Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Today’s NBA is not without its critics, largely because of the league’s overemphasis on offense. There were very few games in the old NBA that broke the 100-point mark, and if a team could break the 100-point mark multiple times, it would be considered a major achievement.
Amid endless fouls and three-pointers that would make Stephen Curry dizzy, many fans are curious to see how a former NBA superstar like Michael Jordan will fare in the modern era.
James chimed in on the Road Trippin Podcast and firmly stated that if Jordan were playing in the NBA today, he wouldn’t be averaging 50 points per game like many think.
LeBron James: ‘It’s disrespectful to think someone is averaging 50 points a game’
LeBron is an expert in this sport. He understands the game’s past and the players who helped establish the current era of basketball. People should pay attention when he says it’s disrespectful to assume Jordan averaged 50 points per game.
Today’s athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger due to developments in technology, diet, and training. The pace of the game has also been greatly accelerated, with the team focusing more on speed and three-pointers rather than singles and low post singles.
So while Jordan is undoubtedly one of the best scorers in NBA history, assuming he could score more than he did during his era might be unfair to a player who is currently soaring.
LeBron said: “No one in our league can average 50 points a game. No matter how great you were in your era or how good you played in any era, it is disrespectful. If that’s the case, I think men would have averaged 50 in their time.”
Can Jordan average 50 points per game in the league?
Michael Jordan averaged 30.12 points per game, the highest career scoring average in NBA history. Michael Jordan also won ten scoring titles in an era when defenses could still rob offensive players and get away with it most of the time without being called for fouls.
LeBron may have felt this was disrespectful, but Jordan, with his scoring ability and today’s NBA rules, was eager to prove James wrong.
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