Over the last 40 years, there has been one name that is synonymous with the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan. The legend of MJ is still strong today as he has one of the leading brands in footwear, along with being one of the most recognized names around the world.
It has been over 20 years since he’s worn a Chicago Bulls uniform, but his popularity is as strong as ever. Though his name is still popular, many don't quite understand how good he was. He took the game of basketball to new heights, making it a global phenomenon. MJ is regarded by many as the greatest ever.
What made Michael special was an array of things. For one, he had athletic gifts that gave him a physical advantage over many opponents. He had the highest vertical jump in league history, at 48’. His vertical leap is ranked higher than great players like Lebron James, Vince Carter, Nate Robinson, and many others. He had large hands, which gave him an advantage over his opponents. He’d often use his signature pump/ palm fake to throw defenders off or to get shots off in the paint among the trees. He’d often palm the ball float in the air and wait for his defender to come down while finishing an easy layup. A move not many other players could replicate.
Michale physically was built like a tank for his size. He may not have been the thickest of players, but he had a strong frame that allowed him to play through contact and initiate it without an issue.
Offense
Michael’s offensive game can be summed up by one word, Mastery. Mastery of almost every offensive move. He was a great ball-handler and shooter. There weren’t any issues finishing inside the paint. He could finish above, around, and through contact. Though he may be famous for his signature MJ fade away, he was pretty much efficient at getting his shot almost anywhere on the court, but the midrange area was his bread and butter. Michael’s jumper was pure in the midrange area. Whether it was a pull-up jumper, coming off a screen or a curl he was comfortable shooting it. Michael’s jumper was pure in the midrange area, there wasn't one shot he didn’t like there. Even later in his career when he played more back to the basket game, he was able to hit his signature fadeaway with high efficiency.
He had all the counter moves to get into his shot. It didn’t matter if it was a good shot contest leading him to shoot with more arch. Or using an array of counter moves to shoot a leaner. Michael Jordan had it in his package. His offensive stats during his Chicago Bull years were 31.5ppg, 6.2reb, 5.3ast, shooting an efficient 50% from the field. If there was one thing that Michael struggled with on the offensive side was his three-point shot. He shot 32.7 percent from above the arch in his career. Though it isn’t a good shooting percentage, it’s not the worst. He was more than capable of shooting the three. In his era, players took fewer outside shots because the game was more inside out. If he played in this era, he’d have no issue adapting and extending his range towards the three-point line. He has great shot mechanics, along with a will to improve.
During his career, Michael won 10 scoring titles. There was no question Michael was a great offensive player, if not one of the greatest ever on that end of the floor.
Defense
What made him even more special was his defensive ability. As many know, a large part of defense is effort. Taking on the task personally to stop a player from scoring. Michael had no issue with that. He was just as much a menace on the defensive end as on the offensive. With his big hands and great instincts, he was a tough matchup for almost anyone. When joined with Scottie Pippen, there was an even more relentless attitude towards locking in defensively. It made it difficult for opposing players to find a rhythm on offense.
Throughout his career, he averaged over two steals and a block. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of his defensive prowess. During his career, Michael made nine defensive 1st teams and led the league in steals three times.
Defensively he had great instincts. He was strong enough to be battle on switches. Anticipate the movements of who he wa/ guarding and he innately had a good sense of when to help in the post area. He was a great shot blocking guard. He won the defensive players of the year in 1988. He was relentless on that end and a reason why he’s revered the way he is.
Jordan’s mentality played a major role in the type of player he was. Michael was famously known to use any little thing as motivation. Whether it was a player talking trash talking, the media slighting him, or an opponent looking at him a little too long after a made basket. He’d use any little piece of motivation he could to gain a mental edge over his opponent.
Intangibles
Jordan would relentlessly dominate his opponents time and time again. Each year he would find a way to get better. It might’ve been returning from the off-season with a tighter handle, a more polished jump shot, or just a better understanding of the game as a whole. Michael found a way to improve each year. He played with fire and charisma that was contagious. Each team member would play with an extra swagger when they touched the court with him. He brought a certain edge that not many have. Most importantly, he was a winner.
The championships speak for themselves. Michael has won 6 NBA rings doing It by three peating twice. Michael Jordan is one of a kind player. The combination of a great offense and defensive game, coupled with his mental toughness, made Michael the player he was. Undeniably, Michael’s one of the greatest to ever lace them up in history.