In all honesty. Jordan isn't the GOAT because he's the best player. He has the most GOAT moments

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

And the way he was marketed over the course of is career definitely played a role in peoples perception of him.

And luck played a part because he didn't have enough pieces to compete for a title during the 80's so he never had to deal with the Celtics and Lakers dynasties. By the time he got to the Finals the Pistons run was over and the Celtics and Lakers were done. And the east was substantially weaker.

THis is not to knock MJ. I grew up watching ball in the 80's and 90's so I witness his progression. He ascended when technology and marketing changed. More games were being aired on TV and he simply had a great marketing team. It is what it is.

Me personally I don't like the idea of proclaiming someone the GOAT and comparing players that played different positions and different era's.

 

[Jerz-2]

I can agree with this.

The thing is, the media and fans have made it so that if you DON'T say LeBron is greater, than you're automatically either a Jordan apologist or a LeBron hater. Like, theres no middle ground, nor is there reasonable consideration extended AGAINST the "cognitive dissonance" of fans....the idea that, just MAYBE, it's possible to appreciate LeBron and his place in history without having to fall all over ourselves, lauding him like groupies, which is exactly what the media does, and the fans follow suit. It insults the intelligence to just ASSUME people are "either/or" on the issue, and that, if they aren't, they're somehow unqualified to make an argument.

We like to SAY that we live in a pluralistic society...but the reality is, that's ONLY when people agree with our worldviews and ideologies. When theirs CLASH with ours, however, we're quick with labels and condemnations. It's transparent and mindless.

 

[Liquid]

Another GOAT thread huh.

Lebron has all the stans going wild

 

[010101]

all the cats who came up as marketing exploded got damn near deified
like i always said there's a goat for every generation
but put them all on the same time line and they'd be trading l's

*

 

[Suleiman Bey]

exactly and not to mention everybody talks about diluted talent Jordan played in an era with 6 expansion teams Miami, Charlotte, Orlando, Minnesota, Vancouver, Toronto.

 

[Suleiman Bey]

Oh and LeBron is not better than Magic, Bird or Jordan.

 

[Rekkapryde]

all the cats who came up as marketing exploded got damn near deified
like i always said there's a goat for every generation
but put them all on the same time line and they'd be trading l's

*

 

[No Homo]

These threads are getting shyttier by the day

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

Another GOAT thread huh.

Lebron has all the stans going wild

It's not about being a "stan"

I just find the whole argument fascinating. Media coverage and how players were marketed changed towards the late 80's and early 90's. Then you add in TV contracts and overall expansion and you have a different era all together.

When the first Dream Team played in 1992 the foreign completion was a joke. Now foreign players get drafted in the first round every year. The game has changed.

You have the older generation like me that judge players like MJ with a different set of lenses in relation to a player like Kobe or Lebron. But at the end of the day it's damn near impossible. There are too many different variables from one decade to the next that make it impossible.

One one hand you can say Lebron has benefited from the one and done generation which has flooded the league with boy's trying to become men.
But then you can say MJ benefited from expansion and the lack of NBA level talent from foreign players that now exist today.

 

[fifth column]

MJ is the goat and y'all areno need for mental gymnastics

 

[bucks3115]

Lebron scoring 25 straight points against detroit pistons

Lebron scoring 45 pts on celtic with this look

Lebron beating the spurs for his 2nd titles

That block against iguodala

Lebron bringing the title in cleveland after 50 years

 

[knickscrusaderm]

Jordan is trash.

Id slap that bald nikkas kufi off

 

[DIMES]

Oh and LeBron is not better than Magic, Bird or Jordan.

Coli got me today

 

[Taadow]

Coli got me today

It's gonna get you every day if you take issue with that statement. Bird is probably pound for pound the GOAT.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I can agree with this.

The thing is, the media and fans have made it so that if you DON'T say LeBron is greater, than you're automatically either a Jordan apologist or a LeBron hater. Like, theres no middle ground, nor is there reasonable consideration extended AGAINST the "cognitive dissonance" of fans....the idea that, just MAYBE, it's possible to appreciate LeBron and his place in history without having to fall all over ourselves, lauding him like groupies, which is exactly what the media does, and the fans follow suit. It insults the intelligence to just ASSUME people are "either/or" on the issue, and that, if they aren't, they're somehow unqualified to make an argument.

We like to SAY that we live in a pluralistic society...but the reality is, that's ONLY when people agree with our worldviews and ideologies. When theirs CLASH with ours, however, we're quick with labels and condemnations. It's transparent and mindless.

Won't be stopping anytime soon either. Brehs too used to this Stan war shyt. Rather than appreciate what's in front of us we have to either love it or hate it. I miss watching Kobe play so I appreciate watching LeBron because he's a contemporary from the straight from high school era. I doubt we'll ever get to the point where all the greats get love and appreciation from us cuz the 24/7 sports cycle needs us to constantly bicker in order to sell their caricatures like Stephen A or Skip whom subsequently sell their networks advertising.

I'd love to think the coli could come to the point where we big up our all time greats and not have ESPN and them put the battery in our backs but I won't get my hopes up. I see where op is coming from, Jordan was a perfect storm which is why this obsession to find the next perfect storm has been permeating ever since. A lot of people hated Kobe over that shyt and now more people are growing to hate on LeBron for the same reasons. Rather than let them be their own individuals they're sacrificed at the alter of MJ for our own stannish bloodlust.