“Kevin Durant has missed 11 games this season”: ESPN’s Mike Greenberg illustrates how Michael Jordan never cheated the fans with low effort or load management
Mike Greenberg went on a reverie about how Michael Jordan is the most unique player in NBA history on his 58th birthday.
Jordan’s 58th birthday brought him a whole host of tributes from the entire basketball fraternity. MJ is quite easily the most recognizable team sports athlete in American history. He will have an everlasting legacy in the public consciousness.
Among the many tributes paid to Michael Jordan on his birthday, Mike Greenberg had one of the most poignant ones. On his ESPN show yesterday, Greenie noted some of the great achievements of His Airness.
The ESPN host marveled at how Jordan averaged 35.0 points per game while winning DPOY. He did make a mistake, however, calling Hakeem the highest scorer in a DPOY season other than Jordan. Giannis holds that record for his stats last season, averaging 29.5 points per game.
Mike Greenberg with 5 unique Michael Jordan stats
Greenberg threw 5 unique and lesser-known facts about MJ to us. The first was how Jordan is the most popular athlete in America despite his retirement in 2003. The six-time NBA champion currently polls as the most popular athlete in the United States.
Next, Greeny talked about Jordan’s historic 1987-88 season, when he won MVP, DPOY and the scoring title. Only three players in NBA history have won MVP and DPOY in the same campaign.
Mike Greenberg then noted that Jordan stole 30 bases for the Birmingham Barons in 1994-95 and racked up 30 steals with the Bulls after coming back to the NBA at the end of the 1994-95 NBA regular season.
Greenberg’s fourth memorable Jordan stat is “His Airness” having two of the three 100 blocks/200 steals/300 assists/300 rebounds seasons in NBA history.
Greenberg then told us his favorite MJ stat of them all: Jordan missed just 6 games in his 6 championship seasons. He lamented the trend of load management that has overtaken the league today:
“For context, this season alone, Joel Embiid has missed six games. Kawhi Leonard has missed six games, Paul George has missed nine, Kyrie Irving has missed 10, and Kevin Durant has missed 11.”
“I understand there are extenuating circumstances, but Michael Jordan played. He showed up on a Tuesday night in February in New Jersey and acted like that game was Game 7 of the NBA Finals.”
About the author
-
Jeet Pukhrambam •
After Failing to Win a Championship in Milwaukee, LeBron James’ Teammate, Ray Allen, Refuses to Speak to George Karl
-
Siddid Dey Purkayastha •
“$60,000 in the Strip Club”: LeBron James’ $35,000,000 Worth Former Teammate Deeply Regretting His Spending Habits Resurfaces on Twitter
-
Tonoy Sengupta •
“You still with me, Kobe Bryant!”: Nets’ Kyrie Irving pays an attention-worthy tribute to Lakers star upon his much-anticipated return to the NBA
-
Gautam Kapoor •
ZAL vs VAL Fantasy Prediction: Zalgiris Kaunas vs Valencia Basket Best Fantasy Picks for Euro League 2020-21
-
Tonoy Sengupta •
“What is the Charlotte Hornets’ starting lineup going to look like next season?!”: Clips release of LaMelo Ball and his teammates hosting some electrifying runs in Miami
-
Sameen Nawathe •
WNBA Prize Money: How Much Will the Winner of the Finals Earn
