Michael Jordan. The GOAT!
First off, let's talk about Michael Jordan's "Airness" – i mean the guy was called "Air Jordan", the guy practically defied gravity! I mean, the man could fly. The dunk contest (pic included above and ill fire a video below too!) where he literally looked like he was flying was just incredible! (PS he defended his dunk crown he won in 87 again in 88!) He made slam dunks look spectacular in game and layups seem like a piece of cake. Watching him glide through the air and "posterize" the NBA's best was just something to behold!
Now, let's not forget MJ's killer instinct. The man had a competitive streak like no other. If you watch the netflix documentary "The Last Dance" its so cool to see how many times Mike "took things personally" against people he was competing with! He didn't just want to win; he needed to win. And boy, did he deliver! From buzzer-beaters to clutch plays, Jordan was the king of comebacks. He had nerves of steel and would take that match winning shot against the clock anytime he could!
But it's not just his on-court prowess that sets Jordan apart. It's his impact on the culture of basketball. MJ wasn't just a player... he was a global icon. As a kid in Scotland I had a huge Jordan poster on my wall and a big Chicago bulls poster too... that shows his global reach! His Air Jordan sneakers became a fashion statement and are still the coolest and most desirable sneaks of all time.
Plus, let's not overlook his SIX NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Six rings, people! Jordan didn't just dominate the game; he owned it. And he would have probably won even more if he didn't take a few years off to go play baseball after his fathers murder. Also the game back then when Jordan played had some incredible names in the League and was WAY more physical than it is now as the players are way more protected by officials now.
And here is the real reason you know hes the GOAT, every otehr amazing basketball player gets measured against Michael Jordan. its always "whos the best.. MJ or insert other basketball player name here". MJ's legacy continues to inspire generations of ballers. Kids everywhere still dream of being "like Mike" and emulating his moves on the court.
So there you have it, in my opinion Michael Jordan isn't just the greatest basketball player of all time; he's a cultural phenomenon, a legend whose legacy will soar higher than any slam dunk for generations to come!
Oh Yeah and he even beat the Goon squad in Space Jam at a game of basketball! And they are from another planet!
PS I had to just google his NBA achievements, nobody comes close to this guy -
NBA achievements -
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009
6× NBA champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
5× NBA Most Valuable Player: 1987–88, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98
6× NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
10× Scoring leader: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1987–88
NBA Rookie of the Year: 1984–85
14× NBA All-Star: 1985, 1986 (selected but injured), 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003
3× NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 1988, 1996, 1998
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion: 1987, 1988
Runner-up in 1985
3× Steals leader: 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–93
2× Minutes leader: 1987–88, 1988–89
2× IBM Award winner: 1985, 1989
11× All-NBA selection:First Team: 1987–93, 1996–98
Second Team: 1985
9× All-Defensive selection:First Team: 1988–93, 1996–98
NBA All-Rookie selection:
First Team: 1985
7× The Sporting News Most Valuable Player: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year: 1985
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1991
Ranked #1 by SLAM Magazine's Top 50 Players of All-time
Ranked #1 by ESPN Sports
Century's Top North American Athletes of the 20th Century
Selected in 1996 as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History"
Selected in 1996 as member of two of the "Top 10 Teams in NBA History"
25x NBA Player of the Week
16x NBA Player of the Month
WOW...just WOW.