Michael Jordan vs. The Fab Five: Comparing Their Impacts on Basketball

On Sunday, the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan, turned 50 years old.  

The images of his iconic free-throw line dunk have become engraved in pop culture.

His signature film, Space Jam, ranks number one in the hearts of children of the 1990s.  

The No. 23 is entirely associated with Jordan no matter what player dons that number.  

It's clear that Jordan is the man who changed basketball, specifically the NBA, forever.  

Yet, a group of freshmen at the University of Michigan dubbed "The Fab Five," were changing college basketball just before Jordan went on his spree of NBA titles and accolades.

The Fab Five made up of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, altered the college basketball landscape with their long shorts and flashy play despite the fact that they were just freshmen.  

MJ thrashed defenses, played with the most intense competitiveness, won six NBA titles, and consistently amazed players and fans every time he touched the basketball. 

Jordan and the Fab Five are the two that have impacted the game of basketball more than anyone else.  

Here is a comparison between Jordan and the Fab Five and their impacts on the basketball world. 

1. Shock Factor

The Fab Five in Ann Arbor were controversial to say the least.  

According to David Hinckley of the NY Daily News, "Some of that, he [Jalen Rose] admits, came from their style: trash-talking, baggy shorts, black socks, a lot of playground swagger."

The Wolverines' freshmen five became labeled as "bad boys" because they were college freshmen with big egos.  

Yet, just like Juwan Howard said they would, the Fab Five would "shock the world."

The Fab Five rocked black socks, black shoes, long shorts, and had a genuine attitude every time they stepped onto the court.   

How could five freshmen lead a team to the NCAA championship game?

How could a team trash talk and run their mouths so much and still back it up? 

The Fab Five did.  And they did so in a way that fascinated fans and players alike.  

Michael Jordan entered into the NBA as a pure scorer from the University of North Carolina.  

He dominated the game with his sky-high dunks and sheer competitiveness, but could not get over the hump of the Detroit Pistons at the start of his career.  

The "Bad Boys" from Detroit limited Jordan's early impact on the game.  

Jordan's potential for greatness was never in question, but took time to develop.  

Jordan became the biggest name in all of sports throughout the 1990s and earned it all.  His talent and basketball career is second to none.  

MJ dazzled and wowed everyone who saw him play. 

Edge: The Fab Five

2. Pop Culture

The Fab Five brought urban and street basketball culture to the forefront.

With two players out of Detroit, one out of Chicago and two from Texas, the Fab Five played with a strong sense of city culture and youngster egos.

Other players started to wear the signature baggy shorts that are still seen today across all levels of basketball.  

According to J.A. Adande of ESPN.com, the Fab Five were thrown into the media and pop culture:

"

The Fab Five never faced such restrictions. They were on the court their first season. Instead of being strictly limited to clocked minutes at a podium, they had casual time around the media, like Muhammad Ali in training camp or Joe Namath by the pool before the Super Bowl. Their personalities emerged: Jalen the jester, Juwan the serious one and Chris, scowling on the court and flashing a high-wattage smile off it.

"

The Fab Five lived the superstar lifestyle despite being freshmen in college.  They were always in the media's spotlight.

Then there is Jordan.

Jordan has an entire brand named after him, "Air Jordan" that is still booming today.

He retired from basketball and the basketball world went on pause as people across America flocked to watch "Space Jam." 

Kids wanted to wear the number 23.  

Basketball players imitated Jordan's intensity with their tongue's sticking out.  

He's still making money and is seen in advertisement all throughout the media.

According to Fannation via Sports Illustrated, "Jordan earned an estimated $80 million last year from corporate partners Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, Upper Deck, 2K Sports, Presbyterian Healthcare and Five Star Fragrance." 

Jordan is still the face of basketball in a league that has the superstar talent of Lebron James and Kevin Durant.

Pop Culture Edge: Jordan.  

3. Winning

The Fab Five dealt with adversity and the labeling of "the enemy" by all teams who played them. 

Yet, they persevered and reached back-to-back NCAA championship games.  

Making those two titles games is quite an impressive feat for a group of college underclassmen, but sadly the Wolverines did not win an NCAA championship and had to vacate all their wins and awards due to the Ed Martin-Chris Webber scandal.

On top of that, Webber's timeout call when the team did not have anymore timeouts forever jaded the end of the Fab Five's days.

Their accomplishments as freshmen are something that college basketball has never seen since the Fab Five's days and may never see happen again.

Though, the fact they never won a title lowers the Fab Five's impact on college basketball.

Jordan was the ultimate winner.

He never lost an NBA finals series, a perfect 6-for-6.  

He led the Chicago to the NBA's best single season record of 72-10 in the 1995-1996 season and their fourth title in six years at the time.  

Jordan powered the Bulls to two separate three-peats. Who knows what he could have accomplished without the baseball retirement in between the championship runs?

He started off as a scorer and then went on to find ways to incorporate his teammates and take over games.

MJ fought through the flu and went for 38 points on 13-for-27 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. 

That game sums up that Jordan's desire to win was something no one else possessed.  

Jordan proved he is the NBA's greatest player and an absolute winner in that game and every game throughout his legendary career. 

Winning Edge: Jordan. 

4. Longevity

The Fab Five changed college basketball's landscape. 

According to J.A. Adande of ESPN.com, "The Fab Five provided a player-powered revolution, the first of its kind in college hoops. Freshmen weren't allowed to play during John Wooden's dynasty days at UCLA. Dean Smith didn't let the North Carolina sports information department publicize freshmen. John Thompson didn't let the media talk to his freshmen during their first semester on campus."

Freshmen had never been allowed to be on the major scene of college basketball teams. Now, freshmen garner a lot of the attention and star for their college teams.  Kentucky thrives off of freshmen under John Callipari.  

Adande also asks, "Has any college team since had the stylistic impact of the T-shirt-wearing Hoyas or the black-socked, baggy-shorted Wolverines? Every basketball trend that's come afterward, from shoes to tattoos, has come from the pros."

And the answer is no. 

The Fab Five changed the style of college basketball, how recruiting works and showed what freshmen can truly do.  

Their impact lives on, though it is sometimes forgotten that college basketball seen today has changed thanks to the Fab Five. 

Jordan's legacy lives on stronger than any other athlete in a professional sport. 

MJ showcased his superior athleticism and drive to win. 

His speed, hangtime, jumpshots, cuts and creativity is modeled by today's basketball players.

Players want to be Jordan and yet, no one can be like Jordan. 

The craziest part is that players still claim that Jordan can play in the NBA even at the age of 50.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, Lakers forward Antawn Jamison said, ""I wouldn't doubt that in the right situation with a LeBron (James) on his team or with a Kobe (Bryant) on this team, he could get you about 10 or 11 points, come in and play 15-20 minutes," 

Jordan has the attention of players today even when it has been nearly ten years since he last laced up the Air Jordans and took to the floor in the NBA.  

MJ is the total package and the NBA's greatest athlete who also had the greatest impact on the league with his play, winning and style that still lives on today. 

Longevity Edge: Jordan (The Fab Five's impact is huge, but is not as directly visible as Jordan's).

And the Winner Is...

The winner is without a doubt, Jordan. 

The Fab Five changed college basketball forever, but their impact cannot compare to Jordan's.  

Jordan did it all. 

He won. He had the competitive edge.  He amazed. He created the "Jumpman" and "Air Jordan" brands. 

The Fab Five shocked and awed for two years, but Jordan was the face of basketball throughout the 1990s and is still one of the most popular basketball icons even though he is not in the league anymore. 

So, happy 50th birthday to the NBA's biggest game-changer and greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan.