Michael Jordan torched the NBA world with his amazing talent for 15 years but it was in the 1990s that he peaked as a player and a celebrity on the world stage. While many argue if Michael could have maintained that dominance in the current NBA, his former Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen recently explained (in an appearance on the PBD Podcast) how Michael could thrive in every era of the game.
Patrick Bet-David: “Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] in your era or Michael in this era, who does better?”
Scottie Pippen: “Probably Michael.”
Patrick Bet-David: “LeBron in your era, or Michael in LeBron’s era, who does better?”
Scottie Pippen: “Probably Michael.”
Patrick Bet-David: “And then with Kobe, I’m assuming you’re gonna say Michael in Kobe’s era?”
Scottie Pippen: “Yeah but I would probably still say Michael would do better. Because remember in Michael’s era, early on, it was physical, 85-90 point games. In today’s games, we’re looking at some games that will get to 130-140 points. So I think that Michael would have thrived off of being free, open, and not having the physicality that he had to play with night in and night out.”
Patrick Bet-David: “Michael in the 70s era?”
Scottie Pippen: “I didn’t play in the 70s but I have to imagine that it was just as physical as it was in the 80s. I think he would have had success in that era but the game has changed tremendously, from the ball handling to the steps that the players take.”
As Michael Jordan’s teammate for 11 seasons, Scottie Pippen knows his game more than most and he knows the limits of what he can do. In the past Scottie has been critical of MJ before and he just recently said that he and LeBron are “not the GOATs.” He also said that he could win six championships without his former MVP teammate.
While the two may no longer be on speaking terms, Pippen did say some nice things about his game, including his belief it would translate to success in almost any circumstances.
Unlike in the modern NBA, the 90s was highly physical and players were often abused by defenders as they tried to go up for a shot. The rules and physicality made it highly punishing against offenses and often limited the score to 90 points or less.
If Michael was somehow able to dominate in these conditions, what could hold him back in the modern NBA? Softer defense and smaller lineups would have made it much easier for Jordan to impose his will in the paint and he shot well enough from three (32.7% for his career) to be a consistent threat on the perimeter.
In the earlier eras, the paint might have been restricted without the three-pointer (which was added in 1979) but Michael’s mastery of the mid-range game would have given him an instant advantage over the field. At the very least, his athleticism, speed, and ball handling would have been enough for him to overwhelm any defender in his path.
In 15 years in the NBA, Michael averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 49.7% shooting and he did the best with what he was given and built a legacy as a 6x champion, 5x MVP, and 14x All-Star.
As someone who experienced his career first-hand, Scottie Pippen knows that Michael’s greatness was not tied down to any era or team. The fact that he thrived in one of the NBA’s toughest and most physical eras is a testament to his will and determination to be the best.
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