Michael Jordan’s ‘Dirty Slap’ on Ex-Warriors Star During Bulls Stint Makes Lamar Jackson Call for ‘NBA Streets’ to Return

A couple of weeks ago, Patriots legend Matt Light suggested NFL should bring the “violence back” to the sport. Now Vikings’ QB Lamar Jackson has proposed something similar for NBA. Coming across a vintage clip of the Bulls legend Michael Jordan, Jackson couldn’t help but wish for NBA to level up in terms of physicality.

There was a time when NBA players would be seen bodying players down in the post and the defenses would return the favor by close perimeter play. This led to some of the most physical action on the court and the change in how the game is played now, has been a topic of debate.

A few months ago, “Basketballwithinborders” posted a video on Instagram of a game between Chicago Bulls and Golden Stat Warriors from the 90s. In the video, Michael Jordan executes a massive leap, before inadvertently slapping Chris Mullin, while trying to knock the ball from his hand and stop him from scoring. The caption in the video read, “The ability to pause mid-flight and still give Chris Mullin a dirty slap… You’d never know Michael Jordan had a little bit of Draymond Green in him back in the day.”

Impressed by what he saw, Jackson shared the video on his IG story and added the caption, “Bring back NBA streets,” followed by two laughing emojis. Lamar was probably hinting at the rough and competitive style of basketball that was once common in the NBA. Many fans and players feel that today’s games are much softer and less physical than before.

In 2004, NBA eliminated the use of hand checking play, which made things difficult for the defenses. Over the years, further changes have made the game even less physical. Players getting constantly called for touch fouls and offensive players taking the liberty to shoot 3-pointers, have only added to the notion of reduced physicality in basketball.

Last year, LA Clippers shooting guard Paul George, talked about the issue on his podcast “Podcast P.” “Handchecking is a foul now. It’s killing the game a little bit. Now we can’t be defenders. You can’t defend as well as we used to. You can get in the ball in pick-and-rolls like you can be aggressive, you can be physical. You can’t do none of that now,” he said.

Similar sentiments have been expressed by other players and coaches including Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr, who said, “we’ve just gone a little too far,” with limiting the defenses.

Players like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Joe Dumars were strong going forward but looked equally impressive playing on ball, close, perimeter defense. Nonetheless, the game has evolved now and while it still has its merits, Jackson and many others would love for it to have more physicality.

Meanwhile, NBA isn’t the only sport getting soft, apparently. NFL has also been blamed of easing up on the physical aspect, something that Matt Light brought up on podcast on June 5.

Matt Light wants NFL to be more physical

Alongside his former teammate Julian Edelman, Matt Light talked about NFL’s changing dynamic on the Games with Names podcast. He talked about the ‘Taylor Swift effect’ and how it helped the sport’s popularity, but stressed that many NFL fans have switched off from the game due to how the game is played.

He said, “the average fan and the rabid fan, has left the game in droves and that’s not a good thing for football.” There has been a shift in the NFL fanbase, with more female fans watching the game. But at the same time, the male viewership, though still larger than female engagement, has dwindled.

Light stressed that, “There’s only so much Taylor Swift, ‘The Swifties,’ can do, okay? in terms of driving the viewership before pointing out “we need to bring the violence back.”

Well, NFL players seem to want some old school in-your -ace action to return to sports, whether it’s on the gridiron or the NBA court.