Comments about ‘Don't stop at retiring Jordan's 23; there's Bird, Magic ...’

This "Now Generation" thinks that the players who have played during their time are the only great ones, well guess again younguns. I watched the greatest play back when and have seen all of your new fantasy players too! Bii Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Karrem Jabbar, and many others were also real great players. So don't go around on this retiring binge with modern day players until some respect, and thought has been given to some other real great players also.You people today couldn't carry water for the greatest generation! And remember that!

I don't understand why they even use numbers, why not try letters, or chinese symbols?

Who is Larry Bird? did he play basketball? Move over old man

What if MJ returns..... maybe he should wear 666....

Maybe we should retire LeBron's number right now before he changes it again. After all he seems to be the self-proclaimed greatest ever. And, what's with the talc throwing routine? Who does he think he is? Just win.

Agree with this article 100%. MJ was great, but so were Bird and Magic, Dr. J, Wilt, etc. Jackie Robinson's number is not retired league-wide because he was the greatest to ever play, it was for breaking the color barrier and dealing with all the crap he had to. MJ had all the luxuries anyone could ever hope for, due to the efforts of previous NBAers and Jackie. There will always be a next "greatest ever", nobody will ever be the first like #42. Great article Doug.

Lebron only made this public statement because he is jealous that Dwayne Wade, not he, will be the model for Jordan's new anniversary shoe.

Jordan IS the best player EVER to play the game of basketball, period! What is the big deal with retiring his number? 13 people will have to change their number, i would also bet that they chose 23 as some sort of homage to Jordan anyway (LeBron did). Jordan has done MORE for the NBA than any other player, why not give him credit where credit is due? This issue isn't nearly as big as everyone is making this out to be.

Wow, you just totally missed the point on the league-wide retirement of Jackie Robinson's number. It was not for his impact on baseball, but his impact on society as a whole, back when baseball truly was the national pastime and a reflection of society. Babe Ruth's on-field accomplishments, while truly astounding, are irrelevant to retiring #42.

As for Lebron, well, let's just say he has a very limited perspective if he thinks MJ's number should be retired.

the more i get to know Lebron James, the less i like him. amen to the article

The NBA needs to retire the number of Billy Paulz.

LeBron needs to stop worshipping Jordan. Wear his own number and move on. To retire the #23 in the entire league is just wrong. Jordan was the best. But what has he done outside of basketball to deserve league wide recognition? Let Chicago retire his number and let it go.

is another uneducated prima donna he actually thinks he is smart and has historical perspective. Im willing to bet that he couldnt hold an intelligent conversation with anyone for more then 5 minutes. Jordan was great on the court. He did a lot for the game but he also indirectly killed it and it wasnt his fault. Sports center decided to focus on the me first aspect of basketball by showcasing his dunks and individual play. This in turn caused kids growing up to think that dunking and being an individual player was they way to go and this is why once Jordan, Stockton and Malone retired or were irrelevant, the league suffered. No one want to pay to watch a bunch of guys playing street ball in the nba. Jordans number should never be retired league wide because he is a scum bag off the court and deserves nothing but criticism. There should never ever being a league wide retiring of numbers. And whoever said LB Jizzol is the best ever is nuts, he is not even the best in NBA.

Jordan is a proven cheater. And why the snide remark about the NHL? I'd much rather watch hockey than the most boring sport on the planet- NBA basketball. It's no different than WWE.

Hey LeBron, could you retire your Boy Obama while your at it?

He really needs to go!

MJ is certainly the most famous/marketable basketball player of all time, but the greatest? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most points in history, 6 NBA MVPs, 6 NBA Championships, etc.
Wilt Chamberlain has a career scoring average equal to MJ, including a 100 pt. game and 0 3-point shots.
Should I even mention Karl Malone? 2nd most points in history. More FGs and FTs made than MJ.

The reason LeBron wants 23 to be retired is so that his new number can be treated the same. Otherwise retiring his 23 only affects Cleveland.

What a vain person. Get a life. This keeps up and I will want my number retired also.

Imagine #23 retired in Utah? Commemorate what MJ did in making the MVP trophy like him or something dumb like that, but what Riley has done in Miami is ludicrous. GREAT article!

Thank you Doug for speaking some sense. I don't agree with every comment you made, but the bottom line is Michael Jordon doesn't deserve his number retired in the NBA. It's retired in Chicago! Where he played! That's enough.

I found it really funny whan Doug said 'Someday players might wear telephone numbers on their backs – "And playing shortstop, No. 515-283-2222, Harvey Johnson."'

But the way, what have LBJ done to the league yet? He is just got a big mouth and the only numbers he care are those in his bank account. Honoring MJ? Or sell more jersey?

Kobe did it, and LBJ wants more money too. It is all about money, if not, LBJ, you shouldn't even wear 23 at the very beginning.