David Stern is full of shit - ESPN Interview about MJ.

[tmacattack33]

I saw an interview in 1999 where they told Stern about how much MJ impacts the game and how an average nationally televised game featuring MJ got about 2.5 million more viewers than an average nationally televised game without the Bulls in it. He basically tried to ignore it, and just said that he wasn't aware of those numbers.

I don't think he likes the idea of one player having so much influence on the success of the league. He wants to make it seem like his league is great on its own, and would be okay if the top super-star wasn't there anymore.

[Roundball_Rock]

How many--if any--all-time greats in basketball, or any sport, retired in the midst of their physical peak? MJ was 29, part of a a three consecutive championships dynasty--and he retires 2 days before training camp begins (thereby forcing his team to look to the Italian League to find a scrub to play SG)?

Let's look at Bill Simmon's top 96 of all-time.

Level 1

96. Tom Chambers

95. Jo Jo White

94. Jack Twyman

93. Kevin Johnson

92. Bob Lanier

91. Dwight Howard

90. Chris Paul

89. Shawn Kemp

88. Gail Goodrich

87. Connie Hawkins

86. Arvydas Sabonis

85. Robert Horry

84. Cliff Hagan

83. Vince Carter

82. Chris Mullin

81. Dave Bing

80. Bailey Howell

79. Bobby Dandridge

78. Paul Westphal

77. Dan Issel

76. Artis Gilmore

75. Tracy McGrady

74. Joe Dumars

73. Sidney Moncrief

72. Chris Webber

71. Lenny Wilkens

70. David Thompson

69. Dennis Rodman

68. Pete Maravich

67. Earl Monroe

66. Adrian Dantley

65. Alex English

64. Jerry Lucas

63. Ray Allen

62. Reggie Miller

Level 2

61. Bob McAdoo

60. Nate Archibald

59. Robert Parish

58. Bernard King

57. Tommy Heinsohn

56. Paul Arizin

55. Dominique Wilkins

54. Paul Pierce

53. Dwayne Wade

52. Dennis Johnson

51. Bill Sharman

50. Dolph Schayes

49. Elvin Hayes

48. James Worthy

47. Billy Cunningham

46. Hal Greer

45. Dave DeBusschere

44. Nate Thurmond

43. Clyde Drexler

42. Jason Kidd

41. Wes Unseld

40. Gary Payton

39. Patrick Ewing

38. Steve Nash

37. Dirk Nowitzki

Level 3

36. George Mikan

35. Kevin McHale

34. George Gervin

33. Sam Jones

32. Walt Frazier

31. Dave Cowens

30. Willis Reed

29. Allen Iverson

28. David Robinson

27. Bill Walton

26. Rick Barry

25. John Stockton

Level 4

24. Scottie Pippen

23. Isiah Thomas

22. Kevin Garnett

21. Bob Cousy

20. LeBron James

19. Charles Barkley

18. Karl Malone

17. Bob Pettit

16. Julius Erving

15. Kobe Bryant

14. Elgin Baylor

13. John Havlicek

The Pantheon

12. Moses Malone

11. Shaquille O’Neal

10. Hakeem Olajuwon

9. Oscar Robertson

8. Jerry West

7. Tim Duncan

6. Wilt Chamberlain

5. Larry Bird

4. Magic Johnson

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2. Bill Russell

1. Michael Jordan

How many of these players retired at their peak?

I think MJ being suspended would be too good a story to keep secret for this long, but the fact that, as far as I know, there is no comparable instance of a great player in any sport deciding to retire at his peak (even if there is, surely there can't be more than a couple others) raises serious red flags--and then he didn't retire in the summer. He waited until the very last minute--October--to retire. These are red flags that raise questions.

[Knoe Itawl]

And how many players reached the echelon that Michael did becoming the most famous person in the WORLD, and also dealing with their father (who was by all accounts his rock) being murdered?

Again, aside from rank speculation there has never been any hardcore EVIDENCE that he was suspended, and so the talk is meaningless. Anyone can make up a conspiracy theory.

Btw, you're a clown but I do like that you have Kobe ranked about right.

[bagelred]

I think MJ being suspended would be too good a story to keep secret for this long, but the fact that, as far as I know, there is no comparable instance of a great player in any sport deciding to retire at his peak (even if there is, surely there can't be more than a couple others) .

Just off the top of my head, I can think of two:

Jim Brown - Football
Bjorn Borg - Tennis

I am sure there are plenty of other good examples.

Just thought of another: Barry Sanders

[Jasper]

round ball rock's "bill Simmons list"

looks pretty good to me.

However I still have issues seeing DR.J below some guys , because he impacted how players play as well as the league.

SHOWING the value that rings is not everything when it comes to the top baller's in the history of the sport.

Which will always bring up to question who is the pure est' bball player is history , and Big O always claimed the best...
7 years from now the stats and rings that surround Bron may prove differently.

Just be thankful we are witnessing so many great players