WHO WAS BETTER THAN JORDAN
If you think Michael Jordan is the best player ever, before you continue reading, quickly determine why you think he is the best ever. Championships? Points? Records? Multiple criteria? Whatever they are, quickly define them. I will now dismantle the myth that Jordan is the best ever using YOUR criteria. Remember, the purpose isn't to determine that player X is the best ever...only that Jordan is NOT the best.
Inch-for-inch
To use the inch-for-inch comparison is to say, "I admit that Jordan is not the absolute best, and now I must devise a handicap system that works to his advantage." That alone is enough for me to say, "thank you for playing. You have just proven that Michael Jordan is not the best basketball player ever." But hey, why not prove that even THAT criteria is wrong. I mean, I could say that Bill Russell is better inch-for-inch. He has 13 rings and is 81 inches tall (or 6.2 inches per ring) and Jordan has 6 rings and is 78 inches tall (13 inches per ring). Or even use something really subjective, such as "Muggsy Bogues led the league in assist/turnover ration numerous times and is 15 inches shorter than Jordan). However, I think I will have even more fun disproving this silly criteria.
Oscar Robertson � Robertson was 2 inches shorter than Jordan, yet he did things Jordan can only dream of. During his college career, he so thoroughly dominated that he, unlike Jordan, is considered by every respectable source to be one of the five greatest college players in history.
In his first season as a pro, he averaged 30.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg, and 9.7 apg. (Jordan averaged 28.2, 6.5, and 5.9, and the definition of an assist is extremely liberal when Jordan played). Over the course of his first five seasons Robertson AVERAGED a triple-double. Triple-double games were not recorded when Robertson played. It was another day at the office for him. This perfectly illustrates the difference between Robertson and Jordan. The media made a big deal out of Jordan having the first (recorded) triple-double in All-Star history, just like they make a big deal out of Jason Kidd�s 7-or so triple-doubles he has each year. For Robertson, he didn�t need to have an extra assists to reach 10, to have that "triple-double," because it wasn�t a big deal. The media saw greatness for what it was and not because a guy has 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 10 points. Robertson didn�t simply have triple-doubles, he had man-sized triple-doubles. His triple-doubles were on the order of 30-11-10. In 1962, he finished in the top 10 in rebounds. In 1968, he became the only player in history to lead the league in ppg, apg, and ft%. Jordan has never led the league in apg or ft%, nor has he ever finished in the league leaders in rebounds (Robertson finished in the top 10 in his 3rd season). Oscar simply had a more complete game.
Jordan did not make those around him better. Robertson did. Wayne Embry was an undersized (6�8" - nearly 300 pound) center (Think Oliver Miller body). Yet, in 6 seasons playing with Robertson, he was an all-star 5 times. He never made it before playing with Robertson and he never made it after playing with him. Adrian Smith was a spot-up shooter, similar to John Paxson and Steve Kerr. Yet, playing alongside Robertson not only got him an all-star appearance, but all-star MVP, thanks to Robertson setting out to get it for Smith. Robertson won 11 out of 12 all-star games, and to put it in context, the All-Star game was more than a goof-around exhibition. Players salaries were much lower (most players had summer jobs), and the money handed out to the winning all-star team was significant.
Robertson�s teams were often overmatched, losing often to Russell�s Celtics or Chamberlain�s teams. However, when he went to Milwaukee, he turned a good team into one of the all-time great teams. During his 4 years there, they had the best record in the division 3 times (and in the other season, they won 63 games to LA�s record-setting 69), and made 2 trips to the NBA Finals, winning once. Not surprisingly, when he retired, the Bucks went from the NBA finals, to a losing record (from 59-23 to 38-44), and no playoff appearance.
Summary
Oscar Robertson
Years played 14
Number of times finished in the top 5 in scoring average: 9
Number of times finished in the top 10 in rebounds: 1
Number of times finished in the top 10 in assists: 12
Number of times finished in the top 10 in free throw %: 8
Number of times led the league in ppg: 1
Number of times led the league in apg: 7
Number of times led the league in ft%: 2
Career Triple Doubles: 181
Best season: 30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 11.4 apg (1962)
Michael Jordan
Years played 15
Number of times finished in the top 5 in scoring average: 11
Number of times finished in the top 10 in rebounds: 0
Number of times finished in the top 10 in assists: 1
Number of times finished in the top 10 in free throw %: 0
Number of times led the league in ppg: 10
Number of times led the league in apg: 0
Number of times led the league in ft%: 0
Career Triple Doubles: 30
Best season: 32.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 8.0 apg (1989)
Jordan did not have the same impact on the Bulls as Robertson did for the Bucks and the Royals. Jordan�s game was not as complete as Robertson�s either, and Jordan, unlike Robertson, could not improve the quality of those he played with. Robertson was also 2 inches shorter than Jordan, so inch-for-inch, Jordan is not the greatest player ever. Once again, no matter what standard you use, Jordan simply is not the greatest basketball player ever.
