Rockets Daryl Morey picks between Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Differences in the eras
The 3-point shot has become much more prevalent and the game is measured by advanced metrics, meaning taking the most efficient shots. This has essentially eliminated the mid-range shot which Jordan thrived at, but with Jordan’s competitiveness, it’s safe to say he would dominate in today’s league also.
The game was much more physical when Jordan played than it is today, which would certainly bode well for him. On top of that, the league wouldn’t be where it is today if it weren’t for the current players studying Jordan’s game as they were developing into the players they are now.
If the conversation were to shift to how Jordan would fare in today’s league versus how LeBron has fared, we’re forced to base the conversation off of hypotheticals. If you ask Kevin Durant how dominant Jordan would be in today’s league, however, he believes MJ would be the best player in the league, and he provided his explanation for why.
“He can adapt his game to anything,” Durant said. “He would fit in as the best player in the league. That’s what he would be. He would have more possessions to do more things. More space for M.J. to go to work. We’ll never know, but for sure he’s a masterful basketball player, and like we’ve been saying his skill level is unmatched.”
Next: Flawed comparison