I repeat: King could dethrone MJ

Scottie Pippen should have asked me whether failing to worship the memory of Michael Jordan’s career was asking for trouble.I would have told him that he can say that Rahm Emanuel will be a better mayor than Richie Daley was. He can say that #147;Windy City LIVE#148; will make everyone forget Oprah. He can even say that Milton Bradley has replaced Ernie Banks as Mr. Cub.Just don#146;t ever say that lightning has blessed another human being with the super powers to surpass Jordan.Pippen went as far as to say on ESPN radio Friday, #147;I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game.#148;The backlash was swift and stern. Even former teammate Horace Grant incredulously chuckled on the same frequency, #147;I love Scottie but I have to disagree.#148;I#146;m experienced at daring to suggest that Jordan#146;s status as the greatest basketball player in history isn#146;t necessarily permanent.The day Cleveland eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs last year I wrote that by the time he completed his career, King James could supplant His Royal Airness.The public responded like I bombed the Loop with poop.Chicagoans treat Jordan as the natural resource he is. If the Chicago River were treated like that we could all bathe in it.I felt compelled to clarify before being burned at M.J.#146;s altar: The self-proclaimed King James hadn#146;t yet replaced His Royal Airness on the NBA#146;s throne of greatness.The point all along was that James some day could if he ever benefited from the type of organization #8212; stand and salute Jerry Krause #8212; that wins championships.You know, like if James ever was surrounded with players like Pippen and people like head coach Phil Jackson.Well, look what happened since last year. James surrounded himself with Heat players like Dwyane Wade and people like club president Pat Riley.Faster than you can send a sympathy card to the Cavaliers, James is in the NBA Finals with an opportunity to win his first championship.So just a month after my one-year probation ended for blaspheming Jordan, I#146;m going to be a repeat offender by repeating that James has a chance to be the greatest basketball player ever.Neither Pippen nor I means to say James is as great today as Jordan was. We#146;re merely projecting that eventually he could be greater #8212; not will be but could be.James can#146;t be as spectacular but as successful. He can#146;t be as entertaining but as efficient. He can#146;t be as charismatic but can be as, well, as good or better.Seriously, James has the freakish physical combination of size, strength and speed to be history#146;s greatest. Noting his upside puts pressure on him to maximize that talent.Of course, James first has to lead his team to championships. As of now he has none to Jordan#146;s six.Titles or not, James must expand his game during the second half of his career the way Jordan did. More than ever the mind will have to complement the body.James has to improve his long-range shooting the way Jordan did. He has to develop a post-up game the way Jordan did. He has to become uncanny in late-game situations the way Jordan did.If James does all that he can be the greatest player ever.By the way, what#146;s the penalty for being a repeat blasphemer of Saint Michael?mimrem@dailyherald.com