Just Rankin’ Sh!t
7 Basketball Players Hailed as the Next Michael Jordan, Ranked
Who lived up to the hype?
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7. Harold Miner
The hype train ran off the rails for this shooting guard, once baptized as Baby Jordan. Sure, he rocked number 23 in college and won two NBA Slam Dunk Contests— just like MJ — but this mini-me’s game was childish in comparison. His professional career flamed out after just four seasons in the league.
6. Lil Bow Wow
This pubescent MC posterized David Robinson and dribble-faked Allen Iverson into another dimension in the pre-Hypebeast hoops flick Like Mike thanks to a pair of electrified Nike beaters that once belonged to Jumpman himself. (We prefer deadstock retros but to each his own.) Damn right, it’s gotta be the shoes.
5. Reggie Williams
After taking Georgetown (aka “Reggie and the Miracles”) deep into the NCAA tournament as a senior in ’87, this six-foot-seven-inch wing failed to convert that magic into NBA dominance. With his prime years playing for stinkers like the Nuggets and the hapless Clippers, Williams couldn’t quite carry…