Do you think Michael Jordan could have broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record if he hadn't take

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because remember when he returned for the very last time, playing those 2 years with the Wizards? his scoring average was pretty decade being in his very late 30's until age 40, that's when he passed Wilt Chamberlain on the All-Time scoring list to then rank third place on the all-time scoring list, behind Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem scored 38,387 points for his entire NBA career meanwhile Michael Jordan scored 32,292 points.

Whenever there is an "what if" argument or debate about Michael Jordan if he hadn't taken those years off, the most common one you hear is that he would have more rings or Hakeem Olajuwon would be ringless.

But anyway, this discussion is about points, let's say if Michael Jordan played consecutively all the way from his rookie year to his ultimate final retirement in 2003 with the Wizards, do you think he could have shattered Kareem's record?
 
If you disregard his shortened 1985 and 1994 seasons, Jordan averaged roughly 2,417 points per season. That's a minimum of 3 more years of prime scoring production.
 
I'm looking at the numbers, say he scored 2,450 each in '94 and '95 that puts him at 36,735 for his career, only 1,652 behind Kareem. It's safe to say as long as he stayed even a little bit healthy from '99-'01 he would've gotten it.
 
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If you disregard his shortened 1985 and 1994 seasons, Jordan averaged roughly 2,417 points per season. That's a minimum of 3 more years of prime scoring production.
I did that math, he would be in the 36,000 range, but if he played the years in between after his last 3-peat with the Bulls and the years with the Wizards, I would say he definetley would have broken Kareem's record
 
I thought i'd bump this thread again because as you all know a few weeks ago, Kobe surpassed MJ on the all-time scoring list, taking 3rd place away from MJ, and there have been constant debates, arguments regarding Kobe vs. MJ, but I still consider Michael Jordan better, but anyway, anyone who hasn't posted in this thread before, who else thinks its very possible IF Michael Jordan did not temporarily retire twice before hanging it up for good with the Wizards in 2003, if he played straight consecutively all the way from his rookie year to his final retirement in 2003, you think he could have broken Kareem's record?
 
em jay couldve done whatever he wanted to. he was the greatest. kareem accomplishments are just as impressive, but j was on a diff level
 
the Bulls would not have beaten the 94 rockets. Vernon maxwell always played jordan hard and while it was impossible to contain MJ completely maxwell always did a good job. Also nobody on that Bulls team had any business guarding Hakeem who keep in mind was MVP, defensive player of the year and finals MVP that year (the only player in NBA history who did this)
 
Does anyone actually think Kobe is better than Mike? I'm shocked if so
No.
 
I sure don't, but many Kobe or Laker fans say so
HUGE Lakers and Kobe fan and I'm one who doesn't think so.
jordan would've won 8 straight rings if he didn't retire
I know you were joking when you said this from reading further on.
laugh.gif
 The Bulls would not have won eight straight should Jordan have not retired.

Serious jock riders and the delusional believe that. The Rockets definitely were getting one somewhere in there.
I think Houston would've gotten one of those, probably not two though
Agreed.
 
He had a chance - but the toughest part is the longevity required - he would have had to drop to 20ish ppg like Kareem and play longer. The constant minutes and especially deep playoff runs would add up so just extending his usual season points doesn't really work.

It's one of those records that looks untouchable - Kobe started earlier and we can see what's happening to him right now - he has moments but can't do what he did even 5 years ago.
 
so maybe MJ ends up like in the 36,000 points range most likely then? still, this is all fun fantasy and speculation to think about, I love to believe MJ could have done it, yes I know whats done is done, the past is the past, but like I said, it's fun to think about.
 
If he hadn't retired for the combined 4 years or broken his foot to put him on the shelf for pretty much the entire '85-'86 year...he had a good shot at being the all-time scoring champ.
 
If MJ played as many seasons as Kobe he'd easily be #1 all time scoring.

If he never retired multiple times and his career finished the year he retired with the Wiz he'd probably just be a close #2.
 
Does anyone actually think Kobe is better than Mike? I'm shocked if so

No.

 
I sure don't, but many Kobe or Laker fans say so

HUGE Lakers and Kobe fan and I'm one who doesn't think so.

jordan would've won 8 straight rings if he didn't retire

I know you were joking when you said this from reading further on. :lol:  The Bulls would not have won eight straight should Jordan have not retired.
Serious jock riders and the delusional believe that. The Rockets definitely were getting one somewhere in there.


I think Houston would've gotten one of those, probably not two though

Agreed.

Why do you sound so sure of that? LOL, I guess we'll never know.
 
You understand how hard it is on your body to be in as many games as they would've been at that time and having to guard a brilliant player like the Dream? Houston steals 1 ring in 7.
 
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