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September 13, 2009

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Jordan inducted into Hall

MICHAEL Jordan, considered by many the greatest hoops player of all time, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday.

Jordan joined former San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, ex-Utah Jazz guard John Stockton, long-time Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers University women's coach C Vivian Stringer in the new class.

Just as he was during his playing days, Jordan was again the center of attention, but was quick to pay tribute to his fellow inductees.

"Contrary to what you guys believe, it's not just me going into the Hall of Fame," said Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association titles then finished his career with two seasons at the Washington Wizards.

"It's a group of us and I'm proud to be a part of them and, believe me, I'm going to remember them as much as they remember me."

Jordan entered the Hall of Fame alongside Stockton and Sloan, who, respectively, played for and coached the Jazz team Jordan's Bulls defeated in the 1997 and 1998 NBA finals.

Jordan's game-winning shot against Utah to win that last championship was a major highlight in a career filled with too many outstanding achievements to count.

Asked to talk about his favorite basketball accomplishment, Jordan said: "It's so hard. It's like asking 'which one of your kids is your best kid?'

"I've had so many great accomplishments, so many spectacular plays, big plays, game-winning shots. It's hard for me to pick out one."

Jordan was also coy about his status as the greatest player of all time, saying he did want to compare himself with players from the past, and warned against judging contemporary and future players against him.

"People say that I was the greatest who ever played the game, I cringe a little bit. I never played against Jerry West, I never played against Elgin Baylor, I never played against Wilt Chamberlain," Jordan said.

"Yeah, I would have loved to but to say that I'm better than those people is not for me to decide.

"Don't be in a rush to try to find the next Michael Jordan - there's not going to be another Michael Jordan."





 

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