Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American National Basketball Association player, and is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

Jordan's legacy

Jordan's basketball talent was clear from his rookie season in the NBA. His breathtaking dunks, tenacious defense and apparent ability to score at will amazed fans and opponents. After Jordan poured in 63 points against the Boston Celtics in a 1986 playoff game (still a playoff record), Celtic superstar Larry Bird famously described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan."

Related Topics:
Basketball - NBA - Boston Celtics - 1986 - Larry Bird

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Still, many critics refused to consider him as good as the two great players of the 1980s, Bird and the Los Angeles Lakers' Magic Johnson. Jordan, it was said, was nothing more than a spectacular scorer who could not elevate the play of his teammates, as Bird and Johnson had. These critics pointed out that the Celtics and Lakers had immediately become playoff-caliber teams upon the arrival of Bird and Johnson, while Jordan's Bulls wallowed in mediocrity throughout the mid-1980s. But the rise of the Bulls dynasty in 1991 and Jordan's maturation as a player quelled many doubters.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson

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Jordan loved proving critics wrong. In a game against the Utah Jazz, Jordan dunked on guard John Stockton, whereupon a Jazz fan yelled "Dunk on someone your own size!" On the next possession, Jordan dunked it over 6'11", 285-lb. center Melvin Turpin, then asked the fan, "Was he big enough for you?"

Related Topics:
Utah Jazz - John Stockton - Melvin Turpin

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Even as he rounded out his game, Jordan's strengths remained scoring and defense. He led the NBA in scoring 10 years, tying Wilt Chamberlain for consecutive scoring titles with seven in a row, but was also a fixture on the All-NBA Defensive Team, making the roster nine times. By 1998, the season of his famous Finals-winning shot against the Jazz, Jordan was feared throughout the league as one of the game's best clutch performers. In the regular season, Jordan was the Bulls' primary threat in the final seconds of a close game; in the playoffs, he was the only one the team wanted to have the ball.

Related Topics:
NBA - 1998

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Some players who have been tagged as the "next Jordan," include LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, and Grant Hill. Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the Chicago Bulls, once said regarding Jordan's jersey number, which was number 23, these words, "For what Michael has meant to the NBA, this number could very well be retired in every arena in the league." (Jackie Robinson's No. 42 has been retired by every Major League Baseball team, and all NHL teams have done the same with Wayne Gretzky's No. 99.)

Related Topics:
LeBron James - Kobe Bryant - Vince Carter - Grant Hill - Jackie Robinson - Major League Baseball - NHL - Wayne Gretzky

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Jordan was ranked #1 in SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of all time in 2003.

Related Topics:
SLAM Magazine - 2003

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