill Russell stands well above everyone.  The reason most say he doesn't is due to competition level during his era of dominance. The same should apply to Jordan.  Jordan didn't truly dominate until the 90's.   

He's still the greatest I've seen in 40+ years of following the NBA but his legend gets inflated by the 6 NBA titles he probably doesn't win a decade earlier.

Just my opinion.  I expect people will disagree.

[wahz]

1. David Stern wanting to promote individuals. He has been very open about players not having helmets and caps and being more visible than other pro athletes.

2. Stern changing how the ref's behaved. Great scorers like Kareem, Havlicek, Bird, Malone, and Hayes used to get HAMMERED with no call. Suddenly you could hardly breathe on the stars and for many of us who have watched for a long while, this change was sudden and obvious.

3. Magic getting aids and Larry hurting his back. The void was filled by MJ.

4. The lack of strong competition right at that transition point. Hakeem was the greatest other player but he wasn't a great interview. Nor was Ewing. Bird and Magic were done. Shaq was young

5. MJ was really good, had the heart of a champ, was well spoken, handsome, and at the time we heard nice things about him.

[Ogaju]

One thing that gets over looked by guys, Michael Jordan was, and still is for his age, a very handsome man. He became an advertising colossus through his prowess as a player, his ability to communicate and because the camera absolutely loved him. His cross over appeal to women was probably the best in history and helped to bring women into watching the NBA and becoming basketball fans.

Good point, but guys should not overlook this because Jordan single-handedly made it fashionable to spot BALD HEADS.