Michael Jordan -- could he run sub 15 in his prime?

better question is could he have run sub 19.

If he had trained for it, I would say yes. Just in peak basketball shape, without specific 5k training, I think he'd probably go around 16-flat or mid 15s, but not sub 15. The guy was simply an incredible athlete.

party of one wrote:

back when he was the best on the bulls, could he run sub 15 for 5k

Sub 14. He's a professional athlete. He can do any professional sport. He could have been an all star or MVP in baseball. Or a 2:10 marathoner.

He has the body type for any sport and the "it" factor to do anything.

correct. 6'6" 215 is too much to move around that fast for that long (RE:15min 5K).

jerrrrrrrimiah wrote:

better question is could he have run sub 19.

He ran Indoors in at least 1 meet when he retired from the Bulls back in 1998. IIRC he did 600m in 1:20 or similar...Brojos could investigate this.

What kind of thread is this? Michael Jordan's PR is 14:26, although his 8:42 steeplechase is more impressive.

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=1571128

If you're not a troll, this may be the most short-sighted, misinformed, dim-witted post I've ever seen on this site and that's saying a lot. If you are a troll - well done. Either way, no chance, as in 0% that Jordan could even sniff 15, 16 or even 17 in his prime or any other time.

A former UNC track athlete once told me MJ ran 4:50ish better in the University of North Carolina basketball players standard mile test they do before the season. I have no reason to think they were bsing. He could maybe break 15:30-45 with near-perfect training.

vwrw4et4zet wrote:

A former UNC track athlete once told me MJ ran 4:50ish better in the University of North Carolina basketball players standard mile test they do before the season. I have no reason to think they were bsing. He could maybe break 15:30-45 with near-perfect training.

I read different. Kenny Smith (now broadcaster) was the sub 5 Tar Heel...but Jordan was over 5. Jordan was in the 5:0x/5:1x probably.

Jordan was actually pretty skinny for the first half of his career. And he'd have a great base from basketball. I think sub 15 is realistic, but barely. I'd probably say 15:30.

Justin91 wrote:

Jordan was actually pretty skinny for the first half of his career. And he'd have a great base from basketball. I think sub 15 is realistic, but barely. I'd probably say 15:30.

This is definitely a troll post but i'll bite. THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL he could ever run sub 15, even with Salazar as a coach from a young age he would have trouble breaking 16:00. How many people do all of you know that are 6'6 and over 200 that can run close to sub 15? While he was a pro he might have run around 17:20 when in peak running fitness. I remember beating a collegiate basketball player who was on a team in the elite 8 for the NCAA. I was 8 years old.

he wouldn't b over 2 hundo if he was training for a fiver get fuct

Could Jordan in his prime run sub 15? No. If you pulled Jordan from 1993 or so and had him run a 5k I would expect around 17:00.

He was 6'6", 215 or so in his prime. A 5k obviously would not suit his body. A good 2, 4 or 600 though? I could see that pretty easily.

HAD HE TRAINED to be a 5k/mid-d runner since high school, I am confident he could have run sub 15. The man was undoubtedly an amazingly gifted athlete and had a competitive drive that exceeds any other athlete I have seen.

Michael Jordan was a 49"4 in his younger days. Given his ability over 400m, his projectile over the distances would be:

49"4

1'46"45

3'29"49

7'19"30

12'37"30

26'18"40

Goldman wrote:

HAD HE TRAINED to be a 5k/mid-d runner since high school, I am confident he could have run sub 15. The man was undoubtedly an amazingly gifted athlete and had a competitive drive that exceeds any other athlete I have seen.

He sucked at baseball; let's not get too carried away.

No

He could have put up a good mark in the triple jump

sub 22 200

sub 50 400

low 1:50 800

Born in the 856 wrote:

Goldman wrote:

HAD HE TRAINED to be a 5k/mid-d runner since high school, I am confident he could have run sub 15. The man was undoubtedly an amazingly gifted athlete and had a competitive drive that exceeds any other athlete I have seen.

He sucked at baseball; let's not get too carried away.

He wasn't trying. He could have been the most dominant athlete in any sport, especially baseball. Or in any endeavor in life. He was a perfect specimen and an amazing person. If he had devoted himself to science instead of basketball, I bet he could have found the cure to cancer, too.

He was 6'6", 215 or so in his prime. A 5k obviously would not suit his body.

Eh, it's not like 215 is really bulky at that height. Let's say he's got a large bet with Charles Oakley about his 5k time. You don't think prime Jordan goes right around 16-flat off nothing but basketball conditioning?

And yeah, if he were training for the event specifically, he'd probably drop 20 pounds, if not more.