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*Photo via Getty Images
Who’s the greatest of all-time? It’s been discussed and debated by every NBA head across the world and the name you’ll hear in every conversation; Michael Jordan. Jordan’s accolades during his career are mind blowing:
Six-time NBA champion with six NBA Finals MVP awards
Five-time NBA MVP
14-time NBA All-Star
Three-time NBA All-Star MVP
10-time All-NBA First Team
Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team
1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
10-time NBA scoring champion
I think you get the idea…he was insane.
In sports, you play to win the ultimate prize. The cream of the crop in every sport is judged off how many championships they can win. Now if we are just talking championships, than Michael’s six rings do not compare to Bill Russell’s eleven championships as player and two as a coach. That’s 13 total…which is double what Jordan has.
Some will argue that during the Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell era, there wasn’t much competition. I can see both sides of the argument and can argue both for hours upon hours, but that’s for another time.
So Why Michael?
Simply put, Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T because he saved the NBA!
Jordan was a key figure in making the NBA a Marketing powerhouse with his endorsements with McDonalds, Nike, Hanes, and Gatorade just to name a few. But I would not give him the title of single handedly saving the NBA. During the Showtime era, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird both dominated en route to eight championships from 1978 to 1988. To be honest, I would dub the Showtime Era probably the best era in professional basketball.
Jordan’s dominance of the 90’s is a close second, but I would have to go with the Showtime era at the end of the day. In addition, I believe there is no question, that Michael is the most marketable athlete to ever participate in professional sports. His accolades were incredible, he was the biggest athlete in the world, people still go crazy over his shoes, and his overall impact throughout the world through basketball makes him the greatest of all time.