No matter who your NBA 'GOAT' is, Michael Jordan's name has to be in the mix.
As the owner of a resume stuffed with a Rookie of the Year in 1985, nine All-Star appearances, three MVPs, three finals MVPs and a three-peat of championships, few, if any, have ever rivalled Jordan's level of dominance.
Oh yeah, all of this came in just his first decade in the league, too.
Throw in a showtime dunk from the free-throw line to win the 1987 Dunk Contest, and Jordan's ability to thrill and shock sell-out crowds from coast to coast remained in its own stratosphere for decades.
However, these same adoring hordes were even more staggered when 'MJ' decided to walk away, opting to trade hooping with the Chicago Bulls for a chance to bat .350 for the Chicago White Sox in October, 1993.
While keen on the challenge of mastering a different skillset, Jordan's choice to trade jumpers for line drives was driven by the death of his father, James, mere months beforehand.
After initially earning the ire of baseball scribes after making the switch, Jordan began to make his mark in the batter's box for the Birmingham Barons, slashing .202 with threeย home runs, 51ย runs batted in and stealing 30 bases.
However, with fuel back in his tank after a handful of trips to the Bulls' training facility, the inevitable came to pass, with Jordan and his representatives, Falk Associates Management Enterprises, faxing - yes, faxing, out perhaps the most iconic press release of all time.
"I'm back."
And back Jordan was, with the superstar steering the Bulls to another three-peat between 1996 and 1998, as well as collecting another five All-Star nominations, three Finals MVPs and another pair of MVPs.
Jordan would eventually end his days as a Bull at the end of the 1998 season before retiring for a second time.
He would eventually return to play two seasons with the Washington Wizards after the turn of the millennium before hanging his Jordans for a third and final time in 2003.
