People often enjoy imagining how NBA legends would do in today's game. As is always the case, the topic of Michael Jordan's dominance and how he would fare in the modern era is hotly debated. But recently, former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy added fuel to the fire when he boldly declared that if Jordan played in today's NBA, he would average a remarkable 40 points per game.
Van Gundy's statement is no surprise to many basketball fans who have long admired Jordan's unparalleled skill and talent. During his playing career, Jordan was known for his incredible scoring ability and is hailed as the greatest player of all time. He averaged an impressive 30.1 points per game throughout his career, holding the record for the highest career scoring average, which stands to this very day.
Wreak havoc in today’s NBA
Van Gundy pointed out the league’s current rules, which many experts and players say tend to favor the offensive side of the ball. With strict rules on hand checking and physicality, many argue that players in today’s NBA have it easier when it comes to scoring compared to Jordan's era. This has led Van Gundy and other analysts to believe that if Jordan played now, he would be even more dominant on the court.
“If you would give the ball to Jordan in his prime with these rules, with all the shooting, and think that he wasn't going to shoot over 50%? He shot over 50% with limited 3-point shooting and limited space in the triangle offense,” Van Gundy said on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast.”
Brutal brand of basketball
Add to that the fact that Jordan played in an era marked by blatant physicality and still managed to score that many points; it’s clear he was a true scoring savant. In comparison, today's players have much more freedom to move and score without fear of getting roughed up by opposing defenders.
Van Gundy added that Jordan played “at the highest form of physicality, the (Detroit) Pistons or the (New York) Knicks trying to take your head off. So there is (absolutely) no question Michael Jordan would have led the league in scoring (in today's time). He would've averaged 40 (points).”
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