Michael Jordan's work ethic overrated?

[Heilige]

Do you feel Michael Jordan's work ethic is overrated in general?

We always hear stories about him golfing, playing cards, gambling, going to the casinos, etc,etc and not so much about him working very hard in the off-season or during the in-season.

Compared to the likes of Jerry West, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant who all seemed obsessed with the game and obsessed with being the best player they could be.

Could you see Bird or Kobe going to the casinos and gambling late at night on the day before a crucial play-off game like Jordan did, instead of watching game tape or doing anything you can to prepare for the game?

[Horatio33]

Or maybe he didnt have his "people" leak stuff about his "tremendous work ethic" like Kobe does?

[Heilige]

Or maybe he didnt have his "people" leak stuff about his "tremendous work ethic" like Kobe does?

I mentioned Larry Bird and Jerry West as well.....

[Kblaze8855]

One could argue that all really huge stars have their work ethic overrated because nobody wants to hear what the Steve Kerrs or Earl boykins have to do to even get a spot. Ask for the hardest working QB in the NFL you hear Brady and Peyton....Brees. Guys who are great. You think many guys guys who arent dont watch film? dont work their asses off to make it?

In that way...perhaps all famous players work ethic gets overrated. I remember scott Skiles said the hardest working player hes seen in his life was Ben Gordon. But that isnt a story. Its not gonna catch on or be remembered. so his name doesnt come up in those discussions. Bird/MJ/Kobe do. But I suspect it took a hell of a lot of work for some of these small name guys to get where they got.

So in that way...that"Big name gets the most love" way? Maybe.

In the way you mean? Hell no. Night before a playoff game isnt where you learn to play. Its the million hours that it took to get there.

If MJ wasnt playing cards all night he would just be asleep...which isnt a work ethic issue.

Its an energy issue. He had a lot of it. Thats all.

[Harison]

Jordan's work ethics were incredible, he had to work VERY hard to get to the Top, hell - MJ had to work very hard just to get to his HS team (from which he was cut). He wasnt prodigy then, he became one by his endeavors.

Misconceptions about MJ by OP is because of Jordan's stamina - he could play golf in the evening, cards all night, shoot video the next morning, and kill opponents in the afternoon.

Such phenomenal stamina doesnt mean he wasnt working very hard - he did, and actually more than Kobe, whose work ethics are All-time great as well.

[wang4three]

Jordan's work ethics were incredible, he had to work VERY hard to get to the Top, hell - MJ had to work very hard just to get to his HS team (from which he was cut). He wasnt prodigy then, he became one by his endeavors.

If anything, his being cut from the high school team is one of the more overrated stories out there.

[9erempiree]

I think MJ's work ethic is very overrated because we hear more stories about him gambling and golfing than we do about him hitting the weight room.

MJ was a great player based on talent and skill. Heck, he got lazy and decided to play baseball.

[Harison]

In that way...perhaps all famous players work ethic gets overrated.

You have a point that hard working "nobodies" arent remembered, however it doesnt mean guys at the very top didnt worked as hard if not harder than the hardest working non-stars.

Only few Top20 players All-time werent giving their 110% in training, like Shaq. Most of them were spilling gallons of blood to get where we remember them now. Kobe wouldnt be anywhere as great if not work ethics, we wouldnt know Jordan or Bird. Or lets take Ray - would he be Top1 3PT shooter All-time if not his OCD work ethics? I dont think so.

Not everyone is born like Shaq or Lebron, some had talent, but it took an insane amount of endeavors to shine at the Top.

[Heilige]

Jordan's work ethics were incredible, he had to work VERY hard to get to the Top, hell - MJ had to work very hard just to get to his HS team (from which he was cut). He wasnt prodigy then, he became one by his endeavors.

Misconceptions about MJ by OP is because of Jordan's stamina - he could play golf in the evening, cards all night, shoot video the next morning, and kill opponents in the afternoon.

Such phenomenal stamina doesnt mean he wasnt working very hard - he did, and actually more than Kobe, whose work ethics are All-time great as well.

I guess that makes sense.

I don't know if he did more than Kobe though, since Kobe doesn't really to seem to have much interests outside of basketball....

How did Jordan get such a great amount of stamina?

[Heilige]

You have a point that hard working "nobodies" arent remembered, however it doesnt mean guys at the very top didnt worked as hard if not harder than the hardest working non-stars.

Only few Top20 players All-time werent giving their 110% in training, like Shaq. Most of them were spilling gallons of blood to get where we remember them now. Kobe wouldnt be anywhere as great if not work ethics, we wouldnt know Jordan or Bird. Or lets take Ray - would he be Top1 3PT shooter All-time if not his OCD work ethics? I dont think so.

Not everyone is born like Shaq or Lebron, some had talent, but it took an insane amount of endeavors to shine.

What do you mean when you say spilling gallons of blood? Sorry if that is a dumb question.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Quits the game after winning a mere 3 championships because he's "burned out"

[OldSchoolBBall]

Quits the game after winning a mere 3 championships because he's "burned out"

A "mere" 3 championships? How many titles has your boy won as the best player on his team? Let me answer that for you: 2. And he won't win any more as the best player with Dwight there, since Dwight overtook Kobe back in '11.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

A "mere" 3 championships? How many titles has your boy won as the best player on his team? Let me answer that for you: 2. And he won't win any more as the best player with Dwight there, since Dwight overtook Kobe back in '11.

What does that have to do the mythology surrounding Jordan? If you wanted to keep it remotely on topic Kobe would never get the complete pass Jordan did for missing a season because he was "burned out". Nor would Shaq.

[Punpun]

-snip-

There is some truth here. VUJAVIC is known as a guy that never stops training. And yet he isn't even in the NBA anymore.

[Harison]

How did Jordan get such a great amount of stamina?

Genes, as well as intense working out.

What do you mean when you say spilling gallons of blood?

Its an expression, like "working out till you sweat the blood." In some cases it was literal, since training/playing hard also means sometimes bleeding too.