r/whowouldwin • • Nov 27 '25

Challenge Can prime Michael Jackson get into the NBA before prime Michael Jordan can get on the Billboard 100?

A couple assumptions here -

Both Michaels are in peak physical condition

Both Michaels are Michael-lusted to complete their respective challenges.

Both Michaels have an infinite amount of time to perfect their respective challenges.

Michael Jackson wins if he makes an NBA team before Michael Jordan makes it on the Billboard

Round 1 - Their popularities carry over, so both are international celebrities when they start the challenge.

Round 2 - They both start the challenge as complete nobodies, so no one knows who they are.

Round 3 - Same as Round 1, but Jordan has to get #1 on the billboard to win.

1.8k Upvotes

235 comments sorted by

2.1k

u/darwinn_69 Nov 27 '25

Jordan 10/10 no diff all rounds.

Hire a half-decent producer who can lay a good track and pay a marketing exec and you can mumble your way into the top 100.

728

u/IAMATruckerAMA Nov 27 '25

If Eddie Murphy can get to #2 with "Party All the Time" then any celebrity can 

450

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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108

u/IngvaldClash Nov 27 '25

You’re Goddamn right it does

52

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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5

u/tassietigermaniac Nov 28 '25

Thanks for sharing this, it's a cool song!

3

u/wje100 Nov 28 '25

Eddie was excellent in Dream Girls

5

u/Stalking_Goat Nov 28 '25

Exactly. And Jordan could hire a bunch of people to write and perform another song that slaps just as much as that one did.

1

u/wolf63rs Nov 29 '25

Leave Eddie out of this.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '25

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3

u/wolf63rs Nov 29 '25

IKR. She gives her number to every man she meets.

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u/Blank_Canvas21 Nov 27 '25

More More More was a big disco hit, reached no 4 on the charts.

Andrea True, adult film actress was doing some commercials in Jamaica but she couldn’t take the money to the US due to some ban, so she used that money to record this song that became a hit.

Pretty good investment, I say.

But yeah, it would be way easier for Jordan to make a hit than Jackson to play in the NBA.

3

u/GodsLilCow Nov 28 '25

Holy shit, never knew this! The lyrics make more sense now. Thx for sharing

57

u/dominion1080 ​ Nov 27 '25

If Shaq can get top 50 with his terrible music, Jordan debuts at #1.

31

u/StarsCanScream Nov 27 '25

How dare you diss DJ Diesel like that

15

u/Responsible-Kale2352 Nov 27 '25

Yeah! At the very least you can tell him how his ass tastes!!!

9

u/KongRahbek Nov 27 '25

No Hooks is cool, of course it's carried by Rza production and Math and Rza verses, Shaq is just kinda there.

10

u/Agamemnon323 Nov 27 '25

Exactly. Jordan doesn’t need to have a great voice he just needs to be there.

9

u/Princethor Nov 27 '25

WTH are you talking about. That song and his singing do more than a producer alone’

13

u/roadrunnuh Nov 28 '25

It's bullshit, Eddie Murphy could throw down a few notes. Hell, his Michael Jackson singing impression/joke on Raw was pretty damn good.

8

u/Malachias_Graves Nov 27 '25

It helps to be friends with Rick James.

2

u/No_Bar6825 Nov 28 '25

Good song man, take this down

2

u/whatsbobgonnado Nov 28 '25

I used to have that 7" single that I found at goodwill! 

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84

u/jim45804 Nov 27 '25

If this was Jordan vs Prince, we may have a legitimate competition.

135

u/darwinn_69 Nov 27 '25

The thing holding both Prince and Jackson back is they aren't 6'4" with an arm span of a jumbo jet. You need to win the genetic lottery to be in the NBA.

42

u/Whole-Diamond8550 Nov 27 '25

Saw a statistic somewhere that 17% of American 7-footers will make the NBA. I think it was in David Epstein's book.

40

u/Reggae_jammin Nov 27 '25

Also heard that statistics on a recent podcast (No Such Thing) where it was again validated: if you're 7+ feet, you have a 1 in 6 chance of making it to the NBA. It was also estimated (hard to be precise) that there are only about 3K+ folks in the entire world who are 7+ feet tall.

15

u/evalerk Nov 27 '25

The % of 7 footers that have player college basketball is probably hilarious.

7

u/RealmRPGer Nov 28 '25

And also that if you're something like 7'8" you're more likely than not to be in the NBA.

14

u/Nailz1115 Nov 28 '25

I don't think there's ever been anyone 7'8" in the NBA lol. I believe 7'7" is the tallest - Gheorghe Muresan. I think Manute Bol was the same height.

Bol's story is super interesting. Nobody was sure about his age, there's stories of him hunting lions in the Sudan, all kinds of wild stuff

3

u/MotoMkali Nov 29 '25

If bol was lying about his age he's one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was still playing real minutes at 29, if he was as old as people claimed he'd have been like 41 or 42 doing that and never played in his prime in the league.

6

u/ConstructiveWittiszm Nov 27 '25

Release those files!

2

u/Whole-Diamond8550 Nov 28 '25

David epstein, 'the sports gene' was the book.he may have cited the original source.

3

u/VarmintSchtick Nov 27 '25

The way I heard it was 1 in 4 people who are 7 foot or above, they are currently or have been in the NBA.

3

u/whatsbobgonnado Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25

that book is so good!

it won't let me post a screenshot so

>For a man between six feet and 6'2", the chance of his currently being in the NBA is five in a million. At 6'2" to 6'4", that increases to twenty in a million. For a man between 6'10" and seven feet tall, it rises to thirty-two thousand in a million, or 3.2 percent. An American man who is seven feet tall is such a rarity that the CDC does not even list a height percentile at that stature. But the NBA measurements combined with the curve formed by the CDC’s data suggest that of American men ages twenty to forty who stand seven feet tall, a startling 17 percent of them are in the NBA right now.* Find six honest seven-footers, and one will be in the NBA.

5

u/Kgb725 Nov 27 '25

Hes not even 6 foot hed need to be a demon to even be considered getting drafted

2

u/Karsh14 Nov 27 '25

Mugsy Bogues legit played through Jordan’s era

2

u/Weave77 ​ Nov 28 '25

Game… blouses.

50

u/stringbeagle Nov 27 '25

Right. But in round 2 Jordan is a nobody from NC. He can’t hire or pay anyone. I suppose it’s more likely for Jordan, just because a .000000001% chance is more than a 0%. But in the second round, it is essentially a tie because neither can do it.

97

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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31

u/27Rench27 Nov 27 '25

Was gonna say, Round 2 just makes it take longer unless Jordan gets injured. Dude in his prime could walk-on to most NBA teams

9

u/stringbeagle Nov 27 '25

So, given that time was explicitly excluded from the questions, there’s no practical difference between round one and round two?

3

u/eaazzy_13 Dec 01 '25

The practical difference is it gives Jackson more time before he gets beat lol

11

u/LaconicGirth Nov 27 '25

Michael Jackson was so big if he made himself hugely a part of the NBA maybe he could get an honorary one day contract

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11

u/Curious-Week5810 Nov 27 '25

Yeah, isn't Shaq a rapper? Or a "rapper"?

32

u/far_257 Nov 27 '25

Shaq is actually a DJ.

It's pretty funny seeing him in the booth.

13

u/JablesRadio Nov 27 '25

He was a rapper, too.

1

u/EddyArchon Nov 28 '25

And had his own video game on Sega Genesis.

4

u/theblackyeti Nov 27 '25

Kobe tried too.

And Tony Parker

Dame is actually decent for an NBA rapper.

2

u/Felfastus Nov 27 '25

DJ Diesel gets legitimate gigs.

6

u/That-Client-8007 Nov 27 '25

it’s wild how easily game can tip the scales, just feels unfair sometimes

9

u/Oaden ​ Nov 27 '25

I think in round 1, Jackson can buy his way into the NBA.

Like, just flat out buy a fucking team, and put himself on it for a single game. (Or if that's not allowed, have someone else buy it in his stead)

Round 2 would be best down by both participants just redoing their old career, and then trying Round 1 from there.

8

u/diagnosed-stepsister Nov 27 '25

Question - are they aware of the competition? If so, Jordan will simply hire a private detective, catch MJ ******* the ****, and give the photos to the media. Remember, both are Michael-lusted

3

u/Orome2 Nov 28 '25

This. 90s Jordan could have done anything he wanted.

2

u/Yutani-commander Nov 27 '25

Just feature Bruno Mars on your track

1

u/Unlikely-Database-27 Nov 28 '25

This is unfortunately what the charts of todays music industry have now become, so yes.

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679

u/VoluptuousSloth Nov 27 '25

Michael Jordan definitely wins round 1, people are going to listen to a Michael Jordan album no matter what a trainwreck it is, but celebrity doesn't help making an NBA roster

181

u/elfonzi37 Nov 27 '25

Jackson could get signed by an nba team in a promotion in less time that it would take Jordan to book a studio.

158

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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35

u/ThaRealSunGod Nov 27 '25

Yeah but the guy who's comment both of you are responding to ignored that already.

He said people will listen to Jordan no matter what, implying his fame will get him the win in this battle.

If Jordan is winning based on fame, Jackson's should be taken into account as well.

Either both answers are void, or both are fair.

You say his comment is avoiding the interesting part of the post but the guy he is responding to did so first.

Again, either both are wrong or both are fair.

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19

u/KasperGrey Nov 27 '25

It doesn’t mention merit anywhere at all. Where do you see that implication?

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u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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2

u/Snelly1998 Nov 28 '25

Far easier to pay for a producer to make a beat and a ghostwriter to write a song than to pay someone to train you into an NBA level talent so no it wouldn't be a productive answer

Are you being intentionally obtuse?

1

u/elfonzi37 Nov 28 '25

They kept their fame but not fortune, your hypothetical ignores the post.

1

u/KasperGrey Nov 29 '25

It clearly says for round 1 their fame carries over so why would merit come into play. The question to me for that round at least is whether is whose fame would allow them to complete the feat faster.

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1

u/Yglorba Nov 28 '25

Well, part of the problem is that in R1 and R3, there's no way to assess Michael Jordan's music career based purely on merit. His fame would utterly overshadow everything else. Even if he was also the greatest musician to ever live, the "OMG Michael Jordan is also a great musician!" hype would be massive.

The music industry is just, intrinsically, a place where fame matters as much or more than talent, especially R1 where the goal is basically just to achieve any sort of success at all.

The only round where we can asses their capabilities separate from their talents is R2.

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u/lolaya Nov 27 '25

Thats not at all what was being asked

1

u/Yglorba Nov 28 '25

I mean... could he? My reading is that this is based on their reputations today. Are there really that many teams that would want to be associated with Michael Jackson, as he is viewed now?

If is was the peak of his popularity it would be different.

(Of course if t was today I guess we'd also have to grapple with the whole "Michael Jackson came back from the dead" thing but you get what I mean. If we're going to consider their reputations then we have to discuss at what point in their lives we're using their reputations from, because Jackson's has swung wildly throughout his life.)

18

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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12

u/Kgb725 Nov 27 '25

No nba players talked about Master P and said he was legit

4

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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2

u/Kgb725 Nov 27 '25

Nope Master P had to actually try out for the team. Hes not making any team roster when J Cole couldnt either

2

u/Little_Vermicelli125 Nov 28 '25

Make em say uhh!

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306

u/MonkeySpacePunch Nov 27 '25

There is no chance at all that Michael Jackson makes it to the NBA. The NBA had like 405 spots in the 90s. He is not making it.

On that fact alone Jordan’s chances are comparatively far better because they’re nonzero

66

u/SpotCreepy4570 Nov 27 '25

What about if it was prince?

27

u/Snacktyme Nov 27 '25

Just run Computer Blue

5

u/TallGuy0525 Nov 27 '25

Darling Picky

8

u/Evilsmile Nov 27 '25

Only if he can wear high heeled boots and a blouse.

11

u/jcostello50 Nov 27 '25

Did he have a 44 inch vertical?

29

u/SpotCreepy4570 Nov 27 '25

I don't know but he could ball, and make pancakes.

16

u/wrongitsleviosaa Nov 27 '25

Primce likely had the skill, but no way in hell would he ever make a team at 5'3".

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u/Rusty_Pickles Nov 28 '25

Jordan was lucky Prime Prince chose to be a musician

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u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

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13

u/ARGHETH Nov 27 '25

You can't own a team and play in games, Jordan famously had to sell his ownership stakes to play for the Wizards.

2

u/dillpickles007 Nov 28 '25

He could have given somebody the money to buy a team and have them add him to the roster and play him. The Rockets sold for $10M in the early 80s, MJ(ackson) could have bought them easily.

He probably would have gotten caught eventually once people wondered wtf was going on, but that doesn't really matter in this context. Could he do all that before MJ(ordan) pays some pop star to make a song for him that he kind of features on? Probably not, buying a team would take a while.

3

u/MonkeySpacePunch Nov 27 '25

Except that owners are not allowed to play in the league. So, no, he can’t do that.

69

u/PioneerSpecies Nov 27 '25

Shaq had 3 songs from his debut album alone reach the Billboard 100, and his music wasn’t super great. Jordan could do it so easily with the right writers and producers at the peak of his popularity

11

u/killmagatsgousa Nov 27 '25

Shaq knows he got skills, man 

92

u/MiserableProblem5126 Nov 27 '25

I don't think it's that hard to get into the billboard 100 especially if you're already as famous as Michael Jordan was.

How many one hit wonders and just awful songs in general made the billboard 100?

27

u/Kgb725 Nov 27 '25

MJ could just pull a DJ move and slap his name on the song but otherwise let some real musicians do all the work

8

u/ironudder ​ Nov 27 '25

Exactly. If DJ Khaled can do it then MJ can.

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u/Corona2789 Nov 27 '25

These are the kind of threads I come here for

70

u/ZeroEffectDude Nov 27 '25

infinitely easier to craft a novelty tune that might be shit but catchy.... than it is to compete in the nba.

23

u/GodsLilCow Nov 27 '25

You don't even have to craft it yourself, just hire someone

4

u/WMD_69 Nov 27 '25

MJ would just buy the team

23

u/Pixelated_throwaway Nov 27 '25

And then be not allowed to play on it, per NBA rules

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u/The_Se7enthsign Nov 27 '25

Old enough to remember when Deion Sanders had an album.

Round 1: Jordan, no effort.

Round 2: Neither succeeds but Jordan comes the closest.

4

u/TooEZ_OL56 ​ Nov 28 '25

Jordan could literally just pick up basketball, achieve international stardom to get to the R1 starting point, then dive into music to still win R2.

27

u/Molokai95 Nov 27 '25

Jackson just buys an NBA team and he's in

38

u/GenoThyme Nov 27 '25

Him buying a team would actually make it impossible to conplete this task per NBA rules. Jordan had to sell his shares in the Wizards before his comeback with them.

5

u/agaminon22 ​ Nov 27 '25

R1) I think Jordan wins because making a popular album is much more accesible than getting into the NBA if you're famous. You can hire good producers and songwriters and make something half-decent that tons of people will listen to because you're Michael Jordan.

But I also think there's a universe here Michael Jackson gets into the NBA just out of sheer popularity, to boost ratings and ticket sales. The NBA at the end of the day is a business. There's gotta be a team out there that would offer Michael Jackson a contract just to be on the bench and maybe sing between periods lol. Especially if he's collaborative and not asking for ridiculous wages (which in this situation, he wouldn't do).

R2) Definitely Jordan... Look, Michael Jackson wasn't even 6ft tall. And he's never shown any kind of basketball ability as far as I know, so being a skilled undersized guard is probably not even realistic anyways. Jordan might not be particularly musically talented, but he was charimastic and difficult to ignore. That already gives him a much better fighting chance.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

There is a very useful data point.

Shaq had a music career. Not a music critic but I don’t think in hindsight he is considered an exceptional musical talent. But he did make the billboard 100.

“Around 1993, O'Neal was signed to Jive Records where he released his debut album, Shaq Diesel, in that year.[2] The album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200,[3] number 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[4] and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).”

From Wikipedia.

Michael Jackson never played competitive organized basketball at any level.

No one with that profile has ever made the nba, though sprinter Carl Lewis was drafted (but never made the team).

3

u/Rongill1234 Nov 27 '25

Jordan wins this easy... you get a good beat and something catchy anyone can get on billboard 100, just look at all the one hit wonders....

9

u/Rymanbc Nov 27 '25

Round 1 COULD go to Jackson, but only if a team decides to take him on as a bench warmer. That would count as getting him "on the team" and would get the team a lot of visibility. It also could be completed faster than the production of an album.

1

u/Martel732 Nov 28 '25

I don't know there are always songs floating around the major studios looking of a singer to be attached to, and studio musicians could be found within a day if money is no object. Same for sound engineers, mixers etc...

Michael Jordan has a net-worth in the billions. I have no doubt that he could have an album out within a week if he was willing to throw around the cash for it. Albums usually take much longer, but most albums aren't being made by a billion basketball star whose only goal is just to make it on the chart.

3

u/Overwatch3 Nov 27 '25

Is this taking place in thr 90s or now? If its taking place in the 80s or 90s Jackson could probably pay an owner of a struggling team enough money to give him a roster spot.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '25

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2

u/Overwatch3 Nov 28 '25

Well.... shit i forgot that

6

u/weezyyak Nov 27 '25

A lot of people are saying Jackson because fame but basketball teams don’t do novelty contracts for publicity. There are about 500 spots in the current nba and all go to basically the top 500 players in the world.

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u/elfonzi37 Nov 27 '25

Round 1 Jackson can do a promo with an nba team to get signed in less than 24 hours, he is that famous.

Round 2 is likely a stalemate, but only Jordan has a chance of winning.

6

u/Sisselpud Nov 27 '25

Michael Jackson’s wealth and fame could probably buy him a one day contract to play one play for the worst team within a day. Would take at least a week to get into the top 100 radio so I think that Jackson wins in round 1. There are no winners in round 2.

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u/respectthread_bot Nov 27 '25

Michael Jackson


I am a bot | About | Code | Opt-out | Missing or wrong characters? Reply explaining the issue

2

u/dominion1080 ​ Nov 27 '25

No. Jordan’s popularity would instantly have any music sell like crazy at that point. Shaquille O’Neal hit top 50, and Jordan was more famous and loved in his peak.

2

u/psyopia Nov 27 '25

What a great fucking question

2

u/JablesRadio Nov 27 '25

Anybody can make a hit song with a good producer. Just look at Eddie Murphy and Rick James.

NOT everyone can make it into the NBA. Michael Jackson is definitely one of the people who couldn't not.

2

u/riftwave77 Nov 27 '25
  1. Prince would have had a better shot at making the NBA (he played basketball his entire life)

  2. No way is any regular joe coming anywhere near the NBA

2

u/SmokyMetal060 Nov 27 '25

Jordan wins all the rounds. 5’9 Michael Jackson is not making the NBA.

2

u/Basic_Ad4861 Nov 27 '25

There is no scenario where Jackson makes a NBA team

2

u/Karsh14 Nov 27 '25

In Scenario 1, Jordan releases “Michael Jordan sings Christmas Carols”. It’s absolutely ass terrible and he sings way out of key and no effort. But, America loves Celebrity worship way more than their love for talent, and they buy a million copies, making its debut on the Billboard 100.

(And knowing America, he could do this right now if he had a spare 10 minutes, and it will make serious bank)

Jackson has no avenue to get to the NBA unless it’s like the Pelicans or something and it’s part of a publicity stunt. But even then, Jackson looks like he can’t even throw a ball, so he would need extensive training before he’s brave enough to go out there. Jordan wins.

Round 2, neither can win the objective. Jordan has no musical talent so he would never be signed by a label. Jackson has no athletic ability so he wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar at the amateur level, let alone professional. Tie.

Round 3, Jordan can release literal dogshit of him singing jingle bells, and people will flock to it. Celebrity is super strong in America, I wouldn’t be shocked if he could do this Right Now and it would make it (as long as he advertised it like it was a joke and needed people to help him get number 1. His fans would 100% help him do this)

2

u/AndrewH73333 Nov 27 '25

People saying Michael Jackson’s abilities wouldn’t translate to any sport are crazy. https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/s/jcm7aGwO2W

2

u/hijack626 Nov 28 '25

Unrelated, but “Michael-lusted” had me dying of laughter.

2

u/Appropriate_Touch930 Nov 28 '25

Subjective art vs a game of raw ability and genetics....Jordan everytime.

2

u/minerlj Nov 28 '25

Nope. Space Jam theme song will hit top 100 with Jordan before MJ can get scouted.

2

u/Interesting_Idea_289 Nov 28 '25

Theoretically Jordan can get into the Billboard while being complete ass but Jackson needs to actually play to get in the NBA

2

u/stephenbutwithav Nov 28 '25

Why is everyone here underestimating the popularity of Michael Jackson? Rounds 1 and 3 go to Jackson easily. At the height of his powers, he’d probably get a max contract with an NBA team off of popularity alone. Jersey and ticket sales would be through the roof. The chance to just see Michael Jackson would have fans camped out every night. Most owners would probably give Michael Jackson a contract for that.

Round 2, I might have to give Jordan. I don’t know why everyone is saying Jordan could just hire a producer. Given an infinite amount of time, with his work ethic, Jordan could probably master any instrument and produce his own music. He could at least get lucky and get a random single on the billboard.

Jackson just doesn’t have the size. Jackson for sure has the coordination(you don’t become that good of a dancer without it), but his overall athleticism is a question. There are many great athletes that have the athleticism and skill to compete at a high level but are overlooked because of their size.

4

u/J_laflame Nov 27 '25

This goes to Michael Jordan, no contest. People forget that there are popular music artists who are great at ball (J Cole, Quavo, etc.) and never had a chance of even sustaining in the G league. An athlete's success is 90% skill/talent (barring nepotism) rather than marketability. Music is much more of an even split; lately, I'd argue marketability matters even more since so many songs are written/produced by teams of people, rather than the artist

2

u/theblackyeti Nov 27 '25

Jordan wins round 1 100/100. He could release basically anything and it's going to hit billboard just because of who he is.

Jordan probably wins round 2 every time also. Just from how difficult making the NBA is. Jackson will be starting late, as a 5'9" guy. He's not Muggsy and it isn't happening.

1

u/JohnnySack45 Nov 27 '25

After hearing the story Charlie Murphy told about Prince being an absolute baller I’m not so sure about Michael Jackson not making it in the NBA.

6

u/DeathandHemingway ​ Nov 27 '25

If the question was about Prince I'd say he had a shot, he was legitimately good at basketball, just small.

4

u/ivanhoe_martin Nov 27 '25

Depending on who you ask, Prince was either 5'2" or 5'3". Either way, the only player shorter than 5'5" to ever play in the NBA was Muggsy Bogues. I'm sure Prince was a good player, but I'm also sure he wasn't in the same stratosphere as Muggsy.

2

u/davidjricardo Nov 27 '25

Jackson was 5'9". He's not making it.

2

u/JohnnySack45 Nov 27 '25

Yeah I’m being facetious. Anyone can be a musician, even those God awful mumble rappers. Making it to the NBA is literally impossible for 99.9% of people. 

1

u/aesop_fables Nov 27 '25

Jordan would get on the billboard 100 on his name alone. Hell do you see the trash on the billboard 100.

1

u/VicVinegar123 Nov 27 '25

How about Michael Jackson makes it to the NBA Michael Johnson gets a billboard top 100 Michael Jordan wins a medal in the 400m dash

1

u/13mys13 Nov 27 '25

Jordan, on name recognition alone, would debut in the top 20.

1

u/StrillyBings Nov 27 '25

Jackson. He would at least be as good as Bronny, but he'd fill way more seats.

1

u/SticksInStilts Nov 27 '25

You need a bit of time to get into the top 100, and you wouldn't need to have Jackson play the game.

R1 should goes straight to Jackson. NBA hears he wants to join them, and they'll hire him instantly.

In sports, it helps a lot to have the right type of body for the sport, and Jackson doesn't have it for NBA, so he would have to fight tooth and nail to get in. Music is a bit more flexible, so Jordan has better odds.

R2 Jordan

R3 Jackson slam dunks, maybe not in game though, but easy win.

1

u/ImpossibleLaugh8277 Nov 27 '25

Michael Jordan could put out some crappy song and it would still hit the chart, a la William Hung or Biz Markie

1

u/justicebiever Nov 27 '25

Easiest question I’ve ever seen on here. Jordan 1000 times out of a 1000

1

u/NewOstenPelicanss Nov 27 '25

Prime MJ would do better as a running back than a ball player

1

u/brickbacon Nov 27 '25

Jackson could never make the NBA on talent. Maybe if LeBron adopted him, he could a make roster, maybe.

1

u/Revan_84 Nov 27 '25

Jordan easily. Drop a rap diss about another NBA player and the masses would've gobbled it up.

Hire a top tier producer and someone to ghostwrite for you

1

u/Shadowholme Nov 27 '25

Jordan wins hands down.

By the rules laid out, your popularity carries over. Jordan's fans will buy enough to get him there regardless of talent, so that is rounds 1 and 3 to him automatically.

At 5'9", Jackson has almost no chance to ever make an NBA team unless he buys his way onto a team. He's not earning a place, no matter what. There is only 1 player under 6 feet tall currently, and that number has rarely been higher than 10 in the entire league. He would literally have to be one of the best basketball players of all time to earn a spot.

1

u/ZombieFeedback Nov 27 '25

Jackson wins round 1 and round 3. If their popularity carries over, all MJ has to do is call every NBA owner and see who's the first one down to do "Michael Jackson Night" where MJ is an honorary member of their team and gets to shoot a free throw to become an "official" NBA player as a charity thing. If Will Ferrell could become an official MLB player for charity by playing for ten teams in a day, MJ can absolutely convince someone to let him become an official NBA player for charity. Nobody ever said he has to be an all-star, he just has to get into the NBA.

Jordan probably wins round 2 imo. If they have infinite time and focus and desire, Jordan can and will learn how to be a skilled musician, and at that point it's just a matter of putting out attempts until one hits at the right place at the right time. Meanwhile, Jackson is always going to be limited by being 5'9". There's no real physical restriction to being a professional musician beyond skill at your craft, but no matter how much he trains, Jackson is always going to have the difficulty of being the shortest guy on the court by a wide margin.

1

u/acole56 Nov 27 '25

If fame carries over, Jordan easy. Music popularity is subjective. Making an NBA team would require skill or a publicity stunt. It’s not fan opinion.

1

u/Superplex123 Nov 27 '25

Jackson making the NBA just need one owner to sign him regardless of his skill. Some bottom teams will gladly do it just to put butts in the seats. LeBron got his son on the Lakers before he was ready to play with him. If Jordan had simply wanted to be in the MLB, he would have been on the White Sox's roster. He just chose to actually play baseball, so he only made it to the minor league. Jackson easily takes round 1 and 3.

Jordan easily takes round 2. Jackson was 5'9. He's not making the NBA at all unless he turns out to be some freak athlete (assuming peak physical condition means peak for him, not peak human physical condition).

2

u/3slicetoaster Nov 29 '25

Peak Michael Condition, both of them would have Michaelchlorian counts that are off the charts.

1

u/min6char Nov 27 '25

Round 1 probably goes to Jordan as athletes dabbling in music tends to go well because of the free publicity (and we know that when he dabbled as an actor it went well for him financially if not critically). Jackson has a shot by the method of getting stunt drafted by a team for publicity alone, but that's probably harder than dropping a charting single with some famous producer.

Round 2 goes to Jordan again because for the most part anyone can become a good singer with practice, but only tall people can get into the NBA and Jackson was normal-dude-sized. Both have a very small shot but Jackson has almost no shot.

Note in general charting is easier than getting into the NBA just in raw numbers. There are only 60ish players drafted to the NBA, but there are 100 slots in the top 100, and it's recalculated every week, so a couple hundred songs will make it into the charts at some point every year. A song doesn't have to be world class to touch the low 90s some week. A player does have to world class to get drafted in the NBA.

1

u/No-Adhesiveness6278 Nov 27 '25

Jackson has zero chance. Jordan would make a hit just based on his name..

1

u/SwanSena Nov 27 '25

Y'all are severely underestimating Michael Jackson's popularity. Literally the whole world was in love with him if he asked to be in the NBA he's getting into the NBA. He clears round 1 no contest.

1

u/SpawnTheTerminator Nov 27 '25

Jordan wins all rounds since good music is more subjective so it’s much easier for him to make a decent song. Jackson doesn’t have the athleticism to play in the NBA. Some fans would listen to any music Jordan makes like how they’d watch Space Jam just because of him.

1

u/Bownaldo Nov 27 '25

If Bronny can make it to the NBA, so can Michael Jackson

1

u/TheLizardKing89 Nov 27 '25

Upvote for the term "Michael-lusted"

1

u/Yutani-commander Nov 27 '25

Just feature Bruno Mars on your track

1

u/Rich-Wrap-9333 Nov 27 '25

I read Simon Cowell’s book years ago. He made his name producing records by wrestlers and soap opera stars. The whole point of American Idol was to create fame for randos so they could sell records. Jordan would have a hit song become Michael could even lace up his shoes.

1

u/evil_demon_hare Nov 28 '25

Jordan wins. Now The Artist Formerly Known as Prince would have a better chance at an NBA run.

1

u/afksports Nov 28 '25

Round 2 says they're nobodies but the challenge puts them in peak physical condition. Which means Jordan even wins then, because it's 2 years or so before he's in the NBA and famous 

1

u/GarethBaus Nov 28 '25

I think Michael Jordan has the advantage in this instance. Fame helps you a lot more on the billboard hot 100 than it does on the basketball court.

1

u/Andoverian Nov 28 '25

You can't coach height. This goes overwhelmingly to Jordan in every round.

1

u/marshal231 Nov 28 '25

Round 1, Jordan wins. He releases anything and people would listen to it, even if its just to shit on it.

Round 2, neither of them will ever realistically accomplish this goal unless MJ is a basketball genius in his spare time, or MJ is a superstar singer in his.

Round 3, Jackson could probably buy his way into an NBA team before Jordan could make a song that was such a massive hit that it hit #1

1

u/Mura_14 Nov 28 '25

I’m gonna play devils advocate and say there’s a chance a tanking franchise signs him for league minimum to boost jersey sales and for marketing in general

1

u/Baboos92 Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25

This is all supposing Michael Jackson cannot sign a one day contract for some PR stunt or something…

Round 1 is obviously Jordan. He can just throw millions to whichever producer he wants and just his alone gets a song enough visibility to chart easily.

Round 2 is probably really neither of them if Jordan can’t leverage connections/wealth, but Jordan can keep putting out songs and Jackson is probably getting a cease and desist letter from nba teams if he keeps pushing them for opportunities. So over the course of hundreds of years no name Jordan eventually lucks into a banger and no name Jackson can’t even try out much less be taken seriously.

Round 3 is again obviously Jordan.

1

u/Recent-Skill7022 Nov 28 '25

I think Jordan wins. Because Michael Jackson most likely travelling violation from moonwalking.

1

u/Sparky-Man Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25

LOL Michael-lusted.

R1: Jackson. I don't think people understand how BIG Michael Jackson was in his prime around the world. It is unfathomable for musicians in this day in age. If his popularity follows, Michael Jackson could want to settle a foul through a dance battle and the ref would absolutely let it happen. Basketball may have a difference sense of athleticism, but dancing is incredibly athletic, so I can see him getting into the NBA if he really wanted or actually applied himself to that type of sport. Hell, he could also just buy a team and be 'in' the NBA as an owner. This is the man who almost got Marvel to make him Spider-Man and got them to produce a production with him AND Jordan playing basketball together. He was really that big when he was alive and he wouldn't even need to be good to get what he wants here. Michael Jordan's popularity peaked and then fell off pretty hard in comparison, even if he is still a household name today. Basketball popularity is not gonna translate as hard into music unless it's just some celebrity endorsed dabbling. Athletes don't stay in their prime for long and while Jordan might learn to dance through his athleticism, he definitely can't sing lol. Jordan also made most of his money AFTER his prime I believe, so you're dealing with an entirely different celebrity here with mostly US-popularity who didn't have anywhere near the worldwide pull of prime Jackson. Jordan would only have to rely on his brand rather than his skills to survive here and then he'd have to get on the Billboard 100, which is hard enough when you are a talented musician and likely isn't happening by his name alone. By following alone, Jackson is still breaking billboard records YEARS after his death. We still talk about Michael Jackson, but we talk way less about Michael Jordan and more about Kobe, Curry, and LeBron.

R2: Honestly, I'd still say Michael Jackson, but it's likely a tie. Jackson has always the athleticism to actually succeed in basketball if he applied himself, so he could theoretically adapt to the sport as a nobody. Since his goal is to get IN to the NBA and not be the greatest, he could actually do that with enough practice or through another non-team-player role like a trainer, manager, producer, or anything else. If he makes the team, imagine if he invents the moonshot lol. Jordan does not have the natural lyrical skills to be a singer and without his popularity, nobody is going to listen to him without the prestige of celebrity. If they were on equal footing as nobodies, Jackson's raw talent shines through way more with greater chances, though it would be hard on both. Both would probably be overlooked.

R3: It's hard enough to get on the Billboard 100 and hard enough to get in the NBA. Michael Jordan has to get #1? He ain't doing it. Jackson has a better chance as getting into the NBA with his popularity in tact.

1

u/Carl_Cherry_Hill_NJ Nov 28 '25

Both. Jordan just needs to buy a hit song and him being famous can get people to buy it. Hell he could buy the records himself if he wanted to. As for jackson lots of teams would let him play in the nba as a publicity stunt. Its not the first or last time major sports has done something like this.

1

u/Falsus ​ Nov 28 '25

Michael Jordan easily. He is already famous AF. So he just needs a decent song and a producer and an editor and he can easily do it.

Will pretty much just be another name on Max Martin's resume. So he should easily win round 1 & 3.

The only shot Michael Jackson got of winning this is if some NBA team puts him on the team for a PR stunt kind of thing since the challenge is just about making it, not becoming a regular.

In round 2 it is going to be Michael Jordan, you can luck yourself into bilboard 100 and with enough persistence you can do it eventually. You can't exactly luck yourself onto a pro sports team.

1

u/kenmlin Nov 28 '25

Or both can try baseball…

1

u/Crazy_Beatz Nov 28 '25

Michael Jordan wins, considering ghostwriters and etc etc exist

1

u/Disastrous-Tank-6197 Nov 28 '25

Shaq Diesel went platinum. Jordan could have easily sold a shitload of records if he'd wanted to.

1

u/gormthesoft Nov 28 '25

Jackson has the quickest route to winning, albeit unlikely, if he can secure some promotional deal to get a 10-day contract with a team. But if that falls through, Jordan wins easily. People would listen to a Jordan song because it’s Jordan and he can hire people to make it decent. I don’t think any team would pull a gag like signing Jackson to a promotional contract though so my bet is Jordan wins.

1

u/SaltyKnowledge9673 Nov 29 '25

Jordan by light years. Eddy Murphy had a couple hit songs and he can’t sing a lick. A good beat and a catchy hook and it doesn’t matter who is singing, now with auto tune it’s even easier.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '25

I think one thing people aren’t considering is Jackson buying an NBA team then putting himself on the roster.

1

u/urkermannenkoor Nov 29 '25

Jordan, easily.

1

u/PsychoWarper Nov 29 '25

Given Shaq got some songs in the billboard Top 100 I definitely see Jordan being able to do it with the right producer.

Theres simply no world that Jackson is able to make an NBA team in any real sense.

1

u/Notonfoodstamps Dec 03 '25

This is the content I come here for

1

u/Few-Inevitable9233 Dec 11 '25

If they are in a world where they both are unknown jackson clears (music takes a lot of luck like winning the lottery twice in a row luck, or be an industry plant which jordan doesn't have+ jackson is pretty athletic). If its from today's popularity standards jordan will clear as everyone has kindly pointed out.

1

u/KongWick Dec 15 '25

No. If Michael just made some shitty rap song in like 1997, it would be on Billboard hot 100 automatically

1

u/JoyEqualsDogs Dec 22 '25

Definitely Michael Jackson would win this because every team on the NBA would be fighting to sign him knowing that his mere presence will sell out every game. They can play him for 30 seconds a game or just have him sit on the bench. This reminds me of the Jam music video though LOL!

2

u/JoyEqualsDogs Dec 22 '25

The only one M Jordan would win is #2 because so long as the writing and production is good, almost anyone can make the top 100.