Let’s say Jordan never came back to the NBA after the Bulls first 3peat. How do you think his legacy would be perceived? Would he have surely lost the GOAT title long ago? Would Kobe have a case against him? Would he still be as popular as he is now?
What would his legacy been like had he retires for good after the first 3 peat?
prototype of Kobe.
Still a legend but possibly the biggest “what if” in NBA history
Sandy Koufax
I think Jim Brown is a good parallel. He played 9 seasons, same as MJ before his first retirement, before retiring at the age of 30. He is still considered to be the greatest running back in NFL history and probably top 5 player of all time. I think Jordan would have been viewed the same way.
Basketball Koufax.
Lots of people would still think he’s the best NBA player ever, but I do feel more people would have LeBron over him for sure.
Then all the nephews would have been correct
His first 3peat is the highest level I’ve seen anyone play basketball. He would be a huge what if because of his early retirement but I still think I lot would view him as the goat regardless
We’d probably be arguing between Lebron and Kareem at 1. Though most would still say Jordan is top 5.
probably around top 5
a second three-peat that late in your career as still the best player in the league is batshit insane
People called him the GOAT before the second run. I think the thing it changes most is how quickly LBJ get into that convo and then takes that crown. Kobe probably shines harder too.
Still in the All Time Great, if not GOAT discussion… See Sandy Koufax and Barry Sanders in other sports in how they are talked about, while retiring very “early”
When he retired the first time the statue said “the greatest there ever was, the greatest there ever will be”
There would be no difference imo
He’d probably be seen as closer to Bird and Magic but the best of the three. They’d all be guys who burned super bright but didn’t have as long of careers as they could’ve. So probably top five all time but I think the GOAT convo would be more slanted to LeBron and Kareem
Got to be honest with you, the last three championships always felt like a post and pre retirement tour to me. MJ was the unquestioned goat by 1993 already - part of the reason he left in 1993 was because he’d done it all already