The NBA course has long seen a series of hilarious memes take over. Whether it be the LeBron James 2018 NBA Finals face or the iconic Oklahoma City Thunder trio celebration. But, there is one screen grab that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Even though the GOAT debate might rage on for all of eternity, the race for the best meme ever is over. And, it has been for a good 14 years now. Because, right around that time, a certain Michael Jordan made his way into the NBA Hall of Fame.
From that moment on, NBA culture was never the same.
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14 years later, the Michael Jordan meme returns
In a special by ESPN, the network did a whole coverage of the meme, and its impact on not just the NBA, but sports culture as a whole. “Exactly 14 years ago, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and it’s a day we all remember. But, maybe not for the reason we expected. Because it’s the day that photo was taken…You can debate your NBA GOAT, but what you cannot debate is the GOAT of NBA memes.”?
Since then, the photo has taken on a life of its own. But, it wasn’t until a few years after the event that it became the sensation it is to this day. During the Charlotte Bobcats’ abysmal run en route to the worst record in NBA history, the first MJ meme came into existence. “Why did I buy the Bobcats?”?Now, Jordan doesn’t even have a connection to the team anymore.
From that point on, there’s been no looking back. Whether it be the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, or mainstream media in general, the picture is viral everywhere. So much so that when the Chicago Bulls legend broke down at the Kobe Bryant memorial, he had to reference the famous meme.
“I told my wife I wasn’t gonna do this again. Because I didn’t want to see this for the next three, four years.” As the audience broke into laughter, it was a far cry from the first time the meme came into being.
On the day he was honored with a Hall of Fame induction, MJ instead chose to publicly air some grievances.
The MJ HoF induction
While Jordan’s pettiness was already the stuff of legend, the auspicious day gave a whole new meaning to the term. Despite the entire night being a celebration of arguably the greatest player ever, Mike started calling out names.
Whether it’s old foes, team management, or even his front office, the 5-time MVP left no stone unturned. In the end, however, the GOAT pulled through. Turning sentimental for the game itself, the legend finally rose to the occasion.
And like he had done an insane amount of times on the court, pulled it out in the clutch. But, while his speech turned emotional and his face dissolved into tears, the world found a way to keep the association of Michael Jordan to the sport alive, albeit in a peculiar way.
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Written by
Edited by
Debmallya Chakraborty