In this time of confusion and A recent survey conducted by of students, less than half of

With a sigh, junior Ethan really competitive. Obviously, I true extent of Jordan’s influonship-contending team, in the Jordan had more of an impact as a whole.” Wong frowns as he didn’t start following basketball ence beyond basketball through modern league while Conrad had during his career than any of the Cheng appreciated the detail scrolls through Twitter, until after he stopped playing, so watching the miniseries. his view of Jordan inESPN put into and comes across another Tweet I never knew the details of what “‘The Last Dance’ emphasized fluenced by Jordan’s the documentary debating who the greatest bashappened each season he played Jordan’s legacy on pop culture and more recent public and how they conketball player of all time is. Wong, who had a unique or anything like that.” sports as a whole,” Cheng said. “Through watchappearances. “I knew people " J o r d a n w a s j u s t t h e b e s t structed the narrative of Jordan’s take on the subject, is dejected when he ing the show, I realized that during loved him, and he had a huge impact and he was the alpha final season. “They compile sees that most of the debate threads " H e m a d e s p o r t s p a r t o f t h e his career, he was one of the most on basketball,” Conrad said. “But I had of alphas. " a lot of clips from the games, and he’s reading through are locked in an ara m e r i c a n c u lt u r e . " prominent sports figures, and celebnever experienced his games or seen him then they also do interviews with gument comparing LeBron James and rities in general, as a whole.” outside of some dunk show highlights and JP Conrad Jordan, Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr, Michael Jordan. “I thought that Ethan Wong Cheng said the documentaas the crappy GM of the Hornets.” (Scottie) Pippen, (Dennis) Rodman (Steph) Curry was ry shows younger Instead, watching “The Last other candidates for the title of and other celebrities,” Cheng said. the GOAT, because fans how much inDance” helped Conrad realize the greatest player. “The directors did a really good that’s when I started fluence Jordan had competitive level of Jordan’s op“When we look back on this job of telling his last season as a watching basketball,” Wong said. While neither Cheng nor outside of basketball. ponents and served a role in conera, it’s going to be Warriors/ story but also his career as a whole “He changed how three-pointers Passalacqua had seen Jordan “I think ‘The Last Dance’ has firming Jordan’s greatness. Spurs/LeBron,” Conrad said. and the careers of his teammates.” were used and was the best player in-action beyond classic games on changed his legacy in terms of “When the Bulls took off, he “But when you look at the ‘90s, One of the storylines of “The on the greatest team of all time.” ESPN, they both said he was the his effect on culture and society,” was outplaying Bird, Magic, Ewit’s Jordan-Jordan-Jordan, and he Last Dance” is the tension be

While Wong had an uningreatest player of all time. Cheng said. “Since I wasn’t alive ing, Barkley, Malone, the Pistons, did it with the same type of talent tween Jordan and the Bulls’ genformed take, since 2016, when Wong, though, as aforemenduring the time he played, I wasn’t the Cavs and all those other great around him as ’Bron with basicaleral manager, Jerry Krause, which, James triumphed over Curry’s tioned, said before he watched aware of the legacy he left on the teams,” Conrad said. “It wasn’t just ly the same amount of starpower was surprising news to more reWarriors through a miraculous “The Last Dance,” his pick for NBA or on pop culture. The way that he had Scottie (Pippen) and around the league.” cent fans. comeback after being down 3-1 GOAT would have been Curry. the documentary is filmed and (Dennis) Rodman and Steve Kerr Whereas Conrad had his “I didn’t know very much in the National Basketball AssoHowever, Wong said “The told highlighted Jordan’s effect and John Paxson. It was that he opinion of Jordan changed, Pasabout the drama with Jerry Krause ciation Finals, the on popular culture, was the alpha on the Dream and the basketball world especially with his Team. He was respected by players on has been split by shoe line.” every other great player of the team,” a contentious debate over who the " ' The last dance ' ' h a s Cheng also said she does not think his era and he showed up to every challenge.” " J o r d a n i s t h e g o at b e c a u s e o f C h e n g s a i d . true greatest player of all time is. c h a n g e d h i s l e g a c y i n t e r m s Jordan’s basketball legacy changed From what he saw in “The Last Dance,” Conrad h i s c o m p l e t e a n d c o n s i s t e n t “‘The Last D a n c e ’ The debate over the greatest o f h i s e f f e c t o n c u lt u r e a n d much as a result of “The Last Dance,” said Jordan is the greatest player ever. dominance of the game. " touch - es on it of all time, Jordan or James, has society. " while Conrad’s view of Jordan as a player He handled himself on and off the court with the at least a couple largely been split by generation. changed substantially. biggest influence of any basketball player ever,” Conrad Evan passalacQUA times per e p i s o d e, Older fans, who began watching K at i e C h e n g Before the documentary, Conrad said. “He played up to every obstacle. He had two, three-peats, salacqua said the documentary and it was interesting to see all the outside basketball in the and Wong both said and he was the best all-around reaffirmed his beliefs. factors in Jordan’s career.” 1970s, 1980s and they underestimatplayer in the league: defense, scor“( Jordan) is the GOAT beConrad said that Jordan had 1990s, say Jordan ed Jordan’s impact ing, athleticism, clutch ability and cause of his complete and conflaws, like his relationship with and his six championships make Last Dance” allowed him to unon basketball, with Wong saying winning. He outshined everyone sistent dominance of the game,” Krause, but he still thinks Jordan him the greatest, while those who derstand the true scope of Jordan’s Jordan would be no better than on the court, and then he was Passalacqua said. “He went sixis the greatest player ever. never saw Jordan play insist that influence and eventually changed DeMar DeRozan, a player who straightforward and honest and for-six in the finals with players “He had faults like his gamJames’ sustained excellency and his mind. most agree would be best as a likeable off the court.” like Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexbling, blowing up at Krause (and) impressive statistics coupled with “When I watched ‘The Last supporting player on a champiAccording to Conrad, ler, Patrick Ewing and many othgetting pissed at teammates, but his historic 3-1 comeback in 2016 Dance’ and (saw) what Jordan did ers playing.” he was under unparalleled scrutimake him the greatest. to the NBA and how much influLike Passalacqua, Cheng beny,” Conrad said. “I think ( Jordan)

However, many younger fans ence he had, I changed my mind lieved that her decision was reinbeing able to withstand that while have now been able to witness the Jordan experience. On April and started thinking Jordan was the GOAT,” Wong said. Art by Adora Zheng forced by the documentary mini series. having the legacy of the Jordan brand, the ‘Be like Mike’ (com19, ESPN released a documentaOne factor in changing “Jordan is the GOAT,” Cheng mercial), the 6-0 finals and the ry titled, “The Last Dance,” that Wong’s opinion was the impact said. “Even though LeBron is disrespect of all the stars of his era is focuses on Jordan and serves as Jordan had on American culture. advantaged in a lot of the factors incredible.” a chronicle of the final season of “He made a lot of commer— some of the teams he played Conrad used to think James his Chica- go Bulls cials with kids,” Wong said. with were worse than and Jordan were about equally tenure. “And (he) made sports part of Jordan’s — Jorgreat, but no longer believes that.

“The the American culture, through d a n won six “( Jordan) came first and he did L a s t his commercials and things like cham- pion - it better (than LeBron),” Conrad D a n c e ” Wheaties and s h i p s . A l - said. “It doesn’t really matter about is a 10- p a r t Space Jam.” though this isn’t ( James’) longevity of whatever, it’s mini - s e r i e s L i k e r e a l l y a b o u t about the fact that Jordan was just that of- f e r s W o n g , skill, Jordan had a the best and he was the alpha of younger fans C h e n g larger ef- f e c t alphas. LeBron’s still top five all a glimpse into discov- on the cultime, but I think ‘The Last Dance’ the reality of the ered the ture of t h e just makes too good of a case for NBA during JorN B A and people to ignore that Jordan was dan’s era. pro - fes- better and will probably have the

Junior JP Conrad said s i o n a l more lasting impact.” he thought Jordan was overs p o r t s While “The Last Dance” rated before watching “The makes Conrad think James will Last Dance.” never surpass Jordan, Passalacqua

“I thought his hype was overthinks otherwise. blown,” Conrad said. “And that he “If LeBron continues to adapt was just a flashy athletic guy who his game to his old age and conmade clutch plays and didn’t have tinues to have amazing seasons a lot of competition.” like this year,” he said. “Along with

Sophomore Evan Passalacqua another championship or two, I said the documentary helped him definitely think that he could pass see Jordan in a different light. MJ.”

“I thought of ( Jordan) as a Passalacqua said his eyes have fierce competitor in all facets of been opened by “The Last Dance” life, especially with the whole and thinks it has played a similar cheating in card games against role for younger fans. people from retirement homes,” “ Yo u n g e r Passalacqua said. “And the people appreciGOAT.” ate players like

Conrad and Passalacqua both ( James) because said their opinion of Jordan priLeBron is all or to watching “The Last Dance” they’ve ever were influenced by the fact seen,” Pas- they were not able to s a - watch him in real-time. lac - qua Junior Katie said. “I C h e n g think they’re r e - agreed. a l i z i n g just

“ I a l - how great ( Jorw a y s k n e w dan) was. He Michael Jordan was played in a time one of the best to period with all time greats play in the NBA and and still made it look easy that he won six chamto go 6/6 in the finals, so in pion - ships,” Cheng my eyes I think his legacy is said. “And I also knew he was greater than I knew before.”