Isiah Thomas may have a strained relationship with Michael Jordan but he isn’t letting it cloud the view he has of the Chicago Bulls icon on court. The Pistons point guard locked horns with Jordan for about 10 years, garnering his share of wins and strategies. Now as the ‘LeBron James vs the previous era’ narrative goes around, Thomas points out a specific skill that could decisively favor one icon over the other in hypothetical matchups across eras.

When Isiah Thomas was asked how his team would have defended LeBron James in comparison to how they defended Michael Jordan during their matchups in the 80s, he reflected upon the ‘Jordan Rules’, a famous defensive strategy used by His Airness. “We would have played [LeBron] very similar because Jordan at that time wasn’t a great outside shooter,” Thomas explained on PHNX Suns podcast. 

This strategy, he notes, would have similarly challenged LeBron, who, despite being a formidable shooter, isn’t “up there with Steph Curry.” So Thomas adds, “you would force him to be a perimeter player.” 

The comparison deepens when Thomas points out a critical difference when considering their ability to play in the post. “Jordan was a much better post player than LeBron is,” said Thomas, detailing the defensive adjustments that would have been necessary against LeBron. 

Thomas previously touched on the broader context of these comparisons, arising from a claim by former NBA player Lou Williams that James could have won 15 straight championships if he had played in 1975. ‘The Bad Boy’ found this speculation hilarious rather than informative. “I find it comical and laughable how some not all people think this is the first generation of basketball players that athletically could run and jump,” said Thomas.

Isiah Thomas moved aside the notion that LeBron James could have dominated earlier NBA eras. A look back at Thomas’s era prowled players like Julius Erving and Darryl Dawkins, who displayed impressive athleticism. Not to forget Erving’s impressive aerial moves and Dawkins’ powerful dunks, which paved the way for breakaway rims, thus highlighting that competition and athleticism were no less challenging back in the day.

The Evolution of NBA Strategy from Michael Jordan to LeBron James

Michael Jordan’s era in the late 1980s to the late 1990s was dominated by intense physicality and offensive playstyles. Jordan excelled in a league that allowed for more physical defense, where hand-checking was the norm. Jordan’s era saw fewer three-point shots and a slower pace of play compared to today.

In contrast to Jordan’s era, James’s is an era that is defined by speed, pacing, and an emphasis on three-point shooting. The changes in rules, such as the restriction of hand-checking, the introduction of the defensive three-second rule, and the rise of the small ball have changed the dynamic of the game.

Numerous former NBA players have expressed their disagreement with the shift, accusing the league of growing soft. “It ain’t about plays no more,” Charles Oakley had remarked previously. But to each era, their own.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us in the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.