What seperates Jordan from the rest..

[Steve04]

With all the comparisons the likes of Kobe, Vince, T-Mac, etc engender with their stelling play, I think we need to look at why Jordan was Jordan, and what seperated him from the rest. This should be pretty brief, in fact, I'll get right to the point:

It was all mental, that and work ethic. That's right. T-Mac, Kobe, Vince, all of them probably are more naturally talented at the game of basketball. MJ was more athletic, but in terms of natural talent I'd say they probably have the upper hand.

But while Talent was one of MJ's upper hands, since none at his position was anywhere near his talent level, I believe it was Jordan's mental toughness that seperated him from the rest. He also was uber competetive and that really came through.

When people try to compare the aforementioned players, and then bemoan the mistakes they make, they have to realise they aren't Jordan because they don't have Jordan's smartness and mental moxy. Jordan always learned from his mistakes, it doesn't seem like the top players of todays SG generation neccessarily do. Jordan always had the mental edge over his opponent, and then he capitalized on that advantage by his play, not making dumb mistakes. And even early in his career when he made some of those dumb mistakes, guess what? He stopped, and he learned. I don't see some of these other players learning, and progressing mentally like Jordan did, and that is what seperates him, in my opinion.

[Jackal]

That's right. T-Mac, Kobe, Vince, all of them probably are more naturally talented at the game of basketball.

*cough* No they aren't.

MJ's intelligence was and is what sets him apart. Once MJ was on the floor, he seemed like a man without any fear. (See Vince Carter, can't be afraid to go to the hoop my friend.) He was a man without any air. (See Kobe Bryant, no need to demand the ball. It'll come if you let it.) He was a man who wanted to win, even more when it seemed impossible. (See McGrady, what's with just giving it up man?)

Jordan's basketball intelligence won't be touched. Not for awhile. Bryant doesn't have it, VC doesn't have it nor does T-Mac.

Jordan was also a great trash talker, his words, his antics, sheesh...his name just sent people into jitters. No one shudders at the name of Bryant, McGrady or Carter.

After quite a few seasons we're seeing James who has a bit of Magic in him, more Grant, but you get the idea.

Perhaps in the future, we see a player with Mike's intelligence.

[DipSetVC]

^ That has to be Jackal's best post ever, he said exactly what I was just about to post. Comparing VC, T-Mac and Kobe to MJ are insulting to Jordan, he was way ahead of them at ever aspect of the game.

[Wormy10]

[ quote="Jackal"]Perhaps in the future, we see a player with Mike's intelligence. [/b][/i][/color][/quote]
I agree....but that would be hard to find

[patrixxx73]

That's right. T-Mac, Kobe, Vince, all of them probably are more naturally talented at the game of basketball.

*cough* No they aren't.

MJ's intelligence was and is what sets him apart. Once MJ was on the floor, he seemed like a man without any fear. (See Vince Carter, can't be afraid to go to the hoop my friend.) He was a man without any air. (See Kobe Bryant, no need to demand the ball. It'll come if you let it.) He was a man who wanted to win, even more when it seemed impossible. (See McGrady, what's with just giving it up man?)

Jordan's basketball intelligence won't be touched. Not for awhile. Bryant doesn't have it, VC doesn't have it nor does T-Mac.

Jordan was also a great trash talker, his words, his antics, sheesh...his name just sent people into jitters. No one shudders at the name of Bryant, McGrady or Carter.

After quite a few seasons we're seeing James who has a bit of Magic in him, more Grant, but you get the idea.

Perhaps in the future, we see a player with Mike's intelligence.

I totally agree with Jackal! Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, etc. may be talented in terms of basketball "skills" (dunking, shooting, etc.) But they don't have Michael Jordan's:
1.) Determination - If he wants to win, one way or another, he will win!
2.) Basketball I.Q. - knows when and when not to shoot, pass, etc...
3.) Competitiveness - When theres competiton, he always emerges as the winner... (Jordan vs Bird, Jordan vs Magic, Jordan vs Barkley, Jordan vs Ewing, Jordan vs Thomas, Jordan vs Olajuwon, Jordan vs Drexler, Jordan vs Payton, Jordan vs Malone, Jordan vs Time, Jordan vs Gambling, Jordan vs Jordan , etc)
4.) Jordan's Heart separates him from the rest!

[Homer]

.

[kevC]

No one shudders at the name of Bryant,

except that girl he raped... YES ANOTHER KOBE JOKE!!! MM HMM I SAID IT BIATCH!!!

[Steve04]

Intelligence and mental ability are one and the same jackal. And they are, when MJ first came into the league he wasn't the polished all around player that he was when he retired.

[whlee75]

I agree with everyone said here
But the main thing that separate MJ and the rest is his 6 rings...
and two 3-peats
If he hadn't won any championship I doubt he'd attract so much praise...

[The Game]

One simple word "intelligence" (it doesnt sound that simple on Kobe or Vince ) Also Jordan was desirous.

Kobe is an intelligent player and he has 3 rings to prove it.. Kobe had a lot desire, thats the reason why he and Shaq are not teammates anymore.

Kobe will always be Kobe and Mike will always be Mike, get over it.

[Matthew]

Kobe had shaq as a teammate, and has 3 rings to prove it...

Kobe had a lot desire, thats the reason why he and Shaq are not teammates anymore.

no, kobe wants personal glory instead of championships, thats why shaq is no longer a laker. good luck kobe

[Fresh8]

Kobe may not be the next Mike...any hopes for him to be have been tarnished by his reputation.

But as Michael Jordan said, "Unless the league makes the basket higher or changes most of the rules of the game- there will be a chance we'll see someone like him..."

Maybe this player will appear in our lifetime...let's hope he does! It's just a matter of time!

[Homer]

.

[Andrew]

It's also important to remember that Michael Jordan and indeed all of the great players sustained a certain level of excellence for over a decade. We've yet to see Kobe stand as the undisputed leader of a team as so many of the great players were, and he's really only been comparable to the greats for the last couple of seasons or so - and even then, most of their individual seasons are far superior. To suggest that he is at their level or that he dwarfs their accomplishments is to greatly underrate a great many players, not only Michael Jordan.

Likewise, T-Mac has shown flashes of MJ-like performances such as leading the league in scoring and highlight reel moves, but he's yet to become a player who can really finish off a team, a player who can lead his time through difficult times and beyond the first round in the playoffs. Vince Carter's injury riddled years have knocked him down a peg or two - I liken him more to Dominique Wilkins, who was a great player and definitely underrated.

But I come back to the point about the greats sustaining a level of excellence for over a decade. Before Kobe and T-Mac and Vince and every other superstar in the league are worthy of being considered equal to past NBA greats, they must achieve a certain level of excellence where they are simply adding to their legend, where no one can really say anything good about them that is new, yet they continue to shine with championships and other accomplishments; proving themselves over and over again over lengthy NBA careers.

I think another measure of greatness is a player's weakest season. Consider Michael Jordan's final season in the NBA: 20 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 44% on FG and 82% from the free throw line with a couple of 40 point games and performances that "turned back the clock", at the age of 40.

His numbers from that season would be considered a career year for many players, a solid above-average career year. Players have been touted the Most Improved Player in the league for lesser performances and contributions to their team's success. Yet for Michael Jordan, it was a performance that led people to declare that he was "washed up" and that it was time for him to step away.

Aside from the numerical difference to his best seasons, the attitude towards his final season simply confirmed how great his best seasons were. Anything average, anything that was simply good in the NBA was considered below par for him. This is a standard that is not unique to Michael Jordan.

Even during his prime, a 26 point game from him would seem below average (as it often was, given that he is a 30 ppg scorer for his career). For most players a 26 point game would represent a great game at the offensive end. For Michael Jordan, it was a quiet night. Holding him to between 25 and 35 points seemed reason for celebration, the same way a pitcher might be praised for pitching a strike to Babe Ruth before he knocked it out of the park or a boxer might be lauded for lasting a round with Muhammed Ali before being knocked out.

It would be ignorant of me to suggest that today's players and players of the future have no chance of surpassing the accomplishments of Michael Jordan and the other great players in NBA history, but I feel it is equally ignorant to suggest they already have or that it will be easy.

The fog of memory seems to either enhance or detract. In the case of the NBA and its stars in the 80s and 90s, I think it seems to definitely detract, which is a tremendous shame. Today's stars are worthy of praise and admiration for their accomplishments, but all things considered, they still have much to accomplish before they can really be considered to be at the level of excellence that the players of yesteryear achieved.

[matmat8]

Kobe and T-Mac are young, Jordan came to his best pretty late and before was trying to win it alone too. I thnik they're going to improve but to reach comparisons to Jordan i doubt it.

James might be the next best thing, very young but already mature (in comparison to his age), he has great overall skills, very athletic and even more important UNSELFISH.

[Homer]

.

[Drex]

But the main thing that separate MJ and the rest is his 6 rings...
and two 3-peats
If he hadn't won any championship I doubt he'd attract so much praise...

LOL Guess what? If Jordan didn't had those skills already mentioned he wouldn't got those rings.

[Donatello]

No one shudders at the name of Bryant,

except that girl he raped... YES ANOTHER KOBE JOKE!!! MM HMM I SAID IT BIATCH!!!

if you really think that kobe would have to rape a girl to get sex, you have problems.

[Jackal]

I think that way of thinking is crap.

If she said stop just as he's getting his groove on and ready to ejaculate, you think he will stop, go out into the lobby and pick up another chick? No, he'll probably keep on fucking her, you've been there...when you've got it going, nothing can stop you.

[j.23]

I think another measure of greatness is a player's weakest season. Consider Michael Jordan's final season in the NBA: 20 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 44% on FG and 82% from the free throw line with a couple of 40 point games and performances that "turned back the clock", at the age of 40.

His numbers from that season would be considered a career year for many players, a solid above-average career year. Players have been touted the Most Improved Player in the league for lesser performances and contributions to their team's success. Yet for Michael Jordan, it was a performance that led people to declare that he was "washed up" and that it was time for him to step away.

couldn't agree more, it really pissed me off how a lot of people called him washed up because he couldn't put up numbers like previous years.. they seem to forget (or chose to be ignorant) of his age. we've seen quite a bit of 40 year olds in the league but none of them had the stats like MJ did.. a lot of players now a days really start to decline when they pass the age of 30, 31 and so on.. MJ won his final MVP award at the age of 35.. putting up around 28 ppg, 5 boards and around 4 assists at the 2 guard position.. a position dominated by a lot of younger players.. not only that, he was named to the nba all defensive team as well.. (can't say the same for GP)
until then, kobe and t-mac still have a while to go till they can even be mentioned in the same breath as MJ

[Carlos Boozer]

One simple word "intelligence" (it doesnt sound that simple on Kobe or Vince ) Also Jordan was desirous.

Who do you work for????

[VCFAN]

You guys are so ignorant to say that Michael Jordan is so great by his stats when he was 40. What about Karl Malone. His stats were just as good if not better than Michael Jordan at the same age. Look at his 2002/03 stats (the year he turned 40). Does this mean Karl Malone is a better player. No but please don't use his age on the Wizards as an arguement. Karl Malone was putting up stats comparable to the best players in the league in his late 30's.


Karl Malone
YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
02-03 UTA 81 81 36.2 .462 .214 .763 1.40 6.40 7.80 4.7 1.68 .38 20.6
the couple of years before that he was quite a bit better also.

Here are Michael Jordans stats the year he turned 40.

YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
02-03 WAS 82 67 37.0 .445 .291 .821 .90 5.20 6.10 3.8 1.50 .48 20.0

j.23 you tell me who is better at 40.

[Alcoholic]

Was Malone 40 that year or 39? Or both?

I bet if he stayed in Utah he'd still have great stats.

[VCFAN]

that year he turned 40 on July 24th. So I guess he was 39 all season but he turned forty after the champioships. Although he is only 5 months younger than jordan. I also agree that if he stayed on the Jazz his stats would be almost as good as the year he left. He is a great player.

[Alcoholic]

Yeah, it sucks that he just fell apart this year... I guess the paycut, the new offense, his mom passing away and other stuff just made him crumble.. . He was in Utah all his career, so if he stayed just one more year it would have been easy for him.