Being successful in the NBA is not an easy task. Depending on the era in which an athlete plays can have a huge impact on the said athlete’s legacy in the NBA. Of course, there are a handful of players who could be successful in the NBA regardless of the era. Most players in the league would struggle if they played in a different era.
A perfect example of this is Chicago Bulls legend, Scottie Pippen. Pippen has a great resume and sits comfortably in the basketball Hall of Fame. But had he played in the modern era, it’s obvious that he wouldn’t have had the same level of success.
In fact, in the recent NBA Summer League game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets, the 56-year-old himself admitted this fact and claimed that it is indeed tougher to succeed in this era compared to the era in which he played.
Scottie Pippen said that "this is a tougher era to be successful in" compared to when he was playing. pic.twitter.com/gWynsgYIBO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2022
“I would say yes. I think that watching these players, the stamina, just the pace of the game. This is a tough game. I mean to keep up with this pace – and you’ve got to be able to make shots. If you’re not making shots, you’ll be sitting over there with the coach. I think this is a tougher era to be successful because you need to be able to shoot the basketball. Bottom line. There’s guys that can get to the hole and create opportunities. But the guys that can shoot the basketball from range are much more valuable in today’s game.”
Since Pippen last played in the league, the NBA has gone through several changes. And one of the biggest changes is the way that modern NBA players approach the game.
Most players in this era have adapted to shooting the basketball consistently. This is something that wasn’t too important back in Pippen’s playing days. During Scottie’s, players could simply muscle their way to the basket.
