I am not sure Michael changed the game as much as the game changed which allowed Michael to be Michael says Gary Vitti
Gary Vitti reflects on Michael Jordan’s legacy, suggesting the game’s evolution enabled Jordan’s greatness more than Jordan transforming the game itself.
Former Los Angeles Lakers’ head athletic trainer Gary Vitti was recently a guest on the Scoop B Radio Podcast with Brandon “Scoop B ” Robinson. Vitti was with the Lakers organization for 32 seasons, and before his three decades with the historic franchise, he served as an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz for two seasons. After his stint with the Jazz, he transitioned to the collegiate level because he was a college football trainer. The University of Portland came calling and offered him a job.
The Los Angeles Lakers would reach out to Vitti in August of 1984, and he interviewed with the logo Jerry West at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
According to Vitti, the logo, Jerry West actually picked him up from the airport in a navy blue Mercedes.
Vitti and Scoop B discussed a variety of different topics, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
I believe that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not only the greatest basketball player that ever played the game, but I can also make an argument that he was the greatest athlete to ever walk the planet,” Gary Vitti told Scoop B Radio.
“You really look at what Kareem accomplished in his career there is no one that comes even close to his success that he has had in terms of championships. Whether it be high school, college, pros, MVPs, scoring, he is beyond, and I mean way beyond anybody else that has ever played any sport.”
He would also add:
“They still haven’t broken his record, and I don’t think anybody will because, for one thing, no one will play long enough. It takes a lot of years to score that many points. So anyway that is my opinion.”
He would also share his thoughts on Michael Jordan being the greatest of all time:
“So when Michael got his first ring in ‘91 and the 5 that came after it, there wasn’t anybody left. The Lakers were done because Kareem had retired and then Magic [Johnson] came up 0 positive for HIV in ‘91. So he wasn’t rechallenged by the great Laker team, the ones that because Kareem had already retired before ‘91, so he wasn’t part of that series against I don’t know what they would have done.
They had Bill Cartwright; they had Cliff Livingston; I mean what were they going to do with Kareem? So he didn’t play the Lakers, the Celtics got old very very fast. Bird, Parish, and McHale all got old at the same time, so the Celtics were done. There was no challenge there and the Pistons were done, so basically when you really look at the six rings that the Bulls won, they didn’t play anybody, they didn’t play any of the championship caliber teams of the 80s like the Lakers, the Sixers, the Celtics, and the Pistons. All four of those teams had basically had their run and it was over and so it’s not taking anything away from him because he did what he was supposed to do. He dominated, but the game wasn’t the same game, it was different.” Said Vitti.
The full interview can be seen here.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
