To the old heads and massive basketball junkies here. Was MJ so good at his peak you would rather have him than any two superstars at the time? For example would a team rather have MJ than a Hakeem and Barkley at their peaks?
For most of the 90s/late 80s I think I’d take any two of:
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Olajuwon
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Robinson
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Shaq
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Malone
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Charles Barkley
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Pippen
over Jordan. But that’s probably the full list (Ewing is a maybe).
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MJ was great, but jesus so many people forget how elite Pippen was too. The answer is no.
Yes
MJ was not just a superstar, he was a leader of men. these new superstars just care about themselves. Jordan demanded his teammates play up to par with his level of passion. KD is one of the greatest scorers and all around basketball player the league has every seen, but he just doesnt care as much, prob the money these dudes get paid. i wouldnt care either.
I think the only playoff series win MJ had before Pippen was the starter was against the Cavs, when we get The Shot in Game 5 of a 5 game series. I’m pretty sure that was his MVP/DPoY season too, so it’s not like he was too inexperienced to succeed or anything like that.
Maybe if he played he could have a 2018/2007 Lebron kinda run, where he can succeed when the best competition is the rising Tatum Celtics or the Ben Wallace-less Pistons, but I mean I imagine any actual competitor would make easy work of him. An MJ carry-job for sure is getting swept by the KD Warriors.
Yes
If you are giving MJ the supporting cast of the 96-97 Bulls, then yes, I think I would take him (and that team), over a 96-97 bulls team without MJ, but with two other 90’s super stars.
If his supporting cast sucked, then I think the power of two superstars would be too much advantage.
Hell yes. I’d rather have peak lebron than Steph and KD, too.
Yes
Lebron averages like 3 less points than MJ for his career. Rather have him and add Curry, Jokic, Shaq, Hakeem, Duncan, Kobe or a bunch of other players
Id rather have LeBron than 2 prime MJs
No
depends on the superstars, i’d take just mj over for example. the harden x dwight duo houston had. or the kyrie x luka duo(obviously haven’t seen in full effect yet). just depends on the caliber of superstars.
Kyrie has never been a super star level talent and Dwight was nowhere close to that level on the Rockets
i’ve seen people call both of them superstars on this sub and on twitter that’s not my personal distinction personally i was speaking broadly. i did see someone call rockets dwight a superstar on twitter like a week ago (i agree he wasn’t one at the time but he was a top center)
Nope
I’m a 80’s baby. Idgaf who the other two are, in taking the dude from Space Jam!