[practicalpants]

It's not unanimously accepted that he's the greatest basketball player of all time. You have to take into account things like the illegal defense era (his era), which made it easy for superstars to shine. Tracy McGrady, for example, admitted his points per game average went from 32 to 22 overnight because of the introduction of zone defense.

Likewise, the NBA has become vastly more competitive and international since Jordan's prime, i.e. greater demographics competing to enter, overall raising the mean athletic ability.

Jordan is clearly a great, but one among others, like Kobe and LeBron, neither of whom are actually A-holes like Jordan.

[irishcoffee]

Jordan is the best. There really isn't a debate. Kobe and Lebron would tell you this without batting an eye.

Kobe and Lebron are both giant assholes. I'm not sure how you don't agree with this. Do you not follow sports news? Jordan is also a giant asshole. He is just far enough removed from playing the game that people forget about how he redefined/saved the NBA, they only judge him on the past 5 years.

[practicalpants]

I strongly disagree with your characterization. MJ has even said he wasn't sure who'd win him vs. Kobe.

There is plenty of debate. Don't forget the league-wide diluting effects of the '89 and '95 expansion drafts, something I neglected to mention. People really do underestimate how less competitive Jordan's era was than today (but many fans do get it).

I'm a longtime NBA fan, and I follow basketball news regularly + compete in bball fantasy leagues.

And no, Kobe and LBJ are not assholes on Jordan's level. Jordan is notorious for being an asshole, unlike the former two.

[myronbolitar]

What makes you think Kobe and LeBron aren't a-holes?

Also, I've thought for years that LeBron not being more of an a-hole is why he doesn't win more often. He loves to win. Jordan hated to lose. That's the difference.

PS - Tracy McGrady's scoring didn't dip from 32 to 22 overnight, and when it did dip, it had more to do with his lack of conditioning and his body breaking down than it did with any rule changes.

[philwelch]

There were teams that played zone defense in the 90's, like George Karl's Sonics did at times. They just had to be sneaky about it.