Its no surprise Michael Jordan is in the Hall of Fame ... What took so long ? He is the number one reason a player shouldn't have to be retired to make the Hall of Fame .In 1998 , everyone thought Michael Jordan's famous shot over Byron Russell was his last. Who knew Michael Jordan would end his career sporting a # 23 Wizards Jersey in Philly? MJ came back when the game of basketball was in search of someone to be as dominant and desire-filled as he has showcased time and time again. Jordan's last comeback was questioned because some thought he would fail or tarnish his basketball legacy ... He came back because he still had something left ... There were little critics because he made the NBA worth watching again.
Michael Jordan came back in 1993 , as he was trying to find himself in basketball again. He scored 55 points in his fourth game back against the Atlanta Hawks. He torched the Knicks in the Semi-Finals of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Though everything for Jordan was piecing together , he had to make the transformation from helping build the house to becoming the head of the company all over again. Everyone knew that Orlando would get their way with Jordan when he came back , but Jordan does not make the same mistake twice. He took his place atop the NBA leading the Incredi-Bulls to a 72-10 record the next season. He was in his prime and knew he had to take his body through the ultimate grind inorder to endure a long season which he knew would end with conquering Larry O'Brian trophy for another time.
He led the second three-peat this time with Scottie Pippen , Dennis Rodman , and Ron Harper. It was a stretch for a supporting cast that contained Bill Cartwright , Horace Grant , and John Paxson. Michael Jordan took a backseat in the 1997 , as he told Steve Kerr to take the game winner that knocked off Utah . In 1993 , Jordan realized he had to share the ball with a sharp-shooter named John Paxson. He did and the Phoenix Suns ended up losing their sense of pride ... did they really think Jordan was going to lose ?
" Whoever who doesn't think we're going to win ...get off the damn plane," Jordan said as a cigar hung from his mouth and he held a can of beer in his hand. " I only packed clothes for one game."
Jordan made defense and passing as much apart of his game , he wasn't all about scoring every point... he wanted to win and knew how to win. He was a player of head games , an intimidator to teammates and opposing players alike , and he was a jaw-dropping showstopper from day one.
He had the amazing dunks , the eye-opening shots , and made decsions that kept the Bulls such a great basketball power. He opened the doors for Bryant , James , Wade , Anthony , and the new generation of the NBA.
His tounge wagging through the air as he dunked over oafy centers ... His ownership of outspoken guards like Byron Russell and John Starks ... You really thought you could actually hang with Michael Jordan ? His shrug after he switched hands on a lay-up against then-Portland TrailBlazer Clifford Robinson ... MJ made that one look easy!! He was a coach on the floor , as the first three peat feared him ... the next three peat fed off his aggressiveness to dominate the dominant . Jordan never took a game off and wanted the ball in his hands ... he was the catalyst of Bulls even without the basketball.
Michael Jordan played role of Superman against the Eastern conference. Alanzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing ... and even SHAQ disrespected the legendary floor general by thinking and even letting out that they would send the Bulls packing before the finals. Jordan just took over all aspects of the games making sure all three big men had a taste of defeat in their mouths for years to come.
Why did the Wizards comeback go wrong ? Only Jordan wanted to win . All know that Kwame Brown was a bust and in all accounts ... he still is . Kwame was intimidated by the presence of Jordan because he did not know the concept of winning ... Jordan was eager to win in the capitol city right away ... Kwame would have rather filled the stat sheet with a below .500 record.
Jordan finally knew he had lost his teammates , as they did not listen to the coach and could never finish what they started. Even with Jerry Stackhouse , Larry Hughes , and Charles Oakley ... the Wizards had no desire of clinching the 8th and final playoff spot . It was just a sad ending for a man that saved basketball ... Michael Jordan made basketball worth watching even when he missed a game winner on opening night and scored only two points ... He did hit a few game winners and even scored 40 points to make himself the greatest player ever to sport a Wizards uniform.
Michael Jordan will forever be the greatest player to play the game of basketball . There will only be one Michael Jordan , and the players that are carrying the torch once held by Jordan ... their good , but they will never be considered great like Michael Jordan .
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