Michael Jordan came, he saw, and he conquered the game of basketball. At least, the majority of NBA fans certainly feel that way. Jordan has usually been the name on top of the list in the GOAT debate. He dominated the game at will and left no stone unturned when it came to the number of accolades he has won. However, an old quote from the Chicago Bulls legend has been receiving a lot of heat on social media, and it’s safe to say that LeBron James fans haven’t taken it lightly.
As talented and gifted as Jordan was, he also had that win-at-all-cost mentality. MJ did things that were never done before on a basketball court and only asked for the best from his teammates in return as well.?
Fans show no mercy to Michael Jordan
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MJ’s prophecy from roughly 20 years ago has been doing the rounds on social media. Back in 2003, his final year in the league, Jordan said, ?20 years from now, you will never see someone play sick or get out on the floor with a sore ankle.?
The statement certainly does hold some truth to it, as load management has become a frowned-upon concept in today’s game. While players and the coaching staff take load management very seriously, fans are 0ften left disappointed with their favorite players missing out on games. However, some fans still decided to slam MJ for his statement from back in the day.
One fan tweeted, ?He saw the upcoming scripts,” while another fan commented, ?Hilarious coming from the dude that quit the entire sport 3 times easy to play 82 games when you take the entire next season off to play little league baseball/golf/blackjack.?
He saw the upcoming scripts
— Ikey (@ikeyike85) February 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/MbengaMentality/status/1629600867262275585?s=20
Here are a few more reactions from fans on Twitter.
On point 🎯
— Ty Dolla (@TyFadeaway) February 25, 2023
Lebron played through back spasms in the NBA playoffs and finals💀
— knight (@official_kmv) February 26, 2023
he called out lebron before he even got in the league
— paul (@lukatroncic23) February 25, 2023
Most fans in the comments section dragged MJ through the dirt for leaving the game three times over his legendary career. Unsurprisingly, it quickly became a heated LeBron/Jordan GOAT debate.
‘His Airness’ may have ruffled a few feathers
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Even though most of the fans did not hold back on their criticism of MJ?s take on the league?s future, his prophecy certainly holds some weight to it. Players in today?s day and age usually don?t risk playing through injuries or any other ailments.
Over the years, LeBron James‘ name has become synonymous with two things; longevity and the GOAT debate. ‘The King’ has time and again defied father time and continues to remain a top player in the league at the age of 38. The sheer duration of his greatness has only added to his fans’ arguments in the GOAT debate. So, it is understandable that most of the fans slamming MJ for his prophecy are LeBron fans.
Watch This Story – Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and other NBA stars who fans have relentlessly trolled through memes
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Ever since he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in NBA history, he has solidified his name even more. On the other hand, MJ’s legacy remains intact and it’ll take a superhuman effort to surpass it. James has done everything he can to be considered in the same breath as some of the greatest to ever play the game. However, the GOAT debate remains a hot topic and none of the players’ fans seem to accept the other’s opinions.
This may go on for a long time. It’ll be interesting to see if another player can force his way into these debates. However, with the achievements and impact of both MJ and LeBron, it will be a herculean task.