When people try to rank and debate the greatest players in basketball history, or any sports history for that matter, it’s always pointed out that you can’t compare modern players and players from the past because at a base level, the philosophy of the game has changed drastically and the skills players possess have become more refined. My question is, are there any players from the 90s or earlier, who were so dominant that you could place them in a 2023 game and they would still be a threat? Like would Larry Birds game still be effective or would he get eaten alive by todays talent?
Jordan wouldn’t be as dominant. He can’t shoot the 3 and he doesn’t have the benefit of playing in the illegal defense era. Even Jordan said it himself
Illegal d is a good point, but I’m sure he would be a decent 3 pt shooter if it was as important then as it is now. He adjusted his game big time when he played for Washington and didn’t have the same athleticism.
Jordan couldn’t shoot the three, except for that one NBA Finals game where he decided to make 6 in the first half and then shrugged because even he couldn’t believe how good he was.
The thing I love about the great-greats is how they have insane accomplishments with their “weaknesses”. Jordan set a NBA Finals record for threes in a half, and averaged double figure assists in his first ever finals, when he was known as a scorer who didn’t shoot threes. LeBron isn’t known as a scorer but is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Greats are going to be great regardless.