Michael Jordan's work ethic overrated?

[Replay32]

So now Jordan didn't work hard and his work ethic is overrated. So he's the greatest SG in the history of the NBA just because...

He liked to gamble and play golf. So what? It's not like he was developing his jumper, improving his defense, or improving his footwork in the post. I guess lifting before games when many players at the time weren't doing it is not working hard to get stronger. It's not like MJ didn't have a motor and energy on offense and defense or was DPOY.

To be the best at anything you have to have a great work ethic. So...

I swear there are some ignorant kids on this site.

[midatlantic09]

It's not all that difficult to work hard as a pro athlete. An athlete that spends 40 hours a week working out during the offseason is classified as hard working, but considering the fact that there are 168 hours in a week and have no other job, that still leaves a lot of time to hang out, go to casinos, etc.

[Haymaker]

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

Ask the Lakers how mentally and physically draining it is to be on the finals and win 2 years in a row. By the time LA got back the next year to go for the threepeat, they ran out of gas/motivation. It takes a toll on the stars more than anyone.

[Myth]

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

Seriously. They make it sound like he had to sit out the whole year and didn't play organized ball, when in reality he just barely missed out on varsity his freshman year, so instead he dominated the JV teams for 1 year before playing 3 years of varsity.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Ask the Lakers how mentally and physically draining it is to be on the finals and win 2 years in a row. By the time LA got back the next year to go for the threepeat, they ran out of gas/motivation. It takes a toll on the stars more than anyone.

Kobe and Gasol were just in a 3 finals in a row run including deep Olympic team runs for their respective countries. Neither of them took the next season off to rest up.

[Nevaeh]

So now Jordan didn't work hard and his work ethic is overrated. So he's the greatest SG in the history of the NBA just because...

He liked to gamble and play golf. So what? It's not like he was developing his jumper, improving his defense, or improving his footwork in the post. I guess lifting before games when many players at the time weren't doing it is not working hard to get stronger. It's not like MJ didn't have a motor and energy on offense and defense or was DPOY.

To be the best at anything you have to have a great work ethic. So...

I swear there are some ignorant kids on this site.

Really though. Quietly "bumping" Kobe to #8 Status, calling Shaq lazy, even though he was the most consistent player on the team from regular season to finals year after year (including 2004), while he was Laker, and now Jordan, who apparently "didn't work hard", even though he was embarrassing Players left and right, inspiring a whole generation of "Next Jordans" to step their game up.

Next week I look forward to Griff informing us, with another whining ass Thread, that Shaq and MJ actually never existed, and that we all imagined the years they played in the League.

[Heavincent]

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.

Why the insecurity? Yes we all know Jordan is the GOAT. You don't have to get all riled up when someone questions something he did.

[jstern]

When I'm playing in the playgrounds, really tired a story of Jordan pops into mind. It's when he was in college or something. Or the Olympics, where after hours of playing, all the guys would take a break except for Jordan. And Jordan said that it's because he didn't want anyone to say that they worked harder than him. That's more or less the story. I think about that when I'm really tired.

And all the stories about when he came back, he was determined to win another championship. Something about practice. I can't remember. So since he's obsessive like that, and has that focus. I don't think it's overrated.

[RaininTwos]

What isn't overrated about this guy?

[poido123]

Was about to say another blow-by looking for a headline, and then I saw hes been registered for 6 years and has green bars?

I Don't know what is up with the pointless threads, but if your gonna look for a player to pick apart, maybe start with a player who isnt the GOAT? Then you wont look so dumb...

[andgar923]

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?

WE DO HEAR stories of MJ working out tho.

Not sure where you get this notion from.

From players, to trainers, staff and MJ himself, all we hear is how hard he worked out and how he pushed others.

Look up Tim Grover and he'll still say MJ was the hardest working player he ever trained. Go back to his college days and players like Kenny Smith would say how hard he worked out. There is a huge deal made on how he improved every off season to add a new dimension to his game or just improve in general. His work ethic is legendary, that's all he talks about, he even has a commercial about it.

I think you're confusing the other stories with him not concentrating solely on basketball. But HE can do what he does, others can't. Like some mentioned, they don't have the stamina that he did. They're bodies aren't like his.

[lefthook00]

He did partake in a lot of extracurricular activities, not b/c of was slacking on his game, but b/c he possibly had more energy than any other player in the history of the NBA. He was literally the energizer bunny. He had the capacity to be the hardest worker in the league AND play golf and cards all night.

[scandisk_]

Watch the Dreamteam documentary on youtube and let the hall of famers answer your question.

[thelucifer69]

This prove MJ was superior compare to Kobe

He didn't work much still better player than Kobe who work extremely hard.

[inclinerator]

larry bird worked harder