The Next Michael Jordan

NBA Players Who've Been Compared to Air Jordan

© Phil Partington

Oct 26, 2007

For years the media and fans have made unfair comparisons between young, athletic prospects and Michael Jordan, deemed one of the greatest players ever to play in the NBA. The list is a long one, though it can be hard to determine whether any of those youngsters have come close to Air Jordan.

It's important to understand just how good Michael Jordan was. It's true that he didn't win his first title until Scottie Pippen came along, but he was no slouch even before that. As a rookie, Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg, 6.5 rbpg and 5.9 apg, while shooting 51.5% from the field and 84.5% from the line. No one on the list below can boast of those percentage even in their best season. In 1988-1989, Jordan averaged 32.5 ppg and a whopping 8.0 rbpg and 8.0 apg to go along with nearly 3 spg. In that season, he shot an incredible 53.8% from the field and 85% from the line.

MJ was a six-time NBA champion (from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998); he was a five-time NBA MVP, a 10-time All-NBA First Team member and one-time All-NBA Second Team member, he won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and was a nine-time All-Defensive First Team member, a 14-time All-Star (and three time All-Star MVP), former Rookie of the Year, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and was voted as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

Here are some of the players in the last twenty seasons who have been compared to Jordan:

• Kobe Bryant (Played for: Los Angeles Lakers) Bryant was drafted immediately out of high school in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets (now the New Orleans Hornets). The Hornets used its thirteenth pick in a swap for the Lakers' big man, Vlade Divac. They regret that now. Bryant emerged as one of the game's top players and has been with the Lakers for ten seasons. With Shaquille O'Neal at his side, he's earned three NBA championship rings and draws more comparisons to Michael Jordan than any other player on this list. His best statistical season came in 2005-2006, when he averaged 35.4 ppg, 5.3 rbpg and 4.5 apg. Against the Toronto Raptors, he even scored 81 points in a single game, which is second most in NBA history (Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in a game).
• Vince Carter (Played for: Toronto Raptors; New Jersey Nets) Right after the Golden State Warriors drafted Carter with the fifth overall pick in 1998, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors for the fourth overall pick, Antawn Jamison (his college teammate and friend). Throughout his career, Carter has dazzled with his high flying dunks and incredible athleticism. His best statistical season was in 2000-2001, when he averaged 27.6 ppg, 5.6 rbpg and 3.9 apg. However, many think of him as somewhat of an underachiever and his passion has come into question before.
• Anfernee Hardaway (Played for: Orlando Magic; Phoenix Suns; New York Knicks and Miami Heat) Drafted with the third overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1993 NBA Draft, Hardaway was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic for Chris Webber, the first overall pick. Hardaway teamed with Shaquille O'Neal to form one of the most exciting one-two-punches in the league. His best season came in 1995-1996, when he averaged 21.7 ppg and 7.1 apg. Injuries hit him in the prime of his career and he hasn't been the same since.
• Grant Hill (Played for: Detroit Pistons; Orlando Magic; Phoenix Suns) Hill was drafted in 1994 by the Pistons with the third overall pick. His career had just started to peak, and he was looking more and more like a superstar, when a significant injury changed his career forever. In 1999-2000, Hill averaged 25.8 ppg, 6.6 rbpg and 5.2 apg in 74 games before missing the tail end of the season and having career altering surgery that summer. The next two seasons, he played in only 18 games.
• LeBron James (Played for: Cleveland Cavaliers) It's hard to imagine that any player ever to play in the NBA was as hyped up as much as James was coming out of high school. Yet, since the Cavs made him the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, he hasn't disappointed. At this point in his career, his numbers are on par with where MJ was at the same place. James' best statistical season was in 2005-2006 when he averaged 31.4 ppg, 7.0 rbpg and 6.6 apg (and he was on 21 years old!). Moreover, James led his Cavs to the championship game in 2007. The sky is the limit for this young phenom.
• Tracy McGrady (Played for: Toronto Raptors; Orlando Magic; Houston Rockets) "T-Mac" was drafted with the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in 1997. He played in his cousin, Vince Carter's, shadow for three seasons before moving to Orlando, where he boosted his scoring over 10 ppg. He led the league in scoring in 2002-2003 while playing for a bad Orlando squad. In that season, he averaged 32.1 ppg, 6.5 rbpg and 5.5 apg. T-Mac has been battling back problems for the past few seasons.
• Harold Miner (Played for: Miami Heat; Cleveland Cavaliers) "Baby Jordan" drew unfair comparisons to Jordan even in college. As it turned out, Miner didn't have much in common with the legend other than in his ability to wow fans with mind-blowing dunks. Miner played just four seasons and was a bit of a disappointment in the last two. His best season was his second season, when he averaged 10.5 ppg.
• Jerry Stackhouse (Played for: Philadelphia 76ers; Detroit Pistons; Washington Wizards; Dallas Mavericks) Stackhouse was drafted with the third overall pick by the 76ers in the 1995 NBA Draft. He's always been electrifying and athletic and actually outscored Michael Jordan in their first meeting. However, he wasn't shy about telling the world about it, and MJ showed him up pretty badly in their second meeting. Still, "Stack" has had a pretty good career, and even led the league in scoring as a Piston in 2000-2001 when he averaged 29.8 ppg in 80 games. He's currently the 6th man for the Dallas Mavericks.
• Dwayne Wade (Played for: Miami Heat) Wade was drafted with the fifth overall pick by the Heat in 2005. Thanks to the help of superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, he has already won an NBA title (2006). His explosiveness and athleticism helps him to dominate at both ends of the floor, and even though he's a bit turnover prone at times (averages 3.8 topg for his career), he has put up some pretty impressive numbers. His best statistical season came in 2006-2007, when he posted 27.4 ppg, 4.7 rbpg and 7.5 apg. Unfortunately, he was only able to play in 51 games due to injury.

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