'Michael Jordan Didn't Have Any Competition' is the Absolute Worst Argument

There were already daily debates about whether Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is indeed the greatest basketball player of all time prior to ESPN's debut of "The Last Dance" documentary. Now, the debate's back at the forefront, exposing us all to the best and absolute worst of basketball discourse.

Those who love Jordan will never be swayed away from calling him the GOAT, yet there are those who try to attack his legacy by making the claim that Jordan did not face true competition en route to his six NBA titles. As far as counter-arguments go, that is just objectively false.

The documentary reveals how Jordan and the Bulls had to take down the Detroit Pistons just to reach the NBA Finals. Those "Bad Boy" Pistons squads knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs in three consecutive years before the Bulls came out victorious in 1991. So not only did Jordan face incredible competition from the two-time-champion Pistons, but he and his teammates became great enough to overcome the kings of the Eastern Conference, even in the infancy of their dynasty.

Then came the first three-peat. Jordan took down the likes of Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, and Charles Barkley in three straight years. And he did so with a combined Finals record of 12-5. "Well, Clyde and Charles could never win a ring." Well, why do you think that's the case? His name is Michael Jordan.

The second three-peat began with the 1996 NBA Finals, when Jordan and the Bulls took down the Seattle SuperSonics in six games. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp were no slouches, and seemed to be on a team of destiny until running into the Bulls.

What followed was two straight Finals victories over the dominant Utah Jazz. Karl Malone and John Stockton are two legends of the game who never won a title. Why? Because of how great Jordan was up until his second retirement, once again.

Anyone still trying to hate on Jordan should also remember that the Indiana Pacers took the Bulls to seven games in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Reggie Miller was in his prime, and Larry Bird was looking to become a legend as a coach as well. Instead, Jordan eliminated the threat and went on to beat the Jazz to complete the second three-peat. Patrick Ewing, Shaq on the Magic...name a '90s superstar who failed, and the reason behind the failed pursuit was MJ.

The competition was always there. Jordan and the Bulls were just so elite they made it all look so easy.