Quote:
Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro
I understand what you are saying. There really isn't a greatest of all time, except for peoples own personal views. Also, I think you have to look past stats a little, because as you said, it's a team game. He just had the "it" factor. He knew how to win. Which is all that really matters. But if you do want stats, Jordan was 5X MVP, 10 seasons out of 15 with the most points in the league, and of course the 6 rings. If you look at his resume, I don't think you'll find anyone elses that surpasses him, overall. Sure, there are people that hold records that he doesn't, but that doesn't make them better than Jordan, but there is a good case that Jordan is better then the players with individual records.
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Using your "criteria" though...isn't Russell better than Jordan? I mean Russell, like Jordan, was a 5 time MVP, but he has 11 rings....rebounding and blocks leader as often as Jordan was the scoring leader. So, just because Jordan scores more means he's better? I don't think so. I mean Jordan only won those titles because of the defense of guys like Pippen and Rodman and the rebounding of guys like Rodman and Grant.
(And, for the record....while Jordan's 2 separate 3-peats are impressive....Russell has...well, what do you call it when you win 8 yrs in a row?)
Kareem, a 6 time MVP, 1 more than MJ, with 6 rings like Jordan.....leads the league in most points scored....EVER....all kinds of records for him.
9 guys have more rings than Jordan, 2 guys have the same number as him....
I have never once said Jordan wasn't a clutch player who frequently made the right play to win a game. But then why isn't Kobe the greatest? How about Stockton, Nash, Kidd, Iverson, Billups, Magic, Worthy, Bird, West, Olajuwon, Marevich, Wilt, Russell, etc....the list could go on for a long time.
It comes down to this.....
In a team sport, there cannot possibly be "the greatest of all time"....sure, people have opinions, but it isn't quantifiable. In solo sports, you could more easily determine a greatest because their success isn't necessarily dependent on others. Even then, someone may have the most cups/rings/trophies/plaques/etc, but they might still not be the greatest of all time....