The debate now escalates, Tom Brady or Michael Jordan.
The GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – status in North American professional team sports paints an interesting picture.
It seems as though Michael Jordan has held the title for as long I can remember. He transformed the world with his basketball exploits on the court and his superstardom off it.
Everyone knew of Jordan and it seemed as though everyone walked around in a pair of his Air Jordans sometime in their life.
‘MJ’ transformed the world of sports entertainment and fashion and is still making millions from it.
MJ. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Tom Brady on the other hand is unique. He drinks avocado juice, releases healthy living guides and simply refuses to let Father Time catch up with him.
After winning his sixth Super Bowl he joins Jordan with six titles.
He now stands alone as the only NFL player to win that many.
What makes his story so remarkable was that he was overlooked 198 times in the 2000 NFL draft, served as the fourth string quarterback before replacing Drew Bledsoe as the starting slinger in the 2001 season.
He won his first Super Bowl and MVP in that same season.
It would be also be negligent not to mention the impact their coaches have had on both players’ careers.
Bill Belichick the head coach of the Patriots played a massive role in helping Brady achieve such dominance, but similar to Brady, Jordan had Phil Jackson who is recognised as one the best coaches in NBA history.
Furthermore after Super Bowl LIII, Brady has played in nine title games in his 18 seasons, an unbelievable achievement considering the heavy reliance on the other 54 players on the roster.
Unlike Jordan who won many Most Valuable Player Awards, Finals MVP Awards, Defensive Player of the Year Awards and the list goes on, Brady’s influence on a game can be negated by the performance of the his team’s Defence and Special Team units.
This leads to speculation Jordan had to perform on both ends of the court and thus his impact on a game was greater, though true, in basketball the smaller number of players in each team provides greater opportunity for individuals to influence games – whereas Brady’s heavy reliance on teammates to perform at their best to win is why he stands shoulder to shoulder with Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate.
His ability to drive perfection and maintain a high level of consistency despite the high turnover of teammates, and the league’s determination to achieve parity, has enhanced his status and amazingly at this point in time he endeavours to continue on until he is 45 years old.
One more title may tilt the discussion in his favour but one things for sure the discussion will rage on for years to come.
MaoriBro
Roar Rookie
This is one of those 'arguments' where it's almost akin to comparing apple to oranges. Two totally different team sports where both these freakish athletes in question have achieved greatness over a long period of time. There are far to many variables to consider, but you'd have to accept that both are the undisputed GOAT for their respective sports. MJ & TB12 have achieved sporting-immortality because of their old-fashioned hard work ethic & unquestionable pursuit of the Larry O'Brien & Vince Lombardy trophies.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
It’s neither of those 2. Kelly Slater and Wayne Gretzky were far more dominant and stood much further apart from the competition.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
I don't think it's just a Brady / Jordan question, I believe it's a Brady- Belichick / Jordan - Jackson question. The players talents are unquestionably elite, but the setups by the coaches over extended periods of time, including reinvention of game plans due to other playing personnel changes shouldn't be underestimated.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
It's Brady by 5 lengths
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Take Brady away from Belichick and he has nowhere near the success. Put him in GB with Mike McCarthy and Rodgers in NE with Belichick and the SB win count for each team would still be the same Bill Belichick is the GOAT, not Brady
BA Sports
Roar Guru
By the way - Your comparison piece was a lot more clear and relevant than the attempt made by the professional writer on the Roar the other day - so good for you.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Both are amazing, brilliant, freaks. For me, it is looking at how far they stand out from their contemporaries in their chosen sport. The case for TB12 - IMO; Both have won 6 titles. No one has won more Superbowls than TB12. 7 players have won more NBA titles than Michael Jordan. Doesn't make those players better than MJ, but brings back the 6 titles achievement a little. The key to MJ's six titles stat was that it was in 6 tries (Brady is 6 from 9). Tom Brady has appeared in 40 post season games. 8 more than Vinetari and 11 more than HOF player Jerry Rice. He has also had about 13 playoff bye's because the team earns a week off - so that number could be even higher. Brady has a 75% win record in the play offs. MJ's is around 51% Tom Brady has won with a range of different players and very few superstars. He has Moss briefly and Gronk has been there for three rings now (though injured for 1). MJ always had Scottie Pippen. He has appeared in 9 Super bowls on his own. No other franchise has appeared in 9 and the most an individual has played in is 6.