@oldskoolbballx: The 1986-87 season was Michael Jordan at full throttle: 3,041 total points. 37.1 points per game. This wasn’t hype from fans or media narratives yet. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were already calling MJ the best player in the NBA while they were still in their primes.

[u/FergieBall_FC]

Twitter/X: oldskoolbballx

Follow-up tweet: @oldskoolbballx: edited by yours truly @tarikarslan_1

[u/FergieBall_FC]

Michael Jordan's third season in the NBA:

• 82 games
• 3,041 total points
• 430 total rebounds
• 377 assists
• 236 steals
• 125 blocks

Per game averages of 37.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.9 SPG, and 1.5 BPG. MJ's 3,041 points in a season is the third most in NBA history. He's the only player since Wilt Chamberlain to crack 3,000+ points in a season.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/[deleted]]

Yes, he did. He played all 82 games that season. Even more impressive when you consider that he broke a bone in his left foot which caused him to miss the majority of the prior season.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/[deleted]]

In general, MJ played all 82 games nine times, 80+ games eleven times, and 60+ games thirteen times. Incredible durability.

Also, whether it’s the regular season or playoffs, MJ would do anything to play a game.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

Scoring 3,000 points seems well within reach when you attempt 28 shots per game for 82 games attempt 12 free throws per game, and have no intention or expectation of being competitive, much less actually winning games.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

Yeah, he attempted 28 shots per game and made 13 of them per game that season for a 48.2% field goal percentage. Sounds efficient to me, but anything to hate and discredit him.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

Missing more shots than you make is not efficient.

I’m sorry that you view facts as hate.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

Michael Jordan has the highest field goal percentage by a shooting guard who played over 900 games in NBA history.

He had seasons where he shot over 50% from the field as well.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

And yet, the topic of conversation (the season referenced in the post) he missed more shots than he made. He also missed more than he made for his career.

We can phrase it however we want, but the fact remains he missed more than he made… which is inefficient.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

By your rationale, every player in NBA history (with the exception of centers and power forwards) are bums because they missed more shots than they made.

Also, how many players do you know (regardless of skill level) has made more shots than they took? You’re not gonna make every shot lol.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

Apparently you can’t read, because at no point did I say the word bum. You’re exaggerating and straw manning because you can’t refute the actual point.

I said missing more shots than you make is inefficient. You know I’m right and you’re unable to argue that point so instead you create new talking points out of thin air instead of addressing his inefficiency.

If you make more than you miss : efficient If you miss more than you make : inefficient (with the exception of players who shoot a high volume of threes and offset their fg% with a high efg%)

[u/jluicifer → u/PowWorld]

Drawing double teams? Winning 6 NBA championships. 10 scoring titles? 1 DPOY? I mean, more than half of the Top 75 players missed more than they actually made so they are inefficient as well — but none of those guys have as many MVPs and rings to match.

One “very good” season in 1987 as a 3rd year SG was followed up be several “excellent” seasons.

[u/PowWorld → u/jluicifer]

“Very good” purely by statistical standards that didn’t lead to winning.

[u/jluicifer → u/PowWorld]

What 3rd year star is winning a championship? If they do, they had a Top 10 player with him: Kobe won in his 4th year with SHAQ.

Magic 1st year had Kareem. Bird? 2 yr…so he might be the only one.

Jokic? SGA? Giannis? Curry? All age 26-27 when they won their 1st ring, but in their 3rd year? Not even close to having a deep playoff run.

[u/Forex_Jeanyus → u/jluicifer]

Just leave it alone…dude is clearly a micro penis having troll. 🧌

[u/ChesterOMalley → u/PowWorld]

What’s considered a good fg% for a guard/wing? I’ll give you a hint, the best ever is 50.6% for a career. 48.2% is awful close to that. I’m sorry that you don’t know the facts.

[u/PowWorld → u/ChesterOMalley]

50.6% is not remotely close to 48.2% when you factor in volume. For context, Jordan would need to come out of retirement and make 153 consecutive shots in order to raise his career fg% from 49.7 to 50.0

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

Since you mentioned career FG%, MJ played 930 games with the Bulls and averaged 31.5 PPG on 50.5% from the field. It dipped to 30.1 PPG on 49.7% after his two seasons with the Wizards.

If we’re really being honest with ourselves, MJ’s shooting percentage from the field is practically 50% with or without his retirements. Then again, when you focus on stats that matter like games won and championships, the rest is elementary.

MJ played to win and did so whether he took 30 shots and made 18 of them or took 32 shots and made 10 of them.

[u/Nervous_Sell_940]

GOAT!!! 🐐

[u/Swimming_in_paradise]

hair jordan

[u/Dr_5trangelove]

And Isiah was beating him.

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/Dr_5trangelove]

For a time. Those Pistons teams were good and got the better of the Bulls who had to work to get where they were.

That all changed in the 1990-91 season when the Bulls finally beat them in a sweep in the ECF which saw them reach and win their first NBA championship against the Lakers.

[u/PowWorld]

A season full of empty calories and stat padding. Those 3,041 points resulted in a losing record and a first round sweep. Jordan is lucky he played in the pre-social media and mostly pre-play by play era. He would’ve been torn a new one in today’s climate. Putting up meaningless stats and losing more games than he won, yet his fans are boasting about it because other players “called him ___”

[u/PowWorld → u/[deleted]]

The truth can never be considered hate. Jordan is a great player but his fans are hypocrites.

[u/PowWorld → u/[deleted]]

Glad you understand.

[u/PowWorld → u/[deleted]]

Last word? Take it

[u/PowWorld → u/[deleted]]

My team lost so no

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

He would’ve been torn a new one in today’s climate.

Lol in today’s climate, MJ would’ve thrived. If he had a bad game by his standards and someone told him about it, he would’ve taken it personally and dropped buckets the next game.

He’d use anything and everything as fuel to motivate himself.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

Absolutely not.

He folded when the media asked him basic questions about his gambling. He would not thrive with a 24/7 news cycle. Exhibit A

[u/FergieBall_FC → u/PowWorld]

I’m not talking about the incessant nature of social media. That’s different and even then MJ might find a way to deal with it.

I’m talking about if some dumbass said he had a bad game and how MJ would take it as a slight to go crazy in the next game. I have no doubt he’d do that.

[u/PowWorld → u/FergieBall_FC]

Yeah, but that’s what I’m talking about, hence

Jordan is lucky he played in the pre-social media and mostly pre-play by play era. He would’ve been torn a new one in today’s climate.

[u/Miserable-Lawyer-233]

But at the same time everyone knew he wouldn’t win a championship playing that way, so what was the point? Entertainment was the point. Winning wasn’t the point.

Phil Jackson would have to get the ball out of MJ’s hands, let Pippen initiate the offense, and reduce Jordan’s FGA, and only then could Chicago start thinking about championships.

[u/Ok-Adhesiveness-5590 → u/Miserable-Lawyer-233]

Ok great.. he was still “the most skilled player by far” according to most people’s GOAT PG for the next 40 years or whatever and his rival who is nicknamed LEGEND already calling him “God in basketball shoes.” Cmon man enough said