Was watching 1989 ECF Bulls/Pistons

[lilteapot]

In the pregame they were talking about how MJ was the greatest player ever.

Just amazing to me how just 5 years into his NBA career he could be great enough to be considered THE best ever, despite not having won any rings.

Shows how big/unreasonable standards are today. You don't win rings, you aren't even in the conversation. Or perhaps that was the case back then, but MJ was just that good.

[Jlamb47]

Thats because he was putting up 8 rebounds and 8 assit per game that year, he was just crazyyy with stats

[Psileas]

In the pregame they were talking about how MJ was the greatest player ever.

Just amazing to me how just 5 years into his NBA career he could be great enough to be considered THE best ever, despite not having won any rings.

Shows how big/unreasonable standards are today. You don't win rings, you aren't even in the conversation. Or perhaps that was the case back then, but MJ was just that good.

They were talking about his prime/peak where he entered. Although people in general have short memories, it's easy to realize that Jordan was already a "BOAT" candidate, as far as primes go. As was, to a smaller degree, peak LeBron, even if lots of people wanted to pretend otherwise.
Career-wise, '89 Jordan obviously wasn't anywhere near GOAT.

[kshutts1]

Thats because he was putting up 8 rebounds and 8 assit per game that year, he was just crazyyy with stats

If rings are not part of the equation, then the only answer can be Wilt.

[The_Pharcyde]

In the pregame they were talking about how MJ was the greatest player ever.

Just amazing to me how just 5 years into his NBA career he could be great enough to be considered THE best ever, despite not having won any rings.

Shows how big/unreasonable standards are today. You don't win rings, you aren't even in the conversation. Or perhaps that was the case back then, but MJ was just that good.

also they put the greatest there will ever be on his statue in 1994 and that was after 3 titles, he came back and got another 3-peat

[j3lademaster]

The media still does that today. MJ at that time was a rising star who strung together a few monstrous seasons and is currently on a deep playoff run where he can potentially win it all finally. The "goat" talk was mostly just overreaction(with hindsight you can probably identify it as "premature"), no different than what the media does today.

[jlip]

The media still does that today. MJ at that time was a rising star who strung together a few monstrous seasons and is currently on a deep playoff run where he can potentially win it all finally. The "goat" talk was mostly just overreaction(with hindsight you can probably identify it as "premature"), no different than what the media does today.

...and have been doing for over 50 years.

Premature statements like this are not unique to MJ. Jerry Sloan pretty much had Bird as GOAT during rookie season.

People were calling Kareem (Lew Alcindor) the best player in the world during his rookie season.


George Mikan called Bill Russell the GOAT before he had even played one NBA game.

[Psileas]

...and have been doing for over 50 years.

To be fair, though, Kareem was in his 2nd year there.
Still though, the hype was there, with another article wondering whether he'd ever hit 100 in a game.

[Quickening]

Well he didn't win his first until he was past his peak in the 90s, it wasn't like he was 25 when they were talking about best ever

[OldSchoolBBall]

Well he didn't win his first until he was past his peak in the 90s, it wasn't like he was 25 when they were talking about best ever

He WAS 25 during the game in question which the OP watched.

[Height Freak]

26 really.

[HomieWeMajor]

Some all time great statpadding got analysts sipping the kool aid.

[JohnnySic]

Jordan in the late 80's was monstrous. Too bad he didn't have a good team yet.