The narrator discusses several myths and misconceptions about the NBA. He begins by talking about Michael Jordan's "hang time" during his dunks, which is often exaggerated. He cites a Sports Science episode that shows that even elite players like Jordan don't actually hang in mid-air, but rather create an optical illusion with their body movements.
The narrator then talks about Larry Bird, who is often considered one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time. However, when compared to modern players, Bird's three-point shooting percentage is not as impressive. The narrator argues that it's unfair to compare players from different eras and that Bird would likely have shot more threes if he played in today's game.
The narrator also discusses the myth that NBA players can drastically improve their shooting during the off-season. He cites examples of players like Ben Simmons and Andre Drummond, who have posted impressive shooting videos during the off-season, but notes that these videos are often misleading and don't translate to actual game performance.
Additionally, the narrator talks about the myth that you don't need to be tall to play in the NBA. He notes that the average height of an NBA player is 6'7" and that being short is a significant disadvantage in the league. He cites examples of short players like Nate Robinson and Spud Webb, who are exceptions rather than the rule.
Finally, the narrator discusses the myth that Michael Jordan's first retirement from the NBA was the only thing that prevented him from winning eight straight championships. He notes that Jordan and the Bulls actually lost to the Orlando Magic in the second round of the playoffs, and that the team's roster wasn't strong enough to compete with other teams in the league.
Overall, the narrator argues that it's essential to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the NBA and that many myths and misconceptions have been perpetuated over the years.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Michael Jordan entered the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1985.
2. He was only a few months into his NBA career at the time.
3. Jordan performed a dunk from the free throw line on his first attempt.
4. Jordan came in second in the 1985 contest.
5. He returned to the contest in 1987 and won.
6. Jordan performed another free throw line dunk in the 1987 contest.
7. A show called Sports Science tested the theory of "hang time" in 2007.
8. Former NBA player Jordan Farmar participated in the test.
9. Farmar had a vertical leap of 42 inches.
10. The test found that there is no such thing as "hang time" in the air, and what appears to be hang time is an optical illusion.
11. Larry Bird was an excellent three-point shooter, but not the greatest of all time.
12. The average height of an NBA player is 6 feet 7 inches.
13. The average height for a male in the US is 5 feet 9 inches.
14. Only 11 players in the modern NBA have been 5 feet 9 inches or shorter.
15. Michael Jordan was 6 feet 6 inches tall.
16. Jordan lost in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic in 1995.
17. Jordan averaged 31.7 points and 5 assists per game against Orlando in that series.
18. The Bulls struggled against teams with prolific big men after losing Horace Grant in the 1994 offseason.