Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Michael Jordan Told John Salley Oscar Robertson Was The Greatest Player In NBA History: “He Would Say Oscar Robertson”

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 9:18 PM ET

Michael Jordan told John Salley that Oscar Robertson was the greatest player in NBA history.

Salley revealed this tidbit during an interview with VladTV.

VladTV: “Who did Jordan tell you is the greatest player ever?”

Salley: “He would say Oscar Robertson. But then he would say what I said. In Oscar’s time, he was the sh*t.”

Robertson played 14 years in the NBA with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. He made 12 All-Star teams and 11 All-NBA teams and won six assists titles, the 1960-61 Rookie of the Year Award, the 1963-64 MVP Award and the 1971 NBA championship.

In 1,040 games, Robertson averaged 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.1 blocks. He averaged a triple-double during the 1961-62 season.

Russell Westbrook broke Robertson’s record for the most triple-doubles in NBA history in 2021 while playing for the Washington Wizards. Entering the 2025-26 season, Westbrook has 203 triple-doubles.

Robertson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. The basketball icon made the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2022.

Most people people Jordan is the best player of all time. He won five MVPs, six championships, six Finals MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, 10 scoring titles and three steals titles with the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls went 6-0 in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice during the Jordan era. MJ played for Chicago twice. He also played two seasons with the Wizards before retiring for good in 2003.

Jordan appeared in 1,072 games with the Bulls and Wizards. He averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks. The UNC product is first in NBA history in points per game in the regular season and postseason. Jordan averaged 33.4 points in the playoffs with the Bulls.

A top 75 player of all time like Robertson, Jordan made 14 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams and nine All-Defensive teams during his legendary career. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.