Richard Jefferson stirred up debate with one of the NBA’s favorite pastimes: pitting legendary duos from different eras against each other. On a recent episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, the former NBA forward claimed that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would beat Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a mythical two-on-two matchup.
“I was going to say Magic and Kareem, but I think honestly Magic and Kareem would lose. I think Magic and Kareem would lose to Pippen and Jordan. I think they would lose in that two-man.”
“I feel like in that two-man, Kareem was dominant, but if you think about a prime Scottie Pippen versus a prime Kareem, now we’re talking about two-man now. I think Pippen could do an adequate enough job in the post against Kareem.”
“But can Kareem go out on the perimeter and guard Scottie? I don’t think we want him moving those puppies against Scottie Pippen now, right? So then you got MJ versus Magic, right?”
The statement sparked laughter and pushback from his co-hosts, but Jefferson doubled down. His reasoning boiled down to versatility and perimeter play. While Kareem’s skyhook remains one of the most unstoppable shots in basketball history, Jefferson argued that the two-on-two format changes the calculus.
In his view, Pippen’s length, quickness, and defensive acumen would at least allow him to hold his own inside, while exposing Kareem’s weakness on the perimeter. Meanwhile, Jordan’s tenacity, mid-range dominance, and defensive edge against Magic would tilt the balance further toward the Bulls’ duo.
It’s certainly not a popular stance. Magic and Kareem powered the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s and are widely considered one of the greatest pairings of all time. Kareem, the league’s all-time leading scorer before LeBron James passed him, had the most unstoppable weapon in NBA history in his skyhook.
Magic, a 6’9” point guard with elite vision, size, and leadership, orchestrated Showtime and redefined the point guard position. By contrast, Jordan and Pippen dominated the 1990s with their two-way brilliance, collecting six titles and becoming synonymous with defensive pressure and athletic dominance.
Jefferson isn’t dismissing Kareem’s greatness. He acknowledged that no one could truly block his signature move. But in a half-court two-on-two setting, he suggested that Kareem’s need to defend in space would be an Achilles’ heel.
Pippen’s ability to handle, slash, and pull up from mid-range would keep the big man uncomfortable, while Jordan’s all-time competitive drive could overwhelm Magic in a one-on-one context.
At the end of the day, Jefferson’s comments tap into the timeless appeal of cross-generational comparisons. Fans may never know who would truly win, but imagining Jordan and Pippen’s relentless perimeter defense clashing with Kareem’s skyhook and Magic’s playmaking is the kind of barbershop debate that keeps NBA history alive.
