Imagine an alternative universe where Michael Jordan becomes successful in his baseball endeavor and stays retired from the NBA permanently after 3 titles? Okay, now answer these two questions?. 1) How would the NBA be different today, and over the past 10 years??(i.e. Malone remains a Jazz because he wins multiple titles in Utah) 2) Would Jordan still be considered the greatest basketball player of all-time?
1) We would have a different Champions other than the Bulls during the late 90's. 2) Yes he would still be considered the goat.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Imagine an alternative universe where Michael Jordan becomes successful in his baseball endeavor and stays retired from the NBA permanently after 3 titles? Okay, now answer these two questions?. 1) How would the NBA be different today, and over the past 10 years??(i.e. Malone remains a Jazz because he wins multiple titles in Utah) 2) Would Jordan still be considered the greatest basketball player of all-time?</div> 1) Well,I think you're right. Utah would have a title and so would maybe Indiana,New York or Seattle. Payton and Malone wouldn't be with the Lakers and who knows if Phil would be there either. It's really hard to comprehend because it would have far reaching effects on many levels. Like a domino effect. 2) I don't think so,not by as many people anyway. The gap would be alot closer than it is with a few guys if he hadn't come back. Wilt would probably be a consensus #1 with Russell and #2 and Jordan a close 3rd.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">1) Well,I think you're right. Utah would have a title and so would maybe Indiana,New York or Seattle. Payton and Malone wouldn't be with the Lakers and who knows if Phil would be there either. It's really hard to comprehend because it would have far reaching effects on many levels. Like a domino effect. 2) I don't think so,not by as many people anyway. The gap would be alot closer than it is with a few guys if he hadn't come back. Wilt would probably be a consensus #1 with Russell and #2 and Jordan a close 3rd.</div> I agree completely. 1.) Utah would have had at least 1 championship. Some other teams certainly would have had their run. The interesting person... is perhaps Phil Jackson. Where would he be? He certainly would be considered as one of the all time greatest coach. And definitely wouldn't be with the Lakers right now. With that. Would Kobe and Shaq win ANY championships??? If they didn't, the Kings, Philly, and some other teams would have a chance. Very interesting. 2.) I think Jordan would still be consider as one of the best players of all time, but certainly not the GREATEST. It'd be big shame, a tramendous loss to our NBA history. I just can't imagine a world without the magnificence of MJ.
I think one of the things that made Jordan the G.O.A.T. was that after he kicked everyone's ass, he took off almost two years from basketball, came back, and kicked everyone's ass all over again. To me it demonstrated his unrivaled competitiveness and that I'll-dominate-you-at-will talent and brilliance.
Nobody mentioned that Malone could actually be considered the GOAT after winning those chamionships with Utah. The only thing missing from his plate is a championship and if Utah got multiple rings we could be singing a different tune. Add in the fact that he would be the NBA's leading scorer all time and it could be a good arguement.
nobody from utah will ever be considered the greatest of all time. let's get that out of the way. what do you mean he would be the nba's leading scorer? as if michael jordan had anything to do with karl malone scoring less points?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting okaforever:</div><div class="quote_post">nobody from utah will ever be considered the greatest of all time. let's get that out of the way.</div> Never say never, this is the alternate universe remember.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">what do you mean he would be the nba's leading scorer? as if michael jordan had anything to do with karl malone scoring less points?</div> I mean he would have passed Abdul Jabbar for the NBAs scoring record by staying in Utah instead of going to LA and scoring half of his average
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I mean he would have passed Abdul Jabbar for the NBAs scoring record by staying in Utah instead of going to LA and scoring half of his average</div> That's true! I didn't realize that. Malone would easy break the All Time Scoring title, had he stayed in Utah.
1) Utah could have won some rings and some other teams too if MJ stayed retired. 2)MJ would still be one of the best players of all-time but not the greatest.I don't think there is person that is the best at something.If you are good, someone will always be better. If Malone stayed in Utah than Andrei wouldn't be a all-star this year and he wouldn't have a breakout season.That would be sad for him.But i don't imagine the mailman breaking the Scoring record because he is still atleast a 1600points behind Kareem and he is in his 40's.
How would Malone have become the G.O.A.T.? Utah only went to the Finals twice. I don't think Chicago affected whether Utah would come out of the West or not.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yangyang42:</div><div class="quote_post">That's true! I didn't realize that. Malone would easy break the All Time Scoring title, had he stayed in Utah.</div> you can't say that. Malone may have retired after winning a championship.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">you can't say that. Malone may have retired after winning a championship.</div> I think he would have stayed just to have the record. He's still got enough game in him now so I don't think he would end his career so prematurely. But then again, we are talking about an alternate universe......
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">you can't say that. Malone may have retired after winning a championship.</div> I don't think he would retire so fast. Yes, it seems like all he wants right now is a championship ring. But if he had one, I bet he would be going after the scoring title. Besides, if not for the injury, Malone would still be kicking asses, and out hustling, and out muscling people on the court. He's an old man, but he still gets the job done. With his work ethic, I believe he has a legit chance at breaking the scoring title, had he stayed with the Jazz.
I think it might be fair to say if Jordan had never returned...Shaq might have not have left Orlando for the Lakers. He didnt bail on the Magic until after that 72-10 monster season Chicago had. Jordan returned halfway through the 94-95 season. Orlando loses to Houston in the Finals the same year. 95-96 the Bulls steamroll the entire league. After that season Shaq heads to LA. In my opinion this is when the big exodus started and players started to migrate to the West.
1) I think that the one thing that changed the most by MJ coming back was the Orlando Magic, that team was setup to dominate the East but after the sweep to the MJ/bulls in the 96' playoffs things really changed for ever with that franchise. Shaq started to show that he wasnt 100% happy. Nick Anderson's career was basicly over & penny was on the injured list every week. If the Magic would have made it to the finals back to back seasons then maybe that would have help shaq stay in orlando which would have kept penny in orlando. Heck, the Magic would probably be still together(penny & Shaq). There would have been no need for the Magic to bring Grant hill & tracy in 2000. And the Magic might have 3 or 4 championships instead of the lakers. And the NBa would be totally different now. If Shaq would have won a few championships & stayed with the Magic then the East would be the dominate conference right now, all the moves that west conference teams make year in & year out to compete with the Lakers, would have had to been made by the eastern teams. It was easy to see from the early 90's that whatever conference Shaq played in was going to be the dominate conference. 2) I dont think MJ would be seen as the greastest of all-time. His ablity to come back & take over the game of basketball when the NBA started to focus on players like Dream & shaq is what put him over the top as the greatest of all-time. He did what everbody said he couldnt which added to his legacy. When MJ came back to basketball in 95, he took his game to a whole different level. He add the turn around fadeway to his game(which is one of the most unstoppable moves in NBA history). When MJ came back the 1st time we got to see the prefect combination of skill & athletism. Thats what made him the greatest. If Mike wouldnt have came back he would still be in the top 5, but not the greatest. MJ said it one time in an interview he gave after he won his 5th title in 97. He said that getting his 5th title which teid him with Magic is what really put him on an elite level. If he would have came back no titles 4,5 or 6(those 3 titles are why people call him & bill russell the two greastest winners in team sports.)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">1) I think that the one thing that changed the most by MJ coming back was the Orlando Magic, that team was setup to dominate the East but after the sweep to the MJ/bulls in the 96' playoffs things really changed for ever with that franchise. Shaq started to show that he wasnt 100% happy. Nick Anderson's career was basicly over & penny was on the injured list every week. If the Magic would have made it to the finals back to back seasons then maybe that would have help shaq stay in orlando which would have kept penny in orlando. Heck, the Magic would probably be still together(penny & Shaq). There would have been no need for the Magic to bring Grant hill & tracy in 2000. And the Magic might have 3 or 4 championships instead of the lakers. And the NBa would be totally different now. If Shaq would have won a few championships & stayed with the Magic then the East would be the dominate conference right now, all the moves that west conference teams make year in & year out to compete with the Lakers, would have had to been made by the eastern teams. It was easy to see from the early 90's that whatever conference Shaq played in was going to be the dominate conference. 2) I dont think MJ would be seen as the greastest of all-time. His ablity to come back & take over the game of basketball when the NBA started to focus on players like Dream & shaq is what put him over the top as the greatest of all-time. He did what everbody said he couldnt which added to his legacy. When MJ came back to basketball in 95, he took his game to a whole different level. He add the turn around fadeway to his game(which is one of the most unstoppable moves in NBA history). When MJ came back the 1st time we got to see the prefect combination of skill & athletism. Thats what made him the greatest. If Mike wouldnt have came back he would still be in the top 5, but not the greatest. MJ said it one time in an interview he gave after he won his 5th title in 97. He said that getting his 5th title which teid him with Magic is what really put him on an elite level. If he would have came back no titles 4,5 or 6(those 3 titles are why people call him & bill russell the two greastest winners in team sports.)</div> Great post!
