Kareem's 30 point era (or should I say 25-30 point era) lasted about 15 of his 20 years in the game.
Yeah, you should say 25-30 point era, because that's what it was. And it's 10 of 20, not 15 of 20. Kareem scored < 25 10 times, 25-30 6 times, and > 30 4 times. Michael scored <25 never (except for the injury season), 25-30 4 times, and > 30 8 times (yes, that's twice as often, even though his career wasn't nearly as long).
Other than the injury season, the only comparative year that Kareem outscored Michael was the rookie year, when Kareem outscored Michael 28.8 - 28.2. After that, Michael outscored Kareem every year, by a margin ranging from 2.3 to 9.7 (and the margin increased as time went on--Jordan was consistently great; Kareem deteriorated).
Kareem's career average was 24.6. Michael never scored that few (his career low was 28.7, aside from the injury season). Michael's career average was 31.5. Kareem scored that many twice (that's 10% of the time). The playoff story is even more pronounced.
Yes, his numbers dipped as he got old, but that's not because of showtime. His numbers dropped below 25 several years before Magic was drafted, and only got above 25 once after that. Those are respectable numbers, but they're Karl Malone numbers. They're not Michael Jordan numbers.
Kareem was a heckuva player, and probably the best college baller ever, but no Michael. I think that California sun is getting to you.
Kareem played like a poor man's Michael Jordan in his first six years, and like a narcoleptic Michael Jordan after that. If you don't think that Michael could come back now and match Kareem's 39-42 numbers (17.5; 14.6; 10.1), I've got some GMST Leaps to sell you...
Kareem was much cooler, though...
ardethan@clydewasevencooler.net |
