Michael Jordan warned the NBA about pushing the "next MJ" narrative: "There's a danger to that, the credibility of the game can take a hit"

Yahoo

28-05-2025

Michael Jordan didn't just change the game; he became the measuring stick for what a perfect basketball player should look like. And that's where things get complicated.
The NBA has spent close to three decades searching for the next version of what Jordan brought to the league — his dominance, charisma and marketability. However, according to the man himself, that obsession with finding the "Next Jordan" is not only unfair to the players but can also potentially harm the sport itself.
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"It's not fair, but it's a standard measurement. You know, when I came in, Doctor J, Elgin Baylor, it's just a standard measurement for people to compare to. But it's never gonna be another Michael Jordan, it's never gonna be another Dr. J, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird… But it's gonna be Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill, and Anfernee Hardaway. These guys are going to have similar traits, it's how they manifest those traits to be the best basketball player, the best role model that they can be," the man many consider the GOAT for a reason stated in a vintage interview during the 1998 Finals.
Let youngsters do it at their own pace
It's one thing to see some similarities between young aspiring athletes and some of the other legends of the sport, but it's entirely different to put the label of a second coming of someone like Mike or Larry Bird's caliber.
Jordan's message was simple: let players breathe. Because the second you attach a name like his to someone's trajectory, it stops being about development and starts being about performance under a spotlight that few are ever really ready for.
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The weight of being called "the next MJ" doesn't just come with praise; it comes with marketing expectations, endless media scrutiny and a kind of pressure that not only tests your game but your ability to stay focused in the middle of the noise.
And when those players fall short — which most do, because how could they not — the backlash is brutal, and the narrative collapses just as quickly as it was built.
"No matter what the league does, in terms of trying to promote, you can't fool the consumer, you can't fool the fans… The game is going to say he is the next… whoever. You have to evolve to hold up to that label that the league is trying to promote you with. There's a danger to that, the credibility of the game can take a hit," "His Airness" added.
Related: "I just got tired of hearing it and just thought it was best for me to move on" - Patrick Ewing admits he regrets leaving the Knicks out of spite
Modern day NBA searches for its "face"
That message hits even harder today as the NBA again finds itself at a crossroads. The era defined by LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant — the legendary trio that has carried the league's relevance, rivalries and global popularity for over a decade — is winding down.
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As these all-time greats inch closer to retirement, the Association is actively scanning the horizon for its next face, someone who can carry the torch, drive ratings, and sell jerseys in every corner of the world. Talents like Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Luka Doncic are already being positioned as potential heirs to the throne, with some even drawing comparisons to LeBron, KD, and, yes — Jordan.
But as MJ pointed out, that kind of branding comes with strings attached. The NBA isn't just selling players anymore; it's selling narratives, and when those narratives don't pan out, fans feel burned, and players get buried under the weight of expectations they never really asked for. Truth be told, some, like "Ant-Man," are even publicly trying to avoid it at all costs...
As the league moves into its next chapter, Jordan's warning feels less like nostalgia and more like a don't force the crown issue and let the next greats earn it their own way.
Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ