Floor Jordan 2002 39 Years Old - Pre Knee Injury

[SamuraiSWISH]

I'm watching highlights, and it reminds me of how great he was playing prior to that knee injury. Crafty, savy, intelligent, and extremely skilled. With no athleticism, or lift left. Well besides the few glimpses like when he pinned a dude's shot on the backboard w/ both hands.

No wonder he improved Washington's record so dramatically compared to the previous year. Even with a weak roster, and his next best player being rookie RIP Hamilton. I think he was putting up something like 26/5/5 before he messed up his knee.

Then I think about how Artest derailed his come back with the broken ribs in the summer of 2001 ... and it makes it all seem even more impressive. After 3 years away from the game, getting out of shape then coming back at such an advanced age.

The only thing escaping "Floor Jordan" was athleticism, and wind. I'm watching the game v.s. Chicago after his consecutive 51, and 45 point outbursts. He's being guarded by either Ron Artest or Ron Mercer and he's torching them.

In the first half he had 25 points. But he just didn't have the gas at that age to keep it going for the rest of the game at that pace.

It's odd but it seemed like MJ was more edgy, and personally determined to prove himself against players near half his age when he was in Washington compared to his more calm demeanor in letting the game come to him during the 2nd three peat in Chicago.

[Cocaine80s]

i think he could still play right now at 51 if he wanted

[RoundMoundOfReb]

i think he could still play right now at 51 if he wanted

Hell no

[UK2K]

i think he could still play right now at 51 if he wanted

Id take MJ coming off the bench for 15-20 mins per night.

[KOBE143]

Its not really surprising tho.. Wizard Jordan was really smart.. He knew he can no longer rely on his athleticism alone so he copied the game of the current best perimeter player in the league that time.. No wonder Jordan reminds me of 3peat Kobe.. A Wizards Jordan was a very very poor mans Kobe.. Not actually bad coz a poor mans Kobe would be enough to be top 5 player in the league today..

[Milbuck]

i think he could still play right now at 51 if he wanted

Give him like 5-6 months of serious training and he could definitely give some team 15-18 productive minutes a night. He'd be a liability on defense, but his skills alone would carry him offensively.

[Lebron23]

I actually though the Wizard were a playoffs team back in 2002. They upgraded their roster, and just acquired Hughes and Stackhouse in the off season.

[Iceman#44]

Wizards MJ was Mvp candidate before his knee went down

[3ball]

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[COLOR="Red"]6 FOR 6:[/COLOR]


1991 - 33ppg.. 8 rebs.. 11 assists per game.. 3 to 1 Assist-TO.. 125 Ortg.. Switch-Hands Shot





1992 - 36ppg.. 4.8 rebs.. 6.5 assists.. 1 Shoulder Shrug





1993 - Finals Record 41ppg, As Required To Limit Momentum of Opponent's Great Offense (Suns 113.3 Ortg)





1996 - 32ppg on 47% Thru 3 Games to Get 3-0 Lead and End Series





1997 - Walk-Off Game Winner in Game 1.. Flu Game in Game 5.. GW Assist to Kerr in Game 6







1998 - Rodman (8.3 rebs) & Pippen (15ppg, 41 fg%) MIA.. Jordan Goat Clutch, 27 shot att pg

[moe94]

Give him like 5-6 months of serious training and he could definitely give some team 15-18 productive minutes a night. He'd be a liability on defense, but his skills alone would carry him offensively.

[ArbitraryWater]

Id take MJ coming off the bench for 15-20 mins per night.

Give him like 5-6 months of serious training and he could definitely give some team 15-18 productive minutes a night. He'd be a liability on defense, but his skills alone would carry him offensively.

He shot in the low 40's 13 years ago... He'd be in the 30's now.

On defense players would blow by him every trip. Stop it.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Holy shit people actually think he could play today at 50 ****ing years old? He was SEVERELY declined in 02-03 and as you get older the rate of decline only gets steeper..

[Iceman#44]

Holy shit people actually think he could play today at 50 ****ing years old? He was SEVERELY declined in 02-03 and as you get older the rate of decline only gets steeper..

In 2002-03 he was comin back from a Main knee surgery. .not easy for a 40 y.o....and he still averaged 20 ppg with multiple 40+ games

[RoundMoundOfReb]

In 2002-03 he was comin back from a Main knee surgery. .not easy for a 40 y.o....and he still averaged 20 ppg with multiple 40+ games

For his standards he was terrible. Clearly on a steep decline. To say that he could come back 11 years later at 51, not having played competitively at all, and earn minutes is just absurd..

[jstern]

I remember watching a game, and while shooting free throws they showed a graph in which he was averaging 25ppg through 48 games.

On another graph they showed his numbers after a day or two rest, and his numbers in back to back. The difference was dramatic.

So I feel that the biggest issue for an older player is recovery.