Home/NBA

via Getty

via Getty

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are two of the most decorated NBA players of all time. Since Michael Jordan entered the league in the 1980s, a young Kobe Bryant admired and looked up to the Chicago Bulls legend. Fast-forward a few years to 1996, an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant entered the league and joined the mighty Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan won 6 NBA Championships (two three-peats) for the Chicago Bulls and the late Kobe Bryant won five for the L.A. Lakers.

In a recent interview, a 3x All-Star presents a very interesting hypothetical scenario.

3x All-Star?s take on if Kobe Bryant played for Chicago

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In a podcast episode of the ?Gil?s Arena?, NBA veteran and 3x All-Star Gilbert Arenas talks about the late Kobe Bryant?s scoring ability. He says, ?If you took Kobe Bryant and you put him on that Bulls team (1995 team), Kobe is averaging 45-50 for the season. They (Bulls team in ?95) didn?t shoot the ball?first quarter, the team is ?0-1? from the field!?

READ MORE| Relishing in 4?2 Victory Over Kobe Bryant?s Favorite Team, 28YO MLB Star Utters Lakers Legend?s Iconic 3 Words

Gilbert Arenas states that the offense and defense till the late 1990?s were below average. He says, ?In 1995, Jordan had 55 points in a game. The ?Chet vs Wemby? highlights (recent 2023 NBA game) was better than that whole game, which did not have one memorable moment. This is ?95, I am in the league 6 years after that? It was horrible (the quality of the games played back in the day).?.

 

?

He even goes on to say that Patrick Ewing was extremely predictable offensively. The 3x All-Star seems very sure that if those players played in the 2000?s, they wouldn?t be able to survive.

When 3x All-Star made a bold claim in another hypothetical

Known for his unapologetic attitude and strong opinions, Gilbert Arenas is an NBA veteran who believes that the offense and defense in the 70?s, 80?s and 90?s were extremely poor. In another hypothetical scenario, Gilbert Arenas stated that ?If you gave Kobe and Jordan those LeBron Cavs teams, they wouldn?t even make the playoffs?. The bold statement definitely makes one wonder if it’s true.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Imago

It is obvious that the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and 2015 (when LeBron was there) were not as star-studded as the 90?s Chicago Bulls team or the early 2000?s L.A. Lakers team. However, the pace and the physicality of the game were also very different in the two eras.

If the then-Chicago Bulls team and the Los Angeles Lakers team played by today?s NBA rules, either of two things would happen: Either the vintage players will run out of stamina because of the high-paced game or they will physically dominate the opposite team. In either scenario, I believe that neither the late Kobe Bryant nor Michael Jordan would’ve faced any difficulties (individually) because of their incredible work ethic. They would’ve definitely contributed to the Cavaliers’ team performance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY| “Didn’t say you can talk.”: After threatening his “girlfriend’s” replacement, Shaquille O’ Neal publicly troubles one fan for 1 annoying reason

What are your thoughts on Gilbert Arenas? take: if Kobe Bryant had played instead of Michael Jordan in the 1995 Chicago Bulls team? Let us know in the comments below!