They really need to put an end to the “Next Jordan” marketing model

[2Quik4UHoes]

It’s like young Black men with extraordinary promise in the NBA are sacrificed at the altar of Jordan’s legacy, the knife is expectations and sports media is the executioner.

Rather than letting these players organically create their own legacies they have to be set to a ridiculous standard that both alienates younger fans from Jordan because their era of superstars are constantly delegitimized and alienates the older fans because they aren’t given a chance to actually move on from that era.

I know they’ve already begun, but I really hope they leave Ant alone and let him be himself. In general, they need to quit comparing young players to Jordan. End rant.

 

[Chrishaune]

I think people need to realize we saw the best to ever do it already.

Nobody is going to top Jordan as the overall greatest to play the game.

People thought the challengers of his era could possibly beat Jordan, but every time he would drag his team to the finish line, hit game winners, knock down needed shots, and get defensive stops. Nobody was going to beat him in the Finals, and nobody did. He took advantage of his opportunities, and because of that he is considered the peak of the game.

 

[RickyDiBiase]

Agreed.

Man retired twenty years ago, there's a plethora of players with their own legacies that should be held in high regard.

And fukk Johnny Manziel

 

[THE 101]

There's a desperation to have a new face of the league because the two best players are tubby eastern Europeans.

I think Ant will be one of the league's best players in time. We just ain't there yet and it was patently obvious that the media got ahead of themselves. And the fukked up thing is these same mfs will shyt on Edwards for not being ready.

Sad state of basketball discourse.

 

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

It’s like young Black men with extraordinary promise in the NBA are sacrificed at the altar of Jordan’s legacy, the knife is expectations and sports media is the executioner.

Rather than letting these players organically create their own legacies they have to be set to a ridiculous standard that both alienates younger fans from Jordan because their era of superstars are constantly delegitimized and alienates the older fans because they aren’t given a chance to actually move on from that era.

I know they’ve already begun, but I really hope they leave Ant alone and let him be himself. In general, they need to quit comparing young players to Jordan. End rant.

Almost read like article … consider an independent venture in sports media breh

there is an opening

 

[gtj1982]

It won't end till the old hack reporters retire. Its their gimmick.

Wish they would just cover the games and talk about what the players today are doing.

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

They've been doing this for decades in soccer. New Pele and then it was and/or new Maradona especially if the player was left footed and under 5'10. Then Messi and Cristiano came onto the scene and now its them who get whose the next one of them. Youtube has really kicked things to a another level with the next moniker. Theres videos titled like The Azerbaijani Messi and the kid is like pre teen.

 

[triplehate]

I would agree normally, but people genuinely enjoy the 3 weeks when the player is playing to the Jordan standard.

If you aren't potentially the greatest we lose interest.

Somebody needs to put up crazy numbers and start winning titles by 21 if we being honest. We know the true peak is 27 but no way you winning more than 6 if you start that late

 

[Primetime]

In truth, it's almost impossible to replicate what Jordan did from 1988 - 1998. That 10-year span had him recognized not just as the goat in bball but of all athletes/sports stars. His competition wasn't/isn't just LeBron, Kareem, Magic, Kobe... it's Ali, Gretzky, Phelps, Tiger, Messi, etc., in which most lists have him #1.

In today's game of hyper volatility (injuries + player movement), even if you have the same innate abilities as MJ, the type of team you would need to stack rings for the better part of a decade, would make it hard for you to also dominate scoring titles and MVPs year in and out.

 

[NYC Rebel]

I wrote this in my same 2001 article.

 

[Mull]

I feel like Kobe and LeBron’s careers were never truly appreciated because talking heads spent all of their time comparing them to MJ. I hope this does not happen with the next gen. These old heads need to cast off to an island or something

 

[Primetime]

I would agree normally, but people genuinely enjoy the 3 weeks when the player is playing to the Jordan standard.

If you aren't potentially the greatest we lose interest.

Somebody needs to put up crazy numbers and start winning titles by 21 if we being honest. We know the true peak is 27 but no way you winning more than 6 if you start that late

Ironically, the players with the best ballpark chance of MJ-like dominance... have games nothing like MJ.

I'm talking current Luka and possibly a future Wemby.

From an individual standpoint, Luka with his current team can stack all-nba 1st teams, all star selections, and be a top 3-5 MVP finalist while making deep playoff runs every year for the next several..

..but winning even one let alone multiple 'ships and MVPs wouldn't be a foregone conclusion for him. And of course Wemby is still a ways away for a proper assessment, even tho he is definitely a freak of nature.

 

[get these nets]

Simple talking points and story lines drive modern sports media. Started off with ESPN having to come up with content 24/7.
Not enough actual game coverage and analysis to fill all that time, so they create and run simple Simon talking points, and fans listen and repeat like parrots.
Advanced stats, this is the most athletic era ever, firemen and plumbers played in past eras, at this age player X did this and even MJ didn't do that, if. current ALL TIME GREAT player A doesn't win another ring his legacy is ruined.

Stupid shyt like that.

 

[StatUS]

So if Minnesota wins the next two games and Ant goes off, then what? He's not Jordan but people will spin the block on the take anyway.

They're not gonna stop comparing young great players to other past great players. Maybe they should be comparing Ant to Kobe or Wade. But Jordan the GOAT. I'm sure young Hockey greats get compared to Gretsky and shyt. Brady used to always get compared to Montana. Same with Moss with Jerry.

 

[NYC Rebel]

I feel like Kobe and LeBron’s careers were never truly appreciated because talking heads spent all of their time comparing them to MJ. I hope this does not happen with the next gen. These old heads need to cast off to an island or something

I found a piece of my 2004 article touching this

Take for instance David Stern, who as the NBA commissioner injected us with 100% pure MJ after Michael Jordan’s arrival onto the NBA’s world stage. As the dusk set on the cast of characters who carried the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry, Stern left behind “team first” advertising which carried the league out of obscurity in the 1970’s. In trying to keep pace with the Nike’s successful marketing campaign promoting Michael Jordan, Stern transformed the NBA into the “All MJ-All the Time” league for over a decade, as Jordan played the starring role slaying foe after foe.
Frank Lucas would envy how hooked David left us.
But the after affects of Jordan’s second retirement left us to suffer from withdrawal symptoms, as our interest in the league faded with the disappearance the star who was the only athlete cast in the spotlight. And with his departure, so left the short lived rivalries built on individual match ups, leaving behind a talent pool full of players raised on the “Highlight” and a mentality fashioned to think of themselves first before the team.
Faced with a dwindling fan base, Stern’s promise of (insert name of random highflying athlete) ______________ “ becoming the “next MJ” routinely fell short of delivering the same potency and proved to be watered down version of the real thing. To correct the problem of his players, a flood of European imports, bringing with them fundamentals thought to be missing with players born stateside and the implementation of a dress code would result in bringing back the fans which have yielded few results. “