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If you had the power to answer one of the great what-ifs in nba history, what would you choose? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by UnsuspectingS1ut@alien.top to c/nba@nba.space

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For me it’s Derrick Rose’s career if he hadn’t been injured. The youngest mvp in history with some of the most electric basketball we’ve ever seen, it feels a little like robbery to have not been able to see that unfold.

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[–] Uberballer@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (25 children)

What if Jordan never got bored and retired/was shadow suspended (if you believe the conspiracy theories). Would the Bulls have won 8 straight? 6? How would Hakeem's career been perceived if they couldn't beat the Bulls instead of getting Ewing and a not yet ready to win Shaq?

[–] d0pp31g4ng3r@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The "shadow suspended" theory honestly makes no sense when you think about it. Stern was doing everything he could to grow the NBA, and MJ was huge in making the sport global. Why suspend him for something that wasn't out in the open?

MJ's father was murdered, and his dream was for MJ to play pro baseball. MJ, who was burnt out after a three-peat and Olympic run, retired afterward to play his father's favorite sport.

[–] Artimusjones88@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

That's why you don't suspend him. There was enough hype that it kept the NBA front of mind, and MJ didn't lose face.

[–] Uberballer@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I don't buy it at all either but it's quite funny to see how much traction it caught in some circles. Stern would have just buried any kind of wrong doing Jordan was doing short of major crime given how big a star he was for the league.

[–] heresyforfunnprofit@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Jordan would have had to go full OJ for Stern to suspend him in the early 90s.

[–] d0pp31g4ng3r@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

There is no actual evidence to support this myth, and it's sillier the more you actually look into it. There is no way Stern would tell MJ to walk away from the NBA for 2 years.

Even if you believe MJ got into trouble with the league, less popular big-name stars have done worse and weren't told to leave the game for as long as MJ did.

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