People forget that MJ was a two way player. He absolutely did not sacrifice defense for the sake of offensive stats. Dude was a 9x all defensive 1st teamer, led the league in steals 3x, won a DPOTY, is still the fastest to 100 steals and 100 blocks,is still the only player to get 200 steals, 100 blocks, and score 3,000 points in a season, and did it all while winning the scoring title every time.
People keep saying "The GOAT Debate". Im over here like, "bro i saw it with my own eyes. I watched games, not highlights. This was all night, every game." They dont get it.
Maybe you had to be there. If they were they would fine it funny to even think Lebron is close. I don’t even think Lebron was a better passer and that’s supposed to be his big advantage
Bomboclaat KNICKS fan me😮😢! Fguking Jordan, it was just him smh when nothing is going on he made players ADRENALINE jump for the reason he ain't taking no lose. That's how he played not to lose within the game at any cost_DEFENSIVELY he did shyyttt like he was NOT THE BEST PLAYER a rookie earning stripes. Never just relaxed and said it will come to him he swam and MET THAT SHIP everytime😂😅😂😅😂😂😂😂😂. SOZ KNICKS.
1.6 block a game in 1987-88 as a shooting guard. Those who plays fantasy basketball know how absurd it is. Adding 35 points, 6 assists and 3.5 steals with only 3.1 turnovers a game. People always want to think that MJ was this skilled and crafty veteran who had amazing mid range game and was a winner and think Lebron is this more physically gifted player. People gravitate towards talent and raw physical tools, I get it. But they only watched the 90s MJ. No one who saw the 80s MJ would ever think that Lebron is more physically gifted, it is not close.
MJ's block shot looks so effortless, his hang time edges it. The most precious is he did not make those "proud-sarcastic" actions after every block shot like today's players do
underrated MJ's blocks are so beautiful to watch people sometimes overlooked because of his amazing scoring ability! MJ is truly the Goat the greatest 2 way player of all time!
The difference between MJ and LeBron is not just the stats, Michael turned his game into art and very enjoyable to watch. LeBron’s game is not so fun to watch in my opinion.
His defense is overshadowed by his explosiveness and scoring on offense. Thanks for posting this. People remember his scoring titles, which he had many of, his dunks, etc., but MJ's defense is often overlooked. In his final game in a Chicago Bulls uniform, he made a CRUCIAL steal from Karl Malone to take his last shot as number 23 for the Chicago Bulls to win title #6 87-86 in 1998. Malone never saw him.
MJ was a defensive BEAST, hence, all the accolades. If you were around to "witness", you'd know exactly what I mean. See, round here, we play on both ends.🐐
MJ went full gas on defense as hard as offense, every-damn-game. So graceful and exciting to watch real time. Watching him and Pip attack & lockdown the backcourt was glorious!
He wasn't the best at most things. Carter and Kemp were better dunkers. Zeke and A.I. had better handles. Many shooters had a better 3 ball. Pip, Payton and Moncrief were arguably better defenders. Magic and Bird were better passers. But MJ was close to the top of the list in every category except 3's, which was not big part of his game. No one was even remotely close to as good as him at so many aspects of the game. He wasn't an A+(100%) at anything, but he was a locked in A-(90%) at EVERYTHING. Except the midrange and post. There is no letter grade that applies. He was as good as anyone in the league his rookie year and was virtually unguardable by their 1st title. Add to that flawless fundamentals, tireless work ethic, and a psychotically competitive mindset. All that to say I agree, most complete player I have ever seen. Rant over.
Gotta love Rasheed Wallace trying sell MJ as "not that great on D" when he's number one all time in shot blocks per game and number three in steals per game at his position. He's number one in total shot blocks and total steals at his position as well.
And they always talking about Lebron's chase down blocks. Most of these Jordan blocks were in the player's line of sight, or peripheral vision. Chase downs are sneak attacks from behind, nowhere nearly as impressive as a face up block.
As great as Jordan was as a scorer being the all time best he was arguably as great of a defender and that's where he truly separates himself from guys like Lebron who routinely takes dozens of plays of every game on defense to conserve energy for offense. Jordan NEVER took plays off and took tremendous pride in his defense. He always wanted to guard the other team's best player or whichever guy would get hot and just demoralize them while scoring 40 himself just to humiliate them.
Yeah, he could have grabbed half of these with those big ol catchers' mitts The man's defense is every bit as exciting to watch as his offense. Gosh I miss watching MJ play.
MJ loved embarassing Ewing. Oof. And look at how many of these are left handed blocks. People say today's players are more skilled...no one is doing this defensively today. No one has the body control on both ends of the floor.
Luka's defensive"dawg" piece is innate and will never be like Jordan, Wade, Gary Payton, etc. Bird burned substantially more calories on defense than Luka, his closest comp. I love Doncic offensively, but in both athleticism and tenacity, the best he could aspire to be is Stockton on defense. He just saves his legs for scoring.
I grew up on the 2000s NBA and used to think Dwayne Wade was the best shot blocking guard of all time. Knowing what I know now, that is far from the truth.
MJ did several things, but he dunked on every star player in the league more than once, as well as has blocked every big man at least once. His defense was just as ruthless as his offense.
Bron doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as mj. Ask yourself Who is funding this “goat” debate, oh wait…. It’s not even close enough to be a debate 😂
This damage control is hilarious. Just because Rasheed Wallace CORRECTLY pointed out Jordan's defense was overrated. You could make a similar highlight film of blocks that Dr.J made. Everyone trashes HIS defense. Jordan's defense was no better than Dr.J's. And Dr.J's was no worse than Jordan's. Neither were great defenders. Neither were on the level of Dennis Johnson, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman (Detroit version), or Scottie Pippen. Not even Bruce Bowen or Teyshawn Prince. Jordansexuals are ridiculous.
Spoken like an idiot who doesn't know WTF they're talking about. Okay, you don't like MJ, I get it. But to say he wasn't a good defender is just speaking from pure ignorance. There's a reason why he is ONLY one of four players in NBA history to have nine first team all defense selections. And one DPOY. He is also the ONLY player in NBA history to win the scoring title EVERY TIME he was selected First Team All Defense. I suppose you also believe he wasn't that great a scorer as well.
Jordans defense is very underrated. And he was unstoppable on offense. Nobody said he's the best blocker but no one gives him the credit deserves. Micheal Cooper steal and block averages don't match jordans. Dr J had better averages over his career but he never had as high a average as Jordan with 3.2 steals. But the defensive edge to the Doc. And that's the only thing you referred to that's viable. Dennis Johnson only avrg 1.0 or higher for two season and never averaged 2.0 or more steals per game so he doesn't match up either. Alvin robinson always averaged 2.0 or more steals but never avrg 1.0 block or higher a game. Joe dumas never avrg .5 blocks per game and never avrg 2 steals. Bruce bowen 1.0 blocks once and never 2.0 steals Tayshaun prince and Dennis Rodman never avrg 1.0 in steals or blocks. With the evidence provided it seems you have a little hate for Jordan. Almost like your name is Isaiah or Elo😊
@noone-xk3bv Like many Jordansexuals (and Kobephiles), you're captivated by Little Mikey's STAT-PADDING. "I do look to stop my man. And if blocking his shot does it, that's great. But it's more important to play good, tough 'D' all the time."--Dennis Johnson 1980. Jordan blatantly left his man and just roamed around, hoping to catch a steal or a block from behind on whoever had the ball. I don't have the steal/blocks stats of Teyshawn Prince in the 2004 NBA Finals but he put serious clamps on Kobe Bryant. I don't remember too many steals or blocks but his defense was a serious lockdown for Kobe. I don't know what Dennis Johnson's steals/blocks stats were in the 1984 Finals but from Game 4-7, Dennis Johnson cut into Magic's game more than Michael did. And Dennis Johnson didn't have the benefit of a defensive Security Blanket that he could call: "Help me out, Scottie!!!" You're like the casual football fan who says the corner who picks off 11 INTs was a "better" cover man than the corner who picked off three the same year. The problem is the guy who had 11 INTs gave up nine TDs that year while the corner who "only (in feeble minds like yours)" picked off three was rarely thrown at and gave up no TDs and five completions all year long. Jordan and Dr.J made a lot of plays on defense by gambling. But straight up, one-on-one, they got lit up pretty good. Jordan himself tried to bring up the childish, "look at my steals, look at my blocks" when Michael Cooper beat his ass for DPOY in 1987. He never was on the level of Dennis Johnson, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman (Detroit version), Scottie Pippen, Bruce Bowen or Teyshawn Prince as a man-to-man defender.
