“TRUE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM”- NBA analyst hyped over report questioning Michael Jordan’s DPOY win citing skewed stats
Veteran journalist Nick Wright had a big reaction to a report questioning Michael Jordan's 1988 Defensive Player of the Year award (DPOY). The six-time NBA champion was on a mission in the 1987-88 season after getting only one vote in the prior year's voting, which resulted in Michael Cooper of the LA Lakers getting the award.
Nick Wright was hyped about the report, stating that 'true journalism' was back and even tagged the Pulitzer Prize X account.
"FINALLY TRUE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IS BACK! cc@PulitzerPrizes," Wright wrote on Twitter.
Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports wrote that a former stat keeper, Alex Rucker, revealed that inflating stats for home stars was a common practice in the NBA during the 80s and 90s. Home teams used to register 800 more blocks and 450 more steals than visitors across the league, per Basketball Reference.
In Michael Jordan's case, the Chicago Bulls legend averaged 4.0 steals and 2.1 blocks per game at home during that season. The difference with his road games was notable, as he recorded 2.1 spg and 1.2 bpg.
The combined blocks and steals were 82% higher at home (5.5 at home per 36 minutes against 3.0 on the road). Haberstroh said such a situation happened more recently with Jaren Jackson Jr. posting better performances at home than on the road.
Michael Jordan posted 165 steals at home and just 94 on the road. The first number ranked first in the entire NBA while the second placed him fourth. The number of total blocks was also different depending on where Jordan played, recording 84 at home and 47 on the road.
Nick Wright has always questioned Michael Jordan's 'GOAT' status
This isn't the first time we have seen Nick Wright supporting a report or news that could have a positive effect on LeBron James in the never-ending NBA GOAT debate. Wright has been one of the biggest James defenders and a Michael Jordan detractor at times.
The FS1 talent even claimed that Jordan's failed tenure as the Charlotte Hornets should be a factor in the GOAT conversation:
"If we would like to judge the greatest player ever, purely by, we will evaluate from the day you first set foot on the court, to the day you leave the NBA, I'm good with that. But that's never been what it's been for Michael.
"The legend of Jordan, has been more than the playing career. The sneakers and the mystic and the aura that have been the piece of it. I would like for the GOAT conversation just be start of career to end of career, but with Jordan we remove years that hurt him and we add sneaker sales."
Now Wright has more reasons to back up his arguments in favor of LeBron James