Anyway, Boeheim says he’s no longer convinced that Michael Jordan was the best basketball player he ever saw — as if Boeheim is the sole arbiter of basketball greatness. Though I suppose he’s the sole arbiter of the basketball greatness he has personally witnessed with his own bespectacled eyes, and like anyone else, has a right to his opinion.
From Coach Boeheim, on Colin Cowherd’s radio show:
“He’s a leader. He gets on the court, he tells people what to do … this guy can guard five [positions] … put him on anybody, he can guard him. I always felt Michael Jordan was the best player I’ve ever seen … I didn’t think it was close … and I’m not so sure anymore … this guy is 6-9, 260 pounds and he’s getting better … I know we’ve had great, great players through the years. He’s like Magic Johnson with Michael Jordan-type skills as well.”
There’s nothing technically inaccurate in what Boeheim said — except the part about “Michael Jordan-type skills.” Nobody who has ever lived possessed Michael Jordan-type skills, with the lone exception of Michael Jordan. Not even Kobe Bryant, who is the closest I’ve seen in terms of a perimeter/midrange game since I’ve been watching the NBA.
There’s also no denying the incredible turnaround James has made in the past two years when it comes to his image and his place in the game. He went from “The Decision” and all the loathing that inspired … to epic failure in the Finals against Dallas … to epic success in the Finals against the Thunder … to capping off his first championship with his second gold medal in London. And he did it all in a way that came across as genuine and humble — dare I say, likeable — while recognizing that fighting the world and trying to prove the ne’er do wells wrong wasn’t going to get him anywhere.