Could Michael Jordan Replicate His Dominance if He Played in the NBA today?

Michael Jordan was unstoppable in his playing days. The Chicago Bulls star terrorized opponents with accurate layups and thunderings dunks with the iconic tongue sticking out. Although, the million-dollar question that still remains is: How much would MJ dominate if he played the modern game?

The discussion is legit, as nobody from the past or the present registered their impact as Jordan did. Players in the present era are extremely competitive and train hard to match up with the standards they set for themselves. However, back then, MJ was in a league of his own. 

From Jordan’s glory days in the 90s to now, a lot has rapidly changed in the NBA. Trends don’t remain the same. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg tried to bridge the gap between the 90s and now, to picture out the impact Jordan would have if he played in the league today.

For instance, the significant change that is evident now is 3-point shooting. The drastic change in tactics regarding 3-pointers makes the game look more elegant. Steph Curry is the man to go for if you’re talking elegance in shooting three’s. The man from the Bay is extremely effective in scoring from outside the arc. 

Now, before comparing Jordan’s three-point shooting stats, it is to be perceived from above on how the teams approach these situations now. Back then, 3-pointers were not as popular as they are now. In his six title-winning seasons with the Bulls, Jordan shot 389 shots from the three-point range. In comparison, Curry overtook that figure all by himself in a single season with the Golden State Warriors. Stats reveal that 3-point attempts have gone up by 167% since the 1997-98 season.

How much would Michael Jordan average per game if he played now?

The answer remains a mystery, as we can’t call the GOAT back from retirement. He is done, once and for all. However, the statistics from his illustrious career can help with making an analysis. 

Michael Jordan holds the NBA record for the highest career points average at 30.1. His best scoring seasons came from 1986 to 88 where he averaged a mammoth 36.0 points. But he only made 19 three’s in roughly 160 games. This number is drastically low when compared to the modern game. 

Considering MJ’s better efficacy in taking three-pointers coming back from his first retirement, Mike Greenberg takes his best scoring average and adds three more points to his name. Because of the increased pace of the game and the better shooting chances taken in the modern era, one could assume Jordan could have put a few more points into his pocket.

The key area of change is the way the league deals with physicality now. Back in the 90s, the ‘Bad Boys Pistons’ or the New York Knicks would never allow Jordan to take flight and would be extremely physical with him. Reflecting on how these factors don’t exist now, Greenberg adds another 15% into his points tally, which rockets it up to 45 PPG. Does it sound absurd or do you think Michael Jordan being who he was, could rock today’s game as well?