Scottie Pippen has never been shy about speaking his mind when it comes to basketball across different eras. In a recent interview with MARCA, the Chicago Bulls legend admitted he isn’t entirely sure whether modern-day stars Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic could have thrived in the NBA of the 80s and 90s.
“I don’t know if they could dominate. In the 80s and 90s we used to press all over the field. Could Jokic bring the ball up against such pressure? I don’t know. Sure, he can see the court and pass very well. But I don’t know if he would be comfortable bringing the ball up from the back with that pressure.”
It’s a fascinating statement from a Hall of Famer who knows the grind of that era as well as anyone. The 90s Bulls, after all, were built on relentless defense, constant physicality, and a pace-and-space style that was worlds apart from today’s game.
Pippen, alongside Michael Jordan, terrorized opposing stars with ball pressure and traps that left even the best scorers looking human.
But while Pippen’s point about defensive pressure is valid, it may also overlook how truly unique Doncic and Jokic are.
History shows that great players transcend eras. Larry Bird is the perfect example. Bird wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, yet his vision, shooting, and competitive fire made him a nightmare in the 1980s. If a “slow-moving” Bird could dominate against the physical defenses of the Bad Boys Pistons or the Showtime Lakers, it’s hard to argue that Doncic and Jokic wouldn’t adapt in similar ways.
Doncic, with his step-back three, size as a 6’7” guard, and ability to control tempo, has often been compared to Bird for his flair, toughness, and craft. In the 90s, he may not have been able to draw 15 free throws a night, but his footwork and vision would still create mismatches. His game thrives on skill and manipulation more than pure speed, which makes it portable across eras.
Jokic, meanwhile, is essentially a 7-foot point guard. His passing vision is unparalleled, and his footwork and touch around the rim would allow him to punish smaller defenders in the post-heavy 90s.
Yes, defenses might try to pick him up full court, but would they really leave a center who could throw a perfect outlet pass or hit a trailer three unattended? The 90s may have been more physical, but Jokić’s creativity and versatility would have forced teams to adjust just as much as they would force him to adapt.
At its core, this conversation is about more than Doncic and Jokic. It’s about the timelessness of skill versus the context of eras. Would today’s stars have to toughen up against the hand-checking, hard fouls, and post battles of the 90s? Absolutely.
But they’d also benefit from the spacing and shooting that was far less common back then.
In the end, maybe the real truth is this: the 90s would have been challenged by Luka and Jokic just as much as Luka and Jokic would have been challenged by the 90s.
