Post by eric on Jan 15, 2018 16:29:31 GMT -6
As the Cavs struggle to hit 50 wins with little expectation of postseason success, I started to think about MVPs leaving on a high note. First of all we have to talk about what "why don't you make like a tree and get outta here" means. Of the 28 (currently) retired MVPs, 4 made comebacks of varying durations and ill-advisedness. If we strictly count only the last year played, we find of this 28...
1 went out on an All-NBA Team (Pettit, 2nd, although Russell and Wilt were both All-Defensive 1st Team when they retired)
2 went out with championships (Russell and David Robinson, neither of whom won Finals MVP)
4 went out on the MVP ballot (Russell 4th, Wilt 4th, Bird 14th, Jordan 13th)
8 went out on the All-Star team (the above four plus Pettit, Kareem, Erving, and Kobe)
7 went out without making the playoffs (Unseld, Jordan, Barkley, Iverson, Garnett, Nash, Kobe)
11(!) went out without cracking 1000 MP in the regular season (Cousy, Reed, McAdoo, Walton, Moses, Barkley, Shaq, Iverson, Garnett, Nash)
2 went out posting negative Win Shares (Walton, Kobe)
Grim! and Dirk/Rose are shall we say not likely to illuminate this company.
Obviously things perk up a little if you count Jordan 1998, when he won the title, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, two Players of the Month, All-NBA 1st Team, All-Defensive 1st Team, Sporting News MVP, Best Actor - Comedy, Best Actor - Drama, Assistant to the Executive of the Year, Sexiest Man Alive, was unanimously voted Most Likely To Eventually Ruin the Career of a Current High School Freshman, and placed second in the FIBA Semi-Modern Octathlon.
That was a pretty good year to go out on.
But, of course, he didn't.
.
My point is that LeBron is in decline and the Cavs are in serious decline. Luka Doncic could literally be Steph Curry and if they managed to draft him this year he wouldn't be an All-Star until 2023. You can chase the points record if you really want to, but the question you have to ask yourself is this: does anyone think Karl Malone is in any way better (or even comparable) to Michael Jordan, or am I just messing up the back of my basketball card?
Words to live by.
1 went out on an All-NBA Team (Pettit, 2nd, although Russell and Wilt were both All-Defensive 1st Team when they retired)
2 went out with championships (Russell and David Robinson, neither of whom won Finals MVP)
4 went out on the MVP ballot (Russell 4th, Wilt 4th, Bird 14th, Jordan 13th)
8 went out on the All-Star team (the above four plus Pettit, Kareem, Erving, and Kobe)
7 went out without making the playoffs (Unseld, Jordan, Barkley, Iverson, Garnett, Nash, Kobe)
11(!) went out without cracking 1000 MP in the regular season (Cousy, Reed, McAdoo, Walton, Moses, Barkley, Shaq, Iverson, Garnett, Nash)
2 went out posting negative Win Shares (Walton, Kobe)
Grim! and Dirk/Rose are shall we say not likely to illuminate this company.
Obviously things perk up a little if you count Jordan 1998, when he won the title, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, two Players of the Month, All-NBA 1st Team, All-Defensive 1st Team, Sporting News MVP, Best Actor - Comedy, Best Actor - Drama, Assistant to the Executive of the Year, Sexiest Man Alive, was unanimously voted Most Likely To Eventually Ruin the Career of a Current High School Freshman, and placed second in the FIBA Semi-Modern Octathlon.
That was a pretty good year to go out on.
But, of course, he didn't.
.
My point is that LeBron is in decline and the Cavs are in serious decline. Luka Doncic could literally be Steph Curry and if they managed to draft him this year he wouldn't be an All-Star until 2023. You can chase the points record if you really want to, but the question you have to ask yourself is this: does anyone think Karl Malone is in any way better (or even comparable) to Michael Jordan, or am I just messing up the back of my basketball card?
Words to live by.
