MJ

[Boris Badenov]

Jordan had a season when he averaged 32.5 points / 8.0 rebounds / 8.0 assists / 2.9 steals / 53.8% FG%

... and that arguably wasn't even his best year individually.

I remember a saw a stat. In the 1993 NBA Finals, his numbers for the series are...

41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 51% shooting, 40% 3PT.

I mean talk about unreal.

How about this one. We've had many conversations about how it's tougher to perform in the playoffs - other teams are much better, and the overall intensity is greater.

Setting aside his rookie year, Jordan averaged more than 30ppg in the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons - which probably would have been 15-16 if he hadn't cut his career short. He did this on nearly 50% shooting.

Boris,

Please read Sam Smith concerning Stern demanding MJ leave the NBA due to his gambling issues.  MJ did NOT cut HIS career short!!!  However, you could say that he did cut his career short due to his gambling addictions and propensity to hang out with drug king pins on SC golf courses!!!

Smitty77

Why he took the time off is not the point, Smitty. I'm just noting that if he'd played a longer career, his number of titles and other achievements would be even greater.

[Finkelskyhook]

"That MJ was a great basketball player is beyond question."

Really?  lol

Russell, Bird, Robertson, Jabbar, Chamberlain, etc etc etc...Didn't have 3 officials on the court ignoring traveling, hacking, charging, and palming.

They, unlike Jordan and the modern-day messiah...Actually all played by the same rules.

[manl_lui]

also like to point out, MJ retired twice, who knows what he could've done with those extra 2 years

[D.o.s.]

"That MJ was a great basketball player is beyond question."

Really?  lol

Russell, Bird, Robertson, Jabbar, Chamberlain, etc etc etc...Didn't have 3 officials on the court ignoring traveling, hacking, charging, and palming.

They, unlike Jordan and the modern-day messiah...Actually all played by the same rules.

But that's the thing - when it comes to Russell and Chamberlain and Robertson, we don't know that for sure. Who knows how many Jordan-esque calls Wilt received in his favor during his heyday? It's kind of like JFK - we didn't find out about his dalliances until much later, because the press didn't have any interest in sharing it with the public.

[RyNye]

Michael Jordan's CAREER averages:

30.1 points per game
2.3 steals per game
5.3 assists per game
6.2 rebounds per game
49.7% shooting

That's over 15 seasons, 1072 career games. Including his final years in Washington.

That is unreal. And watching him play … if anything, he looked BETTER than his stats show. Watching him take over a game is different than any other player.

He averaged 43.7ppg/5.8assists/6.3rebounds/2.3steals/1.3blocks on 50.5% shooting for a play-off series. He averaged 35.1ppg/6.0assists/6rebounds/2steals on 47.5% shooting for an entire play-offs - 19 games, ending with his third ring.

[RyNye]

"That MJ was a great basketball player is beyond question."

Really?  lol

Russell, Bird, Robertson, Jabbar, Chamberlain, etc etc etc...Didn't have 3 officials on the court ignoring traveling, hacking, charging, and palming.

They, unlike Jordan and the modern-day messiah...Actually all played by the same rules.

But that's the thing - when it comes to Russell and Chamberlain and Robertson, we don't know that for sure. Who knows how many Jordan-esque calls Wilt received in his favor during his heyday? It's kind of like JFK - we didn't find out about his dalliances until much later, because the press didn't have any interest in sharing it with the public.

Also, look at the all-time free throws list. For attempts, Michael Jordan is only 9th all time. Behind Wilt, Kareem and Robertson (and Jerry West). Also, MJ played before some of the rule changes that Finkelskyhook mentioned anyway. Basically, he's just misinformed, like most conspiracy theorists.

[Celtics17]

Debating how players would play in different eras under different rules is kind of meaningless. If you say MJ played against better or inferior competition then Bird, Russ etc. then you also have to look at how often Wilt was illegally zoned up.

I once read Chamberlain say that he challenged anybody to find a pic of him playing where there werent at least three players on the opposite team within an arms reach of him. It sounded funny at the time but they really did play illegal zone defense on him.

Also, if you talk about how rules were changed and you really look close you would find the rules were changed to add to Jordans image. However, the rule changes made in Wilt's day were all aimed at slowing down his dominance!

[D.o.s.]

Also, if you talk about how rules were changed and you really look close you would find the rules were changed to add to Jordans image. However, the rule changes made in Wilt's day were all aimed at slowing down his dominance!

Debating how players would play in different eras under different rules is kind of meaningless.

[BballTim]

Also, if you talk about how rules were changed and you really look close you would find the rules were changed to add to Jordans image. However, the rule changes made in Wilt's day were all aimed at slowing down his dominance!

Debating how players would play in different eras under different rules is kind of meaningless.

  He has a point. Even if you don't compare how players would play in different eras, but the fact that the league made rules to make Wilt less able to dominate speaks to how dominant a player he was.

[Smitty77]

Jordan had a season when he averaged 32.5 points / 8.0 rebounds / 8.0 assists / 2.9 steals / 53.8% FG%

... and that arguably wasn't even his best year individually.

I remember a saw a stat. In the 1993 NBA Finals, his numbers for the series are...

41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 51% shooting, 40% 3PT.

I mean talk about unreal.

How about this one. We've had many conversations about how it's tougher to perform in the playoffs - other teams are much better, and the overall intensity is greater.

Setting aside his rookie year, Jordan averaged more than 30ppg in the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons - which probably would have been 15-16 if he hadn't cut his career short. He did this on nearly 50% shooting.

Boris,

Please read Sam Smith concerning Stern demanding MJ leave the NBA due to his gambling issues.  MJ did NOT cut HIS career short!!!  However, you could say that he did cut his career short due to his gambling addictions and propensity to hang out with drug king pins on SC golf courses!!!

Smitty77

To me that proves his cases even stronger - did a three peat, took two years off ( for whatever reasons, I guess we will never know ) came back and did it again.  If he didn't have those issues, he would have rattled off 8 titles in a row. Just take a minute and go through Jordan's stats? they are completely insane.  I said it earlier, I put a ton of stock in what his peers say and almost all of them say he is the best.  I have seen Bird say that on several occasions..

You are really and seriously saying that Jordan and his 6 titles in 16 years is greater than what Bill Russell did winning 11 titles in 13 years???  Are you being serious?

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

Jordan had a season when he averaged 32.5 points / 8.0 rebounds / 8.0 assists / 2.9 steals / 53.8% FG%

... and that arguably wasn't even his best year individually.

I remember a saw a stat. In the 1993 NBA Finals, his numbers for the series are...

41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 51% shooting, 40% 3PT.

I mean talk about unreal.

How about this one. We've had many conversations about how it's tougher to perform in the playoffs - other teams are much better, and the overall intensity is greater.

Setting aside his rookie year, Jordan averaged more than 30ppg in the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons - which probably would have been 15-16 if he hadn't cut his career short. He did this on nearly 50% shooting.

Boris,

Please read Sam Smith concerning Stern demanding MJ leave the NBA due to his gambling issues.  MJ did NOT cut HIS career short!!!  However, you could say that he did cut his career short due to his gambling addictions and propensity to hang out with drug king pins on SC golf courses!!!

Smitty77

Why he took the time off is not the point, Smitty. I'm just noting that if he'd played a longer career, his number of titles and other achievements would be even greater.

Boris,

He would NOT have won 11 World Championships as Russell did, especially in only 13 years!!!!!  He won 6 titles in 16 stinking years.  NOT even close!!!

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

also like to point out, MJ retired twice, who knows what he could've done with those extra 2 years

He definitely would NOT have won 5 more titles in those 2 years to give him 11 like Bill Russell won in ONLY 13 years!!!

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

Michael Jordan's CAREER averages:

30.1 points per game
2.3 steals per game
5.3 assists per game
6.2 rebounds per game
49.7% shooting

That's over 15 seasons, 1072 career games. Including his final years in Washington.

That is unreal. And watching him play … if anything, he looked BETTER than his stats show. Watching him take over a game is different than any other player.

He averaged 43.7ppg/5.8assists/6.3rebounds/2.3steals/1.3blocks on 50.5% shooting for a play-off series. He averaged 35.1ppg/6.0assists/6rebounds/2steals on 47.5% shooting for an entire play-offs - 19 games, ending with his third ring.

You must be rather young, which is fine.  Bill Russell could take OVER a game and NEVER score a point.  Ask the greatest offensive player to EVER play the game, Wilt, about that!!!  MJ simply could NOT do what Bill could do defensively!!

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

"That MJ was a great basketball player is beyond question."

Really?  lol

Russell, Bird, Robertson, Jabbar, Chamberlain, etc etc etc...Didn't have 3 officials on the court ignoring traveling, hacking, charging, and palming.

They, unlike Jordan and the modern-day messiah...Actually all played by the same rules.

But that's the thing - when it comes to Russell and Chamberlain and Robertson, we don't know that for sure. Who knows how many Jordan-esque calls Wilt received in his favor during his heyday? It's kind of like JFK - we didn't find out about his dalliances until much later, because the press didn't have any interest in sharing it with the public.

Also, look at the all-time free throws list. For attempts, Michael Jordan is only 9th all time. Behind Wilt, Kareem and Robertson (and Jerry West). Also, MJ played before some of the rule changes that Finkelskyhook mentioned anyway. Basically, he's just misinformed, like most conspiracy theorists.

No RyNye, I would dare say you are misinformed to think that MJ could even carry Russell's jock strap!!!

Smitty

[D.o.s.]

Also, if you talk about how rules were changed and you really look close you would find the rules were changed to add to Jordans image. However, the rule changes made in Wilt's day were all aimed at slowing down his dominance!

Debating how players would play in different eras under different rules is kind of meaningless.

  He has a point. Even if you don't compare how players would play in different eras, but the fact that the league made rules to make Wilt less able to dominate speaks to how dominant a player he was.

As dominant as Shaq.