Michael Jordan being widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of basketball by fans and the media is quite the accomplishment. An addition to this accomplishment that completely blows the former out of the water is the fact that his peers call him the ‘GOAT’ on more occasions than any other player in history.
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It’s difficult to argue with that fact overcame every single challenge that was thrown his way. Rough teams like the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons and Pat Riley’s New York Knicks were both eventually beaten by MJ’s Chicago Bulls (the Knicks were 0-4 against Jordan in the Playoffs).
He beat the man who everybody claimed was his equal (Clyde Drexler), he beat two regular season MVPs in the Finals the year they won it (Karl Malone and Charles Barkley), and most importantly, he officially dethroned Magic Johnson and the Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals to capture his first ever title.
Also read: Michael Jordan Once Had An Arrest Warrant Issued Thanks To Recklessness In His $35,000 Vehicle
Magic Johnson puts Michael Jordan above himself and Larry Bird
By the time 1989 had rolled around, Michael Jordan had already established himself as the best player in the NBA. With both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on a decline (though Johnson did win the ‘89 MVP), it was clear that Jordan would dethrone them soon if he hadn’t already.
Magic, a man worth $620 million today and reigned over the league throughout the 1980s, seemed to have seen enough of the UNC alum. He would go on to admit that it was Jordan’s time and even placed him above himself and his counterpart, Larry Bird.
“Everybody talks about how it’s me and Larry. Really, there’s Michael, and then there’s everybody else,” said Johnson.
While MJ had the requisite talent to be labelled as the best player in the NBA, he most certainly didn’t have the credentials. He was an MVP and DPOY but had not been to a single Finals, let alone win one. Though, what Magic saw in the mere 26 y/o seemed to be enough and sure enough, Michael was the best player in the league by the 1990s.
Michael Jordan never overcame Larry Bird
While Michael Jordan would go on to beat Magic Johnson’s Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals, he would never pick up a victory in the Playoffs against Larry Bird and his Boston Celtics.
The 1986 first round series between the Bulls and Celtics was as iconic as it is today because of Jordan’s individual offensive prowess, with him scoring 49 points and 63 points in games 1 and 2. They unfortunately would get swept in this series and history would repeat itself the year later with yet another sweep in the 1987 Playoffs.
