Latest news with #MichaelJordan
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's no denying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just delivered one of the most impressive seasons in NBA history. The Oklahoma City Thunder star led his team to a championship, outlasting the Indiana Pacers in seven games and capping a year that will be remembered for decades. Advertisement Now, the debate has turned to where Gilgeous-Alexander fits among the game's all-time greats. In doing so, the Thunder guard joined elite company. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to win a scoring title, regular-season MVP, and finals MVP in the same season, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal. That rare feat prompted former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest, to drop a bold comparison: that at times, SGA is better than Michael Jordan. "People laughed at my quote with I said 'at times' @shaiglalex is better than MJ. Explain this . Shai is 1st ballot and will get more than 3 rings. That statement was originally made during the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Timberwolves. In an interview with Essentially Sports, he expanded on the idea: Advertisement 'I think SGA is at times better than Michael Jordan. At times, when you look at SGA's games, he is the best basketball player that probably touched the front, top and bottom…Every move you ever dreamed of.' Speaking on the podcast "Casuals with Katie Nolan," Sandiford-Artest elaborated: "Michael Jordan's done things nobody has ever done, and it looks so elegant. But SGA, the way he plays the game, through the legs, behind the back, step back, crossover, spins, it's exactly how he wants to play it.' Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images Gilgeous-Alexander, known for his smooth, methodical style and advanced footwork, has quickly risen to the top of the league. His ability to control tempo and get to his spots on the floor has drawn comparisons to past greats, but few expected his name to be mentioned alongside Jordan, let alone ahead of him. Advertisement Sandiford-Artest, a 6-foot-7 forward, played for the Chicago Bulls from 1999 to 2002 before helping Kobe Bryant and the Lakers win the 2010 NBA title. He was an All-Star in 2004 and played for six NBA teams during his career, which spanned from 1999 to 2017. He's perhaps best remembered for the 2004 'Malice at the Palace' brawl, which led to an 86-game suspension. Michael Jordan, of course, remains the gold standard. He was a six-time NBA champion and won finals MVP every time. He also claimed five regular season MVPs and was selected to 14 All-Star games. Jordan finished his career with 32,292 points, averaging 30.1 per game. Whether SGA ever reaches that kind of legacy is still up for debate, but in the eyes of at least one former All-Star, he's already there at times. Related: Kristaps Porzingis Used Two Words to Describe the Celtics After Being Traded Related: Luka Doncic Reportedly Makes Big Change in Physical Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"You guys never froze me out" - Michael Jordan sent a message to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and George Gervin about the infamous freeze-out game
"You guys never froze me out" - Michael Jordan sent a message to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and George Gervin about the infamous freeze-out game originally appeared on Basketball Network. Many fans and analysts believe that the infamous Freeze-out game during the 1985 NBA All-Star showdown was meant to break Michael Jordan's confidence. It was a highly-anticipated moment as it marked Jordan's NBA All-Star debut. However, rather than showcasing his extraordinary talent, the Chicago Bulls star only managed to make two shots throughout the entire game. The unexpected underwhelming performance unsurprisingly sparked widespread speculation, suggesting that certain veteran players, notably Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, had a deliberate agenda to make Jordan appear unworthy of his All-Star selection. Years later, during his epic Hall of Fame induction speech, MJ shockingly confronted the decades-old rumor. He delivered a compelling message directed at the NBA legends who were accused of freezing him out that night. "I'm going to thank a couple people that you guys probably wouldn't even think that I would thank: Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, George Gervin," Jordan candidly spoke. "Now they say it was a so-called freeze-out in my rookie season. I wouldn't have never guessed, but you guys gave me the motivation to say, 'You know what, evidently I haven't proved enough to these guys. I gotta prove to them that I deserve what I've gotten on this level.'" "And no matter what people may have said – if it was a rumor, I never took it as truth – but you guys never froze me out because I was just happy to be there, no matter how you look at it," he pointed out. "And from that point forward, I wanted to prove to you, Magic, Larry, George, everybody – that I deserved to be on this level just as much as everybody else. And hopefully, over the period of my career, I've done that, without a doubt – you know, even in the Detroit years, we've done that." Taking a quick trip down memory lane, there's no denying that MJ truly deserved to be an All-Star despite being a rookie. That season, Jordan never missed a game and put up MVP-like numbers, having averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals per outing. That being said, the notion that the so-called Freeze-out game was rooted in jealousy grew stronger. The media quickly turned their attention to the intriguing issue. They began to quiz explanations and insights from the people who could possibly be involved. The inquiries poured in but not a single NBA legend confirmed the swirling speculations. In an interesting twist, George Andrews, the agent representing both Magic and Thomas, was asked to share his thoughts on the matter. He firmly denied it, stating that there was no way any of his superstar clients would have entertained, or even thought about coming up with such a bizarre idea. "You're telling me Larry Bird was in a conspiracy with Isiah Thomas? If Isiah said one thing, Bird would do the opposite… There's no chance you are getting Dr. J, who was the moral compass of the league back then, starting the basketball chapel, and Larry Bird ganging up on Michael Jordan," Andrews once said. "So, they say, 'Let's see what Michael can do with Gervin,' who still was pretty good," added Andrews. "Michael didn't do much, something like two for nine. But nine shots; so he wasn't frozen out. He got nine shots in an All-Star game as a rookie. Isiah had seven when he was a rookie and shot an air ball," he pointed way Jordan performed on the court following the 1985 All-Star weekend only goes to show that the Freeze-out game had little to no impact on him. Although he also did not dismiss it during his speech, MJ insisted that the infamous event didn't affect his focus and passion for the game. Rather than dwelling on the possible reasons behind the Freeze-out game, Mike moved on and remained committed to developing his skills as a player. If there was one thing he did, it was to transform the negativity of the Freeze-out game into a source of motivation. It ultimately gave him the drive to prove his critics wrong. Looking at how Jordan morphed into a dominant player, it was very evident that the Freeze-out game held little significance in his illustrious NBA career. His strong work ethic and willpower allowed him to rise above all the challenges he encountered in his journey. Apart from that, MJ's competitive spirit also solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. All told, the conscious decision to address the past in his special night highlighted Jordan's courage and resilience. The greatness he achieved and the winning mentality he displayed only suggested that the Freeze-out game didn't make any sense, if there was story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sells for $2.5 million
Associated Press A autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million in an auction that closed on Thursday. The 1986-87 Fleer card sold through Joopiter — the auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams three years ago — shows Jordan soaring toward the rim with his right arm extended and tongue dangling. It was one of nine trading cards signed in a blue sharpie at his private golf course in Florida last year. According to ESPN, the $2.5 million is the most paid for a Jordan rookie card — signed or unsigned — and the third-highest price in a public sale for any Jordan card. That record is $2.928 million. In March, an autographed Bulls jersey that Jordan wore in a preseason game during his rookie year sold for $4.215 million at an auction through Sotheby's. ___ AP NBA: recommended in this topic
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sells for $2.5 million
A autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million in an auction that closed on Thursday. The 1986-87 Fleer card sold through Joopiter — the auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams three years ago — shows Jordan soaring toward the rim with his right arm extended and tongue dangling. It was one of nine trading cards signed in a blue sharpie at his private golf course in Florida last year. According to ESPN, the $2.5 million is the most paid for a Jordan rookie card — signed or unsigned — and the third-highest price in a public sale for any Jordan card. That record is $2.928 million. In March, an autographed Bulls jersey that Jordan wore in a preseason game during his rookie year sold for $4.215 million at an auction through Sotheby's. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sells for $2.5 million
A autographed Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million in an auction that closed on Thursday. The 1986-87 Fleer card sold through Joopiter — the auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist and producer Pharrell Williams three years ago — shows Jordan soaring toward the rim with his right arm extended and tongue dangling. It was one of nine trading cards signed in a blue sharpie at his private golf course in Florida last year. Advertisement According to ESPN, the $2.5 million is the most paid for a Jordan rookie card — signed or unsigned — and the third-highest price in a public sale for any Jordan card. That record is $2.928 million. In March, an autographed Bulls jersey that Jordan wore in a preseason game during his rookie year sold for $4.215 million at an auction through Sotheby's. ___ AP NBA:
