Who is the GOAT

[ousdahl]

Anyone with that thought process eliminates themselves from Goat consideration

Unless we wanna discuss GOAT attention whore.

“Look at me or else I ain’t playing!”

[TDub]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/289 ... oved-april

[TDub]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/264 ... all-career

[CrimsonNBlue]

I've always found it strange that MJ's baseball career is looked at as such a joke performance-wise. It's a hard fucking sport. And then to switch over and play at that level. The numbers don't suggest definitely making a 40-man, but they still put him in a very high percentile of baseball players.

[Deleted User 289]

A former KU player has been saying he feels Kareem was a better player than MJ.
I'm not going to argue with him but it made me come up with a thought.

You're an NBA GM in any era.
You have the number 1 pick of any player in any NBA era to play for your team.
How do you not select 61/62 Wilt or 62/63 Wilt - without any hesitation what so ever?

[pdub]

Jordan 89-90 ( I know they didn't win but he had just won DPOY and had one of his better 3PT shooting seasons ).
I think Wilt played in an NBA a little more void of talent.
I think you can argue this with Jordan as well but definitely not to the level of the 60's NBA.

And if we are talking todays NBA, I think Jordan fits better than Wilt.
Wilt would still be a no brainer top 5 pick.

Jordan, LeBron, Wilt, Kareem, Magic.

[Cascadia]

Wilt would beat Jordan 1 on 1, but 5 on 5 Jordan wins 9 out of 10 games.

Always bet on Mike.

[pdub]

Yea, i'm not sure how Jordan would be able to stop Wilt from getting to the basket.
Jordan could get his because he could likely get jumpers, but yes, 1v1 would be Wilt's advantage if you took out rules like 3 seconds in the key ( and if you took out charges of the 1v1 then absolutely Wilt's advantage ).

[CrimsonNBlue]

I've long been a "Kareem is #2" guy, but recently read an argument where the premise was that Kareem's only win over the field is longevity. Which, does matter, (not to mention Kareem's HS and college careers) but doesn't do as much for me as peak level performance. Wilt also has warts--I view them as more neck and neck than I previously had.

[Cascadia]

Obviously I love Wilt, but he’d be trying to prove that he could do all the things Mike could do. Jordan would just be trying to win.

That’s the difference between those two.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Agreed. Wilt would be more concerned bout besting MJ's stat line.

[Deleted User 289]

How about the "Jordan Challenge" that's been going around?

You're offered 5 million to score against MJ 1-on-1.
WHEN MJ WAS IN HIS PRIME.
You are given 10 chances.
If you fail, you won't be able to hear music ever again.
Would you lace up?

[CrimsonNBlue]

Well what do I win? (Not that I think I'd score)

[pdub]

5 million ( dollars I'm assuming ).
No, I wouldn't do that, you aren't scoring.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Didn't see the 5 million. I'm not a big music guy, but still no.

For the right prize, I might pull up 10x from near half court.

[pdub]

MJ would still probably be out there, guarding/trying to steal the ball.

[Deleted User 89]

How about the "Jordan Challenge" that's been going around?

You're offered 5 million to score against MJ 1-on-1.
WHEN MJ WAS IN HIS PRIME.
You are given 10 chances.
If you fail, you won't be able to hear music ever again.
Would you lace up?

i would

edit: only if i could be in my prime as well

[Deleted User 289]

I don't know how good of a player you were, nor how strong and fast you were in your prime. If you were a damn good player as well as stronger and faster than MJ, I just might like your - or anyone else's chances.
I figure there are a lot of factors involved in terms of your chances. Such as, where do you start with the ball on the court? Does he have to give you any room when you start with the ball? How much contact is allowed? Can you jack up a shot immediately without having to dribble? Many more I'm not including.

I would have loved to have tried it without anything on the line. I was always a horse shit player and I was 5-10 and a buck 40 "in my prime" so I doubt very highly I could have scored on him.

[pdub]

You get the ball at half court, Michael is 5 feet away and you have to check it and he checks it back and then it's go time, he can press immediately.

If you score on him, he looses his chance to hear music.
If he doesn't let you score, he gets 5 million dollars.

So, good luck everyone.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I just might like your - or anyone else's chances.

If there is something in it for MJ, then we are getting up to at least high D-1 level where I'd think about a player having a chance to win the challenge.

Prime MJ was playing way above the rim, even on defense. That's without getting into the tenacity he had on that side of the ball.