Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan played a crucial role in popularizing basketball and the NBA worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s. The 6-time NBA champion is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history. Despite this widespread acclaim, a former star of the Milwaukee Bucks holds a dissenting view on Jordan’s status as the greatest player.
During a recent interview on the Above The Rim With DH 12 podcast, former NBA player Brandon Jennings shared his top 5 greatest basketball players of all time. Interestingly, Jennings omitted Jordan from his list and provided a surprising reason for his claim.
“I don’t have MJ in my top five because when I was seven to eight years old, that’s the last time he won a championship. I didn’t really understand basketball like that (at the time). So, I didn’t really start loving the game or started really knowing the game until I saw AI (Allen Iverson) and Kobe Bryant in the early 2000s and guys like that.” Jennings said.
You can listen to the conversation at the 01:03:18 mark of the video mentioned below.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Jennings as the tenth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. It’s worth noting that Michael Jordan had his final retirement in 2003. Jordan won his final NBA championship in the 1997-98 season. Jennings mentioned that he missed witnessing Jordan’s dominant era as he was just a kid during that period.
Jennings Picks LeBron James and Stephen Curry Over Michael Jordan
Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. Known for his exceptional dunking skills, Jordan led the Bulls to six championships. However, Anthony Edwards recently questioned the greatness of the Bulls legend by claiming that Jordan didn’t face tough competition.
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In a recent conversation with Dwight Howard, Jennings conveyed his deep admiration for Jordan’s abilities. However, he ultimately selected different players he had personally witnessed for his top 5 GOAT players list.
“I respect him. I know I can go watch a highlight tape but what I saw and what I really felt and understood, it’s the Steph Curry’s, it’s the LeBron James, it’s the Kobe Bryant’s, Shaq’s (Shaquille O’Neal), and KD (Kevin Durant).” Jennings said.
Jennings’ statement can ignite a lively debate among NBA analysts. It will be fascinating to see their diverse reactions and opinions on the matter.
