Who is the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time?
Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. All of these names are thrown around in the conversation that surrounds the question “Who is the Greatest Basketball player of all time?”. In the basketball community, most regard Michael Jordan as the greatest to ever play, and it is with good reason that he, for the most part, is unanimously regarded as the King of the Basketball world. However, many people turn a blind eye when the name “LeBron James” enters the conversation. It may be explained by people simply being nostalgic over their favorite players who played generations ago, and it could be why some ignore the pure greatness
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Both are deemed unstoppable regardless of what defender is put on, you can just hope that your best defender might slow them down in the slightest. Michael Jordan had a 6’6 frame and weighed 215 pounds (MJ vs. LBJ), which allowed him to possess remarkable speed and quickness which was complimented by a wicked crossover move that usually would lead to pull-up jump shots, which again Jordan excelled at. MJ was great in basically all facets of his game, but was mostly known for his ability to score the basketball with his jumpshots, acrobatic layups, and his jaw-dropping dunks. Though LeBron is compared heavily to Jordan, they were very different players in terms of what roles they played on the court. James is a 6’9, 250 pound Small Forward who actually plays the role of a point guard most of the time he is on the court. Because he is usually the primary ball handler, that would make him the primary ball distributor as well, so typically he is a “pass first” type of player which means he will look to create points for his teammates before he looks to score himself. Though he does pass the ball a lot, that does not mean in any way LeBron doesn’t look to score the basketball in high volumes. LBJ uses his large frame and his remarkable quickness to blow by defenders and bully them down low in the paint. Though LeBron does score in the paint more times than not, he has always been able to knock down jump shots at a high success rate and in recent seasons has became a legitimate threat from deep, shooting 36.6% from three in the 2017-2018 regular season. Though the two played very differently, they have fairly similar career stat lines with Lebron averaging 27.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.2 AST on 50.4 FG%, 34.3 3FG% and 73.9 FT% (Herrick). Compared to Jordan averaging 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG on 49.7 FG%, 32.7 3FG% and 83.5 FT% (LBJ vs. MJ). Though these stat
During the time of Michael Jordan and the now present Lebron James American culture has changed a lot. Both of these two superstars show how American society love and appreciate their superstars. The society loves them both, they are both amazingly talented and have supporting fans that will always be by their side no matter what happens, through the peaks and valleys. These two allstars are beyond incredible and show their talent in a variety of ways. Both are very truly “Blessed” with their talents and capabilities. Both MJ and LBJ are two of the best to ever to play the game of basketball. Jordan and James are both good at what they do, Jordan and James’ passion to get to the rim and make plays really put a spark in both of their game. These traits that both of the stars have really make their fans and supporters love them even more! Both of these stars show how American Society love their stars and role models.
Michael played in a completely different era than LeBron James. It was an era of short shorts, not the baggy ones seen on today’s players. Because of the differences in competition and style of play, it is not possible to tell who the better player is. Both players should be recognized as some of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball for their individual, unique abilities. It’s not about comparing apples and oranges.
In Jim Naughton’s book Taking To The Air, the main character is Michael Jordan. The book is Jordan’s life and talents. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth child and the youngest of three boys. Michael Jordan is by any measure, the most popular athlete in America and perhaps the best-known figure in the world. I have chosen to use Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of Need to analysis Jordan’s personality. I will do my analysis by focusing on Jordan’s healthy personality, which is marked by his continued personal growth.
“Maybe this guy is god disguised as Michael Jordan” (Michael Jordan). Michael Jordan is clearly the best basketball player to have ever set foot on a basketball court as Larry Bird put it jokingly. He wasn’t the perfect basketball player but he was good enough to surpass the rest of the league as a whole. Because of his superior skills and incomprehensible work ethic, he can be considered an outlier. There is no other player that has accomplished as much as Jordan and will probably never see something like it again.
Michael Jordan, what comes to your mind when you hear that name? Michael had played for the bulls and had gotten 6 championship rings with the team. Well, is it just me or does that sound like a lot of time in the game of basketball? In 1982 he took a big step up from highschool to college, where he wanted to pursue the basketball dream. He went to college at North Carolina where he played NCAA basketball for just one year before he was drafted in 1984. All eyes were on him when he went on the court, because that just how good he was at the game of basketball. Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players in NBA history, maybe even the greatest of all time.
Several foreign basketball players have individually left their marks on NBA courts, in NBA record books, and in their fans’ hearts. Different ethnic groups, races, and sports fans in general have united, cheering on heroic efforts from players from overseas. These international players amped up the level of competition in basketball and found themselves at home in the NBA. Four international players have been honored with the most prestigious award a player can receive in professional basketball, NBA MVP. These same four players are undoubtedly future Hall of Famers and were listed in the top 30 international players of all time in a 2013 “Dime Magazine” article (Daruaku). These four players, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan,...
Although unlike LeBron in many ways, his presence was similar off the court. Rhoden held the belief that Michael Jordan managed to actually transcend race. This is true. Rhoden believed that Michael Jordan had the opportunity to change the world for the black man, and specifically the black athlete. But that was not the person Jordan wanted to be. Rhoden is hypocritical for pawning off the “one-on-one” idea of not being a team player but then shuns Jordan for clearly choosing that route. It is true Jordan could have created change, but he put his personal goals and ambitions first. Rhoden details the way that Jordan put himself first in order to keep his image and brand separated from the racial politics of the time period. This may be controversial, and he may not like it, but the fact of the matter is, Jordan’s life challenges Rhoden 's fundamental argument. Superior black athletes do go one-on-one on and off the court. Not because white people created and perpetuated the image, but because they have good reasons to do
Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that Michael Jordan even now in the present is still the greatest player ever to play in the NBA.
It’s one of the greatest debates right now in modern time sports. Who is the greatest basketball player ever? Is it His Airness, or is it King James? The debate on whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the greatest basketball player ever is a prevalent topic in sports news daily. Many people believe that LeBron James is the greatest basketball player to be currently playing and also the greatest player to ever have played in the NBA. My theory, however, is that rather than LeBron James, the greatest basketball player to ever have played the game is Michael Jordan. Although I agree with the claim that LeBron James is the best current player in the NBA, I believe that he is nowhere near being considered better than Michael Jordan.
When I began my report I didn’t know much about Michael Jordan, but I did know that he was “undoubtedly the greatest player in the history of the NBA'; (“Michael Air Jordan'; 1). It seemed like every time I heard the word basketball I also heard the name Michael Jordan. There’s just no avoiding him. If you are watching television you might see him playing basketball or golf. If you were reading a magazine there will probably be an advertisement with his picture. If you were walking down the street you might see a kid wearing Air Jordan shoes or a Bulls jersey with “JORDAN'; on the back of it. This man is probably as recognizable as the Pope.
Due to the mark Michael Jordan has left on the world as the “G.O.A.T.”, it will be very difficult for any player to surpass his legacy. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James all have similarities of Michael Jordan but, out of all three players James is the closest. LeBron has the most similarities and the potential to surpass Michael Jordan’s legacy with his personality, stats and he popularity on and off the court. Even though James has the potential to surpass his legacy, there is still a very long journey ahead of James if he ever wants to be considered the “G.O.A.T.”.
First, we will celebrate LeBron James’s accomplishments in the NBA. There are over 400 players in the NBA. These players are on the battlefield, fighting day after day because they all know only one can become the Most Valuable Player. LeBron James rose above all, claiming the MVP award, not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 times. Not only is LeBron James an MVP, but he is also a 13-time All-Star player. LeBron James garnered enough votes from the fans, the players, and the media to become an All-Star like a presidential candidate getting enough votes from the voters to become the President.
In 1981, Michael Jordan stepped foot on North Carolina’s campus as a top recruited freshman and was soon to be one of only four freshmen to ever earn a starting spot under Coach Dean Smith. The University of North Carolina was where Michael Jordan’s legacy started, and as of now, it will not end anytime soon. In his playing days, Michael was a second overall draft pick, Nike client, six-time NBA champ, six-time NBA finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, and a fourteen-time all-star. After his playing days were over, Jordan’s impact on the game and on the fans never died. He is a role model to many people spanning over all generations from old to young. Michael Jordan not only changed the game of basketball, but more importantly, he changed the sports industry. Because of his American values of motivation, dedication, and a hard work ethic, he has helped defined the way society views the sports industry.
Michael Jordan, portrayed by Jim Naughton in the biography Taking To The Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan, is well regarded as not only the greatest basketball player of all time but also the face of a generation. During the mid to late 1980s NBA basketball was simply treading water. As a result of the lack of a marketable superstar, the NBA was losing popularity to the National Football League and Major League Baseball. Following Jordan’s emergence, the NBA’s attendance rose dramatically and it’s worldwide popularity skyrocketed. Michael Jordan returned basketball to its past popularity in the United States and revolutionized the way the world viewed the game of basketball. (Harriman) Michael Jordan’s life is succinctly depicted in Taking to The Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan. Jim Naughton focuses on Jordan’s influence on worldwide sports and culture as one of the most publicized and marketed athletes of all time. Naughton explains the circumstances in Jordan’s upbringing that gave him the ability to be a humungous star. This biography is examined by Kirkus Reviews. They describe Naughton’s biography: “Besides offering a solid chronological biography and record of Michael Jordan’s basketball career, here Naughton also gives an astute assessment of this superstar’s impact on society.” (“Taking to the Air”) The article in the Kirkus Review explains that this biography investigates Jordan’s impact on marketing while telling the story of his life. Like Kirkus Reviews, I too believe that Naughton’s work goes into great description about Jordan’s upbringing and later career while also examining his cultural impact. Throughout his life, Michael Jordan has topped the sports and entertainment worlds by becoming the greatest basketball pl...
When someone says the name Michael Jordan, the first thing that comes to mind is basketball, The Chicago Bulls and Nike shoes. Through the years, Michael Jordan has proved time and time again that he is the greatest basketball player ever, and by performing in this rapidly expanding sporting field, he has gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. People of all ages and from all nationalities have gathered to watch him play. A journalist states 'even your Aunt Matilda might not know nothing about basketball, liked watching him play' (Jonathon 1999:58). Jordan has become more than just an entertainer. He is a hero and a role model amongst basketball spectators. Johnson claims that 'he is the most famous American in the world' (ibid.). Perhaps he was born to be the best.