What If MJ never returned to Basketball?
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball. The greatest player ever to play the game, at the peak of his career, just called it quits. For 18 months, the league was without it’s brightest star. This was only for him to come back a year and a half later to regain his throne, winning three straight NBA championships for the city of Chicago. But what if he never came back? What if MJ never returned, ending his career after nine seasons? How does this change his legacy? How will the history of the NBA change? All will be answered in this What if on the Box Score. (We will start the analysis in 1995-96 season when Jordan came back to play for the Bulls in real life).
In 95/96, without Jordan the Bulls struggle, being the seventh seed in the east. David Robinson won MVP this year, making him a back to back winner of the award.The Seatle Supersonics easily sweep through the west to the finals. No Jordan mean the Magic take the one seed instead of the Bulls. This sets up the Magic and Knicks for a greuling 7 game eastern conference finals. Late in Game 7, Star Gaurd Penny Hardaway throws a lob to Shaq who slams it down despite the contest from Ewing, puting the Magic up by two with 1.2 seconds left in the game. The Magic move on to face Seattle in the finals and get swept again by a sixty plus win Sonics team. Gary Payton locks down Penny, as the combination of Payton and Shawn Kemp lead Seattle to a championship in 1996. A championship Micheal Jordan could have denied them if he had come back from baseball. Back to back finals appearances keeps Shaq in Orlando, instead of whisking off to Los Angeles and the Lakers. Shaq and Penny Hardaway form a scary duo that looks to be almost unstoppable in the east without the MJ led Bulls.Without Jordan, Shaq steps into the spotlight of the games most marketable player. His bigger than life personality brings life back to the NBA, as David Stern lands his next wave of superstars. Just like Jordan and Nike, Shaq would soon ink a signature shoe deal with Reebok.He would also star in Parmounts basketball film Space Jam.
In 96/97, Karl Malone won MVP.The Magic ran through the east winning 65 games. After swiftly defeating the Hawks and Heat, Shaq and company were once again in the finals. This time facing John Stockton and Karl Malone led Jazz. Once again the Magic would go down in five. Even with Shaq, the Magic struggled to stop Malone in the paint. With 40 points in game 5, Malone wins the finals for Utah.
In 97/98, after 3 seasons of being a mediocre team in the east, general manager Jerry Krause decided to trade Scottie Pippen. With no Jordan to stop Krause from making the trade, Scottie is traded for recently drafted Tracy McGrady who the Toronto Raptors took with the 9th pick in the NBA draft. Nothing new for the Magic this season, they ran through the east once again to the finals with Shaq picking up his first MVP trophy. There they meet their old friends Stockton and Malone. This time Penny Hardaway steps up. With no injuries he has steadily improved as a Robin to Shaq’s Batman. In game 7, Penny has a nice turn around jumper tying the game with a couple seconds left. In overtime, Shaq dominates, scoring 14 points, and winning the finals for Orlando. Now let’s answer some questions.
How will the history of the NBA change?
A couple things go completely different.
The western conference dominates, winning the finals from 94 - 97.Most of the time overpowering a young Orlando team.
Shaq and Orlando run the east but only finish he job in the Finals in 98. The franchise is looked at as very successful but not good enough to get over the hump. Shaq also becomes one of the supreme big men of all time with 4 finals appearance and one finals win in only his first 8 years in the league.
Does Jordan never returning effect his legacy both on and off the court?
Jordan legacy is being known not just as being an athlete, but a brand. The commercials, the movies, the shoes; he was not a basketball player, he was a superstar. That’s the legacy. After Lebron, He may no longer be the “greatest player ever”, but he is the model athlete. Kids dream of playing in the NBA, because of Michael Jordan. People wait in the line for shoes because of Michael Jordan. People play basketball all over the world, because of MIchael Jordan. If Michael Jordan came back it would effect his legacy, but he would still have impacted his sport like no other athlete.