Michael Jordan’s haters have constantly tried to demeanor his competition. They think old-school basketball is inferior to what we see nowadays in terms of athleticism, preparation, skills, and even how stacked those teams were.
Well, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion but if you think that winning in the 80s or 90s was easy, you’re just wrong. Moreover, beating the winningest teams in the league in the playoffs was harder than ever, as there’s a reason why they were so dominant throughout the regular season.
So, Jordan’s haters often acknowledge the greatness of other players like Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and even Larry Bird, yet they seem to ignore that His Airness actually beat more 60-win teams in the playoffs than all of them. Don’t take our word for it, check it out by yourself, numbers don’t lie:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1-5
Wins
1984-1985: Won 4-2 to Boston Celtics (63-19) in Finals
Losses
1969-1970: Lost 1-4 to New York Knicks (60-22) in ECF
1971-1972: Lost 2-4 to Los Angeles Lakers (69-13) in WCF
1982-1983: Lost 0-4 to Philadelphia 76ers (65-17) in Finals
1983-1984: Lost 3-4 to Boston Celtics (62-20) in Finals
1988-1989: Lost 0-4 to Detroit Pistons (63-19) in Finals
Kobe Bryant 2-5
Wins
1997-1998: Won 4-1 to Seattle Sonics (61-21) in 2nd Round
2001-2002: Won 4-3 to Sacramento Kings (61-21) in WCF
Losses
1996-1997: Lost 1-4 to Utah Jazz (64-18) in 2nd Round
1997-1998: Lost 0-4 to Utah Jazz (62-20) in WCF
2002-2003: Lost 2-4 to San Antonio Spurs (60-22) in 2nd Round
2006-2007: Lost 1-4 to Phoenix Suns (61-21) in 1st Round
2007-2008: Lost 2-4 to Boston Celtics (66-16) in Finals
Larry Bird 1-2
(via NBA.com)
Wins
1980-1981: Won 4-3 to Philadelphia 76ers (62-20) in ECF
Losses
1984-1985: Lost 4-2 to Los Angeles Lakers (62-20) in Finals
1986-1987: Lost 2-4 to Los Angeles Lakers (65-17) in Finals
Magic Johnson 2-4
(via NBA.com)
Wins
1984-1985: Won 4-2 to Boston Celtics (63-19) in Finals
1990-1991: Won 4-2 to Portland Blazers (63-19) in WCF
Losses
1982-1983: Lost 0-4 to Philadelphia 76ers (65-17) in Finals
1983-1984: Lost 3-4 to Boston Celtics (62-20) in Finals
1988-1989: Lost 0-4 to Detroit Pistons (63-19) in Finals
1990-1991: Lost 1-4 to Chicago Bulls (61-21) in Finals
LeBron James 3-5
Credit: Getty Images
Wins
2010-2011: Won 4-1 to Chicago Bulls (62-20) in ECF
2014-2015: Won 4-0 to Atlanta Hawks (60-22) in ECF
2015-2016: Won 4-3 to Golden State Warriors (73-9) in Finals
Losses
2005-2006: Lost 4-3 to Detroit Pistons(64-18) in 2nd Round
2007-2008: Lost 2-4 to Boston Celtics (66-16) in 2nd Round
2013-2014: Lost 1-4 to San Antonio Spurs (62-20) in Finals
2014-2015: Lost 2-4 to Golden State Warriors (67-15) in Finals
2016-2017: Lost 1-4 to Golden State Warriors (67-15) in Finals
Tim Duncan 3-3
Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Wins
2002-2003: Won 4-2 to Dallas Mavericks (60-22) in WCF
2004-2005: Won 4-1 to Phoenix Suns (62-20) in WCF
2006-2007: Won 4-2 to Phoenix Suns (61-21) in 2nd Round
Losses
1997-1998: Lost 1-4 to Utah Jazz (62-20) in 2nd Round
2005-2006: Lost 3-4 to Dallas Mavericks (60-22) in 2nd Round
2012-2013: Lost 3-4 to Miami Heat (66-16) in Finals
Shaquille O’Neal 4-4
(via Bleacher Report)
Wins
1997-1998: Won 4-1 to Seattle Sonics (61-21) in 2nd Round
2001-2002: Won 4-3 to Sacramento Kings (61-21) in WCF
2005-2006: Won 4-2 to Detroit Pistons (64-18) in ECF
2005-2006: Won 4-2 to Dallas Mavericks (60-22) in Finals
Losses
1995-1996: Lost 0-4 to Chicago Bulls (72-10) in ECF
1996-1997: Lost 1-4 to Utah Jazz (64-18) in 2nd Round
1997-1998: Lost 0-4 to Utah Jazz (62-20) in WCF
2002-2003: Lost 2-4 to San Antonio Spurs (60-22) in 2nd Round
Michael Jordan 7-2
(via NBA.com)
Wins
1992-1993: Won 4-2 to New York Knicks (60-22) in ECF
1992-1993: Won 4-2 to Phoenix Suns (62-20) in Finals
1995-1996: Won 4-0 to Orlando Magic (60-22) in ECF
1995-1996: Won 4-2 to Seattle Sonics (64-18) in Finals
1996-1997: Won 4-1 to Miami Heat (61-21) in ECF
1996-1997: Won 4-2 to Utah Jazz (64-18) in Finals
1997-1998: Won 4-2 to Utah Jazz (62-20) in Finals
Losses
1985-1986: Lost 0-3 to Boston Celtics (67-15) in 1st Round
1988-1989: Lost 2-4 to Detroit Pistons (63-19) in ECF