The GOAT stays

By Herman M. Lagon

Long after he hung up his sneakers and his jersey was framed behind glass, Michael Jordan is still winning—without even trying. In Bleacher Report’s 2025 list of the Top 100 NBA players, Jordan topped the charts again. Not because of nostalgia or Gen X loyalty. It is because, as we teachers say, the proof is in the performance.

The list did not pull punches. It measured stats, titles, impact. LeBron came second, Kareem third. Magic, Russell, Curry, Bird—all the greats were there. But towering above them, across eras and styles, stood MJ. In the country, “pang-MJ” is still a compliment on the court, whether you are 12 or 42. His name has not faded—it has become part of everyday praise.

GOAT debates are fun, but Jordan’s edge is not just about numbers. It is how he always delivered when it mattered. In a country like ours, where life is often about pushing through—whether you are a teacher, a street vendor, or a student barely making it—Jordan’s story hits home. He did not just play. He showed up.

A 2024 global survey named Jordan the GOAT across all sports—beating Ali, Brady, even Ruth. Some say it is bias. But real greatness leaves something behind. Ask any Gen X teacher in Iloilo or General Santos who they tried to mimic growing up. The answer? Most often, Michael Jordan.

What made MJ different was not just his 6 rings or 5 MVPs. It was how he never ran from the moment. In 1993, he left to grieve his father. Two years later, he returned and dominated. That is not just athleticism. That is grit—something every committed learner and laborer knows by heart.

Today’s NBA is all offense. But even with the freedom scorers enjoy now, no one’s matched Jordan’s 30.1 career average. And he did it in a tougher, rougher league. Still, he rose.

LeBron has had a long, brilliant career. More games, more records. But Jordan? He did more with less time. Like a student who aced everything in four years versus someone who took six. Both are good. But one was simply… sharper. Jordan’s legacy lives on because it evolves. The MVP trophy now bears his name. His shoes still fly off shelves. He is the classic jeepney that never loses its cool—even with newer rides around.

LeBron is rightly praised for speaking up. Jordan, more reserved, quietly built clinics, funded scholarships, and gave millions to causes. Tahimik pero may ginagawa—just like our most dedicated teachers in far-flung barangays. And yes, we Filipinos treasure peak moments. We remember Manny Pacquiao in his prime, not just his career length. Same with MJ—his 63-point outburst, the Flu Game, that final shot in Utah. These were not just highlights. They were proof that magic still exists in the clutch.

In class, I tell students: Jordan did not make varsity on his first try. But he worked for it. Failed your test? Try again. Bombed your report? Review and do better. Like Mike. It is not about basketball. It is about bouncing back.

Say what you want about the ’90s, but if that era gave us someone who redefined greatness and set a gold standard no one’s reached since, why let go? Jordan was not just the best—he was the blueprint.

Fifteen seasons. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just pure excellence. In a country where we stretch every coin, every minute, and every dream, that kind of story sticks. Even now, long after the buzzer, Jordan is still schooling us—on how to lead, how to rise, and how to last.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.