5 Superteams That Michael Jordan Could Have Created In The 90s

• LeBron James and Kevin Durant changed the NBA with their move to form superteams

• Michael Jordan stayed with the Chicago Bulls during the entire prime of his career

• If Jordan formed superteams like James and Durant, there would be no GOAT debate

In the annals of NBA history, the concept of superteams has become a defining narrative in the modern era. The likes of LeBron James, who departed his beloved hometown team Cleveland Cavaliers to embark on a journey of championships and glory with the Miami Heat, and Kevin Durant, who left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in pursuit of a ring, have reshaped the landscape of professional basketball.

These seismic decisions not only altered the balance of power in the league but also sparked intense debates about loyalty, legacy, and the pursuit of greatness. However, there’s one era of NBA basketball that remained untouched by this trend – the 1990s, an era dominated by the indomitable Michael Jordan.

As the basketball world watched Jordan’s Chicago Bulls clinch six NBA championships in eight years, it’s natural to wonder: What if Michael Jordan had followed a similar path? What if His Airness had decided to assemble his own superteams, gathering rival stars in pursuit of even more titles?

Michael Jordan did not immediately win his six championships, rather, he suffered exits in the postseason year after year before breaking through in the 1990-91 season. Jordan made the playoffs in his rookie season, losing in four games before losing in the first round the next two seasons. In 1988, Jordan was defeated by the Pistons and would go on to lose to the “Bad Boys” the next two seasons in the Eastern Conference Finals as well.

What if Michael Jordan shortcut his way to a title instead of having to wait until his seventh season? What if Jordan decided to form superteams even if he was a champion? Michael was built from a different cloth but let’s look at the five superteams he would have created in the 1990s following the same logic of modern superstars.

Michael Jordan And The Celtics Superteam – Summer Of 1986

Superstars: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale

Imagine it’s the summer of 1986, and Michael Jordan, fresh off a heartbreaking loss to Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, makes a stunning decision. Fueled by his insatiable competitive drive and the desire to overcome his formidable rivals, Jordan decides to leave the Chicago Bulls to join forces with the Celtics.

Jordan’s decision to force a trade to the Celtics would send shockwaves throughout the NBA in the 1987 season. At the time, the Celtics were the reigning champions, and Bird and McHale were considered two of the league’s top players. The idea of Jordan, the emerging superstar, teaming up with Bird and McHale, established legends, would be unprecedented and instantly make the Celtics an overwhelming favorite for the championship.

Bird’s basketball IQ and leadership, McHale’s post-scoring prowess, and Jordan’s scoring ability, athleticism, and defensive tenacity would create an unstoppable trio. The Celtics would dominate the regular season, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In reality, Boston finished with a 59-23 record and lost in the Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers led by Magic Johnson.

With Jordan, there is no doubt Bird and McHale win the 1987 championship because the Lakers could not have defended the three stars. If MJ copied Durant by joining the losing team in the Finals, he would have a ring by his third NBA season, and a dynasty would be created.

Michael Jordan And The Pistons Superteam – Summer Of 1990

Superstars: Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman

Let’s transport ourselves to the summer of 1991, following a bitter defeat for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons in 1990. In this intriguing “what-if” scenario, Michael Jordan, driven by his competitive fire and an unquenchable thirst for championships, makes a stunning decision to leave the Bulls and join forces with Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars in Detroit.

Jordan’s move to the Pistons would be nothing short of seismic in the NBA landscape. The Pistons, known for their “Bad Boys” persona and physical style of play, had established themselves as one of the league’s premier teams and Jordan’s primary roadblock to championship glory. Their fierce rivalry, characterized by hard-fought battles and mutual disdain, had defined the late ’80s NBA.

The 1990-91 NBA season would witness the formation of a superteam unlike any other. Jordan, the league’s preeminent scorer and arguably the greatest player ever, would now be flanked by Thomas, a brilliant playmaker and floor general, and Dumars, one of the league’s best two-way guards. The Pistons’ suffocating defense would be augmented by Jordan’s scoring prowess, creating an intimidating combination.

In reality, the Pistons would go on to lose in the 1991 NBA Eastern Conference Finals to Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the Chicago Bulls. Instead, Jordan would not win a ring with the Bulls but rather join the Bad Boy Pistons that took him down three postseasons in a row. With the Pistons, Jordan would shortcut a championship ring rather than taking his chance with Pippen by his side.

Michael Jordan And The Suns Superteam – Summer Of 1992

Superstars: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen

What if Michael Jordan did not want to be a Chicago Bull anymore in the 1992 NBA Finals? The Bulls would be coming off their second-straight title with a dynasty ready to be created. 

Rather than carrying the Bulls on his back another time, he could look to join forces with one of his best friends at that time: Charles Barkley. Similar to how LeBron James wanted to play with his friend Dwyane Wade, Jordan could opt for that rather than staying loyal to the team that drafted him.

Charles Barkley would end up winning the 1993 MVP award, averaging 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while carrying the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. The Bulls would win that Finals series as Jordan won his third straight Finals MVP, but what if Jordan ended up on the same team as the Suns?

What if Jordan wanted to bring on one more Dream Team member? The obvious answer is Scottie Pippen, Jordan’s long-time teammate who helped him win the 1991 and 1992 NBA titles. As great as the Bulls’ supporting cast was at the time, having a prime Charles Barkley who was an MVP candidate b their side would create an indestructible superteam.

Barkley would go on to have three more superstar-level seasons with the Suns in reality, meaning Jordan, Pippen, and the Suns would have won championships in 1994, 1995, and 1996 without a doubt. Playing with his friends never crossed Jordan’s mind, but if it did, a Big Three with himself, Barkley, and Pippen would be completely dominant with a minimum of 70 wins per season.

Michael Jordan And The Magic Superteam – Summer Of 1995

Superstars: Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway

Jumping to the summer of 1995, following a frustrating loss for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jordan makes a stunning decision to leave the Bulls and join forces with Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway in Orlando.

Jordan’s move to the Magic would be nothing short of shocking in the NBA landscape. At the time, O’Neal and Hardaway were emerging as two of the brightest young stars in the league, and the Magic was seen as a rising force in the Eastern Conference. Their victory over Jordan’s Bulls in the previous season had been a turning point in the NBA’s power dynamics as the shooting guard was coming back into the league following his retirement and only had 17 games to build chemistry before the playoffs.

The 1995-96 NBA season would witness the formation of a superteam that would make headlines across the basketball world. Jordan, the greatest player in NBA history, would now be teaming up with the dominant force of O’Neal in the paint and the versatile playmaking of Hardaway. The Magic’s already potent roster would now feature three future Hall of Famers, creating a formidable trio.

During the regular season in 1996, the Magic would dominate the league, showcasing their incredible chemistry. Jordan’s scoring prowess would be complemented by O’Neal’s dominance in the post and Hardaway’s creative playmaking, and the team would secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In reality, Orlando won 60 games but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Chicago Bulls.

Instead, in the playoffs, the Magic would breeze through the Eastern Conference, with Jordan’s unmatched competitiveness and clutch performances leading the way. In the NBA Finals, they would face the Utah Jazz, and Jordan’s legendary scoring ability would shine as he delivered another iconic game-winning shot to secure the championship. Instead of doing that with the Bulls, Jordan wins with Shaq by his side.

We saw what Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal would become, but imagine Michael was there alongside Shaq and Penny. O’Neal at 23 years old in 1996 with a prime Hardaway (24 years old) would essentially mean a minimum of five straight championships would ensue. Even if Penny’s injuries would happen regardless, in the 1998 season, Jordan and O’Neal would continue dominating the NBA.

Michael Jordan And The Lakers Superteam – Summer Of 1998

Superstars: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal

No doubt the greatest superteam possible would include Michael Jordan alongside Los Angeles Lakers superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. What if Michael Jordan, fresh off his sixth NBA championship victory with the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 season, decided to continue his storied career by joining the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1999 season? 

Jordan, having achieved virtually everything possible in the basketball world, is enticed by the opportunity to team up with a Lakers superteam in pursuit of more championships.

Jordan’s move to the Lakers would be a seismic shift in the NBA landscape. The Lakers, a storied franchise, had seen success throughout their history, and they were coming off a strong season. However, the addition of Jordan would elevate them to unparalleled heights.

The 1999 Lakers would feature a formidable lineup, with Jordan joining forces with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. O’Neal, already one of the most dominant big men in the league, would provide a dominant inside presence, while Kobe Bryant, a young and supremely talented shooting guard, would benefit immensely from learning alongside Jordan.

During the regular season, the Lakers would dominate the Western Conference, boasting a trio of superstars who could score at will and impact the game at both ends of the floor. Their chemistry would be a sight to behold as Jordan’s leadership and championship experience would complement O’Neal’s dominant play and Kobe’s youthful exuberance.

In the playoffs, the Lakers would be virtually unstoppable. Jordan’s legendary clutch performances and scoring ability would shine on the grandest stage, while O’Neal’s presence in the paint would deter opponents from attacking the rim. The Lakers would secure the NBA championship in 1999 and continue their reign in the early 2000s.

With Michael Jordan on board, the Lakers would likely win multiple championships during this hypothetical scenario. It’s conceivable that they could have won titles in the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons, creating a new dynasty in the NBA.

That means Jordan ends up with nine rings by 2001, and since Shaq and Kobe are in their primes, the shooting guard might even win the 2002 and 2003 championships which means the GOAT equals Bill Russell with 11 rings before retiring. The competition should be glad Jordan had an “old-school” mentality because he would have more than six championships if he joined superteams. 

The GOAT Debate Would Not Exist, Jordan Would Have More Than Six Rings

In contemplating the hypothetical scenarios where Michael Jordan joined other stars to create superteams, one thing becomes abundantly clear: His basketball greatness knew no bounds. The idea of Jordan teaming up with fellow legends like Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Shaquille O’Neal, or many others including Kobe Bryant and Charles Barkley illustrates the immense impact he could have had on the championship landscape of the NBA.

In these imagined scenarios, it’s entirely plausible that Jordan could have accumulated more than his six championship rings, solidifying his status as the unequivocal GOAT. With each additional championship, the debate surrounding the greatest player in NBA history would become increasingly one-sided, as Jordan’s combination of skill, competitiveness, leadership, and clutch performances would set a standard that might never be matched.

However, it’s essential to remember that the greatness of Michael Jordan is not defined solely by the number of championships he won. His influence on the game, the countless memorable moments he provided, and his ability to transcend basketball into a global phenomenon are part of what makes him an iconic figure.

Perhaps the fact he had two three-peats elevates him in the all-time standings, and not joining superteams might have greatly helped his legacy because he did not need anyone else besides Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson.

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