NBA legend, Michael Jordan, once picked out the four players who he believes to be generational talents of the sport who deserve more respect.
Jordan himself is one of, if not the greatest basketball player of all time, so who better than Air Jordan to name the best talents of this generation?
Bursting onto the scene as a 21-year-old, Jordan remained top of the pack well into his 30s during his 19-year career. Some of his incredible achievements include six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, five Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and six NBA Finals MVP awards. He also holds an NBA record for the highest regular-season scoring average, with 30.1 points per game.
Since his retirement in 2003, Jordan has still remained heavily involved with the sport and has recently agreed to become a ‘special contributor’ for NBC’s coverage of the NBA next season.
Michael Jordan's career highlights (selected)
6x NBA Champion
6× NBA Finals MVP
5× NBA Most Valuable Player
14× NBA All-Star
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP
10× All-NBA First Team
10× NBA scoring champion
3× NBA steals leader
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
According to reports from Medium, Jordan advocated to an NBC producer four players who he believes are generational talents in need of more respect from fans.
He said: “This era has some of the most skilled players we’ve ever seen. It’s time fans start appreciating that.”
Michael Jordan's 4 Picks
LeBron James
‘King James’ is the oldest active player in the NBA at 40 years old and is currently in his 22nd NBA season. He was the first player in history to record 50,000 points and is the league's all-time leading scorer. These are just a few of his incredible achievements.
James has won four NBA championships and the NBA Cup in 2023 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Also on his CV are three Olympic gold medals, four NBA MVP awards, and a ranking of fourth in league all-time regular season scoring.
Steph Curry
Stephen Curry
Having stayed with the Golden State Warriors his whole career, Curry has been active since 2009 and is known for his ability to score three-pointers. He is recognised as the individual who inspired other teams to really utilise this shot, and is regarded as the best shooter of all time and has many awards to back this up.
‘Chef Curry’ is a four-time NBA champion, and a 2024 summer Olympics gold medallist. He has won two NBA MVP awards, is a one-time NBA Finals MVP and a two-time NBA scoring champion.
Despite recent injuries, the 37-year-old signed a one-year contract extension last summer worth $62.6 million, and will be hoping to add another NBA title to his collection.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic Serbia
Standing at a massive 6ft 11in, Serbian basketball player Nikola Jokic is regarded as one of the greatest centers of all time. Jokic was famously drafted to the Denver Nuggets in 2014, which has been viewed as one of the greatest draft steals ever.
Since signing for the team, Jokic has won the NBA MVP award three times, and is a seven-time NBA All-Star. Jokic led the Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in the 2022-23 season, and, as a result of his efforts, was awarded the NBA Finals MVP award.
He holds the record for the fastest triple-double (14 minutes and 33 seconds) and is the only NBA player in history to reach 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists in a single game.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic Mavericks
Lastly on Jordan’s list is Slovenian Luka Doncic, nicknamed ‘Luka Magic’. The five-time NBA All-Star competed for the Dallas Mavericks from 2018-2025, and in his first season won Rookie of the Year. In the 2023-24 season, he became the first European player ever to lead the NBA in scoring.
Outside his achievements, Doncic made headlines when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the 2024-25 season. It has been dubbed one of the most shocking trades in American sporting history, with Doncic claiming he did not know about the deal until it was done. Fans were furious at the fact the Mavericks had traded their franchise player.
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