Michael Jordan

Although some people consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player to ever live, he does not deserve that title. Jordan doesn't rank first in steals, free throws, all-time field goals, all-time points, or most points in a single game. These are what make great players in the NBA or any other level in basketball.

Jordan doesn't fall first in points. Wilt the chamberlain holds a lot of the scoring records why is he not considered the greatest basketball player to ever play the game? Some of the records that Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain holds consist of Holds seasonal records for most minutes (3,338, 41.7 mpg), most points (4,029), points per game (50.4), field goals made (1,597) and field goals attempted (3,159), all in 1962, Holds record for most free throws attempted (11,862). These are just some of the records that he holds. He also won NBA championships with the Philadelphia 76ers (1967) and Los Angeles Lakers (1972). (Copyright © 2000, 2001, http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Chamberlain.htm).

Michael career records for most minutes and minutes played per game, points per game, field goals made, and field goals attempted are lower then Chamberlains. Jordan's seasonal highs for the following categories consists of 3311 minutes (87-88), 40.2 minutes per game (87-88), 3041 points (86-87), 37.1 points per game (86-87), 1098 field goals made (86-87), 2279 attempted (86-87). MJ won more rings than Wilt Chamberlain. MJ won six and Wilt won two. (Copyright 2006) (http://www.nba.com/history/players/jordan_stats.html)

Does that make Jordan the greatest basketball player ever? No. Bill Russell from the Boston Celtics has won 11 rings. Jordan has won six. Russell beat MJ by five rings. Bill Russell won 11 rings in 13 season1957, 1959-66, and 1968-69. Bill didn't just sit on the bench and take them rings. He is a big part of the Celtics franchise. He won the leagues M.V.P. five times (1958, 1961-63, 1965). Copyright © 2000, 2001 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc. http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/RussellW.htm

A lot of people believe that most of MJ's publicity came from his endorsements. In 1992 was estimated to gross a whopping twenty-million dollars. All due to endorsements. He was transforming a franchise worth less than $20,000,000 in his rookie season into one with a current estimated worth of $150,000,000. (© Stichting American Sports 1999/2000) (http://www.basketball.vuurwerk.nl/nba/michael_jordan/playboy.htm. Michael Jordan's sneaker-clothing and accessories gross an estimated five-hundred million dollars a year. Jordan has four day camp that costs fifteen thousand dollars. It's a four-day training camp, where middle-aged guys who love the game pay $15,000 to get the full Michael Jordan experience: to play ball with him, to get fouled by him and to get abused by him. (© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.) Oct 24, 2005 http://cbs5.com/minutes/sixtyminutes_story_297194955.html. "Michael Jordan Still Flying High". The oatmeal company "Quaker Oats" which only spends an annually 30,000,000.00 on Gatorade was willing to pay MJ eighteen-million dollars for endorsements over a 10 year period. Michael has even turned down a lot of endorsements. Some which has offered up to a million dollars for a single commercial. He has made more money from endorsements then any other athlete in the history or sports. In 1990 a Canadian company wanted Jordan for a three-day appearance in Toronto. The first offer amounted to more that $100,000, plus all the amenities. Jordan refused. And he continued