It's not just about stats, although Jordan had them. If you go purely by statistical impressiveness, then Wilt Chamberlain should have his number retired (see: 100 point game, 32 60+ point games, 55 ppg season, 22 rpg season, 4000 point season, 48.1 mpg season), which dwarfs all other players' output in much the way that Gretzky's point totals exceed all others. But Chamberlain was notoriously unreliable in the clutch, and only won one championship (when finally aided by fellow HOFers Jerry West and Willis Reed). Jordan did change the sport. Prior to the '80s, there was a real fear that the popularity of the NBA would die out due to a lack of superstars and blockbuster matchups. The introduction of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved global face, but there was worry that once they retired, there would be no great rivalry to continue to bring fans. By the '90s, MJ single-handedly made their fading rivalry obsolete in the global market. You look at all the young gun guards in the NBA today, and every one of them would tell you or show you Michael's indelible mark on the way the game is played. The NBA experienced more publicity and media coverage during the '90s than during any other decade prior or since.Basketball has always been a big man's game - according to John Hollinger, no multiple championship NBA dynasty has ever succeeded without a dominant big man--except for the '90s Bulls. As a small 6'6" shooting guard, Michael Jordan defied the conventional wisdom and grabbed the game by the balls. With 6 championships and a Finals MVP for all 6 (twice as many as anyone else), 5 regular season MVPs, a defensive player of the year, the winningest ever NBA season (1995-96 Bulls went 72-10), and the highest NBA career scoring average (30.1 ppg, higher than even Chamberlain), there's no question that MJ dominated in a way that no guard, PF, or even center ever did. That puts him on the same hallowed ground as Gretzky.