• Michael Jordan was being called the GOAT before he was a rookie
• Legendary coach Bobby Knight was amazed by the things rookie Jordan pulled off on the court
• Knight openly admitted Jordan was the best basketball player he had ever seen before his NBA debut
Michael Jordan showed the world he will be the greatest of all time from day one. Legendary coach Bobby Knight was already calling the Bulls star the greatest basketball player he had ever seen before he made it into the NBA.
“If I were going to pick the 3 or 4 best athletes I’ve ever seen play basketball, he’d be one of them. I think he’s the best athlete I’ve ever seen play basketball. If I were gonna pick 3-4 with the best ability I’d ever seen play the game, he’d be one of them. If I’m gonna pick the best competitor that I’ve ever seen play, he’d be one of them.
Here’s Bobby Knight explaining why Michael Jordan is the best basketball player he’s ever seen *before MJ had even played a single NBA game.*
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) July 25, 2020
Jordan mesmerized NBA fans around the country with his playstyle after being drafted in 1984. As we came towards the ’90s and Jordan reached his prime, he globalized the game and made the NBA the internationally popular league it is now.
Bobby Knight said Michael Jordan was the best basketball player he ever saw before he played in the NBA. This is his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/VBdAPykodZ
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) August 30, 2023
His impact on and off the court means it’s nigh impossible for anyone to dethrone him from that spot. When Isiah Thomas can admit that his biggest rival changed the game for everyone who came after them, it is another testament to how great Jordan was.
Michael Jordan Was A Dominant Rookie
What Jordan did in his rookie season hasn’t been replicated by any NBA player since. He averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for the Bulls as a rookie in what many still consider the greatest rookie season of all time.
Not only did Jordan easily win Rookie of the Year that season, but he also finished sixth in MVP voting. This was a historic feat because Jordan finished with more first-place votes than Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Isiah Thomas.
Rookie Jordan knew how to put up numbers, even having better stats as a rookie than some modern MVP seasons like LeBron James’ dominant 2012 MVP win. However, he hadn’t figured out the winning, as his Bulls finished 38-44 in his rookie season. We all know Jordan got the hang of winning by the ’90s and dominated the league in a way we may never see again.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.