Kobe Bryant On Modern Players Dominating The 80s: “The Rules Can Be More Beneficial For Us.”

3 Min Read

Thanks to “The Last Dance,” the world has renewed appreciation for the 80s and 90s era of basketball. With stars like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, and, of course, Michael Jordan, the NBA saw a surge of stars that put them in the national spotlight.

Perhaps more than any time in their history, the NBA was rich in storylines and star power as attention gradually increased from the sports world.

Of course, it was also much more aggressive and physical back then and it was often that we’d see contact either on a basketball-related play, or a fight breaking out on the court.

Regardless, in terms of the old-school ball, very few are willing to give today’s players a chance to succeed. For many, these “soft” guys today wouldn’t stand a chance.

In 2019, Kobe Bryant explained why that notion is nonsense.

“For scorers like myself and Carmelo and KD, the rules from the ’80s can be more beneficial for us, because you have to be played straight up. You want to double team, you got to come all the way over. So, for us, I don’t care if you hand check us with three hands. If there’s nobody behind you, you’re not going to stop us. So the zone I think cripples some of the top scorers.”

Bryant thinks that because defenses were played straight-up back then, he and other scorers today would have been able to keep track. He isn’t the only one to think that way.

In 2001, Michael Jordan hinted that double-teams and modern-style approaches to the game (like zone defense) would have made it much harder for him to succeed.

(via Chicago Tribune)

If teams were able to play zone defenses, he said, he never would have had the career he did.

The point is, it seemed as if it was easier to score back then. Though one-on-one matchups may have been more physical, they had fewer ways to stop their opponent. Nowadays, teams are able to do more in response to a star going off in a game.

At least, that’s the case Kobe and Michale made. Unfortunately, we’ll never get the chance to really find out.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *