In March 1995, Chicago was filled with whispers about whether he would return. Jordan frequently appeared at the Bulls training facility, and the media and fans gathered to confirm whether he would return. The news spread across the United States, and the stocks of Jordan-related companies soared.
On March 18, a Chicago radio station suddenly reported that Jordan would return and play in the game against Indiana on Sunday. The three major TV networks interrupted their broadcasts, and Jordan’s agent appeared on the screen, choking up and reading two sentences: “I’m Back!” – Jordan is back.
After his comeback, Jordan led the Bulls to their second three-peat, consolidating his status as the greatest player in history. But is Jordan really unsurpassed?
The NBA has always been keen on comparing stars – Bird vs Magic, Kobe vs Jordan, Jordan vs James… But when the comparison reaches the level of Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron, the data becomes unimportant. They can all score at will, and they all try their best to win. It is essentially impossible to tell who works harder and who wants to win more.
Moreover, different eras have different playing styles, opponents and environments, so direct comparison is meaningless. Therefore, the real measure should be the influence of players on the era and the development of basketball .
The reason why Jordan cannot be surpassed is that he was in the most perfect basketball era , and he himself was the most perfect player of that era.
From the founding of the NBA in 1946, through the years of Mikan, Russell and Chamberlain, the chaotic 1970s, and the 1980s with Magic Johnson and Bird, the NBA truly saw a revival. 1984 was a critical juncture: Stern took office, Jordan entered the league, Bird and Magic Johnson met in the finals, and the NBA entered a new era.
After the baptism of the “Bad Boys”, the 1990s became the hottest era for basketball. The United States was in a dominant position in the world, cultural icons such as Jordan and Michael Jackson were popular all over the world, information technology was on the rise, and the NBA also took advantage of the opportunity to reach its peak.
Jordan became the absolute core, his sneaker ads were everywhere, and every child wanted to “Be Like Mike” and imitate his movements and expressions. He was not only a star, but also a cultural totem. Parents let their children play basketball with confidence, and basketball got rid of its image of street drugs and became a symbol of sunshine.
Jordan and the Dream Team shocked the world at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and also helped the NBA to successfully “go global.” China’s NBA fever also originated from him—CCTV began broadcasting in 1994, and the CBA was established in 1995, with basketball idols such as Wang Zhizhi, Hu Weidong, and Liu Yudong emerging, and our first generation of NBA fans was born.
There was no social media in that era, information dissemination was limited, and the image of the stars was deified. Jordan’s “I’m Back” was posted by fax machine. But now Kobe and James live in an era of transparent information, and every move is commented on and magnified. The flood of information makes it difficult for people to establish absolute worship, and prejudice is easier to form.
Jordan’s legend lies in the fact that his peak performance, consecutive scoring titles and Finals MVPs all coincided with the most ideal era. Every time he won a championship, the NBA took a step forward. After six championships, he retired and also ignited the whole world.
Although Wilt Chamberlain is considered the best player in history before Jordan, he once said, “Today’s players should give 10% of their salary to Jordan.” Charles Barkley also said, “I have met countless celebrities, but I have never seen people react to anyone like Jordan – it’s crazy.”
Time magazine named Jordan one of the “Top Ten Cultural Icons of the Century”, along with Bruce Lee, Jackson, and Monroe. In the “cultural symbols” selected by the American media, Jordan is also listed alongside presidents, poets, and musicians.
His influence, charisma and mystique perfectly fit that era that cannot be replicated. Michael Jordan cannot be surpassed because we cannot return to that beautiful, crazy and nostalgic era.