Can Tom Brady eclipse Michael Jordan as the greatest GOAT of all time? – The Athletic

At the most critical moments in the most meaningful games, they have been the same.

Michael Jordan steals the ball from Karl Malone with 18.6 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, takes it down the court, drives inside the three-point line, creates space with a crossover and slight push of Bryon Russell, and then nails a 20-footer to give the Bulls a three-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining.

Impervious.

Tom Brady, down 28-3 to the Falcons in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, leads his team to five consecutive scores, ties the game with 57 seconds remaining and then wins it in overtime.

Dauntless.

Jordan, at 26, takes an inbound pass from Brad Sellers with the Bulls trailing the Cavaliers 100-99 with three seconds remaining of Game 5 in a first-round playoff series. He moves left, rises, hangs in the air above Craig Ehlo and sinks a 15-foot jump shot just off the free-throw line to give the Bulls a victory at the…