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Why Lebron James is the next and final Michael JordanFor two decades Michael Jordan has sat alone at his table (undoubtedly enjoying this fact as only MJ-the-competitor could), and the empty chair with ‘next’ placed on it has remained vacant. Countless players have either been thrust forward to claim the seat or have eagerly tried to attain it, yet all have been found unworthy. The outlier in Michael Jordan was exactly that, an outlier… |
Pre-publish note, 9th March, 2019:
The writing of this piece began over the 2018-19 Christmas holiday period. At this time, Lebron James was enjoying a comfortable introduction to life as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Armed with a 20-14 record and averaging a routine-for-him 28, 8 and 7, he was single-handedly shifting the fortunes of a franchise that had not only failed to make the playoffs since the 2012-13 season, but had an overall record of 126-284 over the previous five seasons (i.e. an average record of 25-57, which, wait for it… equates to half-a-decade of abject irrelevance). With the playoffs on the horizon, a host of young-talent surrounding him, and projected cap-space to lure the next crop of ‘superstar’ free agents, Lebron James’ decision to shift his family and operations to the West Coast seemed beyond reproach.
In the two months that have followed, he now finds himself in the midst of a team free-fall unlike anything he has ever experienced (10-21 record – 4-9 with him, 6-12 without), endless speculation about the direct and indirect impact that can be attributed solely to him (let’s face it, when half of your team knows that you gave management the ‘nod’ to shift you to New Orleans for Anthony Davis, there’s going to be some resentment and blowback), and doubts over not just the future of the Lakers, but his lasting legacy.
While I at first experienced hesitation as to the appropriate-timeliness of publishing a piece titled ‘Why Lebron James is the next and final Michael Jordan’ during such a public-perception down-turn for Lebron James, my reflection was that the period of NBA history we are currently experiencing (where possibly the 2nd greatest player of all time fails to make the playoffs) only serves to reinforce the validity of such an argument. Michael Jordan’s worth was not determined by his 13th and 14th professional seasons for the Washington Wizards, just like Lebron James’ won’t be determined by his 16th season for the Los Angeles Lakers. These periods in time are mere chapters, or footnotes, in the encyclopaedic-length novels that detail their respective careers. For this reason, I have no hesitation to put this piece forward, as it seeks to examine the entirety of these unique careers and the outside influences that allowed them to not only become who they are known as today, but how future generations will remember them tomorrow.
The writing of this piece began over the 2018-19 Christmas holiday period. At this time, Lebron James was enjoying a comfortable introduction to life as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Armed with a 20-14 record and averaging a routine-for-him 28, 8 and 7, he was single-handedly shifting the fortunes of a franchise that had not only failed to make the playoffs since the 2012-13 season, but had an overall record of 126-284 over the previous five seasons (i.e. an average record of 25-57, which, wait for it… equates to half-a-decade of abject irrelevance). With the playoffs on the horizon, a host of young-talent surrounding him, and projected cap-space to lure the next crop of ‘superstar’ free agents, Lebron James’ decision to shift his family and operations to the West Coast seemed beyond reproach.
In the two months that have followed, he now finds himself in the midst of a team free-fall unlike anything he has ever experienced (10-21 record – 4-9 with him, 6-12 without), endless speculation about the direct and indirect impact that can be attributed solely to him (let’s face it, when half of your team knows that you gave management the ‘nod’ to shift you to New Orleans for Anthony Davis, there’s going to be some resentment and blowback), and doubts over not just the future of the Lakers, but his lasting legacy.
While I at first experienced hesitation as to the appropriate-timeliness of publishing a piece titled ‘Why Lebron James is the next and final Michael Jordan’ during such a public-perception down-turn for Lebron James, my reflection was that the period of NBA history we are currently experiencing (where possibly the 2nd greatest player of all time fails to make the playoffs) only serves to reinforce the validity of such an argument. Michael Jordan’s worth was not determined by his 13th and 14th professional seasons for the Washington Wizards, just like Lebron James’ won’t be determined by his 16th season for the Los Angeles Lakers. These periods in time are mere chapters, or footnotes, in the encyclopaedic-length novels that detail their respective careers. For this reason, I have no hesitation to put this piece forward, as it seeks to examine the entirety of these unique careers and the outside influences that allowed them to not only become who they are known as today, but how future generations will remember them tomorrow.
Part I - Next
Ever since Michael Jordan lingered to watch his final shot for the Chicago Bulls gracefully settle through the net and Bob Costas uttered the words, ‘Chicago with the leaaddd’, the label of the next Michael Jordan has burdened NBA’s elite (see Kobe Bryant, whose shining moment is gaining 5-NBA Championships,) and non-elite (see Harold ‘Baby Jordan’ Minor, whose shining moment is… having the nickname ‘Baby Jordan’). The mythical label churned through more NBA players than the Kardashians and inspired more debates than a ‘Skip Bayless/Stephen A. Smith’ 24-hour reunion special. In the 20 years since Jordan removed his Bulls jersey, the quest to find the next Michael Jordan has proven fruitless and the question always lingered... Why?
Potential answers include:
Given these three outcomes, consensus has always fallen with A, however a growing, potentially-valid argument could be made for answer B (sorry Kobe fans, the answer is not C). To examine the potential merits of Answer B or validate Answer A, one must identify what made Michael Jordan... Michael Jordan? What allowed him to reach this seemingly unassailable mountain top? What definable attributes allowed him to attain a higher-level of greatness to separate himself so vastly, not only from his peers, but from past and future generations? What allowed him to gain the mantle of being… Michael Jordan?
On the surface level, Michael Jordan’s notable accomplishments require no explanation: 6 x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP, 5x MVP, 1x DPY, 10x scoring leader, 3x steals leader, 11x All NBA, 9x All-Defence, 14x All-star. Few historical players can match, or come close to matching, such an accomplishment-based resume (Bill Russel, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. End of list.), but the next Michael Jordan has never been about: Championships won (Russel – 11), Points Scored (Kareem - 38,387), Assists made (Stockton - 15,806), Sexual Partners (Wilt – 20,000^) or Fans Punched (Ron Artest). The next Michael Jordan goes beyond something that can be measured, as it delves beyond statistical facts and into emotional reasoning. The collective regard Michael Jordan was held with by fans, teammates, coaches and opposing players alike, cultivated Michael Jordan the enduring figurehead - with the accomplishments merely being a by-product and resounding footnote to his greatness.
Potential answers include:
- Answer A: ‘Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player to ever live. This isn’t even a conversation. End of story.’
- Answer B: ‘Lebron James is the next Michael Jordan.’
- Answer C (shouted in hoarse voices by every Lakers Kobe fan): ‘It’s Kobe! He has 5 rings and Lebron only has 3! How is this even a question? Kobe is the GOAT!’
Given these three outcomes, consensus has always fallen with A, however a growing, potentially-valid argument could be made for answer B (sorry Kobe fans, the answer is not C). To examine the potential merits of Answer B or validate Answer A, one must identify what made Michael Jordan... Michael Jordan? What allowed him to reach this seemingly unassailable mountain top? What definable attributes allowed him to attain a higher-level of greatness to separate himself so vastly, not only from his peers, but from past and future generations? What allowed him to gain the mantle of being… Michael Jordan?
On the surface level, Michael Jordan’s notable accomplishments require no explanation: 6 x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP, 5x MVP, 1x DPY, 10x scoring leader, 3x steals leader, 11x All NBA, 9x All-Defence, 14x All-star. Few historical players can match, or come close to matching, such an accomplishment-based resume (Bill Russel, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. End of list.), but the next Michael Jordan has never been about: Championships won (Russel – 11), Points Scored (Kareem - 38,387), Assists made (Stockton - 15,806), Sexual Partners (Wilt – 20,000^) or Fans Punched (Ron Artest). The next Michael Jordan goes beyond something that can be measured, as it delves beyond statistical facts and into emotional reasoning. The collective regard Michael Jordan was held with by fans, teammates, coaches and opposing players alike, cultivated Michael Jordan the enduring figurehead - with the accomplishments merely being a by-product and resounding footnote to his greatness.
He was the fiercest of all the competitors. Hubie Brown
He put his heart and soul onto the court every night. Larry Bird.
You’re going to have to cut Michael Jordan’s heart out to beat him. George Karl
.
The best competitor ever. PJ Carlesimo
What made him stick out was his determination and his will to keep coming at you and never stop. Isaiah Thomas.
No one wants to win more than that guy. Charles Barkley.
The first thing that stood out was his competitiveness. Doug Collins.
I'm not sure I've ever been around anybody that wanted to win more or worked harder. Bobby Knight
Throughout all of these reverential statements that define Michael Jordan’s lasting qualities, the common theme is that they gravitate towards an emotionally-based and intangible quality that overshadows physical skill level and what appears in the box score. It serves to reason that it was in fact the emotional impact Michael Jordan had on the basketball world that elevated him to the potentially unrivalled status of being Michael Jordan. To gain insight into the merit of this argument, one can suppose that the elite players of the game of basketball have a Transcendent Quality, or, in the case of the truly elite, Transcendent Qualities. These Transcendent Qualities (a) elevate them on the basketball court beyond their peers; but more importantly, (b) shape the public’s perception into what they are known for throughout and beyond their playing career – in essence, the Enduring Qualities that remain in the public subconscious.
In the period of time where Michael Jordan’s collective regard shaped him into the iconic symbol of Michael Jordan (1990-1998), the NBA’s tiered player hierarchy - with Transcendent Qualities (TQs) and Enduring Qualities (EQs) - was as follows:
In the period of time where Michael Jordan’s collective regard shaped him into the iconic symbol of Michael Jordan (1990-1998), the NBA’s tiered player hierarchy - with Transcendent Qualities (TQs) and Enduring Qualities (EQs) - was as follows:
Tier 1
Michael Jordan
TQ:
- Best offensive player of his generation.
- Best wing defensive player under 6’7.
- Unrivalled competiveness (i.e. treated the 4th game in 5 nights of a December West-coast road-trip like it was game 7 of a playoff series).
EQ:
- Being the best player of all time.
- Taking pleasure in destroying opponents.
- Wanting to win at all costs.
- Being the face of the league/most recognisable athlete in the world.
- Winning six championships and six Finals MVPs in his final six full seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
- Jumpman logo / Jordan Brand
- Best offensive player of his generation.
- Best wing defensive player under 6’7.
- Unrivalled competiveness (i.e. treated the 4th game in 5 nights of a December West-coast road-trip like it was game 7 of a playoff series).
EQ:
- Being the best player of all time.
- Taking pleasure in destroying opponents.
- Wanting to win at all costs.
- Being the face of the league/most recognisable athlete in the world.
- Winning six championships and six Finals MVPs in his final six full seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
- Jumpman logo / Jordan Brand
Tier 2
Hakeem Olajuwon
TQs:
- Unguardable post player.
- Best all-around defensive-centre in the league.
- Superior passing skills, handle and agility for a 7-footer.
EQs:
- Dream Shake.
- Winning two championships when Michael Jordan was playing baseball.
- Murdering David Robinson.
- Unguardable post player.
- Best all-around defensive-centre in the league.
- Superior passing skills, handle and agility for a 7-footer.
EQs:
- Dream Shake.
- Winning two championships when Michael Jordan was playing baseball.
- Murdering David Robinson.
Tier 3
Charles BarkleyTQs:
- Rebounding ability. EQs: - 2nd best player on the Dream Team. - Won MVP - only to have Jordan spitefully vanquish him in the NBA Finals. - Great interview. - Being overweight. |
Karl MaloneTQs:
- Ability to score as the high screener. - Running the floor as a big man. - Physical Shape/Career Longevity. EQs: - Being one part of Stockton-to-Malone. - Coming up small when it mattered most. - Not delivering on Sundays (tip of the cap to Scottie Pippen). - Not liking HIV (tip of the cap to Magic Johnson). - Liking Mexican girls (tip of the cap to Vanessa Bryant). |
Scottie PippenTQs:
- Best wing defensive player of his generation. - Best five-position defensive player in the league. - Revolutionised the point-forward position. EQs: - Being the best side-kick to the best player of all time. - Best wing defensive player of his generation. - Having a deep voice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D9Zf6uMdDk |
John StocktonTQs:
- Passing ability. - Running an offense utilising a high-screen. EQ: - Being one part of Stockton-to-Malone. - Career longevity. - Short shorts. - Sneaky dirty player (ask Steve Kerr). - Looking like a ball boy whilst being an actual member of the Dream Team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEmacNvCj4A (Sidenote: In defence of the ‘fellow-American’ in the video, in no way did Stockton resemble an athlete, what with the school-boy haircut, short shorts and tucked-in white t-shirt). |
David RobinsonTQs:
- Superior athletic ability for a 7 footer. EQs: - Being a nice guy. - Getting murdered by Hakeem Olajuwom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW4uXlRGAF0 |
Tier 4
The following players I found worthy of mentioning, as they paint a deeper picture of the Enduring Qualities of the player hierarchy of the 1990s.
Patrick EwingTQs:
- Nil. EQs: - Coming up small when it mattered most. Gary PaytonTQs:
- Best defensive point-guard of his generation. EQs: - Trash talker. - Best defensive point guard of his generation. - Having the nickname ‘The Glove’. |
Clyde DrexlerTQs:
- Nil. EQs: - Getting emasculated by Michael Jordan. - Joining Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets to win a title. - Having the nickname Clyde ‘The Glide’. Shawn KempTQs:
- Ability to run the floor as a power forward. - Finish with authority. EQs: - Dunking ability. - Not wearing condoms. - Becoming an alcoholic - which is totally understandable the way Seattle butchered the whole Jim Mcillvane contract situation.^^ |
Reggie MillerTQs:
- 3-point shooting. EQs: - Killing the Knicks. - Running off screens for 3-pointers. Young Shaquille O'nealTQs:
- Wilt Chamberlain-level combination of agility, quickness and power in a 7’1, 294 pound body. - Dunking. EQs: - Leaving a 60-22 Orlando Magic team with a modern-day Magic Johnson running the point (Yes, that comparison was made for Anfernee Hardaway – see below) to go to a Lakers team whose leading scorer was Cedric Ceballos (EQ: dunking with a blindfold on). |
Young Anfernee Hardaway and Young Grant Hill
TQs:
- Hardaway: Elite scoring/playmaking/ball-handling as a 6’7 point guard.
- Hill: Elite scoring/rebounding/playmaking/ball-handling as a 6’8 point-forward
EQs:
- What if…*
*Despite both players being long since retired, it is still too soon for me to play the ‘What if they played in today’s era where injury-recovery/prevention was better’ and, in the case of Grant Hill’s feet and ankles, ‘What if FILA never chose to make basketball shoes?’^^^
- Hardaway: Elite scoring/playmaking/ball-handling as a 6’7 point guard.
- Hill: Elite scoring/rebounding/playmaking/ball-handling as a 6’8 point-forward
EQs:
- What if…*
*Despite both players being long since retired, it is still too soon for me to play the ‘What if they played in today’s era where injury-recovery/prevention was better’ and, in the case of Grant Hill’s feet and ankles, ‘What if FILA never chose to make basketball shoes?’^^^
Now that we’ve effectively relived the NBA in the 90s (and those who were born in the 80s, like myself, wipe away a tear in fond memory of where our love for the NBA began), one can see how the extent of the drop off from Michael Jordan’s EQs to that of his peers left no doubt as to why he was vaulted to such God-like status (I mean, after the ‘Dream Shake’, Olajuwon’s next EQ is ‘Winning two championships while Michael Jordan played baseball’, and Barkley’s EQs involved the words ‘great interview’ and ‘being overweight’).
To further highlight the significance of Michael Jordan’s superiority over his entire generation of adversaries, at no prior time throughout NBA history had another player been able to forge a similar gap in Enduring Qualities between the truly elite and elite players of a generation.
To further highlight the significance of Michael Jordan’s superiority over his entire generation of adversaries, at no prior time throughout NBA history had another player been able to forge a similar gap in Enduring Qualities between the truly elite and elite players of a generation.
Numbers are player rankings from Bill Simmons’ ‘Book of Basketball’ and Hall of Fame Pyramid (or as I call it, ‘The Greatest Basketball Book Ever Written’ and ‘The Greatest Idea That Should-But-Never-Will-Be Acted Upon’).
*An argument could be made that such a gap was present in the 1970s when Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul Jabbar governed the NBA - however this ignores the fact that he (a) played in an underperforming and underappreciated league; (b) appeared, or legitimately was, socially insecure; and (c) was a civil rights and racial injustice activist who declined to play in the 1968 Olympics and was therefore a social pariah in white-America. FYI: this was 48-years BEFORE Colin Kaepernick took a simple knee during pre-game anthems, divided political lines, broke mainstream media, had the President refer to him as a ‘son of a bitch’, and got black-balled from the league/never signed another NFL contract.
*An argument could be made that such a gap was present in the 1970s when Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul Jabbar governed the NBA - however this ignores the fact that he (a) played in an underperforming and underappreciated league; (b) appeared, or legitimately was, socially insecure; and (c) was a civil rights and racial injustice activist who declined to play in the 1968 Olympics and was therefore a social pariah in white-America. FYI: this was 48-years BEFORE Colin Kaepernick took a simple knee during pre-game anthems, divided political lines, broke mainstream media, had the President refer to him as a ‘son of a bitch’, and got black-balled from the league/never signed another NFL contract.
With Michael Jordan’s retirement (i.e. the real one after 1998 - not his going-to-play baseball ‘retirement’ and definitely not his Washington Wizards retirement), the first post-MJ decade (1999-2008) ensued with the next Michael Jordan torch being fruitlessly passed from one ‘is he the next Michael Jordan?’ to another ‘is he the next Michael Jordan?’ But why could the mantle not be sufficiently claimed? The league wanted it to happen ($$$). The basketball public wanted it to happen. A long line of players wanted it to happen (heck, Kobe even creepily – or admirably – mimicked everything MJ did… although I think he forgot about this in Colorado). Yet despite all of these willing factors and the carousel of eager stars, each with qualities unique to themselves, the search continued in futility.
Following the premise that Michael Jordan became the figurehead Michael Jordan because his Transcendent Qualities, as a player, created Enduring Qualities far greater than his peers, a deep-dive into the ensuing decade illustrates why no player could hold claim to the title of next Michael Jordan.
Following the premise that Michael Jordan became the figurehead Michael Jordan because his Transcendent Qualities, as a player, created Enduring Qualities far greater than his peers, a deep-dive into the ensuing decade illustrates why no player could hold claim to the title of next Michael Jordan.
First Post-MJ Decade (1999-2008)
Tier 1
Tim DuncanTQs:
- Plethora of post-up moves. - Generational Defensive Presence. - Made everyone else on his team better. EQs: - Best power-forward of all time (despite being a centre). - Played for the Spurs. - 5-time NBA Champion. - Coached by Greg Popovich. - Nicknamed ‘The Big Fundamental’. |
Shaquille O'nealTQs:
- Physically unstoppable post-presence. - Unprecedented and overbearing size and strength. EQs: - Physically unstoppable post-presence. - Unprecedented and overbearing size and strength. - Hated Kobe Bryant. - Couldn’t shoot free-throws / Responsible for Hack-A-Shaq or Hack-A-insert-player-name-here. - Came a tenth-of-an-inch from literally murdering Brad Miller^^^^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM1V1D1r_PU |
As Tier 1 players from the 1999-2008 decade, were Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’neal all-time greats who, at their peaks, could guarantee a title? Yes (their teams won 7 of 10 NBA Championships during this time frame). Did either of their Enduring Qualities inspire awe or separate themselves from each other or their peers in such a way that resembled the gulf between Michael Jordan and his compatriots? No. I mean, when Enduring Qualities that influence the subconscious of the basketball world include: ‘played for the Spurs’, ‘coached by Greg Popovich’, ‘Hated Kobe Bryant’, and ‘Couldn’t shoot free throws’, these are hardly qualities that scream next Michael Jordan. (Sidenote to the Lakers zealots who have already typed and are preparing to hit send on an onslaught of malicious tweets aimed at myself, my manhood, my family and anything else intended to inflict maximum emotional harm: could I have placed Kobe Bryant in Tier 1? No. Why? Because in 2008 (the cut off for the 1st post-MJ decade); (a) Kobe was coming off having his pants pulled down in the NBA Finals by the Boston Celtics; (b) his post-Shaq record from 05-07 was 121-125; and (c) one of his Enduring Qualities involved the words: ‘Colorado’ and ‘Sexual Assault’.
Second Post-MJ Decade (2009-2018)
As a new wave of players entered the NBA hierarchy and the career apexes of the Duncan/Shaq generation became a distant memory (or very distant when you consider towards the ends of their careers, Duncan was effective but could not jump over a phone-book and Shaq played for Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston whilst seemingly putting on 25 pounds at each destination), Lebron James asserted himself as the best player of his generation. To say Lebron experienced trials and tribulations with the magnitude to negatively shape his Enduring Qualities is an understatement, yet despite these ‘not one, not two, not three’ moments, Answer B: ‘Lebron James is the next Michael Jordan’, while never being affirmed, was never quite eviscerated. This fact alone is noteworthy, for at no point in history had the question lingered for so long over a single player. The next Michael Jordan was undefeated. It had disposed of all challengers without prejudice. And, why? Because the gap in Enduring Qualities Michael Jordan had experienced to that of his peers had always been too great to replicate (or perhaps… ever be replicated). Then this happened:
* Yes. This is actually true. Dwight not only was a T3 player, but he could have easily been a T2 if he didn’t: (a) have back-troubles (b) devoutly believe a team could run an entire offense through him posting up on the low block; and (c) morph into the cancer and clown he is now widely regarded as. (FYI: In his prime, Dwight made 5-straight First Team All-NBAs and 5 All NBA Defense Teams, won 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards and led the league in blocks (2x) and rebounding (5x). Heck… that’s half a decade of greatness! As for the other half of the decade? Dwight thoughtfully offered these words of wisdom at his introducory Press Conference for the Washington Wizards, all of which seem to sum up his fall from grace perfectly: ‘I learned Magic for 8 years, travelled to La La Land, learned how to work with Rockets, how to fly with Hawks, got stung by the Hornets, and through all of that, it’s taught me how to be a Wizard.’ #Insert fake-media-laugh and Dwight’s goofy smile here. As for what’s next in the Dwight Howard universe? My guess? How to speak Chinese/play for the Guangdong Southern Tigers.
Tier 1
Lebron James
TQs:
- Offensive Savant (scoring/rebounding/passing/ball-handling/play-making).
- Unrivaled combination of size, strength, speed, agility, quickness, and health.
- Makes everyone around him better.
EQs:
- Best player of his generation.
- Won game 7 of NBA Finals vs 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
- Brought a Championship to Cleveland.
- Broke up with Cleveland on National-Television to win two championships with the Miami Heat.
- Played in 8 straight NBA Finals.
- Makes everyone around him better.
- Flops/Exaggerates contact.
- Offensive Savant (scoring/rebounding/passing/ball-handling/play-making).
- Unrivaled combination of size, strength, speed, agility, quickness, and health.
- Makes everyone around him better.
EQs:
- Best player of his generation.
- Won game 7 of NBA Finals vs 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
- Brought a Championship to Cleveland.
- Broke up with Cleveland on National-Television to win two championships with the Miami Heat.
- Played in 8 straight NBA Finals.
- Makes everyone around him better.
- Flops/Exaggerates contact.
Tier 2
Kobe BryantTQs:
- Fearless all-time scoring ability. EQs: - Won 5 rings – 3 with Shaq, 2 by himself*. - Wanted to be the next Michael Jordan. - Ultra-competitive asshole. - Gave himself the nickname Black Mamba. * And yet, without Pau Gasol, neither of these titles would have occurred and one of Kobe’s EQs would be: shot 6/24 in game 7 of the NBA Finals verse the Celtics. |
Kevin DurantTQs:
- 7-footer with limitless range. - 7-footer with guard-like handle. - Unstoppable All-Time scorer. - Can get to and score from anywhere on the court. EQs: - Unstoppable All-Time scorer. - Joined 73-9 Warriors and Won 2x NBA - Championships and 2x NBA Finals MVPs. - 7-footer with limitless range. - Believes his Mum is ‘The Real MVP’. |
Steph CurryTQs:
- Greatest shooter of all time. - Stretches the floor on offense like no one in NBA history. - Superior handle. EQs: - Greatest shooter of all time. - A member of the best shooting back-court of all time. - Selfless team player. - Fan favourite. - Has a daughter named Riley Curry. |
As the singular Tier 1 player of the decade (an occurrence in NBA history that only Michael Jordan had experienced in the 90s) and consensus ‘best player of his generation’, Lebron James established himself with, not only, superlative Transcendent Qualities, but ones of such magnitude that they created Enduring Qualities far superior to his peers. To demonstrate this, consider the five most valued EQs of Michael Jordan and Lebron James when compared to their contemporaries:
With playing careers separated by two decades, the unparalleled Enduring Qualities both Michael Jordan and Lebron James possessed over their peers emphasised each player’s singular dominance over the game of basketball. Michael Jordan became the figurehead Michael Jordan because of this dominance, and it is this ‘lack of dominance’ in the decade following his retirement that no player could lay claim to the title of next Michael Jordan. Lebron James, however, re-established this singular dominance. Like Michael Jordan before him, Lebron James proved himself to be like no other. In the history of the game of basketball, the pair are outliers. At no other point in the 70-plus years of professional basketball being played in America has another player’s Enduring Qualities allowed them to transcend their peers and, in doing so, transcend the generations of players before-and-after their time. Michael Jordan was generationally incomparable in terms of the Transcendent Qualities he possessed as a player, and in the Enduring Qualities he forever planted in the minds of basketball fans around the world. Two decades later, Lebron James has repeated this accomplishment. Despite a host of worthy adversaries and the lingering shadow of Michael Jordan’s omnipotence ever being present, Lebron James’ Transcendent and Enduring Qualities have enabled him to singularly stand out like only one player before him. Michael Jordan was the original. And, now, it seems, Lebron James has firmly established himself as next.
For two decades Michael Jordan has sat alone at his table (undoubtedly enjoying this fact as only MJ-the-competitor could), and the empty chair with ‘next’ placed on it has remained vacant. Countless players have either been thrust forward to claim the seat or have eagerly tried to attain it, yet all have been found unworthy. The outlier in Michael Jordan was exactly that, an outlier… Now it seems, there is one further outlier to finally remove the ‘next’ placeholder-card and take a seat.
Continue to Part II - Final
Footnotes:
^Excerpt from the Bachelor Life: Wilt Chamberlain slept with 20,000 women over his NBA career. Fact or Fiction?
In regards to the aforementioned Wilt Chamberlain and his 20,000 women claim, despite the prodigious declaration he made in his autobiography ‘A View From Above’, I suspect the number to be somehow inflated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the ‘once-in-a-generation’ player (not just on the court) experienced a lot of success, but let’s face it - 20,000 women over a lifespan of 63 years? Despite the per year number (which comes to 416.6 per year - whilst subtracting fifteen years for the ‘no-one-has-sex-with-a-child’ rule), the key thing to leap off the page to me is that there were a supposed twenty thousand encounters with... wait for it... ZERO pregnancies. I mean, sure, the Big Dipper could have been super, super cautious, but let’s remember, in today’s world, where 1% of condoms will break (#We’veAllBeenThere), back in Wilt’s basketball prime (1958-1973), that figure would have surely been higher. Let’s be generous and say that only 5% broke - in which case, that would mean there would be... hold on while I get a calculator... 1,000 pregnancies! And, since he had no reported kids and there are only a handful of legitimate seven-footers who play in today’s NBA, we can only assume that he either didn’t sleep with 20,000 women, he was infertile, or... he was super convincing when chatting to his women about the idea of an abortion.
^^ For those who don’t know: Seattle gave Jim Mcilvane, who up until that point had played in 135 games for a career average of 2.1 ppg, a 7-year $35,000,000 contract – meanwhile Kemp, who was coming off a 20-11 season with 56% FG and 4-straight All-star appearances, had 2-years and $6.3 million remaining on his contract. (Sidenote: To this day I miss Seattle-Shawn Kemp. Of anyone from the 1990-1998 era, he is a player who would have absolutely OWNED the NBA Twitter-sphere and the modern-day internet. I can imagine waking up every morning, scrolling through Twitter, and seeing #RIP-insert-player-who-got-dunked-on-by-Kemp-here trending world-wide and thinking a player actually died over night. In other words, like the time Deandre Jordan body-slammed Brandon Knight through the Staples Centre floor, only it would be every… single… night*. Then again, the fact Shawn Kemp had 7 children with 6 different women BEFORE the invention of Twitter, Instagram and DMs… there’s no telling what kind of offspring numbers he could have tallied.)
* Exhibit A of why Shawn Kemp’s game would translate to the Twitter era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHb875YbbrA
^Excerpt from the Bachelor Life: Wilt Chamberlain slept with 20,000 women over his NBA career. Fact or Fiction?
In regards to the aforementioned Wilt Chamberlain and his 20,000 women claim, despite the prodigious declaration he made in his autobiography ‘A View From Above’, I suspect the number to be somehow inflated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the ‘once-in-a-generation’ player (not just on the court) experienced a lot of success, but let’s face it - 20,000 women over a lifespan of 63 years? Despite the per year number (which comes to 416.6 per year - whilst subtracting fifteen years for the ‘no-one-has-sex-with-a-child’ rule), the key thing to leap off the page to me is that there were a supposed twenty thousand encounters with... wait for it... ZERO pregnancies. I mean, sure, the Big Dipper could have been super, super cautious, but let’s remember, in today’s world, where 1% of condoms will break (#We’veAllBeenThere), back in Wilt’s basketball prime (1958-1973), that figure would have surely been higher. Let’s be generous and say that only 5% broke - in which case, that would mean there would be... hold on while I get a calculator... 1,000 pregnancies! And, since he had no reported kids and there are only a handful of legitimate seven-footers who play in today’s NBA, we can only assume that he either didn’t sleep with 20,000 women, he was infertile, or... he was super convincing when chatting to his women about the idea of an abortion.
^^ For those who don’t know: Seattle gave Jim Mcilvane, who up until that point had played in 135 games for a career average of 2.1 ppg, a 7-year $35,000,000 contract – meanwhile Kemp, who was coming off a 20-11 season with 56% FG and 4-straight All-star appearances, had 2-years and $6.3 million remaining on his contract. (Sidenote: To this day I miss Seattle-Shawn Kemp. Of anyone from the 1990-1998 era, he is a player who would have absolutely OWNED the NBA Twitter-sphere and the modern-day internet. I can imagine waking up every morning, scrolling through Twitter, and seeing #RIP-insert-player-who-got-dunked-on-by-Kemp-here trending world-wide and thinking a player actually died over night. In other words, like the time Deandre Jordan body-slammed Brandon Knight through the Staples Centre floor, only it would be every… single… night*. Then again, the fact Shawn Kemp had 7 children with 6 different women BEFORE the invention of Twitter, Instagram and DMs… there’s no telling what kind of offspring numbers he could have tallied.)
* Exhibit A of why Shawn Kemp’s game would translate to the Twitter era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHb875YbbrA
^^^ For those too young to remember: In Grant Hill’s first five-years he averaged 22, 8 and 5 with 48%FG and made five All NBA Teams (one 1st Team, four 2nd Team), and in Penny Hardaway’s first four-years he averaged 20, 5 and 7 with 48%FG and made three All NBA Teams (two 1st Team, one 3rd Team). They were the future of the NBA and the next generation’s potential answer to the next Michael Jordan, yet all we to show for it are a host of ‘What ifs’, fond memories and YouTube highlights. Excuse me while I now go and dry the tears from eyes.
Anfernee Hardaway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmMHu9EtibE
Grant Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_KT5CM24lg
Anfernee Hardaway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmMHu9EtibE
Grant Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_KT5CM24lg
^^^^ The first two teammates of Brad Miller’s to enter the fray? Wait for it… Charles Oakley and Ron Artest. I mean, if you could have your pick of any NBA players throughout history to have your back in a fight, they are two bona fide, all-time selections. Other acceptable answers include: Stephen Jackson (unafraid to take on multiple opponents), Latrell Spreewell (ask PJ Carlesimo), Xavier McDaniel/Anthony Mason (they come as a tag-team), Dennis Rodman (unpredictable), J.J Barea (good from short range), Kermit Washington (good from long range), Jerry Stackhouse (good from all ranges), and Steven Adams (because you need at least one level-headed tough guy who doesn’t feel pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJWDilaU7bw Note: this was BEFORE Adams morphed into a cross between a Dothraki War Lord and Aqua Man).