Kenny Smith explains why Michael Jordan is the GOAT and why the 90’s is the Golden Era

[@gravityfuzz]

Kenny's explanation of the difference that hand checking makes is the most cogent and succinct I've heard yet.

[@marcelmarshall4240]

Very much so. Kenny is a brilliant basketball mind. He would make a SENSATIONAL general manager.

[@Masanobu24]

I think this was quite obvious for people who play ball, simply put it a physical game is SOOO much more different than a non physical/handchecking game.

[@keronfarrier2198]

​ Agreed

[@aknapp1113]

​@@marcelmarshall4240we ty 1:10 1:12

[@nikrite4978]

He could've went a little bit deeper, no diddy. Because the rule changed from han -check to a full forearm-check. Also, you could stop the offensive players' forward progress if you were stronger. You could completely blow up plays by just wrestling with your offensive player, making it so they couldn't get to their spot to run the play. 90s basketball was WAY tougher and harder to play.

[@asiantorange7770]

The benchmark for greatness is how you're remembered by your peers. Listen to all that played in his era and before, MJ has ALL their respect, he doesn't need yours

[@Sai_Saracen]

“The mark of greatness is when everything before you is obsolete, and everything after you bears your mark.”

[@mr.harris5528]

I agree with Kenny on all of that. MJ was a complete player. Yes I was born in "83" so I've witnessed all of this. Kenny is right!

[@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

??? You were in diapers when Mike was in College. I was in the 9th Grade (playing for the same staff that Shawn Livingston played for). Bias was more highly tauted as an individual (had Jordan and Bias switched places the opposite would be true). Jordan was OBVIOUSLY going to be a fantastic NBA player in college. NO ONE could've foreseen his current legacy.

[@ciarrajohnson3849]

Amen. We were a year old when he was let out of his cage. I saw the Jacksons Live (Mike & Janet🙂 These poor kids now have nothing), but never Jordan. I would forfeit Xmas AND MY BDAY to see Jordan♥️♥️♥️👊🏿

[@andredixon7961]

I was 13 then. I saw Jordan playing not only at UNC but the Bulls as a rookie.

[@ciarrajohnson3849]

@@andredixon7961 Damn🤯See, that’s where Lebron fkd up. His college footage is the beginning of the NBA. He started practicing all that shiit early, so by Draft time, his suitcase was full. They say it takes 10,000 hours or something to master something and it seems like he gave EVERYTHING 10,000 hours and there are only 24 in a day😂😂😂😂😂

[@princellasmith7562]

Same! Born in 83 and witnessed Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron. MJ is the GOAT, and it’s not close to me.

[@soije4440]

Let's put it this way, if you make it to the Finals, you WANT to face lebron, because the chances of you winning are extremely high.

[@illgates2940]

This is one of the best Jordan explanations ever

[@Frostshokula]

Don’t forget the rules relaxing on traveling/carrying the ball which makes the new generation have better handles simply in the name of looking good.

[@Gamevet]

Yeah! The 1st fundamental the coaches teach in basketball, is that you can't cup the ball from underneath to bounce it. I see that in every current NBA game. That is an illegal bounce.

[@soije4440]

Modern NBA games are unwatchable today for this reason.

[@thediseaseisthecure]

@@soije4440 'More skilled' with no fundamentals

[@NoobServbot]

tl;dr - It's not as bad as ppl are making it out to be. Only one major rule change has been added concerning traveling and the rules have never changed concerning carrying (albeit they are officiated differently in one respect) To play devil's advocate on behave of the rules and refs, outside of the addition of the gather step which has been around officially since 2009 and a justifiable explanation for it can be made besides simplify making it easier for the offensive players, the rules haven't relaxed a bit on traveling. Carrying is a different story, because having the hands on the side would've gotten called in the mid 90s and earlier, but having the hand underneath the ball, palms facing upwards has always been an enforced violation. No rules were changed concerning carrying, just a different interpretation of the rules which can also be justified. There are three issues at play, (1) the angle at which we seen the play from the stands or in the replays isn't always the angle the refs are seeing the play, so we don't know if they're view was obstructed and there's a lot of things on the court they have to pay attention to. Refs are trained to not make guesses, so they need to be 100% sure of what they saw in real-time before blowing their whistle, (2) refs are human and prone to making mistakes, but are around 90%+ accurate. Millions of dribbles are done each season and compiling a video of a 1000 blatant examples of traveling or carrying still only represents around 1% of all dribbling. We just tend to fixate on the mistakes and overlook all the time its done correctly, and (3) fans in general don't have a good working knowledge of the rules and will mistake clean plays for violations. And the issue isn't always with the new rules, but with rules that have always existed (like being able to step-through) or never existed (like "up and down", "dribbling the ball too high" or "having to land on two feet at the same time on a jump stop or pro hop"

[@NoobServbot]

@@soije4440 Only unwatchable to those who have a preference to how the game was played and officiated as they were growing up and learning the game. Every era had its far share of critics from the previous one. I'm fine with the dribbling of this era (the issue with traveling and carrying violations is overblown IMO). I think the style of play, load management, and lack of defense makes the game way more unwatchable then the dribbling.

[@J24J]

Kenny has never made more sense! Excellent take.

[@db-hj9cu]

Kenny did the thang on this.

[@jappy5911]

somewhere in youtube, the great hubie brown made a clear explanation about how tougher was the defense then and how loose is the offense now

[@grinchoi1]

MJ was the most flawless basketball player I've ever seen. You can see how he changed his game but was just as efficient and dangerous as he got older. Didn't need to take PED's and cheat the game, played in a more physical era, wasnt allowed to switch his pivot foot and travel, whenever he beat his man he had to beat a rim protector in the era of the greatest centers

[@damncidd]

Preach

[@billsikes4007]

Kids these days. Weakness? Michael never, ever made his teammate's better. Jordan never won more than one (1) playoff game without Pippen and Jackson. MJ sucked against the zone, see college and the Olympics for facts. Jordan quit on his team when he found out Jackson wasn't going to be his coach, coward.

[@absalom0412]

MJ took ped's. Don't get it twisted.

[@JoseVazQueZ-xp3ul]

MJ could go left, right, up, down, vertically, inter dimensionally and metaphysically! MJ was the total package!

[@jkil218]

💯

[@tabathabrabham6384]

THANK YOU 😊 👌 Took the thoughts right out of my head ..💯

[@iFanchi]

He could go almost horizontally with his lean dunks 😂

[@crumble7598]

😂😂😂😂

[@treydejah]

¹¹

[@bigpoppa6658]

Glad Kenny exposes these pampers. It's like all these mumble rappers. They think they better rappers because they have more IG followers. NAS would still kill them all

[@JoyWilliams-u4j]

Or Rakim or Eminem or Big Daddy Kane or Q Tip…..

[@sohnhazel2409]

​@@JoyWilliams-u4jhuh ..lol hold on cowboy, r u a lebronsexual?🤨

[@cfnretro6448]

@@JoyWilliams-u4jYou tried to sneak Eminem in there😂

[@reallife0728]

MARK JACKSON & KENNY SMITH LAUGHING AT THE FOOLERY SAYS IT ALL!!!!!!!! COULD MICHAEL JORDAN GO LEFT IS ONE OF THE IGNORANT QUESTIONS/BELIEFS I'VE EVER HEARD!!!!

[@terrellnash4648]

Kenny dropping facts...and gems!!! Great takes...and insights into the game.

[@OrganizedMess]

Emmitt smith was a great running back.He played longer than barry sanders,had more yards,more touchdowns.But no one has ever said he was better than barry.when did playing longer meant you were better.

[@RoyBaty]

Can you imagine Barry playing with the Dallas Cowboys in that era? Holy cow. The records he would have, and the Super Bowls.

[@OrganizedMess]

@@RoyBaty 🤯

[@Rozay171]

Yet people say Barry with NO rings is better than Emmitt who has 3rings But Lebron can’t be better than MJ because he has less rings than MJ….the Hypocrisy is real😂😂😂😂😂GOAT JAMES

[@OrganizedMess]

@@Rozay171 I never said that.

[@tyrannicaltypomichaeltester]

​@@Rozay171Goat of flopping turnovers That I would give you. Goat of longevity I can even give you But MJ owns Bron in almost every analytic Stat amd did so in half the time. You got nothing

[@Lincoln257]

Don't forget the other new rule. Defenders cannot stay in the lane for more than 3 seconds unless they are guarding someone. In the 80's and 90's teams had giant shot blocking centers hanging out in the paint. That's why you see all those Jordan highlights dunking over them and acrobatic layups. Now offensive players can just wait until the defender has to move out of the lane then attack the basket. That's another reason Jordan would average 50 now.

[@anthonyfrombelow]

Exactly. There's so much space in the middle now. Before you had to slash through multiple, BIG, physical defenders.

[@jackthe_tripper2544]

Victor Wembyama isn't fouling out and never uses his body like they did in the crack era😂😂😂

[@2robjenkins]

No they didn’t, due to the illegal defense rule.

[@2robjenkins]

@@anthonyfrombelowcompletely wrong. That era was an isolation era with very little help defense due to the rules.

[@grasz]

Yall should watch some more tapes. When MJ drives in, 3~5 defenders collapse in. It's freaking nuts.

[@nickyd5341]

That was an awesome visual breakdown from Jet about handcheck. Free movement with no hand checking as opposed to before the rule changes of the 90s.

[@AveontheGrizzly]

90s was the Golden Era of everything. The world was so much better without all this social media

[@jfayiii]

Timmy played 4 years of college, was called The Big Fundamental.

[@SlimeNews]

Jordan is the greatest fundamentally sound player if not Wilt.

[@jfayiii]

@@SlimeNews point being, college is important for skill development

[@SlimeNews]

@@jfayiii True. which is why lebron lacks so much

[@ErrolBeats]

ah good one...Now I have a one up with basketball knowledge against my peers!

[@dapper892]

He was one of the most nba ready players I’ve ever seen. Day 1 he was that guy in the pros.

[@allaricsensei4931]

He gets it right, specially the hand check rule. Youngsters don't know this.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

They know when I play pickup games against them. I hand check the fuck outta them. And if they whine, too bad. lol

[@jhernan125]

@@thegrandpencil4374 😂😂😂😂

[@detectivemarkseven]

​@@thegrandpencil4374😂

[@allaricsensei4931]

@@thegrandpencil4374 HAHAHAHA NICE

[@tjgrafiks]

man it wasn't just hand checking they was body checkin mfos lmao

[@jaxsaint2805]

Kenney smith was spot on. Nobody is denying the talent of current players. But the lack of hand checking and overall defensive intensity artificially pumps up stats and scoring. This was by design after the 2004 pistons put the clamp on the lakers to win the championship. Fans understand rule changes but the current defensive rules put an asterisk next to everybody’s offensive stats. I don’t like it because I like the current players but I acknowledge it is “easier” to score now than ever before.

[@788lakers]

It was evident how the hand check rule can make an impact by just watching the Olympics. On paper team USA should’ve won easy but with physical play it helps even the odds when you can try to take away what the do best by the hand check and funneling them into the defense.

[@soije4440]

Truth.

[@LaMar34_34]

No. They are explicitly denying the talent of younger players. And they’re exaggerating the effectiveness of hand checking

[@ritzpercaferrer3821]

facts

[@blackestknightx8881]

​@@LaMar34_34stop it

[@avengerdogs]

Kenny gets it right

[@judasthepious1499]

the 90's basketball was tough.. or to be more specifically from late 80's to early 2000's even if you're playing in school court or some park, the toughness got carried.. you and your hommies vs the other homeboys gonna play it hard.. grinding, hustling.. you don't maneuver to find open space and do perimeter shot.. you drive to the basket grinding the mfs who guarded you..

[@MrFraiche]

MJ wasn’t just the best basketball player…he was literally an anime protagonist during his reign in the NBA...you had to be there. 😂

[@nanagyambibi7426]

I always felt going to college for multiple years really helps develop you as a player also emotionally and mentally. You learn to become a leader. You learn to handle media. Learn to train. Learn to handle travel. Learn to be away from home. I would love to see guys spend 2 or 3 years in college again. If Steph Shaq and Duncan all did 3+ years, everybody should do it IMO.

[@ek274]

well it also depends what college and under what coach. not all of the schools have or had coaches as great as dean smith

[@stevewaite381]

But new coaches don't get the chance to be that good because the players are always leaving. ​@@ek274

[@Mad_Intellect]

Now under NIL it's possible, but some people had to be one and done because of financial implications (even getting money "under the table"), also to avoid serious injury in college and affect your current/future draft prospects. Everything is contextual, not everyone's in the same situation...but I definitely agree with you.

[@tisnigkanick5014]

@@Mad_IntellectUnder NIL, its become a mess. Billy Donovan explained this on Udonis Haslems podcast. You got kids getting paid millions in college and everyone in their ear telling them theyre going to the NBA. If they dont develop or get playing time they enter the portal and just as easily get paid some where else. Theres no resiliency in college athletics and kids arent willing to face adversity. They get to the NBA and they flame out because they never had to deal with anything.

[@JaasielDiaz]

I don’t understand why is this a debate. MJ is the absolute goat

[@Ascending11]

It's a manufactured debate to restructure history.

[@anon2414]

Cause it’s subjective and check this out. Lebron is the goat. Ain’t opinions awesome

[@billsikes4007]

Since this is a subjective title, what's your criteria. I want to play devil's advocate. I

[@anon2414]

@@billsikes4007 their criteria is that they are cuckolds for Jordan

[@anon2414]

@@billsikes4007 goat debate: LeBron played with so many All-Stars, Jordan won with bums Goat team debate: bulls are the greatest of all time! Proceed to name all the great players

[@n.jigmelhendup5495]

What separates them is mental toughness and defense.

[@KjLoc-k7i]

Michael Jordan The Greatest The Goat 🐐 Of Basketball Period.....!!!!!

[@millweabrooks6317]

Even though I’m not a Micheal Jordan fan, but I do agree with Kenny that he is probably the most complete player of all!

[@ErrolBeats]

When he was talking about coach talking plays and he said if "MJ is here, then we do this". I remember a long time ago I seen something similar with coaches talking about "Lawrence Taylor" in a similar fashion. Man I wish I can find that clip again.

[@jackfrancio]

Boy oh boy, Kenny Smith could be a hell of a teacher!

[@flaviopanola3832]

Jordan is most complete and fundamental ever. No weakness in his game. The GOAT!!!

[@frandavilacardenes]

Fundamental my ass. You guys are nothing but fanboys. Jordan was a top player no doubt, no discussion. But Jordan based his game on mentality and physicality... and on the league marketing strategy that led to rule changes in his favor... don't you all forget it. Not based in fundamentals. He was well above average in many aspects of the game but not "the most" in any basketball fundamental.

[@markj228]

I know it’s a big deal that MJ has the six rings, but in his championship years, he was very surgical in his playing. Before he won his championships, I felt he was better in the fact that Michael was greased lightning! He could go anywhere on the court he wanted… Literally! He can get the ball most anytime he wanted, and made it look easy! Consistently entertaining as well as great! Thank you guys!

[@TyTimeIsAwesome]

Jordan was the most athletic player who was fundementally sound and had no weaknesses. Every element he did at the highest level. As someone once said, Michael Jordan made the game of basketball beautiful.

[@b.c.e.-bestcivilizationsev2327]

Best argument and best points made why MJ the goat.

[@JetEngine85]

One has done more in less time and the other has done less in more time..

[@AhmadKhan-lj1tm]

Great players do best in big moments. That’s why 6-0 means something. Let’s also remember that MJ was clearly the best player in the league by far BEFORE he won any championships. The pistons pretty much had to foul the crap out of him to eliminate him from the playoffs when they won their championships. When MJ had a real team around him for a full season, forget about it…

[@HolyToledo]

The best ever, I seen it live with my own eyes. I longed for his shoes, posters, clothes. He was just different man. Lebron is great but no way in heck could compare him to Micheal Jordan. He was awesome

[@MALLYGEEZ1]

There are 1,000s of clips of MJ either going left or finishing left.

[@tidustn2453]

Imagine Michael without retiring would probably go 8 rings

[@MrTomNguyen]

STRAIGHT 8 too!

[@thegrandpencil4374]

The reason Lebron is able to score what he does at this age is BECAUSE of the fact that the league got rid of hand-checking and defense. Why no one thinks of this is beyond me. If Lebron had to play with the rules of the 80's and 90's where the lanes were all clogged (no barreling to the basket and chucking up easy layups etc.), he would have retired years ago.

[@RR-fc3zm]

Facts👈💯

[@soije4440]

It's the same reason why it's so easy for players to average 30+ ppg these days any why it's so common to score 50, 60, 70.

[@eugene8498]

Don't forget LeTravel has no handle.

[@Jujubees225]

Do you even know what you’re talking about? Handchecking was only allowed when you’re posting up. Handchecking when the player is facing up was never allowed in any era. Look at any drives to the lane. There is no hand checking. These old heads be lying. Look at the tape. Everything is spaced out now because everyone can shoot now. Bigs in the 80s can’t shoot outside 10 feet. The paint is clogged cause the spacing was horrible.

[@Yeet-ing]

It's the unspoken truth unfortunately.

[@payeeang7838]

I remember My highschool coach used to be pro player back in late 80's to 00's watching his game on tape looks like he can't dribble left he basically plays 1 2 dribble jumpshot or layups but seeing him in practice men he got handles and we asked him why he didn't use it back then in real games he just said the defense, ref, and his coach won't allow it.

[@darrel7589]

If we say Jordan is 6-0 in the finals, that's because we're talking about the finals. We never said Jordan didn't lose in the 80s. But that doesn't mean he isn't undefeated in the finals which is the highest level of basketball. LeBron fans are crazy. LeBron lost most of his career. Why do his fans keep saying he went to the finals ten times? Why are they trying to make it seem like he didn't lose a lot. They use dishonest logic, and they're hypocrites.

[@jamieking007]

They say JORDAN only won 6 times what happened the other times..tell them LEFLOP won 4 times in 22 years so what happened the other 18 years 😂😂

[@johnnythekid4601]

@@jamieking007 bronsexuals ALWAYS SAY IT WASN'T HIS FAULT BECAUSEHE DID HIS JOB WITH HIS HIGH SCORING GAME IN THE FINAL BUT WHEN MJ SCORED 63 ITS ALWAYS THEY LOST SO WHAT HES A BALL HOG. WHY DOES LEBRON GET A PASS WHEN HE SCORES BIG AND THEY LOOSE BUT JORDAN DOESNT...

[@algladyou]

​@jamieking007 right? They were the best 6 out of 13 or 15 vs 4 out of 22.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

Lebron has lost as many finals as Jordan has won lol. They're insane.

[@bwink23]

​@@jamieking007 Every pathetically weak argument they use to discredit Jordan, backfires on them multiplied by 100 when applied to James. Yes, Bronny Jrs. are quite dense, and deficient in usable brain cells.

[@Frostshokula]

Longevity stats have won 0 rings throughout NBA history.

[@Kingepticon]

7:10 Longevity is the least important factor when determining how good a player is at playing the game of basketball. I don’t need 20 seasons to figure out how good you are at the game.

[@EbonKim]

I grew up watching MJ. I kept watching until Kobe retired. I don't have much interest in watching like I used to, but I still watch here and there. It's like when Tom Brady retired from football. You never count the best out, even when they're down by 10 or 20. Time and time again, they find a way to win in the most important games. Lebron, had he done what he did against the Pistons in the 2007 ECF's game 5 more often, I'd hold him in the same regard of all those I mentioned.

[@ND-9]

Kenny Smith killed the debate! End of story! He also may have killed another debate…Prince or the other MJ. And yeah, I think Prince is better!

[@darryl-hv1cj]

Not change the topic but MJ is the goat of basketball and PRINCE is the goat of music point blank period nobody is even close to either FACTS!!!!!

[@ddale20]

Those are facts! Lebron would be crying in the 90s complaining about the hand checking! He would still score, but he would have a more difficult time. His longevity is because he didn't play in a physical era, so therefore less injuries.

[@faronanderson2536]

He wasn't great in the beginning, nor is most. But the difference is that he wanted to be great. He wanted to learn every skill the game had to offer, every facet. He had a love for the game, which was unconditional, despite his phenomenal athleticism, in my opinion. It gave him tremendous joy and satisfaction in proving people wrong who said he wasn't good enough in the game he loved so much. He would do anything to win, and he had the physical and mental capacity to do so. To this day, he's the most complete and determined player I've ever seen. He's one of a kind.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

28ppg as a rookie? I would say Jordan was great. Coach Knight said he was the best player he'd ever seen... as a college player lol

[@faronanderson2536]

@thegrandpencil4374 Oh yes, I agree, sir, 💯%. Nobody had seen anything like him before. That goes without saying. But he had to develop into that player if you know what I mean. Coach Smith taught him a hell of a lot, and I would say the triangle offence taught him how to utilise his teammates for his and the Bulls' benefit to win championships. He could not do it alone, even though he was the best player in the world by far.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

@@faronanderson2536 He definitely got better, that's for sure. He developed a mid-range and three-point shot. He developed his post game. He developed into a defensive master. He developed a fade-away that was deadlier than even Kareem's Sky-Hook. He learned how to be a team player, how to play in the clutch, how to be a champion... he grew a lot in those years leading up to their first ring. But he was a great player when he came in, make no mistake. If he had never developed beyond that, he still would have gone into the HOF... and that's really saying something.

[@eddienguyen3852]

Agreed! He even had interview with other greats to pointing out on some new tip to get better. Nobody gets better without practicing n guidances. His sheers will determine to be better n ultimately best ever. But the 80s wasnt his times. His streaks of winning in terms of chips n dominate is 90s. Shaq kobe dominance early 2000s n kobe in late 2000s. Then in 2010s is Lebron times n curry times. Dominance meaning they win multiple chips. But all n all nobody is winning forever! So in my opinion they’re all 1 of the goats! They all entertained us watching them playing so why bothered debate for?

[@Lincoln257]

Geeeeez, remember the move from the left baseline on the Knicks. He is the best in history at going left.

[@jeremyramsey1746]

Jordan can go ⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️B A start!

[@princellasmith7562]

Agree with Kenny. Jordan scored in the toughest era. Hand-checking is a real defensive deterrent.

[@solitaireeverett6273]

I don't understand how people can't understand how people can't understand how hand checking can't through people off their stride

[@ecliqxse9591]

JUST LOOK AT IT LIKE THE NFL NOWDAYS , u can’t touch the quarterback nowdays… and media don’t even wanna talk about this…

[@brechtsmit9845]

😂😂😂 the first 3 min are hilarious!😂

[@nikoskarkavelias1612]

Handchecking plus 3 seconds for the defensive player as well, those two rules have ruined basketball.

[@franklynbarker576]

The problem with these kids today, never watched the MJ games live. They only watch highlights on KZbin. They have no idea.

[@sealoftheliving4998]

True

[@LWH768]

Conversation over.

[@Jeremy.hollister]

People who think we discredit LeBron's legacy by putting MJ as the goat are crazy af........MJ legacy goes wwwwaaayyy deeper than LeBrons

[@randybadthomas]

Besides LBJ is a stat padder

[@something2consider783]

To end this conversation and nothing against the ability of LeBron. If you are down two points with twenty seconds left in the seventh game of the NBA Championship on the opponent's floor. Who would you give the ball to, LeBron or MJ? You don't have to answer the question. Everybody knows who would get the ball. That's your GOAT. End of story!

[@badhabitbabbitt7655]

I'm tired of this longevity thing. Pre 2000s never heard the term game management or letting your stars sit out during the season unless they were sick or hurt. Larry, MJ, Magic, even Kobe didn't want to be called out for taking a day off to rest. With no handcheck the game isn't the same. I wasn't a fan of the bad boy Pistons of the 80s in which it appeared players were trying to hurt the competition.

[@TheDonz]

The stats say, That michael has the highest % finishing with his offhand of all time.... AND still the highest of all time if you compare MJ's left to any players dominant hand..... which is actually crazy....... He is also avg the second highest usage per game using his off hand, only behind Steph

[@lacasitamaple]

Kenny crushed that explanation,

[@hello-jg8rv]

Kenny Smith is always a basketball genius

[@d.e.b.b5788]

I love listening to these conversations. There's always the silent expression, 'there were no great players until I was alive. They were good, but no great ones'.

[@frankiefernandez9225]

MJ🐐💯Era🐐

[@markm3220]

LeBron will NEVER compare because he is not Clutch. Which is why Klutch media is spelled with a K. It is not CLUTCH

[@yung5hun440]

The way he went thru how Rudy T coached against MJ is priceless

[@jlionmenelik77]

Michael Jordan was complete and the fundamental sound basketball player i ever seen. With athleticism to match. Dr J was up there too. People forget about him too.

[@ehrenthompson7891]

You have to take longevity out of it. Peak MJ vs Peak LBJ, it’s not close. Nobody ever referred to LBJ as Black Jesus.

[@bobbyhall3525]

Preach bro 👍

[@cyber6sapien]

How does LeBron's longevity work in his favor, when he's won _fewer_ titles than Jordan in much more time spent on the court? It doesn't make sense.

[@kaledafif7972]

Games isn't as physical as it was back then. Rules then favored the defense

[@MasterSpade]

Longevity means he played longer, NOT that he is the better player! Why is that so hard to understand? Jordan is by FFAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR the GOAT!!!! It's not even close!!

[@MeritoriousLee]

Damn Kenny straight spitting facts hard. I think all the guards in the pre hand check ban eras would be better with modern rules.

[@Kingmentality23]

Kenny simplified the entire breakdown on Mike, and basketball then and now in general. I’m 37 as of two days ago and I understand all of this. Most Younger crowds just will not get it.

[@carvedwood1953]

Longevity aint shit if you are talking who is the GOAT.

[@rickardcooper6063]

Kenny is to Jordan what Tony YaYo is to Fiddy. That's his man 50 grand, all day--every day!

[@joshuabaggio1982]

At the end the way he says Mike like he had that aha moment 😂

[@LAMEXAME]

Nobody is disrespecting Lebrons legacy or longevity. It’s just that real Bball fans aren’t stupid enough to ignore that MJ BY CHOICE, retired from the NBA multiple times. It wasn’t because he couldn’t play anymore. If he actually gave a fk and decided to not retire and chase like LBJ, it would be even less of a debate.

[@avidsiman]

well, MJ retired the first time because of a culmination of multiple issues coming to a head. Jordan was involved in a gambling ring that had gotten out of hand, and that's what got his father killed. There were probes looking into his off-court activities during the 1993 season with enough heat to turn it into a federal investigation. Unofficially Jordan was nudged to leave the NBA for a while using retirement citing burnout as a way of letting things calm down quietly without the legal red tape and preserve his pristine worldwide image. Jordan made his money on his image, not basketball. It was critically important to avoid being tainted by a scandal to preserve his endorsement deals such as Nike, McDonalds, Gatorade, Chevrolet, etc.. It was just as important for the NBA as they relied on Jordan's popularity to grow the league. When Jordan retired the 2nd time, he had just sliced a tendon in his finger in a cigar cutter, plus the Bulls were not in shape to make another run for a title because Phil Jackson was not coming back, contracts were expiring for key players, and injuries to others. Luc Longley, for example, had a bad ankle that required surgery. He didn't last a full season after the 3rd championship. When Jordan retired the 3rd time, he was done. The one thing Jordan always did well was to read the room and know when to walk away from a situation.

[@LAMEXAME]

@@avidsiman Again, he retired by CHOICE.

[@Carrascoza]

Great explanation, very intelligent

[@taron.y]

i would like to see Jet as GM and Jackson as HC for a Team in the NBA. I just want to see it. All these other cats get a chance, so let's see this combo.

[@TravelHall74]

Facts check my stats I average 24 points 11 rebounds and 4 assists in high school with a 37 vertical at 6’9 my gpa 3.8 in school I was 229 hell the nba was so hard back then if I have those numbers today I’d be a first round draft pick

[@AnakinSkywa1k3r]

Prince performed the greatest guitar solo in the history of music. Why my guitar gently weeps with Prince best ever

[@dikoshyne]

I love the look and laugh between Kenny and Mark after the question whether Like could go left😂....like, what dumb question, are you even watching basketball?

[@kausing_kommotion]

Great point Kenny

[@ladhurothalwedel9465]

I agree MJ IS THE BEST EVER

[@AlejandroRivera-f6c]

REALTALK KENNY MJ IS THE GOAT AND THE 90S WHERE THE BEST FOR ALL SPORTS FOOTBALLL WAS AWESOME BASEBALL WAS AWESOME ALL SPORTS FULL OF STARS IN THE 90S AWESOME TIME FOR SPORTS AWESOME THANK GOD I GOT TO SEE ALOT 0F IT LIVE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE

[@jldub23]

Preach Kenny

[@Gravity-u5p]

Looks like they are in Denver with that backdrop!

[@guanaco103]

It was, I watched it all, better superstars, better timelines, it was an actual good physical sport, sports betting didn’t ruin it like this era. It’s just better in all aspects.

[@ErrolBeats]

inter dimensionally is wild!

[@ashian23x46]

Idk why people say LeBron's IQ is high

[@alphonsowright4153]

Right! high screen and rolls, pass to the man in the corner if the lane isn't open is not high IQ that is simplicity at its finest

[@blackestknightx8881]

​@@alphonsowright4153lebron is actually overrated

[@rta23cerberus]

From bad passes to bad shots, from fucking up repeatedly in crunch time BUT LeBron said he will always make the right play SO it must be true, dude is a turnover machine and he and the media blame his teammates for it

[@ashian23x46]

@@alphonsowright4153 I saw LeBron set a screen on his own man once. Look it up

[@ashian23x46]

@@blackestknightx8881 very much

[@nickyd5341]

If there was one "weakness" for MJ when he came from UNC, it was his range but the 3pt shot was not chic back then like it became in the 90s through present day. It was attack the rim and/or get high percentage shots but he even made his 3 a respectable threat in due time

[@bigblack4001]

Growing up in Chicago we were excited to get MJ in 1984…But those two NY boys came in the league in 1987….I think Kenny was picked 7th…Mark Jackson was slipping in the draft, and Kenny went over to console him…Mark Jackson had an incredible rookie year playing for his hometown team (1988 ROTY)….He’s the definition of a point guard!

[@keith38able]

MJ no exception.

[@johead8516]

@darrel7589 your absolutely correct about everything you said And also the problem is that the 2024 fans watch everything thru highlights and stats is only is a fraction of what really happens Stats and highlights are shortcuts that don’t give the entire story So a lot of times when 2024 NBA fans say something that makes absolutely no sense is because they are stats and highlights fans who just don’t have the knowledge

[@mr.harris5528]

Lebron is definitely a great player & has accomplished many things yet he's not MJ. That "hand check" definitely changed alot. Kenny is soooooo right!

[@stiqman]

GREAT ending.

[@bonita-rodneyingram3507]

Kareem

[@michaelhrivnak9463]

Magic and especially Bird could do so many things on the court. That's how it was with many forner players.

[@melvinwalls1426]

What MJ did in thirteen Years LeBron is Still trying to do in 21 Seasons is enough to bankrupt the LeBron debate🤣🤣👍*

[@emilshellborn]

who is the fellow asking the question??

[@khawaitkhastellano353]

right? i really don't know. who is this guy? where did he come from? what has he done?