Jordan: I could score 100 in current NBA

[Scoot26]

Michael Jordan helped the Chicago Bulls win six championships.

But Jordan told USA Today his success offensively may have been greater under today's NBA rules.

"It's less physical and the rules have changed, obviously," said Jordan, who was promoting NBA 2K11 video game. "Based on these rules, if I had to play with my style of play, I'm pretty sure I would have fouled out or I would have been at the free throw line pretty often and I could have scored 100 points."

Jordan averaged 30.1 points and 6.2 rebounds a game in his 15-year career.

Comparisons are often drawn between Jordan and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who won his fifth title last season. Where does Jordan think Bryant stacks up with the greats of the game?

"It's so hard to say," Jordan told the newspaper. "I think he is always going to be within the conversations of some of the greatest players who've played by the time he is finished. Where does he rank among those, if you are talking about positions? If you are talking about guards, I would say he has got to be in the top 10."

Michael Jordan on current NBA: 'I could have scored 100 points' - ESPN

 

[bossdrb]

I would consider this to be cockiness if he weren't...y'know...the greatest of all-time.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Guess I'm not the only one that thinks the NBA is a softer game now.

 

[houheffna]

Jordan is talking out of his ass...he beginning to sound like Wilt Chamberlain used to sound 20 years ago. They didn't have boys back then like they do now. He would have been the greatest still but just because he is the greatest doesn't mean he can't be a bit cocky.

 

[Crystallas]

I actually agree with what Jordan said. People are just shocked, because he actually "said it" out loud.

 

[Derkach77]

I agree with Jordan 100% and always have believed the game is much softer then his era.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Jordan is talking out of his ass...he beginning to sound like Wilt Chamberlain used to sound 20 years ago. They didn't have boys back then like they do now. He would have been the greatest still but just because he is the greatest doesn't mean he can't be a bit cocky.

I agreed with Chamberlain then, and I agree with Jordan now. Jordan also said he might foul out a lot more... remember that. Hell, Wilt never even fouled out of a game.

 

[Kush77]

I disagreed 100% with Chamberlain. Wilt didn't just say he'd score 100..again. He said he would easily average 50 ppg. And he said that in the 90s with Ewing, Robinson, Shaq, Olajuwon. There's no way.

Now MJ scoring 100 points in a game with the rules. He possibly could.

Kobe scored 81 pts on 28 of 46 FG, 18 of 20 FT and 7 of 13 3s in 42 min.
Jordan's 69 was on 23 of 37 shooting, 21 of 23 FTs and 2 of 6 3s in 50 min.
Wilt's 100 came on 36 of 63 FG, 28 of 32 FTs, no 3s and I assume 48 min. the box score didn't say.

If MJ or Kobe took 63 shots, they'd score 100 points.

I could be done, if that was their goal. I don't think either guy ever said to himself "I gunning for 100 tonight."

 

[houheffna]

I disagreed 100% with Chamberlain. Wilt didn't just say he'd score 100..again. He said he would easily average 50 ppg. And he said that in the 90s with Ewing, Robinson, Shaq, Olajuwon. There's no way.

Now MJ scoring 100 points in a game with the rules. He possibly could.

Kobe scored 81 pts on 28 of 46 FG, 18 of 20 FT and 7 of 13 3s in 42 min.
Jordan's 69 was on 23 of 37 shooting, 21 of 23 FTs and 2 of 6 3s in 50 min.
Wilt's 100 came on 36 of 63 FG, 28 of 32 FTs, no 3s and I assume 48 min. the box score didn't say.

If MJ or Kobe took 63 shots, they'd score 100 points.

I could be done, if that was their goal. I don't think either guy ever said to himself "I gunning for 100 tonight."

You know, I remember Mickey Mantle 20 years ago when asked about Canseco's 40/40 season..."oh sure, I could have done that but I didn't think it was that important..." I am paraphrasing but that is what he said.

I never thought Jordan would turn into one of those guys, because he was attacked at times by people like that....

I still remember Chamberlain and Russell standing there at the 50th anniversary celebration dismissing Rodman and saying he couldn't rebound on their level....really???? You don't think so? Statements like that is why I still look at Russell with a bit of disdain.

Gayle Sayers has a big mouth too with his "I only played 68 games and I would have been the greatest but I got hurt" talk and negative critique of Walter Payton. I am just sick of it. And believe me, Pippen might eventually join in, and ain't no telling what will come out of his mouth if you get him started...Jordan is just going to show his true self and the mask will fall eventually for all to see...

 

[zack54attack]

Jordan did play in a era that was more physical. But I don't know if he could score 100.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Jordan could definitely score 100 in today's NBA. Look what the guy did against Joe Dumars, Xavier McDaniel, John Starks, and mean front-lines that would actually try to hurt you.

Wilt Chamberlain would have dominated every single center in the NBA back in Jordan's era, with the exception of Olajuwon and maybe Shaq... BIG maybe.

 

[Lex L.]

Jordan did play in a era that was more physical. But I don't know if he could score 100.

Its actually not that far fetched. Jordan never played in an NBA where they cracked down on hand checking. Now theres a defensive 3 second rule too. Jordan was pretty unstoppable enough as it was but if you take away the handchecking and remove the defender camping ut under the basket, forget it. It would be like he's not even being guarded. Would that translate into 15 or more quality shots in some games? When you look at it from a possession to possession basis, it doesnt seem that out of the realm.

I agree with him. I also think Jordan would have averaged over 50 points a game under these rules.

 

[TheStig]

I agree, MJ would have had a fair chance at a 100 in his earlier years. Kobe got to 81 and we can all agree MJ was better, particularly in his early years, he would live at the foul line now.

jordan did play in a much more difficult era for guards. A guy like Wade would have struggled a lot back then, not as many foul calls and really hard hits.

 

[houheffna]

I agree, MJ would have had a fair chance at a 100 in his earlier years. Kobe got to 81 and we can all agree MJ was better, particularly in his early years, he would live at the foul line now.

jordan did play in a much more difficult era for guards. A guy like Wade would have struggled a lot back then, not as many foul calls and really hard hits.

Wade is better than any guard Jordan played against, the best shooting guard in those days was Clyde Drexler. Wade is a better player than Drexler. He would have been a hall of fame player back then...

 

[Bullsman24]

Wade is better than any guard Jordan played against, the best shooting guard in those days was Clyde Drexler. Wade is a better player than Drexler. He would have been a hall of fame player back then...

...and he's a hall of famer now

but really, that shows how impressive jordan was. the rules were more oriented towards bigs but jordan was the greatest anyway.

 

[houheffna]

...and he's a hall of famer now

but really, that shows how impressive jordan was. the rules were more oriented towards bigs but jordan was the greatest anyway.

Believe me...they COULDN'T do to Lebron what they did to Jordan. Different era and there was no player like that at all...none. There was no Carmelo in the 90's either...and Durant???

I am sorry, but that era was not superior to the current era...not in my opinion. There are a lack of big men, but there are 5 or 6 Isiah Thomases running around now...lol

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

As much as I love Dwyane Wade... it's a toss-up, at best, between he and Drexler.

I say that the mid 90's was the peak of team basketball in the NBA. It's all a matter of opinion though.

 

[houheffna]

As much as I love Dwyane Wade... it's a toss-up, at best, between he and Drexler.

I say that the mid 90's was the peak of team basketball in the NBA. It's all a matter of opinion though.

Drexler was NEVER that good...Drexler was an outstanding rebounder at the position and definitely a top notch scorer, but he couldn't put a team on his shoulders and win a title with them like Wade did. Wade is a superior player to Drexler on both sides of the court. Wade is on the Mt. Rushmore of shooting guards in my opinion...Jordan, Kobe, West, Wade...

The mid '80s may have been the peak of team basketball, the mid 90's I remember had a lot of complaining about how watered down the league was, and that even contraction should be considered instead of the expansion that happened.

 

[Scoot26]

Drexler was NEVER that good...Drexler was an outstanding rebounder at the position and definitely a top notch scorer, but he couldn't put a team on his shoulders and win a title with them like Wade did. Wade is a superior player to Drexler on both sides of the court. Wade is on the Mt. Rushmore of shooting guards in my opinion...Jordan, Kobe, West, Wade...

The mid '80s may have been the peak of team basketball, the mid 90's I remember had a lot of complaining about how watered down the league was, and that even contraction should be considered instead of the expansion that happened.

Wade had help in Shaq. Shaq wasnt the earlier 2000 version in 2006, but he was still pretty damn good. Drexler never had a player like Shaq as a sidekick on his team. His center was Kevin friggin Duckworth. That Blazers team had no real good second option. So the fact Drexler got to the Finals twice by himself is a good mark.

However, I dont think Drexler was anything more than a second option, while Wade is a first option.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Well, I agree that if I was choosing between Wade and Drexler, I would probably choose Wade. I think that the 90's had the best talent... the mid-to-late 80's is pretty close in-comparison...

But as for the whole Wilt Chamberlain debate, I will concede that some of the things Wilt claimed that he could do in the 90s were laughable. He did have better competition, back then in the 60's, than people give him credit for. But there is no way he would average 50 points. The rebounds would have somewhat have dipped out too. But, I say he is definitely a top 10 player of all-time. The guy has ludacris stats (even per-36 minutes) and has had some team success in an era monopolized by the heavily-stacked Boston Celtics.