Michael has been renowned as the best basketball player of all time. But would he have those six rings if he were in the nba today. Think about it, the competition now is much different than a decade or more ago. Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but would he still be as successful with his team in the league now. Could he be able to contend and beat some of the best teams including the Suns, Mavs, Heat (last year version), Spurs, etc. Could he compete with Shaq, Lebron, Kobe, D-Wade, Melo, A.I., Duncan, K.G., etc. I don't think he'd be considered the best nba player if he played today. Just too much competition. Anybody agree. I'd say he'd still be good, but have maybe three rings rather than six.
2007-01-08 20:18:13 · 9 answers · asked by micah_09 4 in Sports ➔ Basketball
I always asked myself the same question. I mean, I literally worshipped the guy when he was with the Bulls, and I thought (and still think) that he's the best player to ever play the game. But I always wondered if he could keep up with people like AI, Vince Carter, T-Mac, Kevin Garnett, etc... And the answer is yes, I think he can.
I feel that MJ would have been able to adapt to the standards of the NBA regardless of what those standards were, i.e. regardless if it was during the Larry Bird era or the Shaq era. His game would have been totally different if he were to enter the NBA today rather than in the 1980's. If MJ was still in his early 20's and was entering the NBA today as a rookie, he would still be the best, he would just dunk more, maybe shoot a few more threes.
Bottom line, I think MJ has that type of ability where regardless of how the game has developed and changed, he could come in at any point into the NBA, be it the 40's, 50's, 70's, 90's, or even 2300's, and would become the best basketball player the world has ever seen.
2007-01-08 20:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by abulshabab 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think he definitely would be able to win 6 rings, if not more. The NBA has become a younger league, almost with a developmental obligation with the recent high schoolers making the jump. Although the NBA has recently cracked down on this with the age limit, the average age will remain relatively lower than in years past. Having said that, more and more players are jumping into the league with sheer "potential" and are at least 3-4 years away from becoming legitimate NBA players. Therefore, the league seems to be diluted by "potential."
Jordan played in a less glamorous and tougher league, by far. Fines were not dished out like candy for flagrant fouls, if one was ever called. It was known that teams had "Enforcers," guys like Bill Laimbeer and Kevin McHale, that would physically punish opposing scorers driving to the basket, and it was simply accepted as part of the game. In that era, way more players (and even whole teams) actually played defense. Defense in the NBA today is reserved for few teams who actually want to do it.
Finally, jumping back to the youth of the league. Less and less players possess true mental toughness in today's league because more and more players are just being developed and haven't "arrived" yet. Jordan was one of, if not the most, mentally tough player ever. He simply could not be phased, and that alone makes him superior to 98% of the league today. His understanding of the game was only matched by the Birds and Magics of his time. Add in his incredible physical ability and I don't think there's a player out there today who could slow him down. The rings would be continuous, just as in the early 90's.
Also, remember that Jordan was not playing against schmucks in his day. Just some guys that were his contemporaries:
Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, James Worthy, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning (in his prime), Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and many more all-time greats. He played against many of those included on the Top 50 Greatest of all-time. I can't say that many from today would be on that list.
2007-01-09 06:15:20 · answer #2 · answered by LLaRo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think Michael Jordan could do much in the NBA right now without Pipen, Rodman, Kerr, and whoever the 5th guy was. Jordan himself would not do much as showen when he desided to come back for the one year with the wizards thinking that he still had it. The team its self won the Champion Rings and Jordan could not do it on his own. The team probably could, will we ever find out? No. But that is what I believe.
2007-01-09 06:16:30 · answer #3 · answered by lightning122288 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course he'd still be a successful player MJ is a great player compare to the players today, i think he can still win a ring if he plays in the NBA right now, you don't know how MJ can play the game you think he is great but MJ is beyond that word!
2007-01-09 07:01:47 · answer #4 · answered by melo15 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was very fortunate enough to have hit the scene when there were very few talented shooting guards in the NBA. He was a mismatch against whomever he played that night.
He definitely would have had his work cut out for him defensively during this era of killer shooting guards.
His numbers would have been no different but,Mike the leader and motivator would have set him apart from the others.
2007-01-09 12:27:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He'd definately still be great, but he'd have to compete with Lebron and Dwyane wade
2007-01-09 10:07:16 · answer #6 · answered by hamzah ali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a guy that averaged these points-per-game in his career could play in the NBA today: 28.2, 22.7, 37.1, 35.0, 32.5, 33.6, 31.5, 30.1, 32.6, 26.9, 30.4, 29.6, 28.7, 22.9 and 20.0
2007-01-09 06:02:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he'd still be good, not superior like the guys you mentioned... but good still...
2007-01-09 04:23:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he going to be amazing.
2007-01-09 07:58:01 · answer #9 · answered by sportzkid757 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋