When we are diving into NBA history, it is impossible to overlook NBA legends like Michael Jordan. MJ is a 6-time NBA champion and arguably the best player the court has witnessed. Recently a seasoned NBA veteran has praised the defensive prowess of MJ.
This NBA veteran has called Jordan the most underrated player of all time. In this article, we take a deep dive into the hidden side of Jordan’s legendary career.
Unmasking Michael Jordan and his defensive wizardry
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An NBA veteran, Sean Elliott has claimed that Jordan is remembered for his offensive abilities, but people often forget how good his defense was. In his words, “What he did on the defensive end is still to me goes unnoticed by people.”
Elliott also said, “To this day, he’s still the most underrated player to me, because whenever anyone has a hot month or a hot year they start making these Michael Jordan comparisons.” Elliott points out how players are often compared to Jordan when they perform well. Yet, they fail to replicate his two-way dominance.
Elliott also revealed how players would analyze tape after tape of Jordan’s games. Always trying to make strategies to neutralize him. “As players you look at tape at Michael Jordan. You try to take him out of the play. That’s a lot for somebody to handle,” he says.
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Elevating Jordan’s greatness beyond scoring: Dominance on both ends of the floor
Today, we often hear comparisons between current stars and Jordan. Nevertheless, Elliott asks, “What player have we seen like that where he can dominate so much on both ends of the floor?” This rhetorical question answers Jordan’s unique skillset that allows him to excel offensively and defensively.
There are many players that have challenged MJ’s greatness. One of these players is the Former San Antonio Spurs guard Avery Johnson, who believed their 1999 team would have beaten Michael Jordan and co, even if the Chicago Bulls dynasty had not ended in 1998.
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Some say that Michael Jordan is a closed chapter in the NBA now. Nevertheless, Elliott’s insights bring a lot of attention to MJ’s defensive capabilities. In his book There Is No Next, Sam Smith talks about Jordan’s career, providing further context to the arguments presented by Elliott.
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