luther

I have to agree with Paulo in that the reason [b]people here[/i] think he's the best ever is that they've consistently heard that message from Nike and the NBA since the time they were born.

That said, he might be the best player ever. I just wouldn't confuse reality with what makes people believe something. Further, I personally don't believe that "best player ever" is worth even debating, because different eras are incompatible. Are we debating how good someone is compared to his competition, or how good he might be otherwise? If the latter, it's impossible to tell and so a waste of time anyway. Jordan was brilliant. Absolutely wonderful to watch. But so (of players I am old enough to remember seeing in person) Magic, Bird, LeBron, Hakeem, Shaq, Duncan, KG, Pippen, Stockton, Isiah, and others. As good as Jordan? No, probably not, but different. And so is this wine better than that beer? (**** apples and oranges, I prefer the aforementioned.)

I'd say this: there hasn't been a wing player better than Jordan. But at a certain point of brilliance, it barely matters how you want to argue. It's more like 1a, 1b, 1c than 1, 2, 3.

And again, I'll agree that the reason people here believe MJ is the best ever is marketing. Never give people too much credit. They almost never deserve it.