Michael Jordan in Today's League: Better or Worse?

[Fallen Angel]

sigh

[Hey Yo]

This guy can't post, overpower inside, dominate the paint, or make shots under duress like MJ... It's not even close... Durant is a bailout offensive player - most of his offense is bail-out jumpshots.. Don't compare that type of limited, predictable repertoire to the unlimited things MJ did.



MJ's style was more effective.. First of all, he had good efficiency at high shot volume, since his efficiency was elite at the additional 1-on-1 and midrange required of high volume shooters. Otoh, we saw Lebron's 1-on-1 fail in the 2015 Finals because he COULDN'T shoot a good percentage at high volume - he's simply bad at the additional 1-on-1 and midrange required of high volume shooters - this is statistical fact.

In addition to shooting well at high volume, MJ's style also succeeded because his buckets usually came AFTER running off-ball, so he didn't use live-dribbles as often - his lack of ball-dominance allowed the Bulls to run an equal-opportunity offense (triangle) and therefore the best brand of basketball.. This is another stark contrast from today's so-called best player - Lebron's ball-dominance prevents his teams from running equal-opportunity offenses and the best brand of basketball, which allows equal or less-talented opponents to pull upsets by playing a better brand of basketball (2009, 2011, 2014).

Also, there's a 3rd reason why MJ's style ended up working for the Bulls - MJ's off-ball style of play increased the APG and assist percentage of teammates like Pippen, while Lebron's ball-dominance craters the APG and assist % of his teammates (Wade, Love, Bosh, Kyrie, Mo Williams).. With Lebron's style decreasing the assists of teammates, it's no surprise that all his TEAMS have lower assist frequency.

Maybe LeBron should have quit the league after his 3rd straight Finals appearance and came back refreshed 2ys later. Possibly would have shot better against GSW under that scenario.

LeBron showed he has the mental toughness to try to win 5 straight rings where MJ couldn't handle the pressure after 3 straight Finals and quit the league.

[warriorfan]

Maybe LeBron should have quit the league after his 3rd straight Finals appearance and came back refreshed 2ys later. Possibly would have shot better against GSW under that scenario.

LeBron showed he has the mental toughness to try to win 5 straight rings where MJ couldn't handle the pressure after 3 straight Finals and quit the league.

Brons mental toughness is underrated. It must be very hard to live with the shame after doing something like LeDecision.

[Vaniiiia]

Maybe LeBron should have quit the league after his 3rd straight Finals appearance and came back refreshed 2ys later. Possibly would have shot better against GSW under that scenario.

LeBron showed he has the mental toughness to try to win 5 straight rings where MJ couldn't handle the pressure after 3 straight Finals and quit the league.

Ether sauce with a side of WOAH BABY!



Down goes 3ball! Down goes 3ball!

[inclinerator]

lol at people saying mj would average 15 fts a game, it doesnt work like that after a while they just stop giving you calls even if they are fouls just look at lebron
even harden is maxed out at around 10 for the rs

his numbers would probably rival kobe's tbh not bad at all

[Crystallas]

MJ had the global attention greater than anyone today in a social media world and constantly was under the microscope from slurpers and haters alike. Hell, he had more global attention than any athlete to ever live.

He would be more dominant, but that is not my question. I want to know if he would get as much attention today, as he did. Isn't he still one of the top paid athletes in his retirement? That is a very very scary thought. Killer instinct vs a league full of players who cry when the ref doesn't bail them out and only play hard for contracts. Yeah, no brainer.

[OldSchoolBBall]

his numbers would probably rival kobe's tbh not bad at all

[Beastmode88]

Maybe LeBron should have quit the league after his 3rd straight Finals appearance and came back refreshed 2ys later. Possibly would have shot better against GSW under that scenario.

LeBron showed he has the mental toughness to try to win 5 straight rings where MJ couldn't handle the pressure after 3 straight Finals and quit the league.

Guess he was tough enough to endure 4 finals losses as well.

[theoneneo]

Haha a prime Kobe would just about destroy this weak ass era and ya'll doubting Jordan


Take the little run Westbrook had last season and realize Jordan was twice the player he was.

[Round Mound]

40-43 PPG on 46% FG on a bad team 30-35 PPG on 49% FG on a good team.

Barkley (located 2nd in that shot chart after MJ) would also feast on this weak as defensive league. Older rules allowed way more contact.

[Smoke117]

40-43 PPG on 46% FG on a bad team 30-35 PPG on 49% FG on a good team.

Barkley (located 2nd in that shot chart after MJ) would also feast on this weak as defensive league. Older rules allowed way more contact.

They don't treat the rules the same though...they let the big boys get away with a lot more when they are defending each other than they let perimeters get away with.

[aj1987]

Haha a prime Kobe would just about destroy this weak ass era and ya'll doubting Jordan


Take the little run Westbrook had last season and realize Jordan was twice the player he was.

Kobe was in his prime/peak like 7 years ago. The [COLOR="Black"]f[/COLOR]uck you talking about?

[Dragonyeuw]

"several times worse than MJ"
maybe if you're talking about the full package (D)

But Harden's greatest strength is his ability to shoot 3's off the bounce, and his great floor vision. This guarantees him 1-on-1's with a defender that has to guard him at the 3 point line. He's absolutely built for this era.


Mid range and post game didn't go anywhere.....but if MJ is getting most of his points from those area's, his team is going to be playing at a pretty slow pace. No 40ppg season.

It's fair to assume MJ would tailor certain aspects of his game, like 3point shooting, to adjust to this era. Even if he didn't, after 1990 or so there wasn't anything wrong with his 3point shooting. It wasn't a strength in terms of volume and efficiency, but you couldn't just leave him open at the 3pt line. As it is, there are two recent examples of scoring champions in Wade and Westbrook who were primarily slashers with streaky mid-range( pretty much all of Wade's best seasons were when his mid-range game was on). There is no reason to think with MJ's complete scoring set that he'd be any worse. His mid-range would still be elite, his post-game would be elite, his slashing, quickness at his size would still be elite. His off-ball, catch and shoot ability and quick reactions to double teams would counter modern defensive schemes.

Would he average 40 or close to it? Under certain considerations, like playing for a shit team, sure. Durant, prime Kobe, MJ all had the complete scoring arsenals to score at that level depending on the situation.

[3ball]

As it is, there are two recent examples of scoring champions in Wade and Westbrook who were primarily slashers

Wade and Westbrook were scoring champs in 2009 and 2015, even though they suck at 3-pointers... Also, their midrange is far worse than MJ's, and their overall athleticism doesn't compare either.

Wade and Westbrook's league-leading scoring is all we need to know MJ would lead the league in scoring every year, just like he did in his era.

[Indian guy]

Seems like alot of people here forget 2nd 3peat was really an entirely different player.

Ummm, not really. 2nd 3peat MJ still retained 85-90% of his game-athleticism, IMO. And with hand checking banned starting 94-95, you barely even notice that difference. In some ways, he was blowing past guys with even more ease and really, playing the same game he played in the early 90's, except he became even more efficient in using the triangle to his benefit. MJ actually has a higher usg% during the 2nd 3peat than first and really, if you watch both versions, he is generating shots with more ease and is a more dominant feature in the Bulls offense from 96-98. In a 2013 interview with NBA2K, he considered 1996 to be his peak and I can actually see where he's coming from.

I think impact wise, MJ would be the same player today. Stylistically, you'd definitely see more 3pters and more pick n roll from him. His primary means of attacking in his career was from the triple-threat on either wing. But with no more illegal defense, it's just a lot harder to isolate players today and give 'em a straight-line path to the basket. Teams are always overloading the strong side/shading against wings today. So I see his game including more action from the top of the key, which is how most perimeter players play today. What would work to his benefit, of course, is the complete lack of physicality. Hand checking was already banned in 1995, and the NBA has systematically eliminated all physicality on the perimeter between the 10-year period since(95-2005). His quickness would be a complete nightmare to deal with.