When aspiring basketball athletes play on empty street courts or run-down gymnasiums, their idea of basketball perfection is expressed through Michael Jordan’s greatness. As the ball is released from the players’ hands, the one word that is shouted is “Jordan,” with hopes of the basketball going through the net.
No other basketball player has influenced the world as much as Michael Jordan, and there does not seem to be any current athlete who will come close to his achievements both on and off the court. Even though current debaters will refute with “but LeBron James will be better” and “Kobe Bryant is just as great,” there is no doubt that their success will no way reach Jordan’s accomplishments.
Before Michael Jordan started his NBA career as a Chicago Bull, and before he started his college career as a Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was just a high school student aspiring to play on the varsity team. Jordan was rejected as a sophomore because he was not tall enough, but just like any other great athlete, he responded to this rejection with perseverance. He continued to practice, and eventually landed a spot on the team.
Next: Jordan’s Life in College
Even though there are currently other athletes who practice just as hard as Jordan, his dedication and passion for the game of basketball is unmatched by any other player. Through his practice and work on the game, he was able to construct his body to be more adept to college basketball as he averaged 29.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game during his high school senior year.
He entered the college circuit averaging a triple-double during his senior year in high school, and he continued his success by becoming the ACC Freshman of the Year, averaging 13.4 points per game on over 50% shooting. Jordan greatly deserved this honor as he was able to lift the Tar Heels to a NCAA championship on a game-winning shot against the Georgetown Hoyas. This NCAA championship game marked the beginning of Jordan’s greatness, as it reflects the various clutch shots, high-pressure situations, and championship moments he experienced later in the NBA.
The experience he received in college with James Worthy and Sam Perkins propelled him to be the best all-around player in the NBA. During his NBA rookie season, he was able to score 2,313 points, dish 481 assists, and grab 534 rebounds rightfully earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985. In comparison, Kobe Bryant only scored 534 points, dished 91 assists, and grabbed 132 rebounds during his rookie season.
The talent gap between these two superstars was wide at their rookie level, but it gradually began to close as they reached their veteran years. At the end of Jordan’s 13-year career with the Chicago Bulls he was able to score 29,277 points, dish 5,012 assists, and grab 5,836 rebounds. Also, for the record I do not consider Jordan’s short stint with the Washington Wizards to be indicative of his basketball success. Although he did put up rather impressive numbers considering his age.
Kobe completed 13 years in his NBA career at the end of the 2008-2009 season, but he had only been able to score 23,820 points, dish 4,401 assists, and grab 5,019 rebounds. Kobe can continue his NBA career for a few more years, and attempt to surpass a few of these statistical milestones, but this would not mean that he is better than Jordan. Kobe may even go on to win a couple more championships, but that would not necessarily mean that his accomplishments are more impressive than Michael’s.
Next: Big Money
Kobe Bryant is the closest NBA player thus far to reach similar monumental accomplishments as Michael Jordan on the court. Both Jordan and Bryant have also been able to influence an entire community of basketball fanatics through wealthy endorsement deals with Nike.
Jordan essentially created the basketball shoe phenomenon, in which average Joe’s go to their local Nike store and purchase $100-plus shoes just for the brand name. Brand Jordan has essentially become one of the most successful shoe products in history, as it generates over $1 billion in revenue for Nike.
In addition to the ridiculous endorsement deals Jordan has secured, his salary earnings are the highest by any NBA player in history. During Jordan’s 1997-1998 season, he earned $33.1 million for the highest salary in a single NBA season. The only player to come close to that figure is Kobe Bryant, as he will earn $30.5 million for the 2013-2014 season.
The first comparison that comes to mind between Jordan and Bryant is the number of rings that each player has, and Jordan has the upper hand with a total of six rings, one more than Bryant. But rings are not the sole indicator that determines the quality and success of an individual.
The characteristic that distinguishes Michael Jordan from any other athlete was his ability to make the players around him so much better. Jordan was a fearless leader on the court, but his ability to facilitate and control the basketball with his teammates makes him the greatest basketball player of all time.
Jordan influenced his teammates to become better than what their initial capabilities seemed to be through his continuous accomplishments as a player, such as being the NBA scoring champion for ten seasons and being selected for the All-NBA Defensive First Team nine times.
Next: Basketball Excellence
In addition, Jordan was able to successfully achieve a three-peat with two completely different squads. Even though the players he was surrounded by were different during his return from retirement in 1994, he was still able to exude his basketball excellence by winning two additional Most Valuable Player awards. Jordan ended his career by receiving a total of five NBA MVP awards and six NBA Finals MVP awards.
As one of Jordan’s most successful accomplishments, he was also able to lead the Bulls to the greatest winning season in NBA history during the 1995-1996 season with a 72–10 record. Even though he had recently come out of retirement, he was still able to produce one of his best seasons, which obviously shows his commitment to the art of basketball.
Even though it took Michael Jordan six years to reach basketball glory with his first NBA championship, it only took him one season to realize that he will be the next great basketball player. He ultimately was able to prepare himself and the players around him for one of the most successful NBA franchises in a ten-year period with the Chicago Bulls.