BuzzerBeater Forums

I heard that question a couple of days ago on ESPN's SportCenter.
If you haven't heard, MJ was inducted to the Basketball Hal of Fame (with John Stockton, David Robinson and coach Jerry Sloan). Air Jordan had tears in his eyes and said "Don't be surprise if you see me return to the game at 50". His Royal Airness is a consensus now for being the best that ever played. His all-around game, his defense, jump shot, passing ability, and my favourite - his BuzzerBeaters, all made him better than all he played against and probably better than Magic, Bird, Dr. J, West, and even Wilt and Bill Russel. And even if you disagree, or not sure that he is the best, you can agree that he is the most influential. "Be Like Mike". Michael at his prime was the most loved person in America and perhaps in the world. I had two huge posters of him on my wal from the age of 10, one still remains at the age of 23. Speaking about, everyone wanted to be 23, a number that represented greatness. There was one kid, from Akron, Ohio, a bit older then me, who wanted to be Jordan two, and started playing with #23. His name is Lebron James, you might have heard about him. And now I'm getting to my question. If Jordan is the greatest, should the NBA retire his jersey number? I don't have an answer yet. Good/Great players like King James, Jason Richardson, and other kids that are in college and high-school have already adopted the number, they already have a bond that cannot be broken with THEIR number. I remember my connection with the Jersey #7. I always liked the number, I loved Kukoc, and later on I realised my grandfather, rest in peace, used to play with the same number. I can't imagine somebody taking my number from me.
I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts.
Arbel, Israel.

The Bulls have already retired his number, and I don't see why it would be necessary for other teams to do the same. Knicks fans, for example, never had the same love for Jordan that others had (for obvious reasons). They have their own retired jersey numbers, as do other teams, to honor their own players.

No - he wasn't the clear dominant force in the NBA like Gretzky was in the NHL, and he didn't impart profound social change like Jackie Robinson did.

Probably. maybe just let him have a trophy name, like the finals mvp trophy will be The Michael Jordan Trophy.

Probably. maybe just let him have a trophy name, like the finals mvp trophy will be The Michael Jordan Trophy.

They just named it the Bill Russell Trophy in 2008.

I wouldn't be surprised if something else finds his name on it at some point, though.

Really? well, I guess we should wait a few decades and we'll see.

Michael at his prime was the most loved person in America and perhaps in the world. I had two huge posters of him on my wal from the age of 10, one still remains at the age of 23.

No kidding.
I´m convinced more people would recognize the name Michael Jordan over here than any other current player in the NBA.

I wouldn't be surprised if something else finds his name on it at some point, though.

A local sandwich shop in my town has a tongue sandwich named the "Jordan". Does that count? :)

I dont think his # should be retired for all teams, that requires a bit more than just being the greatest player, as Juice pointed out.

Wasn't a clear dominant force?
Does Carl Malone agree with this statement? Or Charles Barkley?

Unlike Gretzky, MJ had played during the most fruitful years of the NBA, with an amazing number of all time legends no other era had. He was the main cause for the popularity of the game in the 90s outside of the US.

As for retiring his jersey, If such an idea comes up by the leagues headquarters, it doesn't oblige the other teams to hang the jersey and any way, if I was a Knicks player, I would never choose to wear 23 knowing it's negative impact to the fans...

Jordan was great, arguably the greatest ever, but as you mentioned there were alot of great players during his time, before and after. Here in the US he was loved too, by more than just Bulls fans, but so was Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Dr. J. The list goes on and on.

Players in the NBA have worn 23 since Jordan, and I dont think any of them were booed or chastised by their own fans for wearing that number. There are 101 possible jersey numbers and 1000's of players since Jordan retired.

I think to have your number retired by the entire league you have to do more than just dominate the sport, you have to do something significant off the court as well. I think it would be a slap in the face of Bull's rivals to tell them they have to honor the player who beat them so often.

Corrected from 100 to 101

Last edited by Heathcoat at 9/15/2009 7:47:28 PM

Did this ever happen in any sport that a number was retired for the whole league?

The jersey numbers somehow correlate to the position played and so it would be quite awkward to take the 23 away from so many other players. Just like in soccer so many great players had the 7, 9, 10 or 11 and for the keepers the 1, imagine if those were retired...