In the history of the NBA, Michael Jordan has always been the best template to compare. "Shoulder to shoulder Jordan", "Beyond Jordan", "Next Jordan", but anyone who is involved with Jordan will look very powerful. But the god of basketball is incredibly great: five regular-season MVPs, ten scoring champions, and six championships. His strong and proud soul, even the strongest latecomers can only look back on it.
In Jordan's own mouth, there are only three people on the planet who could defeat him. Some are extremely popular geniuses, and some are close relatives who have influenced his life.
Peter Pan who stole Jordan
"At my peak I could beat all the players in the league today. There have been a lot of superstars in NBA history, but I don't think I'm going to lose to anyone. If I had to pick one that would beat me, it would be Kobe Bryant. Because he stole all my skills."
In the movie "Slam Dunk in the Sky", alien creatures steal the skills of NBA stars. On the real court, Bryant is the one who "stole" Jordan's skills: psychedelic back-to-back singles, picturesque back-up jumpers, and snake-like athletic breakthroughs. How much alike are these two people? Shaqui O'Neill once said that Kobe Bryant even walked in exactly the same way as Jordan.
None of this is accidental, as Bryant aspired to surpass Jordan long before he entered the league. When he was a high school player, he attended a basketball camp organized by Jordan. All the teenagers were surrounding Jordan, and the expression was like seeing the true God. However, Bryant was unique, and actually shouted loudly to defeat the true god. "You know I'm going to kill you in 1v1"! The result is self-evident, and the young Kobe Bryant is taught by Jordan to find teeth on the ground.
In 1997, the Bulls played at home against the Lakers, and after a year, Jordan once again ushered in Kobe's challenge. At this time, Peter Pan "stole the master" to succeed, and he scored in front of Jordan with a back-up jumper that took off again and again. The game was in garbage time, but Jordan still had no intention of leaving the game, because Kobe's high morale inspired his long-lost enthusiasm.
The story didn't end there, and Bryant walked slowly toward Jordan during the fourth quarter of that game's pause. "He asked me about low-post techniques and asked if I could teach him the details of his legs when playing low-backs," Jordan recalls, "and I was amazed that a young player like him could be so meticulous about technical research."
Bryant's cleverness lies not in the fact that he has learned Jordan's moves and styles, but that he can learn and practice the insoluble killing moves. Bryant was hailed as "the man closest to god," but those who imitated him did not become "the closest to Kobe." Amazing learning ability, tenacious and competitive spirit, perhaps this is the real reason jordan recognizes Kobe's ability.
The biggest "enemy" is the best loved one
If Larry Jordan is 188 cm tall, not 173 cm. His younger brother Michael Jordan is likely to be called "Jordan Jr." when he enters the league.
Michael Jordan was only 178 centimeters in his sophomore year of high school, and the varsity coach expelled him. Who would have thought that he soared more than ten centimeters in his junior year of high school, and the basketball road suddenly became clear and smooth. What helped Michael Jordan accomplish this miracle was his love of basketball on the surface, but his desire to beat his brother.
As with many black brothers' childhoods, Larry Jordan and Michael Jordan often practiced together as children. "If I lose I will continue to fight until I win, but the truth is that I usually end the fight with one fight". Joe's gang leader was beaten up by his brother again and again, and competitiveness sprouted in him.
How does Larry Jordan play? Turning to the basket, folding the buckle can do everything, physical fitness, speed, bounce, consciousness are all top-notch. Even Michael Jordan, who grew tall, could not beat his brother at 1.73 meters. Jordan Sr. always thought that Larry was the most talented basketball man in the family, and rejecting Michael's high school coach had high hopes for the shorter Larry. All of this proves that Larry Jordan is better than Michael Jordan.
Jordan once said in an interview: "When you see how I play, you see how Larry plays." He taught me everything, and I like to imitate him the most." Incidentally, Jordan chose the No. 23 because he felt he could only get half of his brother, and Larry Jordan wore the no. 45 jersey in high school.
A genius who died bizarrely
On the night of the 1986 draft, something big happened that shocked the league: Celtics Tanhua Xiulun Baias died after smoking too much cocaine. It took all his connections to select his Cardinal Auerbach almost overnight.
There are so many legends about Byas, a six-foot-eight-inch guy who was once known as the "shot-enhanced Jordan" almost became a god in people's mouths. However, the legend must have a certain basis, and Baias was the number one person who overpowered Jordan in college.
In 1984, jordan led the University of North Carolina to the NCAA Quarterfinals against the University of Maryland, which had only one star. As the sole ace of the University of Maryland, Byas abused Jordan to the point of death throughout the match. He blasted down 47 points while limiting Jordan to just 19 points, and North Carolina's unbeaten record that season was over.
North Carolina has four star players, while Maryland has only Baias. But what did Jordan say after losing the game? His remarks were enough to reflect the horror of Baias's talent: "Lose to Baias? That's normal, I can't beat him one-on-one during normal training."
"I've been coaching the NCAA for so many years, and the only players who really deserve to be called great are Michael Jordan and Len Baias." Even the always steady old Coach K has compared the two.
In fact, before the draft night came, the Celtics had a comprehensive physical examination for Baias, and the final result was perfect. At the draft, Auerbach said that he only liked Baias, except that he did not make a second consideration. The Cardinals spoke, and no other team dared to play by Byas, and the Green Army got the "enhanced version of Jordan" as they wished.
Perhaps it was predestined that the always honest Baias was seduced by his friends after being selected, and actually chose to celebrate by taking drugs. On his table are "lethal" drugs, but as a "rookie", he does not know it. That night, Baias was exposed to cocaine for the first time in his life, and for the last time.
The great and arrogant god of basketball once said: "Everyone has limits in their hearts, he may be your example, or he may be yourself." In a big league, perhaps the person who can surpass Jordan will never exist, because the image of the flyer's invincibility will always exist in the hearts of fans.