Why Michael Jordan Could Win a Seventh Title: Don't Call It a Comeback
He sits on the sidelines watching the team he owns. He wears a look on his face that every basketball fan around the world understands.
Yes, Michael Jordan is still itching to get back on the hardwood. He still believes he's better than the majority of the players in the NBA, even at 48. He still believes he can help a team win ball games.
Can he? Maybe. Will we ever know? Probably not.
What I do know is that another Michael Jordan comeback would be awesome.
The greatest basketball player of all time could play in the NBA today—if he really wanted to. One can never count out Michael Jordan, the competitor.
Imagine MJ on a current NBA contender playing 10 - 15 minutes a game. Would he really hurt a team?...Take your time, I'll wait.
In a perfect world, MJ would give it another run, just because he can, and just because he's that good. While this probably will never happen, as a fan, it's always fun to imagine.
Michael Jordan: The Fan
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As a retired NBA player, watching the game from the stands must be a real culture shock. No longer are you under the spotlight; no longer are you the center of attention.
Michael Jordan must feel this way.
There was a time when MJ kept the entire crowd (home and away) on the edge of their seats. Fans expected greatness every time he had the ball in his hands and for the most part, he never let us down.
Now, MJ has to sit back and watch the game of basketball similar to the way we used to watch him—only he doesn't sit on the edge of his seat as much.
Being retired and watching the game you love to play from the sidelines is similar to a player being injured. You want to be out there to help your team, but you can't. Watching the game you love becomes difficult.
MJ wishes he could be out there playing the game he loves. The only thing that separates MJ from other retired NBA players feeling this way?
MJ believes he can still play competitively.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
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Quick refresher, Michael Jordan has:
2 Olympic Gold Medals, 6 NBA Championships, 6 NBA finals MVP's, 5 NBA MVP's,10 NBA scoring titles, 9 All team Defensive selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award, 2 Slam dunk contest titles, and a Rookie of the Year Award,
Never will I count out someone with those credentials, even if he is 48.
Yes, Jordan's days with the Washington Wizards were bad at times, but MJ still made it clear to everyone watching that he was one of the best players on the court, every night.
I mean he only averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists during his stint with the Wizards, and he was 38.
In his first season, he only led the Wizards to an 18-win improvement from the previous season.
If Michael Jordan played a limited role on a championship contender, he would win a seventh NBA title. Here's an explanation on how he would fit with those teams.
Home Sweet Home
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Yes, I had to do it.
Imagine a comeback to the city where it all started. MJ in a limited role with one of the NBA's up-and-coming teams.
D-Rose, arguably one of the best point guards in the league, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah make up a perennial playoff team, one that could only benefit from a veteran, a great, like Michael Jordan.
No, he won't be playing 30 minutes a game, nor will he play back to backs. He'd play sparingly in a system predicated on defense.
What can Kyle Korver, a Bulls small forward reserve, do that Michael Jordan can't do at 48? Besides being a better three point shooter—nothing.
While the chances of winning another championship in Chicago are slim, as the Bulls' bench is weak and the Eastern Conference is competitive, a Jordan comeback to the Bulls would still be interesting.
Michael Jordan in Green?
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At least we know Jordan wouldn't have to worry about his tennis shoe if he came to Boston.
We'd see Ray Allen sport a fresh pair of Jordan sneakers every game.
Jordan would probably never play for the Celtics, but if he did? Guaranteed championship.
The Celtics already play a half court system, which is ideal for a 48- year old, with a few miles left in the tank. A Celtics team with the addition of Jordan would be like an all-star team; the Lakers wouldn't stand a chance.
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Shaq, and yea we'll just throw in Michael Jordan too. Pretty scary. The amount of playoff experience between Shaq and MJ alone would help the Celtics.
If there's any coach that could steer the ship of this team full of Hall of Famers, it's Doc Rivers.
Taking His Talents to South Beach.
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If the Heat can find use for Juwan Howard, I don't think the addition of Michael Jordan would hurt.
That's no shot at Mr. Howard of course. It's clear the Heat didn't look at "age" when they signed Howard, instead, they saw the intangibles he would bring to the team: experience and veteran leadership.
In all reality, Michael Jordan on the Heat would only take place in NBA 2K11. But it's cool to imagine the what-ifs.
Michael Jordan would finally be able to show Lebron what it takes to be the greatest. He'd teach him that extra "it factor" that only he and Kobe have.
It would be an amazing thing to witness.
Does Michael Jordan Have An Empire State Of Mind?
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This scenario only makes sense if Carmelo Anthony joins the Knicks.
And if he did, and Jordan made a comeback, the buzz at the Garden would be unreal.
Jordan knows a little about playing in the Garden. He hosts his Jordan Classic game there, he's scored 55 points there, and he's been a headache for diehard Knicks fans since...forever.
A MJ comeback to the Knicks would definitely be made into a movie, or an ESPN short film for that matter. Spike Lee would be sure to jump all over that. I'd put money on it.
The Knicks would be the real beast in the east if Jordan were to join. The downside? Mike D'Antoni.
In shape or not, MJ's 48 year old legs wouldn't last a quarter in D'Antoni's system. Too much running.
Spurs or Magic
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I'm going to kill two birds with one stone with this one.
MJ would be a fit on both the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic.
The Spurs are old anyway, Jordan would fit right in. The Magic have a dominant big man that makes winning much easier, so veteran leadership wouldn't hurt.
The Spurs find a way to win games. Their system works. MJ is used to this, having played for Phil Jackson. Certain systems just work.
The Spurs have a core group of players, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, that I never count out, no matter what their ages are or how long they've been in the league. Michael Jordan falls into this category as well. These players are just too good, you can never count them out.
Neither team is really a perfect fit for a MJ comeback, but both teams are in contention for a championship, so it makes sense to mention the possibility.
The Lake Show
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Even in a perfect world, this wouldn't happen.
Jordan has way too much pride.
The reason why it would never happen is because Jordan is too competitive. No way would he team up with a player many believe is going to take his place as the greatest of all time.
MJ would never allow that.
Honestly, I don't think Kobe would allow it either; both players are cut from the same clothe.
For argument sake, let's just say it did happen.Good luck to the rest of the NBA.
I mean all the Jedi Master (Phil Jackson) would really have to do is sprinkle some special fragrance on Jordan's locker before the game and voilà, greatness.
It's worked in the past.
On a serious note, this is another 2K11 transaction that fans try when they're bored. It's fun to imagine but highly unrealistic.
G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)
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I live on planet earth, so I know another MJ comeback is highly unlikely.
But like anything else, it could happen. If Brett Favre can do it, why can't MJ? Football takes more of a toll on one's body than basketball does anyway.
The purpose of this article was to acknowledge greatness. I've learned over the years never to count Michael Jordan out. When I did, he proved me wrong.
The greatest player of all time deserves the discussions and the debates that take place in the workplace, in the barber shop and in sports bars around the world.
As fans, we're going to find any topic we can to debate or talk about. A possible MJ comeback is one of them.
