Never again will we ever see an NBA star win 11 championships in 13 seasons like Russell did (he also won two as a coach). Still, if one needs a worthy comparison to his brilliance, look no further than M.J. and his six rings.
At the risk of sounding disrespectful, which obviously isn’t the intent, Jordan’s feat might be more impressive. The G.O.A.T. won six NBA championships and never saw an NBA Finals series that went to Game 7. There’s a reason why his brand is still among the best athletic shoes on the market even though its namesake hasn’t laced up a pair of high-tops in over two decades.
Had Jordan not determined that he wanted to play baseball for two seasons, he may have won eight straight titles, and though that latter statement can’t be proven, there are others that can be. The man who made the No. 23 jersey famous (apologies to the LeBron James fan base) is personally responsible for preventing several Hall of Famers from winning championships of their own.
Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing and so many others saw their chances at glory halted by M.J.’s Chicago Bulls. In addition, it was Jordan’s Bulls that helped end any chances of the Lakers’ or Detroit Pistons’ continued run of excellence.
The resume is too lengthy to list here, but in addition to the hardware, it includes the following: six NBA Finals MVPs (1991–1993, 1996–1998), five NBA Most Valuable Player nods (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), 14 NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003), three NBA All-Star Game MVPs (1988, 1996, 1998), 10 All-NBA First Team nods (1987–1993, 1996–1998), and nine NBA All-Defensive First Team mentions (1988–1993, 1996–1998).
Who wouldn’t want to hear Jordan’s take on the current game he helped elevate to worldwide popularity? Don’t worry. You’ll earn the opportunity to do so when the 2025-26 NBA season returns to NBC and gets underway.
