Michael Jordan 1987: 53 pts vs Pacers (70% fg)

[Boompc]

See this shydd rite hir is wat makes him the G.O.A.T ! Who cn do this typa high efficient scoring in todays league !!!...NOBODY

[bellumcarmen]

The cameraman at 06:21 is probably drunk!!! :P

[kennygriff24]

Jordan was truly incredible. Its hard to put into words how amazing it is to watch something this great.

[billyvanbvb]

Kobes a ridiculously good player, but Jordan truly is on a higher plane. He's the ultimate student and master of the game all rolled into one. His hangtime, mid-air acrobats as well as large hands and incredible strength truly do set him apart from anyone. NOT TO MENTION HIS STATISTICS ARE SICK. 50% LIFETIME FG SHOOTER, SEASONS WITH 3 STEAL AVERAGE PER GAME???? 6 TITLES C'MON....

SICK SICK SICK

[JRope1016]

seriously who gets 53 points and still has 8 assists? thats just not human

[xiangyuli]

jordan's game is simply on another level. His anticipation and instinct is from another world. Look at him stealing entry passes to low post. That shit is unheard of... you'd literally have to jump before the guy throws the ball... it was not a reactive action for jordan, it was predictive. He shows that in all aspects of his game.

On offense, he would predict by instinct the behavior of his defender, and get by them before they knew it. His blowbys look so smooth

[gukonni]

1:21 just amazing speed and he finishes with surprising effectiveness.

[Dreamewalker]

The thing I love the most is that the commentators aren't acting like Jordan is the greatest player to ever play at this point. Jordan earned his greatness. People like...*cough* Lebron these days are given greatness without earning it.

[uberathlete]

MJ is the most skilled player I have ever seen. He could literally do it all, and very consistently and with great efficiency. The dude's bball IQ was also incredible.

[HooliganMovement]

Dear Kobetards... had David Stern & Aldridge not made the decision to remove handchecking, AND implement a defensive 3 second rule... Kobe would be a career 18 ppg player who shoots in the low 40's (FG %)... aka Scottie Pippen w/o the defense.

[Disposable5]

@HooliganMovement dumbass, thats a stupid accusation. Kobe did play with hand checking for a little while. And jordan did not have to play against zone defense either. Its very stupid to say whether or not both playes would do better or worse if they played in different eras.

[jimmychuang]

@Disposable5 I don't care it's zone defense or isolation defense. Just watch this regular season game, almost the whole team guard MJ, even it's illegal they still double up MJ without ball. I mean didn't you ever see this kind of defense only focus on one player? No way, I watch NBA since 1993, I watch MJ against NYK which had great defense, but the defense on MJ in 1986, is totally illegal in any era!!

[24graderthan23]

its amazing how much the game has changed right? these people couldnt even handle the ball without hesitating or looking at thhe ground...no disrespect.

[grimlock1269]

Kobe Career Points Per Game Average = 25.3 (Same as Dwayne Wade): Jordan Career Points Per Game Average =30.1: Kobe only Averaged 30 PPG in 3 NBA Seasons. His highest average was 35PPG. He only won 2 Scoring Titles (Allen Iverson won more): Jordan Averaged OVER 30 PPG in 8 NBA Seasons. Season Averages of 37.1, 35, and 33 PPG. He won 10 SCORING TITLES..lol...8 STRAIGHT! GAME OVER: Numbers are not Debatable. They're on NBA.com. GO CHECK!

[GlennGould77]

@grimlock1269 You're right, but it's not the numbers alone that lift Michael so far above anybody else, including Kobe. Kobe is a great player, he is almost every bit as talented as Michael, he is able to do the same amazing moves on court, but Michael was all that Kobe is and more, 15 years before Kobe showed up. Michael completely revolutionized the game, was lightyears ahead of his time, while Kobe is just carrying on what Jordan brought to the game.

[blyrio]

@GlennGould77 Can't agree more!

[ferrisnesse18]

@grimlock1269 ur right, but at the same time mj didnt have shaq in his prime eddie jones and byron scott starting before him at sg and he didnt come outta hs like kobe did therefore he wasn't proven,but who knows what kobe wud have done if he stayed on the Hornets when he was drafted,he wud have to score like crazy just get his team to .500>>>but he walked into a good situation cnt fault him 4 that but when he didn't have no1 2 pass to, trust me he is as unstoppable as MJ love them both equally

[cyber6sapien]

@ferrisnesse18 I agree that Kobe could do almost everything Jordan could do offensively.  However Jordan was born with greater athletic gifts, and so he could do amazing things with greater efficiency and on a more consistent basis than Kobe. Jordan was better than Kobe is against great defenses. Also, if you compare how each one played defense, then that is where there is no comparison.

[kay9ine1]

@grimlock1269 stats dont tell how you play. joel anthony has 2 points per game for the heat and has a big impact on the heat. but dont get me wrong, jordan is the best but im saying dont compare stats thats just ridiculous

[Dkouts57]

:58

the toughest 30 or 40 pts he will ever get.....yeah right!

[ralph4eva]

best player ever, worst cameraman ever

[JimenezLeon]

wow that fast break at 1:19 was sick

[jknight213]

plz shut these commentators up.. i am spreading the word lol MJ could've been called for traveling @7:29

[redtripower]

MJ was ungodly. He played in an age of brutal defense like the Piston's badboys and Knicks with Ewing, Oakley, Mason, guys all willing to crack your skull for the ball. And add to that the handchecking they were doing. Imagine a guy with hands the size of a baseball glove on your back. Pushing you away, unbalancing you, holding you down, it's unthinkable that MJ still shot 50 percent.

Kobe, Lebron, KG, will always be ball boys to MJ. He is Mr. Basketball.

[chitownref]

Look at the speed at 1:19 when he steals the ball and flies past Pacers who were in front of him while dribbling the ball! So glad I was able to see him play his whole career. He is the GOAT!!

[FrYLocK41]

This game > Kobe's 81.

[SwaggerLikeUz]

JOrdan was literally embarrassing the League (Quote) - Chuck Daily rest in Peace..

[torea30]

im so sick of the comparisons between mj n kobe. not even close. mj by a landslide. kobe copy all jordan moves. he tries to walk like him he wears the lil wrist band and knee band like him. he even wags his tongue like him. on top of that he even shoots the fadeaway jumpshot. lol. r u kidding me. kobe is good. but not on mj s level. nobody is.i love kobe's game, but he try to imitate jordan so much. oh and don't forget the fist pump.

[gbinct]

Good lord was he fast in his youth. Air improvisation.

[runnerupful]

michael does not look awkward wit those short pants at all. he jus born to ball, lookin' natural in anything as long as he scores..

[Bwayneallday]

mlynch07 the commentators r talking the who fucking time dude, just keep the highlights

[evertrules24]

If the rules were different back then, perhaps like the way they are today...Jordan would have averaged well over 40 a game. If the rules were different today, perhaps like they were back then...Kobe would barely break 20 a game. Jordan is the best, the greatest and people need to stop comparing anyone and everyone to him. He changed the game. Period

[RAV52]

Saying that he's the Greatest of All Time somehow doesn't seem like enough tribute to what Jordan did during his career. He literally defies the laws of gravity, space and time... Often at the same time!

[uberathlete]

lolz how can anyone say Kobe or Lebron is better than this guy after watching this?

[azher47]

MJ went nuts this season and averaged a whopping 37.1 ppg. But, his most impressive season has to be the 88-89 season when he averaged 32.5 ppg, 8.0 Rebounds per game and 8.0 assists per game. Lebron has never done this before but has come close.

[XLuckyT]

Idiots Idiots Idiots ...everything was harder back then ..jordans 69 CAN be compared to kobes 81 which are not far off...as for lebron ..the nba is soft you can't touch the guy... literally why he has 29 ppg ..one he always has the ball....AND open lay ups ..which does not amaze me.

[azher47]

@XLuckyT Agree, the rules were different. A lot of the rules today favor the offense and make it easier for them to drive the lane.

[uberathlete]

@XLuckyT True, and MJ did it against the Cavs. Kobe did it against the freakin Raptors, the worst defensive team in the league at that time.

[noname6317]

Why is there always so many LeBron and Kobe arguments when people bring up MJ? Wade is not as good as Jordan, Kobe or LeBron but his playing style is the most like Jordan.

[rob23molina]

lebron and kobe are very good but it was MJ who set this high standard which for real athlete's makes there desire higher but MJ was great. You could put MJ in any era and he would still dominate he just has that drive and loves a challenge. I think ultimately lebron will surpass kobe bcuz lebron is earning his stripes like MJ had to kobe came to a winning team so he didn't actually put in work. It will drive lebron just like it drove MJ only difference is the nba is soft & a lot less contact.

[masterofpuppets232]

kobe on a good team so was jordan it just didnt happen till kobe got better and plus the bulls were in town nobody was stopping them..jordan..kobe..and lebron have all started there career with the a team thats not good yet...but the all make em better...kobe deserves alot more credit...but those first few championships are pretty hard to figure when those games were scandals...and lebron aint win shit..cause he tries to make the team to perfect when there not...lebron aint smart..no college! Ha

[rob23molina]

No the lakers were a good team before kobe got there. kobe doesn't get my respect bcuz he came to a good team MJ took a team from the bottom to the very top he made them a dynasty. He earned his legacy. Yeah some of the lakers first games were scandals but MJ weren't he TOOK his rings and his place in history. Funny you say lebron isn't smart he is making millions to me that's smart.

[masterofpuppets232]

ok i understand...i stopped watchin bball when jordan retired in 98 but now i watch wade n kobe...yeh lebron makes millions but so does does any rookie cause every sport pays more now then in the 90's...jordan didnt get the real money till he came back in 95 n he was there for 9 years...now a rookie now makes that just for playing 20 mins...but no i will never talk bad about jordan...i just hate lebron

[azher47]

@masterofpuppets232

MJ built the Bulls, the Lakers were already contenders before Kobe arrived. The lakers were in the playoffs the season before Kobe arrived, the Bulls were no where in sight of the playoffs before MJ arrived. In MJ first season he instantly became the star of the team averaging 28 PPG and led them to the playoffs. His second year, Jordan had a season ending knee injury and the Bulls only won 30 games, they made the playoffs but the East was weak that season.

[azher47]

@masterofpuppets232 Wrong!

"kobe on a good team so was jordan"

The Bulls were pitiful before MJ arrived, the previous three seasons before MJ was drafted the Bulls averaged 29 wins a season.

The Previous three seasons before Kobe was drafted by the Lakers, the Lakers averaged 44 wins a season.

[JZumaya56]

@azher47

Kobe was never drafted by the Lakers. He was drafted 13th overall in the first round by the Hornets.

[azher47]

@masterofpuppets232 The Lakers already had a superstar in Shaq. The Bulls had no superstars, MJ was their first in years. By the way the Lakers won 56 games during Kobe's rookie season and Kobe was a non-factor as he came of the bench and only averaged 7 PPG.

[gearsofwarisdabest]

All u say lebron is so could kobe is the best player on the planet right now and possibly ever argue that remember 81!

[uberathlete]

Kobe's 81 is amazing but it really isn't as impressive when put in context. The Raptors were the worst defensive team in the league, had a depleted bench, and were instructed to let Kobe get his while limiting his teammates. When you have MoPete and Jalen Rose guarding the best player in the NBA, and have Matt Bonner and Jelani McCoy playing centre, you know things are gonna be bad for your team.

[rob23molina]

Actually wasn't that impressive considering the team was a terrible team with poor defense. kobe is good but MJ is great. MJ's 61 against the celtics was ALOT more impressive considering they were a very good team with a tough defense. Not even close.

[jonQuest82]

I know this is starting some shit but I don't know who in their right mind can look at this and honestly say Kobe or Lebron are better. This guy was an absolute TERROR on both ends of the floor. For 48 MINS! He'd ruin your offense then demoralize your defense.  A one man wrecking crew. GOOOOOAT.

[LakersDynasty42]

LeBron has the potential to be better but he still has a lot of awards and championships to rack up before we can compare him to Mike. Kobe on the other hand never had the ability to be better than Jordan but his stans won't let the comparisons go.

[DARIUSAKABYRD]

kobe is better than lebran and does have the ability to be better than jordan BUT

[LakersDynasty42]

Kobe hasn't done enough at this point in his career to surpass Mike.

[chiladin]

Due Lebron is just as athletic as a Jordan but is 6'8 260lb's of brute strenght. You know Jordan isn't Superman right? Plus Lebron can dribble, shoot(now) and pass just as good as Magic. He could guard Jordan better than Jordan could guard him so Lebron would destroy this era. Jordan was just the most dominant athlete and Lebron certainly right now is better than Jordan at 24! Now Lebron may never accomplish as many accolades but if he's progressing he will be better than Jordan!

[jonQuest82]

I also think Lebron is done has the chance to be called the greatest and you could legitimately argue he's better all around as a player at his age. I mean he did take some scrubs to the finals. But Jordan would rarely be matched up on Lebron, or vice versa, no coach would do that to their superstar all game long. This is a game, not 1on1. My comment has more to do with Jordan's WILL to dominate a game on both ends. Something Lebron has only shown in spots even though he has the ability.

[uberathlete]

hehe, people seem to forget that MJ was literally beaten and battered on his way to the top. Everybody else these days has it easy compared to what MJ had to endure. Numbers are extremely inflated in today's NBA, so scoring outbursts have to be taken with a grain of salt. MJ had to endure being constantly hit hard and grabbed both on offense and defense which would be extremely tiring, and yet he dominated on both ends. Players today have it much easier but don't do as well on both ends.

[chiladin]

@uberathlete Listen Jordan is done. It's Kobe's era now and soon it wil be Lebron's. You're making excuses trying to proove why Jordan was so great when EVERYBODY knows he was the GOAT. Stop it. But asa basektball purist if you don't think Lebron at 25 is a better player than Jordan at 25 then ur nuts. Lebron would've destroyed in Jordan's era also cus the players were still too small!

[rob23molina]

Great point.

[uberathlete]

Umm no. First of all, Lebron can't shoot consistently. He doesn't move without the ball as well. His postup game is absolute shit compared to MJ even with all that so called strength and athleticism. Lebron's overall skills offensively is really nothing compared to MJ. Lebron is a beast now, but he will get older and his physical gifts will diminish. We'll see how good he really is when that happens. Plus, he hasn't had to endure the physicality that MJ had to endure in his career.

[jonQuest82]

Valid points, but I'm considering Mike at 24-25 to Lebron at the same age. Mike didn't have the post up game he developed in the early 90's. But certainly he was more offensively effecient. Lebron takes so many off balance, difficult shots it's ridiculous. And with his athletisism he doesn't have to, he can get any shot he wants, yet he settles for a fadeaway 3. Even still Lebron's shooting over 50% this year. So I'm assuming he'll realize soon that he doesn't have to take stupid shots.

[chiladin]

@uberathlete Lebron is shooting 50% from the field and 36% from the 3pt line so I'd say so far this year he's been consistent.His postup game isn't as refined a MJ's but at his size he get's it done. When LBJ's physical skills diminish he will still be a great athlete.And Lebron takes way more of a pounding than Jordan i'm not even going to argue that. I grew up in Chicago during the Bulls reign and Jordan is the GOAT LBJ has the potential to be better. He's only 25!!

[horaiyo]

Holy hell lol, 0:35 was a swat.

[afrowhit420]

this is the most exciting jordan yet........ Air jordan from 84-90

[fancyleaf]

1:20 nasty speed.

[domingush]

i like camera man shoes hahaaha lol

[PEPEelZAPATISTA]

clearly these were pacers commentators, wich were trying to find anything going wrong with jordan but really could not haha... and clearly these are pacers cameramen... very unprofessional on their part... another reason, other than jordan, that the bulls are a better franchise.

[kingike25319]

jordan be blacking shots not chasing them down like lebron be doing -.-

[controlpopulation]

Does anyone doubt that if Jordan didn't retire the first time, he would have won 8 championships in a row, possibly 9? Plus two more scoring titles, player of the year, all defensive team honors? No doubt the best player we have ever seen to date.

[garioldwin]

@controlpopulation Hell no , the Bulls wouldnt win the title in 94' and 95' couse the Rockets were perfectly built team to beat them .

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

@garioldwin I think your wrong. The 94 BULLS would have taken out the Rockets. No Horace in 95 would have caused fits for the Bulls with Hakeem and company that was there best shot...Many rockets fans bring up records head to head match ups..Well in fact that is false to look at...Utah beat the BULLS twice in 98 reg season and the BULLS won stil in the finals..09 magic beat the lakers twice in the reg season still lakers won in the finals..

[garioldwin]

@MJisKingKobesuckss The Jazz didnt have Vernon Maxwell this guy played Jordan the best of all and that is the key to win against the Bulls .

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

@garioldwin Jordan 90-91 season vs rockets Jordan 13/22 32 points. Jordan 15/25 34 points 92 season Jordan 12/27 35 points Jordan 9/26 22 points 93 season Jordan 12/27 26 points Jordan 11/23 26 points Maxwell stopping MJ in a playoff situation I doubt it... Jordan averages all go in the playoffs and finals..

[garioldwin]

@MJisKingKobesuckss Jordan's fg percentage career average is over 50% ( not including his last seasons 02' and 03' season ) . In the last 4 games in 92' and 93' season Jordan's fg percentage against Maxwell was 43% . I think that is a quite good result . Chicago lost the games and Jordan couldnt do nothing to stop it and i have no dobut he played Maxwell like he would in the playoffs couse he was very competitive and i doubt it didnt bother him losing against Houston constatntly .

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

@garioldwin But in 91 it was not..It is not something that consistent to where you can say he would stop or contain MJ..Those are simple excuses and its not working..No disrespect

Out of Six matchups Jordan shot 50 percent against Maxwell3 times..Like I said Reg season match ups really does not indicate what happens in the playoffs or NBA finals..I can bring up 96 where hit for 48 over Stack and Maxwell vs the sixers...

[garioldwin]

@MJisKingKobesuckss Maxwell was not the same player in 96' as he was before . The drugs and the trade from Houston ruined him .

[falkner23]

@garioldwin Playoffs is a different animal, in a 7 game series where you can adjust.. and really get a feel for a team and the players..i do not like the Rockets chances against the 94 Bulls.. i say Bulls win in 6 games.

[falkner23]

@falkner23 *94 Bulls with their leader Jordan still on the team.

[falkner23]

@garioldwin you have been shown the numbers.. there is no evidence of Maxwell consistently containing/stopping Jordan. Remember they also only faced each other 2 times in a season..its not the same to a 7 game series where you will face the team more and be able to adjust and workout weaknesses in defenders, Jordan was a master of doing so. 94 Bulls added many new players to that team also.. so imagine if MJ had stayed they would have been even more deadly a team.. 93 they coasted all season.

[garioldwin]

@falkner23 There is evidence , i have seen the stats and i have seen the game . Just read my next comment in which i have stated the proof that Maxwell guarded Jordan very good .

[theblitzchannel]

@garioldwin Max wasn't on Jordan the entire game in any game they faced each other in. He defended Jordan in stretches genius.

[garioldwin]

@theblitzchannel I have seen actually one of those Chicago vs Houston games , i think it was played in 92' season . Jordan had bad fg percentage and half the shots he made was when Maxwell was out or it was a fast break dunk after the steal when Maxwell was not guarding him , genius . Maxwell did a very good job against Jordan . I have also read someware that Jordan said how Maxwell always had his numbers , dont know it its thrue .

[theblitzchannel]

@garioldwin Let me tell you something young fella, I live in Chicago and watched nearly every MJ game from 84-98, you are over rating Maxwell and wasting a lot of people's times with these stupid ass responses. Jordan shit on Maxwell. Period. Now get the fuck on with it son.

[garioldwin]

@theblitzchannel Youre an MJ fan so your opinion cant count couse its too biased .

[theblitzchannel]

@garioldwin That's a cop out. I present evidence with my opinions, you are presenting lies. Post footage of every shot taken against Maxwell or shut the fuck up.

[garioldwin]

@theblitzchannel I do not need to post anything , search for the games and you'll see .

[FrankieSprs]

@controlpopulation Yeah I tottally aggre. Think that he then retired because he was blase with no challenge ahead of him!!

[Dreamewalker]

@controlpopulation Scottie was having a lot of back problems during those late years and he sat out a lot of the 1998 finals. So, while Jordan would probably still have dominated the league, those championships would have been tough to come by.

[blacklingin]

4:28

[BulletInMidair]

0:42 - 0:46 sick!

[ssgoku003]

He didn't take no 3's damn!!! That man is/was simply amaze'n!!!

[thebeatlesfanatic08]

"they shouldnt let guys that good in the gym" LMAO

[LakersDynasty42]

Pause at 3:10. Did he just catch that pass in mid air?!!!!!

[jimmychuang]

Looks like young MJ could walk on the air. No wonder they called him air Jordan.

[pheeeel17]

John Long says if Jordan's gonna score 30 or 40, it will be the hardest points he's ever earned. Well he didn't say anything about scoring 50! haha, one of the many players who learned the hard way to keep their mouth shut when it comes to Jordan

[driecken]

Everyone says kobe is the best , but kobe doesnt care because he knows that.

He says stop the comparison, jordan is one of his idol, stop fighting bout it.

[NyNumba11]

yup cause kobe nows he nothing compared to jordan you said it right

[jmaal2345]

xactly

[intae7777]

how many mvp's does joradn have and how many does kobe and how long did it take kobe to get one?

[josette5]

think about the league today is harder u didn't have as many players u have today able to get 50 like back then. mj was a stand out and no one in the league came close to his skill. everyone back then were just a little stronger and that's it they were slow as fuck. the league today is fast and one of the most important things about basketball is speed. now a days u have many great players that can score rather than back then it was just jordan.

[uberathlete]

Back then players had better fundamentals offensively and defensively. The handcheck rules and clogging of the paint made it harder for players to penetrate. A majority of the NBA's 50 greatest players played in Jordan's era and there were plenty of great perimeter defenders as well. The modern NBA rules are drastically different from the past to cater to the offensive player, so it's easier to score today. Many basketball experts have said that MJ would average 40 or more in today's league.

[jmaal2345]

yes he would ur rite

[uberathlete]

You also have to take into account how physical the play was back then. It would wear out even the most conditioned player. MJ's era was also the tallest in the NBA's history, with arguably the most number of offensively and defensively skilled big men to play. It's also worth noting that when MJ played for the Wizards at age 39 and 40 against many of today's players who were in their physical prime, he still averaged close to 22 ppg on 2 bad knees relying mostly on jumpers alone.

[josette5]

my fault you're right u proved a good point

[str8duval]

Wow! First time i heard that... high scoring players today avg in the high 20s. Wilkins Bird Magic Dexler Malone Jabar King all did this. your saying mj was the only player who could score?

[josette5]

only wilkins and malone averaged 30 or more in a season and that was one season each since the 1984 season when mj came into the league

wilkins high was 30.3ppg

malone high was 31.0ppg

king high was 32.2ppg in (55 GAMES AND THEN 28.4 IN 64 GAMES) never scored over 27ppg in carrer except for those

magic didn't average over 24ppg

jabar didn't average over 24ppg sinc mj entered the league

drexler didn't average over 28ppg

bird didn't average over 30ppg his high was 29.9

[josette5]

compared to our league

mj was 7 consecutive scoring leader

com on u can't say mj didn't dominate the nba copare thos people scoreing to mj's

37.1 35.0 32.5 33.6 31.5 30.1 32.6 and those r consecutive years

THEN HE RETIRED

THEN THE NEXT 3 YEARS

30.4 29.6 28.7

[josette5]

NOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE R GETTIN THE SCOREING TITLE NOT JUST ONE PERSON 199900 Shaquille O'Neal 29.7 200001 Allen Iverson 31.1 200102 Allen Iverson 31.4 200203 Tracy McGrady 32.1 2003-04 Tracy McGrady 28.0 2004-05 Allen Iverson 30.7 2005-06 Kobe Bryant 35.4 and that is the first tim in history that 3 people averaged 30+ in season iverson 33.0, lebron james 31.4 2006-07 Kobe Bryant 31.6 2007-08 Lebron James 30.0 soon to be D-Wade 29 plus

[mariomarcano]

Josette5, in fact, in 1962, there were five players who averaged 30+ ppg: Wilt Chamberlain (50.4), Walt Bellamy (31.6), Bob Pettitt (31.2), Jerry West (31.0), and Oscar Robertson (30.8). This is the record for more players with 30+ ppg averages in a single season. There hasn`t been any season with 4 players averaging 30+ ppg. And then, it comes 2006, with 3 players with 30+ pg

Do your searching, you idiot! Don`t state things as if you are sure, when you don`t know what you are saying. Stupid.

[josette5]

a suck a dick and die slow u waste of sperm yo momma should have swallowed yo punk ass

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

Amazing how kobe fans are so delusional. The stats are overwhelming. Jordan scored in a better era with handchecking and no defensive 3 seconds. Thats means the biggest baddest centers that were in Jordan's era were hanging out in the middle waiting Jordan. People forget Jordan was also the smartest basketball player. That was evident between the ages of 38-40 where he lost most of his athletic ability and still burned these kids that are playing today. JORDAN=GOAT

[azher47]

@MJisKingKobesuckss Damn right!

[Shermstyle23]

@MJisKingKobesuckss Thats the problem with younger people today.They dont realize that Mj was great & above all others because he was great mentally &then had the great physical ability to translate smart basketball onto the court. Old school ballers were basketball smart.Today, even Kobe makes rookie mistakes.Down by 1 point &taking a 3 pt shot to win to get the glory instead of taking the ball in to get a foul, and1 or a better shot for his team. Kb needs a great team.Mj makes a great team

[tonychoitellem]

@MJisKingKobesuckss idk if he was the smartest player ever, but definitely the best.

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

@tonychoitellem I agree.. You had guys like Bird and Magic..Very smart ballers

[craw32]

I remember on Nov 30, 1990, the Bulls blew out the Pacers at home and MJ hit this incredible shot where he was on the right wing and looked to pass. He got caught in the air and bobbled the ball...so he decides at the last second to fling it up underhand towards the hoop and kissed it off the glass to another standing "O"!!!

[goate]

Has there ever been another player at roughly his size with the same outright quickness and body control? I think young Penny and young Kobe come the closest that I can remember; but it's not even that close.

[TBlake34]

LeBron is now roughly the age as Jordan was in this clip. The difference in their games is unreal. Jordan is sooo much more sophisticated, and this video highlights his impeccible mid-range game. LeBron has no post game, and no ability to pull up on a drive.

The finals this year should shut up the Kobe comparissons, but can we please stop this LeBron nonsense as well?

[threeby8887]

Plus (1) there were fewer teams in the league back then, which meant talent wasn't spread as thinly around the league as it is now, and especially (2) teams played much better and much more physical defense than they are allowed to now by the league. Jordan was also much better versed in the fundamentals of the sport than James and his contemporaries are now.

To me, it's no contest: Jordan is STILL the greatest non-big man in NBA history.

[uberathlete]

True. Some people don't quite understand how sophisticated MJ's game was. Even in his early years, he basically had most of the skills that made him great and just needed to polish them. He moved without the ball, used screens well, had a wicked midrange game, posted up, was great at recognizing and beating double teams, shot effortlessly off the dribble, etc. So much variety which made him so difficult to slow down. You can't play him one way, cuz he'd kill you using another.

[andgar923]

great vid, just had to watch it again, thanks.

[ProGalaxy]

I havent even watched the video yet but the stat line is crazy no one is fuckin with this guys game.Past or present.So here i go.

[blackadam06]

At the 2:11 junture, notice they're playing a 2-3 Zone! Teams REGULARLY did this against MJ. The Celtics were the BEST at getting away with zones during that era.

I laugh at these dumb ass kids who R STUPID enough to claim MJ NEVER faced zones. I guess they fail to realize he trained against them in college.

This is a REAL zone here on display, because There's no 3 sec rule. The Big Men can stay planted in the paint 4 as long as needed, to defend against players driving to the hoop.

[Xandrino]

look at the pace of the game...impossible in today´s NBA

[alexvlk]

This happened on my birthday... day and year.

To think my dad might have been watching this before and after he had a son.

[josette5]

yeah the 95-96 season was his best season.

[bassasson2007]

Jordan Was Fast Ass a Muggggg!

[jeditwinz]

I was thinking the same thing when he broke away at 1:19

[anointedvictor]

AND THE COMMENTATOR IS A HUGE FAN OF MJ'S...just listen to him at 6:50-7:10.

[anointedvictor]

damn...1:19-1:23! MJ with the ball beat 2 defenders running full speed WITHOUT the ball!

This was still at the time Magic and Larry's league, but MJ should have been MVP this year cause u take Magic out of LA or Larry out Boston, they will still have a team (not a championship-type team but a pretty good team).

You take MJ and his 37.1 pt average of out Chicago and what are they?? The Minnesota T-Wolves of today...hahaha. MJ should have been MVP.

I think Larry was MVP this year, right?

[mackcrusher]

Magic was the 1987 MVP, as well as the Finals MVP that year. Larry held both awards the preceding season (1986).

[gillesowns]

only reason he got it because otherwise michael woulda gotten mvp for 9 years straight

[josette5]

i didn't relize jordan was fast like that

[noel8421]

hahaha... yeah. he was REALLY explosive when he was younger

[uberathlete]

MJ was blazing fast.

[ezelaborda]

yes, the most amzing thing about him is that he changed so much so he can stay the best player in the league even when hes physical abilitys change. i mean, he lost a little of his athletic ability, so he improved his jumper and post up game to become the best post up player in the league. thats amazing.

[jovan988]

GICHA

[ksmall82]

The anticipation on that steal at 1:15! You don't see steals like that today. And the drive and finish at the other end. MJ had no weaknesses.

[soowuave]

Wicked video!!

[rhadden777]

I like andgar923's comment - you forget how incredibly smooth he was in the air. It's horrifying how talented he was.

There is some hilarious camera work in this game. What's with all the baseline camera shots haha?

Also I loved that the announcers were already questioning Portland's pick of Sam Bowie over Jordan - and this was in 1987.

[mlynch07]

I love that double-clutch shot at 1:40. Nobody could do that like jordan.

[det916]

Great upload man. His speed on the break is unmatchable. And that block was niiiiice. I've never seen this one before, so props bro.

[Lmartin31]

iverson on the fastbreak is faster lol but michael was quick as hell and d. wade so fucking fast 2

[det916]

Wade as quicks, not top speed. LeBron is the fastest in the game in end-to-end speed right now. Iverson was a quicker player than Jordan, but he didn't have the same end-to-end speed.

[Lmartin31]

yea mabye because jordan is make longer den iverson so he deosn't need as many foot steps 2 make it down the court

[guigau28]

Thanks !

[andgar923]

Something he does that gets overlooked so much is, his ability to avoid contact while in the air.

We see so many players crash into the defender, it happens almost all the time.

But very few players can avoid contact while in the air.

And nobody has done it better than MJ.

I mean....how?

Specially when he's going at full speed and the defender is set..how?

[Lmartin31]

i don't know that's why he is the greatest [good comment by the way]

[popeyeisgood]

the speed on that breakaway is just amazing. it is really just about 3-4 second with dribbling. i turely believe that he would destroy any star in today game in term of athleticism.

[jaboo82681]

That baseline camera sucks

[char4ever]

ya lol so funny...

[SPMJ]

What a terrific upload. Just watching MJ move around the court was fun. He was so incredibly explosive yet smooth at the same time. '87 is probably when he was at his raw athletic peak and this video is proof of it.

[mlynch07]

Thanks. Yeah 1987 was definitely within his prime

[mlynch07]

Thanks. Yeah, for some reason they went to that baseline camera for like 10 minutes so I had no choice but to use that for some of his shots. At least they went back to the normal view eventually

[andgar923]

Thanks!

Great game...horrible camera work.

Some of the shots he made....Lord!