Michael Jordan‘s greatness entered the conversation once again after Dwyane Wade commented on its relevance.
Wade Dijo:
“They are going to forget Jordan like we forget Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar).”
Will people forget Michael Jordan?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons and was a record six-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and 11-time All-Defensive team member. Abdul-Jabbar was a member of six champion teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach. He was a two-time NBA Finals MVP and was included in the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
There are players and coaches who argue that Abdul-Jabbar, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Lakers, is the greatest basketball player of all time.
With all those achievements, it’s hard to understand how you can forget a player.
Wade’s comments, of course, got plenty of responses, including one from Chris Broussard on “The Odd Couple.”
Reacting to Wade’s comments, Broussard said:
“I don’t think we will forget about Jordan because we have more videos of him. Like Kareem, we don’t have as many Kareem videos. You can watch Jordan on YouTube. You can see the best moments, you can watch his games, and so it is much easier to remember the greatness of Michael Jordan. “
Broussard makes a good point in pointing out a fact from the audience of both legends. There are unsurpassed images of Michael Jordan compared to the Abdul-Jabbar film. The way he structured his explanation avoided hierarchy and placed one of the greats above the other.
Broussard said he did not mean to disrespect Abdul-Jabbar:
“And with all due respect to Kareem, and how good it was, Jordan’s game was so fantastic in terms of looks. How beautiful it was, how elegant it was. He did things literally that we hadn’t seen before. So I think all of those things work in Jordan’s favor, and that’s why he won’t be forgotten. “
Jordan was not only a legend on the court, but off the court as well. He was highly influential in popularizing the NBA around the world during the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global icon and the face of the league.
MJ joined the NBA in 1984, chosen third overall by the Chicago Bulls. He earned the nickname “Air Jordan” for flying high for dunks in the show. Jordan played 15 seasons, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. He won three NBA crowns from 1991 to 1993. He then retired to play minor league baseball before returning in 1995 and leading Chicago to another three-time championship (1996-98).
Jordan retired in 1999 but then returned for two more seasons from 2001-03 for the Washington Wizards.
Broussard referred to other realms of greatness in an attempt to help explain what Wade was trying to say:
“I don’t think Wade was certainly not saying that we are not going to remember Michael Jordan. But I think he’s saying that his aura won’t be as great as it is. I think Michael Jordan will be like a Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth is still huge, every time you talk about the GOAT in baseball, you have to talk about Babe Ruth, and he hasn’t played since 1935. About the things he did and so forth, we still talk about it. “
Certainly this argument carries weight, as people still talk about Jordan’s greatness. MJ has not played in the NBA for almost two decades, and there are still immediate objections to any claim that a player today is “the best.” Jordan has managed to become permanently woven into the conversation of the best to play.
Jordan achieved six NBA Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles, five MVP awards, nine All-Defensive team picks, 14 All-Star picks, and the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year award. He holds record scoring averages. regular season (30.12 points per game) and average career playoff score (33.45 points per game).
Interestingly for Broussard’s argument, MJ was named second to Babe Ruth on The Associated Press’s Athletes of the Century list.
Babe Ruth, known as “El Bambino” or “The Sultan of Swat,” started out as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. His legendary status didn’t come until he became the slugger outfielder for the New York Yankees.
Playing 15 years for the Yankees, Ruth won seven American League pennants and four World Series. In 1927, Babe hit 60 home runs, extending his one-season record by one.
Ruth was the icon for changing baseball from a relatively slow, low-scoring affair to a home run-focused success. His “I don’t care” attitude and his ability to smash the ball into the stands increased his popularity and success status, making him the legend he is today.
Jordan remains the same kind of legend, transcending time with his name remaining at the top of the ladder of greatness. Abdul-Jabbar is equally iconic. Ruth, from her stats and plays on the field, stood out as the face of the sport. Jordan paved the same path, as “Air Jordan” and will always be in the “best ever” storyline.
There may not be as many people talking about Abdul-Jabbar, due to the lack of videos available to see his best moments. But his name is still relevant. When people talk about Steph Curry or LeBron James or someone anyone could argue is “the greatest of this generation,” Jordan is immediately mentioned.
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With the mention of Jordan, then comes the extended mention of “what about Abdul-Jabbar?” And as such, both players will always be relevant in the conversation about who is the best basketball player ever.
Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein
