What a horse! 93 Jordan brought his talents to Houston to join forces with Big Dream?

Today, let’s talk about the ultimate hypothesis of “what if”—in 1993, after experiencing the pain of losing his father, the basketball god Michael Jordan did not choose to turn to the unfamiliar green of the baseball field, but instead brought his basketball talent at its absolute peak to Houston. Imagine: Jordan, who has just completed three consecutive championships and is disinterested in the basketball world, joins forces with Hakeem Olajuwon, who is showing his dominance and is about to lead the team to win the championship with a single core. This is no longer a simple team-up of superstars, but God has personally welded the sharpest spear and the strongest shield together. The ultimate finale of the alliance may be nothing more than this.

A match made in heaven: When "God" meets "Dream", the ultimate form of basketball philosophy

Let's first talk about the terrifying compatibility of these two combinations. What kind of existence is Michael Jordan? He is the undisputed number one scorer in basketball history. His ten scoring titles are just cold footnotes. His critical-moment kills are a nightmare for an entire generation of players. What's even more terrifying is his defense. As the ultimate chain on the back line, his steals and chasing blocks are enough to strangle any opponent's offensive rhythm in the cradle. Hakeem Olajuwon on the other side is a center with the soul of a defender. His "dream steps" are like a waltz on the court, making behemoths such as David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal dizzy. He is the double winner of regular season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He is unsolvable on both offense and defense. The deterrence and invincibility of such a god-level combination even surpassed that of the "OK combination" that later became famous all over the world, because Jordan's mid-range and defense were more mature and deadly than the young Kobe. Imagine that in the 1994 Finals, the Rockets and the Knicks fought to the tiebreaker. If Jordan was standing in the key position, Patrick Ewing's nightmare would probably be extended for another ten years.

2. The collapse of the structure: What the league faces is not a challenge, but a trial

The birth of such a combination was a storm that swept the entire league for the NBA structure in the mid-1990s. Look at the powerful Western Conference at that time: the Jazz had the "Utah duo" of Stockton and Malone, the Suns had Charles Barkley who flew into the sky and escaped from the ground, and the Spurs had "Admiral" David Robinson. However, these teams all have fatal fates: the Jazz are afraid of top-level individual breakthroughs, the Suns lack defensive hardness inside, and the Spurs lack a stable outside ball-holding core. The partnership between Jordan and Dameng can accurately expose every weakness. In the East, with Jordan's departure, the Chicago Bulls dynasty will collapse in an instant. Scottie Pippen is a great second-choice player, but it will be difficult to lead the team to the top alone. The Bulls will degenerate into a playoff-level team and no longer be able to pose a threat. As a result, the Houston Rockets are very likely to establish a new dynasty with "Jordan Dream" as the core starting in 1994. Consecutive championships are just the starting point, and copying or even surpassing the Bulls' second three-consecutive championships is by no means a pipe dream.

3. Hidden dangers and tacit understanding: If the king does not see the king, is it still a perfect match?

Of course, this great hypothesis must also face the torture of reality. The core question is: Jordan is so proud, can he be willing to play "second in charge" on another team and next to another superstar? A key thing needs to be clarified here: the core of Jordan's pursuit is eternal victory and continuous climbing challenges, rather than nihilistic team status. Although Olajuwon is the core inside, he is not a black hole for the ball. He has outstanding support capabilities and is willing to share the ball. In Jordan's later years with the Bulls, as Pippen grew, he had already proven that he was not an isolation player who was unwilling to pass the ball. Both of them are basketball maniacs who are extremely competitive. On the training ground, they may trash talk each other over a ball, but this kind of competition will bring out the best in each other. On the court, they will become the most trusting comrades in each other - just like Jordan and Pippen, but this time the partnership will undoubtedly reach a higher level in terms of personal ability and offensive and defensive dominance. There is likely to be a natural understanding and division of power on the court where "Jordan leads the outside offense and defense, and Da Meng guards the inside center."

Conclusion: The most gorgeous "if", the ultimate romance dedicated to basketball

Unfortunately, there is no if in history. Jordan finally put on the baseball uniform of the Birmingham Barons and sought solace in another field; while Olajuwon used his two single-handedly leading the team to win the championship, laying the foundation for himself as the top center in history. Their true trajectory is legendary enough. However, it is this "if" that constitutes the most talked about topic among fans. Putting two peak superstars who are perfect at both ends of the offense and defense together in the same time and space and imagining the infinite possibilities they can create is the most extreme interpretation of the charm of basketball. It allows us to catch a glimpse of the splendid light of the parallel universe in the gap of established history. In that light is the strongest movement composed by the god of basketball and the dreamy dance steps!