#该系列文章涉及的球员排名是由The Athletic Media, there are discrepancies with the NBA and ESPN rankings.
Author | Jon Greenberg
Translate | Clarkson
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The house michael Jordan built has remained empty for the past decade.
Jordan's house at 2700 Surburban Highland Park has been on the shelves for a decade and has still not been sold at a discount of nearly half.
The house has a distinctive personal character of Jordan, and the huge no. 23 sign at the gate is a popular punching point that attracts many tourists.
Unlike other mansions, which sit in the bustling city or overlook the coastline, the house is like a 32,683-square-foot Wayne estate.
Although Jordan's mansion is not only a bat cave, but also a gym and a casino, this still has not attracted the right buyers.
Jordan's house is like the crown he left in the NBA, and no one can be the heir.
(Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images)
Another house Jordan built because of his great success on the court (Editor's Note: built a house means not only building a house, but also a huge success in going somewhere, similar to a harmonic terrier), and that is the Bulls' home united center on Chicago's 1901W Madison Street.
Jordan's statue outside the stadium was conceived and installed in the mid-1990s and is located in a small plaza outside the Union Center.
Now, while fans pose for a photo with Jordan's sculpture, DeRozan, who has performed well after joining the Bulls, is threatening one of Jordan's countless records with consecutive scores in the fourth quarter.
At first, Jordan didn't like the United Center arena that he used when he played baseball, but he still won three rings here.
Of course, Jordan's spiritual legacy to Chicago goes far beyond the three championship banners at the top of the Union Center.
Jordan's statue is Chicago's most attractive tourist attraction, Bull tickets are sold out every night, and Jordan's classic entry track "Sirius" will still ring out at the United Center.
The light of Jordan's time is still shining, even if the memory has slowly yellowed.
Steve Scanwald, a former bull marketing executive, said of Jordan's era: "You have to be there to feel that brilliance, and if you weren't there or weren't born yet, sorry, I can't describe or describe it to you." ”
DeRozan, who joined the Bulls in the summer, is proud to play at jordan's former home stadium, under the Bulls' brilliant championship flag and retirement numbers.
When Jordan last led the Bulls to a championship, DeRozan was only 7 years old, but he still remembers it vividly.
Now, 25 years later, DeRozan is standing on the floor of the United Center, trying to recreate the Glory of the Bulls as a player.
"Interestingly, earlier this season, I watched The Last Dance again," DeRozan said after a recent 38-point game, "and my daughter came in and asked me why I didn't play the game, and she saw the same picture I saw as a child in the '90s." ”
Interestingly, Jordan still seems outdated to this day, and near-timeless modernity embodies his enduring appeal.
In recent years, Jordan has maintained cool relationships with the Bulls and Chicago.
As an executive of other teams, Jordan rarely makes public appearances in Chicago.
Aside from the fact that the sports brand that bears his name still dominates the market, Jordan's career after retirement is clearly not comparable to his performance on the pitch.
The Bulls have never been able to return to the heights of jordan's time, and in fact, after Jordan's classic "last shot" on June 13, 1998, the Bulls have never returned to the NBA Finals.
This ranking is indisputable, just like the sky is blue, the earth is round, and Michael Jordan is the number one in The Athletic NBA's 75th anniversary 75th superstar ranking.
Jordan is the best player in NBA 75th anniversary history, and no one will surpass him.
From Sam Smith's "Jordan Rules" in 1992 to Netflix's ten-episode documentary "The Last Dance" in the spring of 2020, Jordan is still a traffic symbol that attracts national (U.S.) attention.
Since the documentary hasn't been out for a long time, it seems a bit redundant to write a story about Jordan now.
After all, after a ten-episode documentary series about Jordan's career, what else do I have to say?
"Jordan is the greatest," Smith wrote in an email to me, "you can quote me. ”
Jordan didn't need data to show his greatness, but he left too many great data records.
Jordan ranks fifth in history with 32,292 career points, ranks first in history with an average of 30.1 points per game, and ranks first in analytical statistics such as PER listed later.
He ranks 99th in regular season playing time and 32nd in all-time playing time.
Jordan ranked second in both playoff scores and playoff scoring per game, and in Jordan's six Finals trips, he never made a tie-seven.
In his third season, Jordan scored 3,041 points.
Only Wilt Chamberlain has scored more than 3,000 points in a season.
From the 1986-1987 season to the 1992-1993 season, Jordan was the league's top scorer.
When he ended his baseball career, during the Bulls' second triple-game winning streak, Jordan was named the top scorer for three consecutive years.
Jordan scored a single-game 63 points in the famous "God Pretending to Be Jordan to Play" but lost to the Celtics in a single game, which is still the NBA playoff single-game scoring record today.
But Jordan is clearly not just a super scorer, he's also the league's top defensive player (if you're bound to say Pippen, well Pippen is second).
Jordan's career total of 2514 steals is third in the league.
Imagine if Tom Brady played security guard.
In addition, Jordan has won two dunk contests, including the legendary 1988 home victory over Dominic Wilkins, the "essence of human cinema."<
Can Jordan fly?
Looks like that, doesn't it?
Jordan left behind a series of classic scenes:
Cleveland's "The Shot"; Chicago's "The Switch" and "The Shrug"; and the most classic Utah "The Dagger".
Jordan also holds two Olympic gold medals, one he earned as a college student in 1984 and the other in 1992 as the world's most famous basketball player.
Even before Jordan entered the NBA, Jordan at the University of North Carolina said he was ready for more lights.
Luckily, Jordan is a superstar who exists in the video age.
Unlike some of the Ancient Mythical Beasts, we can still watch Jordan's game highlights to this day.
Jordan earned the respect of his peers and elders early on with his talent, but apparently he wouldn't be truly accepted until he won the championship.
In 1991, Jordan became the leading scorer, winning his second MVP and winning the championship with the Lakers, who beat Magic Johnson in five games in the Finals.
Once Jordan started winning, he couldn't stop.
We can't ignore the credits of Phil Jackson, Scotty Pippen, and others, but the spotlight has been on Jordan.
Since 1991, Jordan has been the best one.
Always.
At the end of his career, Jordan also lost in the playoffs and struggled with the Wizards.
But it is clear that this will not deprive him of his great achievements.
"He was never afraid to fail," Smith said, "and this is a man who is not only good but also confident, and he is willing to take on any challenge." ”
Between 1980 and 1999, no one competed with Jordan for the title of the world's most famous athlete.
Not just the most famous basketball player, Jordan may even be the most famous.
No matter where in the world you can, you'll find people wearing Nike, drinking Coca-Cola, or wearing bull T-shirts.
In the "image is everything" era, Jordan's endorsement income outside of basketball has multiplied.
No one can perform on the pitch like Jordan, who has pioneered a new world of sports marketing.
"In a game of tennis, golf or boxing, the mystery lies in the individual players." Jordan's agent, David Falk, told Henry Louis Gates Jr. in a 1998 Interview with the New Yorker. "No matter how great Bill Russell and Bob Cousy are, that was also the splendor of the Celtic dynasty, institutional. And Michael Jordan changed all that, on his own.
Jordan created a team of people, though it made his "supporting characters" occasionally chafed.
Jordan influenced pop culture and turned athletes into the ultimate salesman.
Must it be sneakers?
Maybe Jordan created the style.
Magic Johnson and Bird Bird wear Converse, while Jordan wears Air Jordan.
"There's no one who can influence society as much as Jordan," Smith said, "and I think that's why his stature, his name and his presence still attract as much attention as they used to." ”
"You can't take a bad picture of Jordan." Years ago, Walter Iooss Jr., a longtime sports illustrated photographer, told another reporter at the Chicago Museum's Jordan Photography Exhibition, "It's true, I barely have a picture of him looking bad." When the camera approached him, he never dodged because he knew everyone was watching him, no matter where they were. ”
Steve Kerr won three titles with Jordan, two more with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, and then three more when the Warriors were coaches.
He's been playing against the best players in the league since 1980.
Cole said: "Over time, the game has changed. The talent of the players is not as good as before, and the players of the 50s will destroy everyone. How human evolution has evolved backwards in sports is a strange subject. The players are now weaker, smaller and less skilled. I don't know, I can't explain. ”
Kerr's Warriors transformed the NBA and propelled basketball forward.
Compared to today's games, the jordan-era games look a little slower.
But that doesn't mean Jordan will be obsolete in today's game.
His stature, technique and spirit are as fierce today as they were 25 years ago.
Compared to James and Bryant, who shot more than 5,000 career three-pointers, what would Jordan, who shot just 1,778 three-pointers in his career, look like in today's game?
"Assuming he's at his peak today, I have no doubt he'll shoot a million three-pointers in training to become a better three-point shooter." "Other than that, he's going to be emotionally, physically and mentally dominant, just like he was then," Cole said. ”
Former Bulls teammate Stacy King added: "Jordan will adapt to the current rhythm of the game because as he gets older, his three-point ability has improved a lot. In the past, his athleticism was too strong, allowing him to jump higher than everyone, run faster than everyone, and have the best explosive power, so he didn't have to rely on three-pointers. But I assure you that Jordan will evolve in the current game. ”
Jordan is synonymous with evolution, bringing incredible wealth to the NBA league and turning NBA players into 360-degree stars.
Jordan is unlikely to play again, but we can imagine what Jordan would be like in this day and age.
"I think Jordan is going to get 100 points in this day and age," King said, "because Kobe can get 81 points, then Jordan can get 100 points." ”
There is no doubt that Jordan's physical fitness is a miracle.
But the reason he dwarfs everyone is not just because of his excellent physical qualities.
"I mean, he's the greatest player of all time and most people agree with that for a reason." Cole said, "This greatness goes beyond shooting or physical fitness. Jordan has incredible skills, knowledge, and experience, all of which add up to an aura that makes him stronger than anyone else. ”
Everyone remembers Jordan's dunks, back-up jumpers, steals.
But Jordan doesn't just have that, he has so much more to remember.
'I think Michael's most underrated ability is his ability to dominate emotions on the pitch. Cole said, "I haven't seen that from anyone yet. ”
Entering the NBA in 1990 and having played against Jordan in regional games before that, Chicagoan Kendall Gill referred Toker to this skill and called the "Mike Tyson Effect."
"Tyson used to beat his opponents before he got into the boxing ring," Jill said, "and obviously Jordan has that ability too." ”
Cole described Jordan's magic as a "mantra": "Everyone in the gym, whether it's teammates, opponents or officials or fans, feels that way. It just feels like he's better than everybody else, and he's going to be the player who dominates everything. He was so emotionally dominant, like he cast a spell on every game. ”
Gill, one of the most muscular guards in NBA history, recalls an experience of talking nonsense with Jordan: "Nash in the nets' playoff first round of '98, I ate Jordan on the inside, and then I said 'Yo, I'm the strongest player Tim Grover has ever brought' (jordan and Jill were both coached by Tim when they were young). ”
Later, Jordan steals Jill and dunks on his head to make it 2+1.
Jill recalls still getting angry: "That guy, who was broadcast live during the national live game, held me in front of my family and everyone in the Audience at The Union Center. ”
Oakley was one of Jordan's best friends in the NBA, but Jordan didn't put water on his Knicks.
In 1995, Jordan returned to the league to defeat the Knicks with a unique 55 points in Madison Garden.
Oakley said: "After that night, I think some of the players were scared in the dressing room. Jordan is back, and some people feel they'll never be able to beat Jordan. ”
"Jordan ruined the dream of a lot of players getting the ring," Oakley said, "and he stopped the Knicks, stopped Barkley, stopped Carl Malone and Stockton and the Portland Trail Blazers." I mean, if Jordan wasn't in the NBA, maybe all of these guys had a chance to win a ring. But he's there, you have to pass him, it's not easy. ”
Jordan was reluctant to accept failure even in the parking lot.
Jill recalls: "I was driving my Ferrari 456GT with my girlfriend and she loved my car. But then we ran into Jordan and his brand new Ferrari 550 in the UC parking lot. My girlfriend asked me 'I like that, can you get one?' I can only curse Jordan in my heart, this little red guy, he even wants to win me with the car. ”
(Fernando Medina / NBAE via Getty Images)
In Oakley's new book, he proposes a better debate between LeBron and Jordan, though even Oakley himself says it's just to attract traffic.
"The reason I made this comparison is because people can start debating," he said, "and personally, I think LeBron has surpassed Kobe, but he hasn't overtaken Jordan." Michael raised the bar too high. ”
Oakley, a native of Cleveland, is a big fan of LeBron.
He began to follow LeBron from the moment he entered the league, until the 37-year-old LeBron entered his nineteenth year.
Oakley was surprised that LeBron had carried expectations from the time he was elected to the presidency to this day, but he lived up to expectations.
Jordan influenced Kobe in every way, and Kobe bryant also went beyond the limits of mind and body to chase the glory left by Jordan.
But neither James nor Bryant can surpass Jordan because many of their professional and public identities are imitations of Jordan.
Jordan set the standard, they just did their best to catch up.
And Jordan's previous superstars, Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain and Bill Russell, were all miracles of basketball evolution.
But apparently they're not as diverse as inside long-term skill packs and can't do everything like Jordan.
James's stature, diverse skills and long athletic longevity made him another miracle of the post-Jordan era.
But while LeBron is widely regarded as the best player of his generation, he has an Achilles heel, which is that he has lost too many times in the Finals.
Although he reached the Finals for eight consecutive years (nine out of ten), James lost five of them.
Although Jordan has never reached the Finals for so many years like James in his baseball career, he won all the finals.
While the players all respect James, they clearly don't fear James at the most critical moments on the pitch.
Smith said of Jordan: "He did everything he started, and every time he reached the top, he would always be there. ”
In addition to his winning general on the field and his terrifying ability to dominate emotions, Jordan is even more impressive with his consolidated pop culture position during the boom in advertising and marketing in the '90s.
Since that famous Gatorade commercial aired, how many people have said, "Like Michael!" ”
"The concept is the only way you can be like Jordan, and that's by drinking Gatorade."
Advertising creator Bernie Pilzer said: "Actually, kids, you know, all you should do is sit in the backyard, on the playground, pretend to be Jordan. The ad resonated, and it was as simple as that. ”
Sometimes we dream, and that's all we can do.
As Jordan says at the end of The Last Dance, "My passion for the basketball court is contagious, and that's how I play." It began with hope, and I began my journey with hope. We went from being a bad team to the greatest dynasty in NBA history, and all you need is light the whole flame with a match. ”
Year after year, Jordan's legacy remains solidified.
James could win two more titles to match Jordan's ring count, but that doesn't matter.
25 years from now, no matter who ranks players for the league's 75th anniversary, Jordan will be number one.
Abdul-Jabbar is currently the most scoring player in NBA history, and maybe James will overtake him before he retires, maybe not, but none of that matters.
There will always be new great players coming into the NBA, but Jordan will still be on top of the hill.
"People forget, time keeps going." Smith said, "If you haven't seen something, you don't think he's as great as something you see." Things will always change, but Jordan is different. ”
When we rank players, no one will put Jordan in second place and he will always be at the top.
Michael Jordan, who became Michael Jordan, was the greatest and will be the greatest in the future.
The translator said
#Clarkson：
I was born in 1999, and like most of my fans and friends, I have only experienced the dashing of the helper in the collection. After translating the text, I had a new understanding of Jordan's greatness.
When we discuss NBA history rankings, competency on the court is a necessary consideration, but it is clearly not a decisive factor.
Jordan, on the other hand, is clearly the best and the best of the best.
Whether we look at it from the perspective of data, team leadership, honor or personal ability, or off-site personal influence and brand value, Michael Jordan will be "The Goat".
Jordan dominated the NBA, changed the NBA, and redefined the NBA. Without Michael Jordan, it's hard to say whether the NBA would have had such a high level of attention right now.
Combining the above factors, Jordan is the first in history.
I will be updating The Athletic's list of 75 superstars for a long time in the future, and I hope that you will continue to pay attention to it