The Next Michael Jordan…? Forget about it.
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
It’s a question that was first asked when Michael Jordan suddenly retired the 1st time…
So massive was the chasm that he left when he walked away after the first 3 titles…
Star power… ticket sales… TV markets… the “leave-fans-on-the-edge-of-their-seats” factor…
…that the powers-that-be in the NBA immediately started trying to fill the gaping void by launching a nationwide search (…that extended down to the high school level) for…
The Next Michael Jordan…
The first list of reluctant nominees was released… and failed miserably.
Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner… Anfernee Hardaway… Grant Hill… Tracy McGrady… Vince Carter…
*face-palm*
For the record, I actually feel bad for those guys…
I don’t think any of them really wanted the title of “The Next Michael Jordan”…at least not for very long.
Too demanding. Too much pressure.
Too impossible.
Then there were 2…
The first batch of nominees was an epic failure with regards to replacing MJ. A few scoring titles, some fancy dunk contest winners, some shaved heads… not a single MVP… not a single NBA title.
Hardly even worthy of being the ball boy for the man who won 10 scoring titles, 5 MVP’s, 6 NBA titles, 6 Finals MVP’s, 2 Defensive Player of the Year Awards, countless All-Star appearances… and owned every court he stepped on and every opponent he ever faced.
But then things got interesting…
Along came Kobe Bryant… fresh out of high school. Same height, same build. Freakish athletic abilities… Very near the basketball assassin that Jordan was…
He even started winning titles. Earlier than Jordan did…
...and people started wondering.
Some even actually suggested that not only was he as good as MJ… but that when it was all said and done, he might even be…
…Better?
Silly kids. How quickly they forget…
– Kobe vs. MJ. How quickly they forget –
Now there’s LeBron James… “King James”…
Another high school phenom. A little bigger than Jordan… a little stronger… ability to dominate games on both ends like Jordan did…
But not quite the killer instinct… not quite the “there’s-blood-in-the-water” mentality that Jordan, or even Kobe, had…
Early in his career, this “lack” showed up big time when it counted the most… the playoffs.
But so desperate is the media to crown the Next Michael Jordan… it was only a matter of time before the whisperings started up once again…
Even MJ’s side-kick, Scottie Pippen, the man who stood side-by-side with Jordan for all 6 Bulls’ Championships, suggested that LeBron was a better all-around player.
Oh, Scottie… how quickly you forget…
– Michael Jordan – How Quickly They Forget (MJ vs. LeBron) –
To be fair to LBJ…
He’s made some massive strides in his game… and due to his size, he might be a better rebounder than Jordan was.
And yes, he finally won a title… but let’s talk about that for a minute.
See, here’s where it gets a little personal for me.
Yes, I’m a biased Jordan fan and proud of it. Even snuck onto his property in Chicago with my little brother years ago…
But forget bias. Let’s talk about “greatness”.
First of all, LeBron already admitted he’s not worthy to even wear the #23 jersey. He doesn’t think anybody should.
But back to his “greatness”…
To me, ‘greatness’ is defined by your character. By working towards a championship. Finishing the job. Overcoming everything in your path to prove you’re the best. To do something that no one thought you could do…
…to prove your a champion.
To win a championship there are NO shortcuts…
Well, today there are… thanks to “star power” and free agency.
LeBron “King” James took a shortcut. Bailed on his team. In the playoffs. Stopped shooting. Stopped playing. Basically took his head out of the game 2 years in a row as his team went down in defeat.
Then he left to go play with another super star who had already won a title.
Now some people will defend him ’til the cows come home and say,
That’s just how the game works today…
People tell me I’m just hatin’ on LeBron because I’m a biased Jordan guy.
But the truth of the matter is that I actually cheered for LeBron. I thought it was great what he was doing for his home town Cavaliers…
Heck, I even bet on him against the highly favored Spurs in the NBA Finals.
But then he took a short cut… and lost all my respect.
…and proved that even “Kings” aren’t worthy of Rare “Air”.
It’s actually sad…
Because neither he – nor his fans – will ever know if he had it in him to finish the job on his own.
He’ll never know if he could have carried his team to the top of the basketball world on his own… being “Great” like Jordan.
Now he’s just “Man 1 or 1a” with his buddy… because apparently that’s how the sport is these days?
Could I have done it if I had stayed…?
I think that thought will nag him for the rest of his life.
MJ. GOAT.
No such questions with MJ. He did everything that everyone told him he couldn’t do… and then he did it all again.
So far, his legacy is holding off all pretenders… as easily as he held a basketball in his hand.
So here’s a little advice to both Kobe and LeBron…
Here’s the main reason why I love MJ…
Because he simply refused to settle for anything less than his very best. Every single night.
He refused to accept defeat. He refused to accept failure. He refused to accept anything less than greatness in what he did…
…and I think that’s how everyone should approach everything they do.
That’s why this is my favorite T-shirt…
…and why I don’t think MJ has any competition for years to come.
(But if someone does rise up to that level…. can you imagine how good they’ll be and how fun they’ll be to watch…?)
How would YOU like to be “The Michael Jordan of ____________”…?
This is your life… no more practice runs.
Give it everything you’ve got.