DESTROYING The MYTH That Michael Jordan Dominated A WEAK ERA 

It's your turn... How great the Jordan's competition in the 90s?? EDIT: Just to clarify, Some of the Pistons players age that were referenced in the video were a year off. Basketball Reference lists their age AT THE START of the 90-91 season, meaning if they had a birthday during the season, then they a year older than the age I listed them. I realize that now. Regardless, the point stays the same.

The reason they seem weak is because they competed with Michael Jordan.

MJ ran to the gym when things got tough Lebron ran to another team Facts youngsters, it is what it is. Jordan the 🐐

im in my late 40's and this man speaks the truth. Houston, Sonics, Orlando, there were crazy good talent in the 90's

The era in which three superstars will all join forces to win and still fail, can never speak badly on any other era.

Video title should be： A long list of victims who was abused by Michael Jordan

Whenever I used the old school defense with the kids on the court nowadays, they got pissed and thought I was trying to pick a fight🤷🏻‍♂️

It’s beyond words on how great the 90’s were in the NBA. Gives me goosebumps. So disciplined. So determined to win and be great. Even guys you’ve never heard of were just UNBELIEVABLE players. I can easily say that I’m one of the lucky ones to growup in my teens and witness such amazing basketball. Good times🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

You didn't even mention the Eatern conference teams of the era that he had to beat to get to the finals: the 97/98 Pacers, the Orlando Magic of 94/95, the Knicks of 91-94 and of course the Pistons

It was very classy of you to give props to some unsung heroes like Dan Majerle, Terry Porter, and Jeff Hornacek😁

Having lived near DC when Jordan played into his 40's, I payed close attention to what people seem to forget. He played in both eras, and when his knees weren't acting up, he was still better than most of the players in the league (did I mentioned he was 40) and was posting up stats that eclipse what players in their prime are doing today. He is the only player in history to score multiple 40+ point games in 3 different decades. And old man Jordan didn't just score 40+ pts once...he did it multiple times. And that's not even talking about his other stats, which he also put up impressive numbers for any age both offensively and even more impressively, defensively.

One thing Ive noticed comparing MJ to other super star today, MJ was fearless no matter what he can lift up his team in any crucial game, the spirit of MJ being with his team make his team believed they can dominate anyone who tried to stop them going to the NBA finals. That’s the reason why they never lost any NBA finals. “And I took that personally” -MJ

I'm guessing anyone who calls this era weak was actually too young to have watched 90s basketball

you forgot to mention the epic matchups with the NY Knicks against Starks, Mason, Ewing, Oakley, Mac Daniel, and the Pacers the eastern finals were almost like a final every time

Also, Bulls lost the championship the two years Jordan wasn't playing. He came back and they did the three-peat again. Kinda shows who made the difference, don't you think?

Mitch Richmond is a good example of a forgotten player. Top scorer, amazing defender. Pretty sure MJ said he was the best defender who ever played on him

These fake stories started when lebron started losing to many finals. So they lie to defend that. Let’s not act like lebron won in the 2000s

This modern era -where James Harden can tap dance and defenders can’t breathe on him without a foul being called - is the weak era.

You didn’t even talk about how stacked the eastern conference was at the time

Johnny does a great job at shredding that myth. I really don't understand why people make these idiotic attempts to minimize Jordan. The guy was amazing. No matter how you look at it he delivered for his team time and time again.

I always bring up the Dream Team when they say Jordan never faced talent.

Payton was weak? Man, this dude can destroy you by just talking

I wish I could like this video 100 times. Speaking as a Bulls fan, thank you so much for this video. It’s mind blowing watching people claim the 90s was a “weak era.” I remember the incredible talent from that time. And you laid out so many great points.

The 90s were absolutely stacked with talent! Also, I love how people discredit the bulls for losing to the magic the year that MJ came back, but completely ignore the same Orlando team getting SWEPT by the bulls the following season. Crazy.

Not to mention how INSANE the eastern conference was. Knicks, Orlando, Pacers, Detroit (who started the 90's with Isaiah and ended it with an ELITE Grant Hill), Miami (Tim Hardaway, Steve Smith, Alonzo Morning)

When I hear people say Jordan never faced a team like the Warriors I tell them: "that's because the Bulls were the dam Warriors of the 90s"

This video is the difference between people who have legitimate arguments with good evidence and backing vs. people just being trolls/lazy with their statements.

When I hear people say "Jordan's era was weak." I automatically disqualify them from the conversation because they play 2K all day and don't actually be in the gym putting up BUCKETS!

You just scratched the surface - Eastern conference was insane at that time. To play in the final, team need first to get there. One of my favorite shows of that era was annual NY Nicks - Chicago Bulls playoff series. They even play with playoff intensity games in the regular season. There also great teams as Orlando Magic, Pacers, Cavaliers, Celtics and Pistons

This video brought back a lot of memories. I was a Jazz fan, and seeing the Sonics, Suns, and trailblazer lineups reminded me of watching those teams edge out my Jazz in the years before Utah had two shots in the finals. All of those teams were loaded, and this video did a good job pointing out all the forgotten talent. As an avid Jazz fan in 97 and 98, it was both awe inspiring and heart breaking to watch Jordan do what he did. The "Flu" game in particular was absolutely incredible, though it broke my heart at the same time. I like Lebron, and am interested in seeing how his career winds up, but MJ will always be in a class all his own.

Great job. This generation is clueless and also the sports media tries to downplay Jordans competition. It's so disrespectful. Also Jordan played in a more phsical era.

People that say it's a weak era knows nothing about basketball.

Great video as always. This video could have easily been a hour if you mentioned all the competition jordan faced in the 90's. Guys like Shaq, Penny hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Mutombo, Ewing, David Robinson, Duncan, Kobe, Tracy Mcgrady , Tim Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Barkley, Drexler, Dominique, Mark price. These to just name a few. Weak era? Are you kidding me? The 90's were full of Hall of Fame Players

There were so many Hall of Famers and guys named to that Top 50 Greatest players list from Jordan's Era alone that you forget because Jordan beat them all.

Anyone that thinks Jordan's era was 'weak' has clearly spent too much time in THIS era

finally, someone who remembers other talents who seem people already forgotten. i have watched the 80's 90's 20s and till today and only true NBA fan will know the differences on each era.

If Jordan's Era is weak, why was his team in the Olympics called the Dream team and from this generation the Redeem team?

Shit you can talk about the path Jordan and Pippen had to go thru just to get to the Finals, those Knicks teams was fierce and hungry

Not to mention Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks also had a tough team as well.

Your final point is THE point: people nowadays think these teams or players "weak" because they didn't win championships. But the reason they didn't win championships, is because Jordan prevented them from doing so. I started watching the NBA consistently precisely when Jordan first retired. I still remember those Sonics, and they were amazing. Yet the Bulls went up 3-0 on them like it was nothing. The Bulls had previously swept the Shaq/Penny Orlando Magic like they were college players trying to impress NBA pros. The Bulls should have swept the Sonics as well, but I think they got overconfident and the Sonics suddenly were a great team with nothing to lose. That's how they got those two wins. The Jazz were even worse for the Bulls. No team has ever given me so many headaches as a fan than the Jazz, not even the Kings of the early 2000's that matched up against my Lakers. Utah was loaded with talent, and they had All Time players in Malone and Stockton that had hit their mental primes by that time. If it wasn't for Jordan, that's a back to back for the Jazz, and they would be remembered nowadays as one of the best teams of the last 30 years. Jordan's dominance is what made the competition "weak" by comparison.

Jordan is like One Punch Man he just made it look too easy so people will not give him enough credit especially if your really into today’s style of play.

The LeBron stans don't wanna hear facts. They only try to downgrade Jordan's era because they can't make a case for LeBron otherwise.

Clyde did win one, though. With Olajawon, who is also largely forgotten.

1k dislikes from Bron fans...the man is just telling you the truth

Man, I was a die hard suns fan! KJ and majerle were awesome! I loved Barkley as well and it killed me when they lost. I actually hated Jordan until his actual comeback in 96 because everyone seemed like bulls bandwagoners. Looking back on that era and finding videos like this reminds me how awesome the guy was. As you said, the average championship team had at least three supporting cast members, Jordan could quite literally win the game or at least keep his team afloat until their offense started, single handedly.

In the 90’s I knew at least 3 or four players names on every single team. Now I only know like 10 players total.

The Bulls played and won in a tough era, the 90s were a golden era of the best 'Big Men' all time. Ewing, Barkly, Robinson,Olajuwon, Malone,Mourning, Shaq.. I can keep going but you get my point.

The era of MJ and the competition he faced was far greater than what we see today.

I thought the best team Jordan and Bulls faced in the 90s were the 1996 Seattle Supersonics, then the 1993 Phoenix Suns, then the 1997 Utah Jazz, then the 1992 Portland Trail Blazers, and finally ththose Knicks teams of the early 90s, and the Pacers teams of the late 90s. Magic and the Lakers in 1991 really should not have been there, the matchup everyone wanted to really see at the time was the Blazers vs Bulls. Yeah Magic vs Michael was hyped, and then a big let down, but as a kid back then I really wanted to see Portland vs Chicago over Magic vs Mike, and we got Bulls-Blazers in 1992, but the Blazers in 1992 weren't as good as 1991. Plus Jordan knew he was an NBA champion at that point, and was mentally unstoppable in the Finals, but it would have been an open book in 1991 if the Bulls and Blazers met. Yes that Phoenix team was really good, and they looked poised to win it all in 1993. Most people were not picking Jordan and the Bulls, just because of the difficulty of winning 3 in a row, especially when the Bulls were the road team.

As a 42 year old that grew up watching that Era of basketball... This is spot on! Well done!

Weak era?!? Anyone claiming it was a weak era is 12 or basketball illiterate.

Man this is a great explanation. Sadly the people today who want to diminish Jordan will not want to hear it. They only believe what they want even though it doesn’t make sense. U have an amazing coach in Utah with arguable the 2nd best point guard and 2nd best power forward OF ALL TIME on the same team with solid support pieces! AND PEOPLE TODAY WILL SAY THE Jazz were weak, even though they swept Shaq & Kobe’s Lakers with 2 other all-stars with them! They have no clue of how good Portland, Phoenix and Seattle were (I think those two teams are teams that would beat the Golden State Warriors of this generation).

"A narrative you hear over and over again"... yes, but only from internet heroes. I never heard it from any expert, player, coach, ex-player or ex-coach.

I watched the nba in the 80's and early 90's. When jordan retired I stopped watching. That's how good he was

Jordan Critics - Dennis Rodman was too old on the Pistons in 1991. That was why Pistons lost to the Bulls. Rodman was 29 years old in 1991 and just won back to back DPOY. Jordan Critics - Jordan had a super team with Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Rodman from 1996 to 1998 was 34 to 36 years old and even played on the bench in the 1998 season. Logic - So Rodman was too old in 1991 as a 29 year old DPOY, but somehow found the "fountain of youth" in 1998 as a 36 year old bench player? LMAO this is the ultimate proof that some Jordan Critics are delusional!!!

Great video Jonny, you eloquently described how great those teams are, to say Jordan face weak opponents is an understatement. Those teams were stacked in todays standard. I watched all those championships in the 90's, that's why I, became a Bulls fan...and of course my GOAT, MJ...all day all the way!!

This argument worked both ways. It was and still is a generational issue [most of the time] : younger fans believed everything before them was bad; older fans believed everything before and after their growing up years is bad. I was born in 1970 and the false premises, half baked truth or bad memories was oftenly used by "old heads" in the 1970s, 1980s... Until now! The sad truth is : life in general or basketball isn't getting better or worse. It's changing : rules, strategies, tendencies, coaching, training differed. It's different plain and simple. It's sad, but in the 1980s, Wilt Chamberlain and multiple former stars were saying how : "it was better in our time"; "we were smarter"; "we had better fundamentals", "it was tougher and meaner"; "we didn't played for money." Wilt Chamberlain stated in 1989 and 1997 that if he played in Jordan's era, he would had scored 70 PPG! While leading the league in blocks and rebounds. Jerry West agreed on that point! It was heard every week on Roy Firestone's show... The problem, people forget. They don't remember. And look. There are 1990s kids that will repeat the same old fallacies and premises I despised in the first place. No, NBA stars weren't better back then. No, NBA stars aren't better now. They développés different skills in order to dominate their basketball era. Old vs new.

He also had his record breaking 63 points in a playoff game in the 80s

It's refreshing to see someone put up a video describing and detailing Jordan's achievements over his career. You are absolutely right to say that Jordan came up against some of the greatest teams in NBA history. People who weren't there are always quick to criticise, not knowing the type of extraordinary talent that graced the league during the time he played. It was NEVER EASY for Michael....yet he prevailed. That shows quality...and that type of quality shone amidst a league at the time LOADED with quality.

Dantley and English where multiple scoring champs, and Moncreif was a great All- round guard. I don't think true B-ball fans have forgotten. George and Gordon are unappreciated.

Had Gary Payton been assigned to guard Jordan from the get go, Sonics may have or at the very least had a better chance of beating the Bulls. At the very least that series would've went to 7 games. But I still am loving your assessments and I love how you're debunking the younger fans.

And this was just a summary of the finals matchups. Back then the east was stacked. Penny and shaqs Magic, Zo and Hardaway's Heat, Miller and Smits Pacers, Ewing, Starks and Houston's Knicks, the bad boy Pistons, The Cavs with Price, Ehlo and Daugherty, The Celtics, Etc. This era was absolutely loaded.

This is the best breakdown of this conversation ever!!!!! You the real MVP Sir!

The competition was great, but he put it on a another level. His mindset, mentality is legendary. His peers were good also, his drive is to win, period was very high, off the charts. If you match his level, drive, he will respect you. His eyes was always on the prize, otherwise why are you playing. Him, Kobe Bryant, Magic, Larry Bird, Jerry West, LeBron, D Wade, many greats with that mindset. Good video!

Thanks for posting

MJ was so great Everybody thought he played in a weak era. Let that sink in he was far to good in his prime and days

Utah had Stockton and Malone during this era. There’s nothing weak about that.

I told my young co workers that the mark of a superstar athlete is the greatness of his competition that he has overcome. Thus essentially a great video

Thank you! Your videos always great!

Not to mention, you could actually PLAY DEFENSE in the 90's. Now, you can't even look at a player and you get a foul called.

Jordan scored 40 points as a 40 years old in the 21st century! Enough said!

Brilliant video mate, loved 80’s and 90’s basketball. More pure than what’s out there today. All the Lebron fans saying how many hall of famers he’s had to go against when they haven’t even been introduced into the hall of fame and probably never will is getting annoying. Those teams Jordan played against were well balanced because they didn’t create super teams then

Greatest point I ever heard. Finally someone who understands basketball. Great video and even better explanation!

Jordan can score 50 without a single 3 points attempt 😁 How bout that 🤣

You're points are spot on. Clide the Glide was my father's favorite player back then. Those that did not live in that era have no idea of the talent that was out there. I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's. Thank you sir.

This is such a good synopsis. I also too followed every team in the '80s and '90s. Some until Jordan's later years with the wizards. You are exactly right no one remembers these teams and how good they were in those years. Every player you mentioned I pulled out their basketball cards that I still have when I collected when I was a kid. You probably could have thrown in the Orlando magic at some point. You got to remember Shaq and Anthony hardaway were some key players as well. I was a hornets and pacers fan. I had my room decked out in '90s Charlotte hornets Glory. Everything from mourning, Johnson, and boges of Charlotte to miller, dale Davis, Anthony Davis, Rick smitts of the pacers. But I mean everybody in that day and age watched Jordan no matter what team you followed as a fan. Jordan and Pippin was the most common jerseys I would see at school. You got to remember in that time frame everybody wore their favorite basketball jerseys with t-shirts underneath. Everyday of the week it was a different Jersey if you can afford it.

Amazing video, truly!

The problem with Jordan was, he was just too Dominant. He took the Crown in 91’ and never let anyone take it. He went 6-0 in the Finals. Because of that, players of the opposing teams never got the credit they deserved. He faced great players on very good teams. Also remember, back then the East was the dominant conference. The Bulls had to beat great teams just to get TO the Finals. He didn’t have a cakewalk to the Finals…...like other great players did…….. Example, let’s say Jordan was less Dominant and had the same winning % in the Finals that Lebron has, that being .333%. That would mean Jordan would be 2-4. Let’s say he wins in 1991 and 1996, and losses in 1992, 1993, 1997, and 1998. Imagine how differently everyone would see those Teams and Players on those teams, even though they'd be the EXACT same teams. Only difference in this scenario is Jordan being less Dominant. Charles Barkley would be an NBA Champion the year he also won MVP. His career would be Complete! Same with Clyde Drexler. Imagine how he’d be viewed today if he had defeated Jordan in 92’! He’d have bragging rights and would have gotten his revenge on Jordan that year. Because that year Jordan won MVP…….2nd in voting was Drexler! The ones that would be lifted up the most would be John Stockton and Karl Malone. They’d have beaten Jordan and the Bulls in back to back years! Two titles against Jordan. Both of those players All Time Rankings would Skyrocket the most. Both would be Top 10 Players ever! Just think, in that scenario, Malone would not only be the NBA’s 2nd All Time Leading Scorer, but he’d be a Two Time Champion with at least one Finals MVP award. While Stockton, who is the All Time NBA Leader to both Assists AND Steals would also be a 2 Time NBA Champion!! Try to think about them all time had this happened. Had Jordan not been so Dominant. Had Jordan not been so Dominant, those teams would have beaten the Bulls, and would be seen so Differently. People would be saying “Well, yeah, Jordan lost 4 times in the Finals and only won twice, but look at the Great Stacked teams he went up against!” But……that didn’t happen. Why? Because…….Jordan Proved to be Too Damn Dominant. He did not allow players to become Great on his watch. No Excuses needed for him. 6-0………..think about that. Compare that to Lebron. Too many apologists say “Well yeah, he only won 3 times, but look at the Great Stacked teams he went up against!” But would anyone be saying that those teams were so great if lebron had been too Dominant (like Jordan) and beaten those teams? No! Because had lebron won, those players all Time Ranking does not get elevated like it is now. Everyone would say Curry is a Choker. They’d say Durant couldn’t win with Westbrook and Harden, or with Curry and Thompson. Those teams and players would be seen the same way they see the teams that lost to the Bulls. Jordan and his Bulls teams would have defeated all the Teams lebron lost to. Jordan would have turned those GS teams into the NBA's version of the 90's Buffalo Bills. It’s as if…...people want to give less credit to Jordan BECAUSE of how truly Dominant he was. He made it look too easy. They want to penalize him for it, and elevate others that ALLOWED other teams and Players to BECOME Great. Jordan didn’t allow that to happen……….the only players Jordan made better were his own teammates, not the opposing players. Lebron on the other hand, elevated players on the other teams by losing to them..............think about that........ BTW, had Jordan gone 2-4, would he be seen as the GOAT? Because some want to say Lebron is the GOAT.......even though he has only won 3 Titles and is 3-6 in the Finals.

Jordan's in the Wizards.. was still playing Tracy, Kobe, Vince C.. Tim Duncan.. there's videos of him school them.. and nights where he won by nights of 50+ , All those stars never played at Jordan's level at that age.. every other great player .. when they are 39+ .. they suck.. 5 point games.. Jordan was always on another level.. if he didnt hurt his knees with the wizards.. who knows.. the improvement alone to the Wizards.. with 1 player MJ..

You do the BEST job of talking about NBA. Thanks. ❤️

The only people that think the 90’s was a weak era is a bunch of people that didn’t watch back then. Ever heard of the Dream Team? Greatest collection of players ever assembled

The one that KILLS ME is when people say he would struggle against today's "zone defenses." Do you see Kawhi Leonard, who's game is nearly identical to MJ during the second 3 peat struggling? Cause I sure as hell don't, in fact he's arguably the best player in the world right now and BEAT LBJ when he was at his peak. The narratives people make about Michael Jordan are utterly pathetic.

I never heard of the LeBron Rules. The Jordan Rules WAS actually a thing...

Jordan's era was basically filled with teams the equivalent of today's PHX Suns. Do you think kids 20 years from now would know Chris Paul and Devin Booker? Hell nah. Not unless both of them either get an MVP or a finals win. But in Jordan's time, *you won't get either of em.* What about Stockton and Malone? *The 2nd leading all-time scorer and the leading all-time in assists plus steals.* MVP winner as well, both put up all-time numbers In a low-scoring and defensive-oriented era. *Defeated Twice anyways.* Karl would get a lot more respect if it wasn't for his off-court antics. It's like the world forgot about Karl completely.

I remember 90s NBA Basketball in my opinion the greatest era in Basketball 🏀 Watching those games was an event 💯 even in the regular season when the Bulls played the Knicks it was like watching the super bowl for real . Super intense super exciting sport . There have been great talents after Jordan retired but I don’t feel the NBA has ever gotten back to that level ever again .

Thank you for this. Too many bronsexuals trying to rewrite history like Nick Wright and Shannon Sharpe

Jordan will dominate in this "era" no hand checking foul, fouls are softer now, for god sake you can shove people in his era and get no fouls called

Great job with the info.

Not to mention the eastern conf teams. NY knicks: ewing, starks, oakley, jackson...Reggie miller’s pacers, orlando magic with shaquille o’neal, penny hardaway, dennis scott......the list goes on and on

The 80's and 90's were The greatest most purest era of the NBA and I feel so fortunate to have grown up and witness it all. Awsome video!🏀🏀🏀🏀

Love the video

I thank you for this!

People who don't acknowledge how good the competition was in 80's and 90s don't know Basketball. The G.O.A.T MJ🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

If 90's was weak..then Jason Terry is the greatest of all time and the Dallas Mavericks 2011 team is the greatest team ever assembled😂 coz they sure CHOKED LeBron🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Love this one. Yes it is true. I watched those teams and players of the 80's, 90'... till these days. Competition before is so tough due to hand checking. But nowadays just a finger tips touch and that's a foul. Of course players nowadays have developed a skill that no any All NBA Star during the Jordan era has. Guess what......"flip-flopping", that many superstars are doing to go to free throw. Of course NBA have realized that they have to do something, just like the shooters initiating contact when they jump shot...throwing their bodies or kicking their legs to the opponent.

As a fan of 90's basketball, I remember these teams well and loved watching hoops then with these teams, hoping they would beat Chicago. I think the main reason the new fans harp on this era is because there was no Bird to challenge Magic in the form of winning chips against each other. It would have been interesting to see if Houston would have beaten Chicago, but that's one of those great "what ifs" of hoops history! Great video though!

The year the Bulls won 72 games, they swept the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, a Magic team of Shaq, Penny, Grant, Nick Anderson & Baron Scott that won 60 games that year. In the Bulls 6th Finals against the Jazz, that Jazz team swept the 62 win Lakers that had Kobe and Shaq. That's how good the competition was back then. Great video Jonny!!

This video explains why I don’t even argue with people who claim Lebron is better. They don’t know crap.

I remember all these guys you mention. And so many you didn't mention. They were all hard core ballers. But in the biggest games when everything was on the line and Michael Jordan was playing in his prime, you knew what was going to happen. He was just that great.

Another way to see the competition he faced is to watch the all star games of the years he won. They actually played hard in those too.