MJ's return?

**IVplay** · 02-16-2013, 10:50 PM

Apparently he recently beat Michael Kidd gilchrist in a one v one and mkd was trying. About a week ago Antwan Jamison said mj could still play in the league. Two days ago mj was trying about how he was trying to get back to his competitive weight (218, he's down to 245 now), and he was talking about how he would guard lebron (force him to the left to shoot an awkward shot). Add on that he is turning 50 the day of the all star game, I see a surprise cameo from Jordan in that game.

/investigativejournalism

**TahoeJ** · 02-16-2013, 11:09 PM

He could have been really effective at the end of his career if he had realized where he had lost a step and just played the game as an outside shooter and tempo player. It was really a shame, and I think he sees that now. Also, anyone who thinks LeBron is / was a better player almost definitely didn't see them both play. I did - and it's not even close in my book... not yet anyway.

spook · 02-17-2013, 04:04 AM

listening to jordan talk makes it clear if there was ever any doubt that it will take a long time for lebron to get close to jordan in terms of rings, but he may never match him as a competitor. lebron's obviously a talent, but mj was a ruthless competitor who would do anything to win. he willed them to win more times than i can remember and he never gave the ball up in fear, but because it was the best chance to win.

http://deadspin.com/5984808/watch-ra...ng-media-scrum

kobe's not even close. kobe will go down as the guy who tried hardest to be the next jordan but just didn't have it in him. i haven't seen anything out of lebron that makes me think any different. he's not about winning, he's about lebron.

**cramer** · 02-17-2013, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by spook

listening to jordan talk makes it clear if there was ever any doubt that it will take a long time for lebron to get close to jordan in terms of rings, but he may never match him as a competitor. lebron's obviously a talent, but mj was a ruthless competitor who would do anything to win. he willed them to win more times than i can remember and he never gave the ball up in fear, but because it was the best chance to win.

http://deadspin.com/5984808/watch-ra...ng-media-scrum

kobe's not even close. kobe will go down as the guy who tried hardest to be the next jordan but just didn't have it in him. i haven't seen anything out of lebron that makes me think any different. he's not about winning, he's about lebron.

I dont watch basketball anymore really. But Kobe and lebron will both be mentioned in the same sentence as jordan. I grew up watching Jordan shatter many of basketball hall of fame players dreams. Drexler, stockton, malone, barkley, Payton, Ewing, etc. I'm sure you could list some more. They all got a shot at him and failed. Jordan is the man. Kobe's got 5 titles. He's pretty fucking good and has been since he was 18. Dwayne wade was too till he got hurt a couple years ago. I'm not sure how you say kobe tried hardest. he didnt have to try. He was fucking money like jordan. That guy drains shots and gets hot night after night. Lebron, well, he's another beast. He's Jordan on steroids. And well, yeah, my opinion is he's on something. How do you get that big? Working out everyday? lol.

**Bobby Finstock** · 02-17-2013, 06:33 AM

How do I hate thee ESPN thread JONG!!!!

**IVplay** · 02-17-2013, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by cramer

I dont watch basketball anymore really. But Kobe and lebron will both be mentioned in the same sentence as jordan. I grew up watching Jordan shatter many of basketball hall of fame players dreams. Drexler, stockton, malone, barkley, Payton, Ewing, etc. I'm sure you could list some more. They all got a shot at him and failed. Jordan is the man. Kobe's got 5 titles. He's pretty fucking good and has been since he was 18. Dwayne wade was too till he got hurt a couple years ago. I'm not sure how you say kobe tried hardest. he didnt have to try. He was fucking money like jordan. That guy drains shots and gets hot night after night. Lebron, well, he's another beast. He's Jordan on steroids. And well, yeah, my opinion is he's on something. How do you get that big? Working out everyday? lol.

Ya don't forget for the first three of Kobe's title shaq was the MVP. And if it weren't for pau gasol in game seven against Boston he would not have won that series either. Where as lebron had a super weak team in Cleveland (donyell marshal and drew gooden represent). And Jordan before pippen and pj came was labeled as a ball hog who couldn't get it done in the playoffs. The Chicago bulls the year Jordan left went to the conference finals where they lost, and pippen came third averaging 22 pts, 8 rebs, 5 assists,cand lead the league in steals. How did the cavs do when lebron left? Won 20 games and Daniel Gibson still sucked. So the fact that he even took the cavs to the finals is crazy. Honestly if lebron was on that bulls team instead of Jordan I feel the same result would have happened. Not to take anything away from Jordan just that it would be ignorant to say it was just him when you have two other HOF's in the starting lineup. Now, before you go say I'm too young to have ever witnessed Jordan, I've actually seen pretty all of the bulls games from 86-98. So in conclusion if lebron wins about three more titles and is still playing on another level for 6 more years at least, I think it would be a fun debate with lebron v Jordan.

spook · 02-17-2013, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by cramer

I dont watch basketball anymore really. But Kobe and lebron will both be mentioned in the same sentence as jordan. I grew up watching Jordan shatter many of basketball hall of fame players dreams. Drexler, stockton, malone, barkley, Payton, Ewing, etc. I'm sure you could list some more. They all got a shot at him and failed. Jordan is the man. Kobe's got 5 titles. He's pretty fucking good and has been since he was 18. Dwayne wade was too till he got hurt a couple years ago. I'm not sure how you say kobe tried hardest. he didnt have to try. He was fucking money like jordan. That guy drains shots and gets hot night after night. Lebron, well, he's another beast. He's Jordan on steroids. And well, yeah, my opinion is he's on something. How do you get that big? Working out everyday? lol.

i'm not saying kobe's not among the best, but he lacks mj's mind. kobe is about kobe, too. he says he's about winning but he has done so many things through the years that are detrimental to winning, not to mention disappearing at the biggest moments. lebron lacks mj's mind as well. mj had "it" before he won. maybe lebron will develop some of it now that he's on top, but he has a long road.

**Tippster** · 02-17-2013, 12:58 PM

The MJ legend wouldn't exist without Scottie Pippen.

http://deadspin.com/5984808/watch-ra...ng-media-scrum

I forgot how good Craig Ehlo was in that game. Looked like a younger Larry Bird.

**iceman** · 02-17-2013, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Ehlo is perhaps best remembered for being the victim of one of Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan's greatest performances. On May 7, 1989, Ehlo, then a Cavalier, was defending Jordan when he made "The Shot", the series-clinching jumper in the first round of the NBA Playoffs in front of a Cleveland home crowd, then considered an upset as Cleveland was the 3rd seed in the east and Chicago was the 6th.

There would be no MJ legend without Craig Ehlo!!!

spook · 02-17-2013, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

The MJ legend wouldn't exist without Scottie Pippen.

http://deadspin.com/5984808/watch-ra...ng-media-scrum

I forgot how good Craig Ehlo was in that game. Looked like a younger Larry Bird.

jordan said in the postgame that the only way cleveland could win is if they turned into mj v. 5. i'm pretty sure mj would still have had some kind of legend even without pippen. it might not have been about championships..

spook · 02-17-2013, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

There would be no MJ legend without Craig Ehlo!!!

i thought ehlo's perspective on everything was perfect.

**The AD** · 02-17-2013, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by IVplay

About a week ago Antwan Jamison said mj could still play in the league.

I can't imagine him handling the day to day grind. Maybe if it's a few minutes per game, but would Jordan really come back for that? No way a 50 year old can keep up with athletes in the prime of their career. Not Jordan, no nobody.

**Powder Ho** · 02-17-2013, 03:18 PM

Ever heard of Gordie Howe?

spook · 02-17-2013, 03:42 PM

i can't imagine him handling the grind either the way he used to play, even if he can still beat 20 year olds in 1 on 1. maybe if he changed his game so he's not running his ass off and not getting banged every play and not putting excessive stress on his joints. with limited minutes . at some point, knees, ankles, hamstrings start failing.

**The AD** · 02-17-2013, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Powder Ho

Ever heard of Gordie Howe?

You think the NHL in 1980 had the level of competition the NBA has today? I don't. Also, the top NBA players are out there 40 minutes per game. Nobody, other than the goalie, is out there that long in a hockey game. 25 minutes is more typical.

**iscariot** · 02-17-2013, 04:00 PM

Michael Jackson is being resurrected to play basketball?

**jfost** · 02-17-2013, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by The AD

You think the NHL in 1980 had the level of competition the NBA has today? I don't. Also, the top NBA players are out there 40 minutes per game. Nobody, other than the goalie, is out there that long in a hockey game. 25 minutes is more typical.

fine, but neither sport compares to the athleticism and stamina required in tennis.

**iceman** · 02-17-2013, 05:28 PM

There's guys he would be better than.

(Granted this is from last year, half these guys are gone): 25 Worst players in the league 2012

Michael could make a living.

spook · 02-17-2013, 05:30 PM

it must drive him nuts to get old knowing he would still destroy everybody

**jfost** · 02-17-2013, 05:31 PM

He could get worked by Uncle Drew

**iceman** · 02-17-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by spook

it must drive him nuts to get old knowing he would still destroy everybody

i bet not too much. He knows he could pretty much dominate, in spurts, if he totally dedicated himself to it every minute of his life. Even then it would be 10 minutes a game max. And over 82 games and playoffs? I bet he lights a cigar and says "FUCK. THAT." And smiles.

edit: on the other hand he's only 12 years older than KG and KG's an All-Star and balling every night. I bet that gets him a little.

**The AD** · 02-17-2013, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by jfost

fine, but neither sport compares to the athleticism and stamina required in tennis.

Not sure what the joke is here, but how many (pro) tennis players do you see who are even over 35?

**iceman** · 02-17-2013, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by The AD

Not sure what the joke is here, but how many (pro) tennis players do you see who are even over 35?

Tennis is power, speed and reflexes. Power can last but speed and reflexes are problematical. Who was the last tennis player who dominated over 35? None. A few have done pretty well for a short time over 30 (and I think we'l see more with modern sports medicine and training) but tennis is a great example of how pure athleticism deserts the aged, perhaps the best example that we're all familiar with. Sucks getting old but there it is. Can't stop it.

**stfu&gbtw** · 02-18-2013, 08:50 AM

For anyone who's got a couple of hours to kill, here are the highlights from almost every one of MJ's 50 point games.

IMO, nobody is on that level. Chamberlain was like a freak of nature - he would never be as dominant in today's game as he was in 60's. Kobe was closer than anyone else. Lebron might get there - he's still pretty young. Pippen, and Stockton, and Kukoch, and lots of other guys made huge contributions to the Bulls championships, but no one has been as personally dominant as MJ.