Tip-Off Timer: Double 6's Defined Jordan

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 6 days remaining.

As much as we like to get lathered up over today's talented stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, it's sometimes good to step back and put them in perspective.

They still don't hold a candle to Michael Jordan.

If you think they do, come back to us when they reach Double 6's, which is the number that explains Jordan's greatness as well as any statistic ever placed beside his name.

During his 13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan won six NBA titles. And six times -- on the game's biggest stage -- he was named Most Valuable Player in the NBA Finals.

Several others have won more NBA titles. Bill Russell's record of 11 NBA championships is so far out of reach that it's of mythical proportion. So he doesn't count. And he carried a few Celtic teammates to more titles than Jordan ever won.

Then there's Robert Horry, a role playing journeyman who won seven NBA titles with three different teams, always finding himself in the right place at the right time to capitalize on his clutch shooting ability.

In today's game, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal each have four now with a legitimate chance this season for a fifth. Bryant, after winning in 2009, also is looking for his fifth with the Lakers.

It's conceivable that one of the three could reach six titles, but it's inconceivable that anyone also will match Jordan's six Finals MVP Awards. Duncan has three, Shaq has two and Bryant one, making the Double 6's an impossible task.

Maybe James or Wade can get in the hunt one day, but it might take three lifetimes to do it. Jordan, as always, stands alone when it comes to greatness.

His basketball management skills might be lacking. He can't seem to get the hang of that trick. And his Hall of Fame induction speech made us cringe a little. Yet Double 6's put him on a pedestal that no one else can approach.