NBA’s Evolution Became Hindrance to Michael Jordan’s Bulls and Other Giants’ Domination, as Per 3x Champ

Having played with both Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on the Los Angeles Lakers, James Worthy knows exactly what it is like to consistently win at the highest level. But according to the Laker legend, the days of powerhouse teams like the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan and the Boston Celtics with Larry Bird continuously dominating the NBA are over. The NBA is now more competitive than ever before, and any team can win a championship if they play their cards right.

After recently witnessing the talent in the NBA, this Hall of Famer expressed his thoughts on the current state of the NBA, when comparing the chances of a smaller market team competing with the likes of LA and Chicago.

Michael Jordan-like players cannot replicate team success anymore

The Lakers were dominant in the 1980s and were one of the four teams to win a championship in that decade. So, James Worthy has witnessed firsthand what it feels like to be on a big-market team with other superstars like Magic Johnson. But compared to those days, the current NBA is vastly different.

Although the big market teams still have a bit of an advantage, according to the 3x champion, there is more parity in the NBA than ever before. The 7x All-Star said to the U.S. Sun, “The NBA is, is thriving. You know, it’s a different game than where I come from, but it has grown exponentially over the years, so it’s exciting. I think the parity is really good in the conferences… It’s expanded beyond what I ever could think of. Competition is good. So, the NBA is good right now.“

As the Lakers legend explained, the NBA is currently not dominated by a single team like the Chicago Bulls were in the 1990s with Michael Jordan. Just looking at the championship winners from the last 5 years, it is apparent that anyone can win now, as 5 different teams lifted the trophy in the last 5 seasons. This means that even if you are the best player in the world, your chances of winning a championship are less likely than ever before.

The NBA is now extremely competitive

The days of a team with a negative record making the playoffs are a thing of the past. The differences in the abilities of teams are slimmer than they have ever been. One game can significantly change how a team stands in the playoff run. This is one of the reasons why the play-in tournament was announced, as more than eight teams are now deserving of going to the post-season.

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The Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship last season. Having played over a quarter of the season so far, they are currently 4th in the standings in the West. But it is surprising to note that the difference in wins between the 2-seed and the 10-seed is just 2 games. This is competitiveness to an extent we have never seen before, making each regular-season game more valuable than it has ever been.

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This is ultimately good for the league, as there is never a clear-cut winner. Do you think James Worthy is right about the current state of the NBA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!