McGrady wants Jordan to start final All-Star Game

[.]

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0129/1501046.html

[ignatu]

This seems silly. Jordan said he wanted to be accepted on the team like everyone else. Karl Malone...as old as MJ and putting up better numbers and maybe in his last season...is not an All Star. MJ is playing pathetically....4-18 shooting the other night while his teammate Stackhouse is putting up 27 a game to try to bail them out.


MJ does not belong on the team. Bring him out for a cheer and a wave, and let the league's stars play. I doubt NBA fans want to see a tired MJ swiping at a ball as someone blows by him, or see him trying to put up a jump shot when he can't jump.

MJ was the greatest of all time in Chi. Now it's sad to watch. he couldn't even muster a decent performance in his last game in Chicago.

[.]

Carter should replace him.
But not T-Mac

[EGarrett]

I don't know why...Jordan is a washed up loser who wasn't that great to begin wi...oh wait...sorry...mistook myself for some other people on this board...

Classy gesture by McGrady.

[Big Answer]

Classy gesture by McGrady.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaah man...
Mcgrady seems to admire MJ a lot !!!!!!!!!
Y ????

[scubilete]

Maybe Cause MJ is still his Idol, McGrady might be one of those who grew up just watching Jordan not basketball.

[GloveGuy]

Hey it's MJ's last year. This guy made the NBA what it is now. McGrady is still going to get more time the MJ. Tim Hardway gave his starting spot to Magic Johnson in '92 and Doug Collins stepped aside so John Havlicek could start in '78. It's MJ's, the IMO the greatest player to ever play basketball, last year, his last all-star game. Even if he doesn't have the typical all-star stats, he can still play with the young guys.

[scubilete]

the greatest player to ever play basketball, last year, his last all-star game

Does that mean Bird & Magic were not players?, Actually, MJ is the biggest Joker ever to play the game. The only player ever who's planing to retire 3 times and you can expect him to come back & retire again. The NBA is what it is now cause Bird & Magic took it to that new Level, I don't see what Michael did for the Game. He made his game great under the shadows of Magic & Bird and Now he's the greatest of all time, I know he can score, I bet is difficult to defend him, the same as any other of those Legends. At least MJ is in the All-Star, I hope McGrady offer is accepted but don't be so sure this is his last all-star, as soon he retires and see the Wiz fans stop getting to the stadium, his pocket getting empty, he might plan for another come back.

[EGarrett]

Um...Magic retired three times also. First when he initially contacted HIV...he then attempted a comeback the year after that and retired again...then came back again in 96 and retired for good.

[scubilete]

LMAO, that makes 2 times, he didn't make any attempt to come back until he saw Van Exel, Jones & Ceballos getting the Showtime going. He just came back on 96 and screw the Lakers up, so decided to retire, that makes 2 again.

Unless you are talking about his short career as a manager, that doesn't count cause he was not shooting the ball.

[Electrifyer]

Well, MJ declined the invitation to start from both McGrady and Iverson: http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0130/1501545.html

[Boyk]

This seems silly. Jordan said he wanted to be accepted on the team like everyone else. Karl Malone...as old as MJ and putting up better numbers and maybe in his last season...is not an All Star. MJ is playing pathetically....4-18 shooting the other night while his teammate Stackhouse is putting up 27 a game to try to bail them out.


MJ does not belong on the team. Bring him out for a cheer and a wave, and let the league's stars play. I doubt NBA fans want to see a tired MJ swiping at a ball as someone blows by him, or see him trying to put up a jump shot when he can't jump.

MJ was the greatest of all time in Chi. Now it's sad to watch. he couldn't even muster a decent performance in his last game in Chicago.

heheeeheheheheeheeehheeh funny

thats why MJ had 24pnts 4rebs 4asts on 11\24 shooting
and stackhouse had a pathetic 5pnts 6asts on 2\13 shooting

[EGarrett]

LMAO, that makes 2 times, he didn't make any attempt to come back until he saw Van Exel, Jones & Ceballos getting the Showtime going. He just came back on 96 and screw the Lakers up, so decided to retire, that makes 2 again.

Unless you are talking about his short career as a manager, that doesn't count cause he was not shooting the ball.

http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:HwvsGoEd_2IC:espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016111.html+Magic+Johnson+comeback&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

From that article:

"In 1990, Magic won his third regular-season MVP and in April 1991 he passed Robertson as the all-time assists leaders (Stockton has since passed both). Seven months later, on Nov. 7, 1991, Magic shocked the world with his HIV announcement.

Despite retirement, Magic was voted a starter for the 1992 All-Star Game and was voted the game's MVP after scoring 25 points with nine assists. In August of that year, he won a gold medal at the Olympics as a member of the Dream Team.

The following month, he announced he would return to the NBA on a limited basis, and played some exhibition games. But before the season started he retired again, citing controversy over his comeback as some players, such as Utah's Karl Malone, were vocal about competing against a player who tested HIV positive.

Magic became Lakers coach in March 1994, but the team went 5-11 under him and he quit after the season. Two years later, at the age of 36, he returned -- as a player. Having gained 25 pounds to put him at 250, he played power forward for 32 games. In May 1996, he retired for good, finishing his career with 10,141 assists and 17,707 points (a 19.5 average)."

If you think that's twice then Jordan retired twice. If you think it's three times then Jordan retired three times. Magic attempted a comeback the year after he initially retired in '92...then attempted to come back again in '96. Jordan came back in 95 and then again currently...

No matter how you look at it Magic retired as many times as Jordan. Both left the game...came back and left again...then came back again when they had little left. That second come back being the last one. If coming back after you retire ruins your legacy...then Muhammed Ali...Sugar Ray Leonard...George Foreman...Bob Cousy...Bill Walton...Dominique Wilkins and a lot of others have ruined their legacy just because they wanted to keep playing the sport even after their bodies weren't able. The only difference between Jordan and them is that certain people on this board jump to criticize him at every opportunity before they even think...

[JJcoolL]

Dominique Wilkins and a lot of others have ruined their legacy just because they wanted to keep playing the sport even after their bodies weren't able

ummm what? dominique wilkins continued 2 dominate the sport until his last game in the nba, it was just a matter of giving him court time, which he didn't get.

[EGarrett]

If you call 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per for the Orlando Magic during the 98/99 season dominant. Normal people don't though. Dominique was a shell of himself at that time and was cut after 27 games. As I said...before you leap to criticize Jordan you might want to have some idea of what you're talking about. It's very common for players to continue playing the game until they are no longer physically capable or no team will sign them.

Did I mention that Kenny Smith attempted to come back a couple seasons ago and didn't even make training camp?

[Full Surface]

Allen Iverson offered MJ a spot too

[Rens]

These guys are nothing more than a bunch of publicity whores.

[scubilete]

No matter how you look at it Magic retired as many times as Jordan.

Are you trying to say that Magic played during that season? Does any exhibition games count as part of a season for you to say he played during that season and then he retired?, Lebron James played some exhibition games, did he just retire just cause he's not in the NBA now?even much better: Does the fact of you saying you would play and not doing it makes that a retirement?

I'll tell you what, if Jordan would have retired after the 95 season when he came back, that would count as a retirement cause he was in the roster and he played season games. How many times have you heard Jordan was practicing with the Wiz team bfore he decided to come back and he didn't do it at that time?, does that count as a retirement?.

he announced he would return to the NBA on a limited basis

there you said he announced he would play, did he play?
You can at least show me the Lakers Roster where he was included in that year and I would say he came back that year. You don't count the retirements that way, cause Barkley has been saying he would come back, how the hell can you say he retired again just cause he said he would play?

I don't know, maybe it's the way you understand what a retirement is, however you can say anything you want, I can't blame you for that. lol.

Dominique Wilkins and a lot of others have ruined their legacy just because they wanted to keep playing the sport even after their bodies weren't able

Notice that Dominique came back from some other country I believe Greece as a champion and MVP from that league to the Spurs who had Robinson injured that year and he played Great, so don't think he have ruined his legacy, he just made it stronger.

[JJcoolL]

4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds

well let me see, if he averaged 40 mins per game for that season, he would of averaged 21.5 points and 11.18 rebounds per game, so 'dominant' is the correct usage of words

[Wall St. Peon]

I don't know why...Jordan is a washed up loser who wasn't that great to begin wi...oh wait...sorry...mistook myself for some other people on this board...

Actually...we're saying he's not the greatest of all time because that's impossible...and we're saying he will be surpassed in the future...and we're saying that he's not as good as everyone says he is, as the media machine made him what he is still today. Of course, you copped out of that conversation when legitimate points were made...when you were regurgitating everything that was said by the media and fans...and ignored all other opinions different than yours...

I never said he was a washed up loser, but you're definately referring to the 'anti' (we're not anti, we're realistic/cynical, whatever you want to call it) Jordan posters. We're different, we're wrong, you're right, you're part of a large conformity. Please, martyr us for all to see! Bludgeon us with big fucking rocks! Yeah! If someone has a different opinion, make fun of them! If someone has a different opinion and has legitimate reasons for having that opinion, belittle them with comments about how they know nothing! How they're misinformed! How they're just plain wrong!

I will say, however, Magic retired three times...Jordan will retire three times...that's simple and can be proven...it's the other stuff we can discuss (well, it's not really discussing when points are made and ignored because useless media fed drivel seems to be the way to go on this board).

Oh yeah, here's my disclaimer:

I like MJ. MJ was a great player (operative word: was). He is one of the best to play the game to this point in time. Arguably the best guard of the 90's, probably the best player of the 90's (wait, that's conflicting you say? The early 90's were the end of the Gervins and Thomas' and etc. careers...)...however...he doesn't deserve to be in the All-Star game. He doesn't deserve to be starting. But, while I disagree with what he's done to the legaue, Jordan has done a great deal for the league by way of revenue and fans, and that does account for something when ratings of NBA games are lower than that of reality TV. It's a noble gesture to offer him the starting spot, and it's even nobler to turn it down. A big thumbs up on this one to the All-Stars...even though Jordan doesn't truly deserve it.

PS It is 4:30 am, I am mildly inebriated, so if there's any part that doesn't make too much sense, just ask and I'll clarify. Time to pass out...

[Rens]

4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds

well let me see, if he averaged 40 mins per game for that season, he would of averaged 21.5 points and 11.18 rebounds per game, so 'dominant' is the correct usage of words

If he was that dominating, he'd have actually played that many minutes.
Lavor Postell is averaging 19.46 ppg for the Knicks in 40 minutes, yet he only plays 7 a game I wonder why.There are many others like this too...

[JJcoolL]

who in the blue hell is lavor postell?

n e way don chaney is the worst coach in the nba because he is wasting the talented lee nailon. who's getting minutes in front of nailon? othella fukn harrington? clarence weatherspoon? and all i see in knicks boxscores is dnp-cd for nailon. i'm sorry miss chaney but ur husbands head problem is complicating.

[scubilete]

yeah, maybe Don chaney is not the best one for the job there.

I forgot Dominique's comeback on that year for the Magic, The Magic that year were equiped so they didn't give a chance to play that much, they even had his bro Gerald, nearly 5 points with no playing time, that's quite good for anyone.

I will say, however, Magic retired three times...Jordan will retire three times...that's simple and can be proven

That's not a come back, simply cause he didn't play officially. If you take anybody's word for what they said, Charles Barkley has retired 9 times, cause since he lost the finals in Phoenix he was attempting a retirement saying "This is my last year", and he would just come back the next year. In addition, after he officially retired, he said he "would" play for the Wiz if MJ would make a comeback. What a good definition of the word retirement. I'm glad to know that your thought (EG) about a retirement and comeback is just related with attempts or saying. Also I understand why you are so upset about MJ being a Joker. You will be surprised if the guy says he'll play again 2 years later, however I won't. That's the point.

Getting back to the subject, I'm glad MJ didn't accept the starting spot there, I didn't vote for him and bet all those fans that voted to see McGrady starting didn't vote for MJ to see him there as well, so good choice by MJ, the fans voted for their starting line-up, not for those players to decide who should start.

[Eugene]

If you don't mind my saying...

I'm glad that Michael Jordan is playing in the All-Star Game. While it is certainly debatable whether or not he is the greatest player the game has ever seen (if you can make a case against MJ, then you can make a case against any and all other players being GOAT, so it makes sense then, that no one player is the Greatest of all Time), he is certainly my favorite player, above all others -- although Kobe has impressed me of late (more on him in another post, but he is quickly becoming my second most favorite player of all time). It is also debatable whether or not he is deserving of the All-Star spot. That debate is moot -- much like whether or not Tim Duncan should have won MVP -- Michael is an All-Star. I personally think he deserves it. While 18 points 3.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per contest certainly aren't eye popping numbers by any means, they are also not unworthy of an All-Star.

As far as the question of other players being more worthy. All-Star selection takes into account many factors (coach's selection, not the fan's, if the fan's took into account the factors that the coaches considered, VC never would have made the All-Star Squad) including image, impact, stats, and yes, personal opinion. Image and attidude might be the only things keeping Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace off the team and that's the way it should be. Whether by media hype or by honest judge, Michael Jordan is the most deserving, over Jalen Rose, Artest, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Kenyon Martin, or whoever else you feel might have been snubbed, because of his history (you will agree that Michael Jordan has had more impact on his team and the league than any of the mentioned players?) combined with his play now.

As far as Lavor Postell is concerned, JJCooL... Postell was a second round pick by the New York Knicks 3 or 4 seasons ago, out of St. Johns. He was known mainly for his athletic ability and defensive intensity, but had inconsistent offensive skills.

That "if he had played 40 minutes..." argument is invalid. There's no way to tell if Wilkins could have been effective for 40 minutes physically. Besides, player production is not a direct function of playing time.

Don Chaney plays Othella Harrington and Clarence Wetherspoon ahead of Lee Nailon because those two provide desperately needed inside presence. Additionally, Nailon needs the ball often to score, and simply would not fit well with Houston or Spreewell, but is not good enough to take time away from either of them.

There was no need for the "Ms. Chaney" comment. It was derogatory, and adds nothing to the discussion. If anything, it takes away from the overall integrity of the board. Please refrain from making comments of that sort.

[Wall St. Peon]

If you don't mind my saying...

Of course not! You're biased, but you make good points with educated reasons...as opposed to regurgitating the same old thing. Not to mention you make intelligent posts...you should post more often.

As for the rest, I agree.

There was no need for the "Ms. Chaney" comment. It was derogatory, and adds nothing to the discussion. If anything, it takes away from the overall integrity of the board. Please refrain from making comments of that sort.

He was quoting an Eminem song, "Without Me." It was actually a reference to the vice president and his wife...but definately used inappropriately in this instance.