When it comes to the GOAT debate, most fans and experts believe that no one comes closer to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. Jordan has one of the most impressive resumes in the history of the league.
He has won everything an NBA player could dream of and has some fantastic feats to his name. But his achievements on the court can always be up for debate. At one point or another, someone might surpass MJ in terms of performing on the floor.
But his contributions to the NBA off the court are what really makes Jordan’s case for being the GOAT almost untouchable. It is a very well-known fact that MJ’s popularity helped the NBA to get known around the globe.
NBA Hall of Famer and longtime rival of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, explained why the Bulls legend was the GOAT for him. Chuck explained that if it weren’t for Mike, the players of his generation would have never made money from shoe deals and commercials.
(Starts at 4:28)
“I mean, Michael did two things why I always tell people [that] I think he’s the GOAT. Number one, the shoe thing. Nobody was making money in shoes before Michael. Now, guys [are] all making three, four hundred million dollars a year because of Michael. Well, a couple of guys are making that much. But that’s because of Michael. Then, secondly, we all got commercials. Nobody made commercials before Michael Jordan came along.”
As Chuck explained in the podcast, when Jordan got his signature shoes, it truly changed the game. While players before him also got signature shoes, it wasn’t until Mike’s deal that it truly had a huge impact on the industry.
Although Barkley believes that Jordan is the GOAT, he was still adamant about the fact that he was the second-best player on the USA Dream Team right behind Jordan. A comment which might be considered very controversial by fans.