Where would ‘97 MJ rank today?

1993Playoffs · Post #1 » by **1993Playoffs** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 4:20 pm

Where would he rank?

ty 4191 · Post #2 » by **ty 4191** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 4:41 pm

1993Playoffs wrote:Where would he rank?

There are 120 international players from 40 different countries spread across 6 continents today.

The league also hasn't expanded in almost 20 years. It added 6 (truly awful) teams from 1988-1989 through 1995-1996, expanding to 29 teams by 1997, the year in question.

Jordan would and could not dominate like he did in his actual career, today. The league is SO much deeper, broader, and more sophisticated today.

ty 4191 · Post #3 » by **ty 4191** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:09 pm

PS: I voted top 5, and that's being quite generous to Jordan.

1993Playoffs · Post #4 » by **1993Playoffs** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:19 pm

ty 4191 wrote:
1993Playoffs wrote:Where would he rank?

There are 120 international players from 40 different countries spread across 6 continents today.

The league also hasn't expanded in almost 20 years. It added 6 (truly awful) teams from 1988-1989 through 1995-1996, expanding to 29 teams by 1997, the year in question.

Jordan would and could not dominate like he did in his actual career, today. The league is SO much deeper, broader, and more sophisticated today.

I agree also. I’d say lower end of the top 10. It would be very interesting to see how he would look in the playoffs.

No-more-rings · Post #5 » by **No-more-rings** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:37 pm

I feel like we do this at least once a year with 97 and/or 98 Jordan. I think there’s too many variables to say for sure, and we don’t know how a number of guys will perform as the year goes on and into the playoffs.

I think he’s an easy top 10, with a good case for top 5.

eminence · Post #6 » by **eminence** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:45 pm

Voted top 5, I could see him in the 6-7 range.

Presuming there's some sort of adjustment period allowed.

Heej · Post #7 » by **Heej** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:54 pm

I voted top 10 because top 5 is just a little unrealistic. People don't realize the weak late 80s drafts left a whole power void during the late 90s that would've been filled by generational superstate at the peak of their powers. Instead those guys arrived in the mid 90s and weren't in their primes yet to challenge him. Now you got mid-late 2010s draftees like Luka Jokic Tatum Embiid Giannis firmly in their primes or early primes that Jordan can't steamroll like he did to the up and comers back then

Colbinii · Post #8 » by **Colbinii** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 8:21 pm

I would have him behind Curry, Jokic and Giannis. Mixed with Luka, Tatum and Embiid.

SHAQ32 · Post #9 » by **SHAQ32** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:34 am

ty 4191 wrote:
1993Playoffs wrote:Where would he rank?

There are 120 international players from 40 different countries spread across 6 continents today.

The league also hasn't expanded in almost 20 years. It added 6 (truly awful) teams from 1988-1989 through 1995-1996, expanding to 29 teams by 1997, the year in question.

Jordan would and could not dominate like he did in his actual career, today. The league is SO much deeper, broader, and more sophisticated today.

But the league (and your charts) would not be where they are today without Michael, riddle me this?

mysticOscar · Post #10 » by **mysticOscar** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:34 am

Lol God the takes from some ppl on this board. 1997 Jordan was a better version of a more healthy 2020 Kawhi.

Jordan in today's league would be one of the favourites foe MVP in today's league

Red Pill Sports · Post #11 » by **Red Pill Sports** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:12 am

Jokic and Luka, two guys currently considered Top 5, are both unathletic sloths who are defensive liabilities. Even 34 year old Jordan would be the best or at worst 2nd best player in the league.

And before anyone brings up 3-point percentage Giannis, Luka, and SGA are all averaging over 30 PPG while shooting poorly from three.

rk2023 · Post #12 » by **rk2023** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:29 am

mysticOscar wrote:Lol God the takes from some ppl on this board. 1997 Jordan was a better version of a more healthy 2020 Kawhi.

Jordan in today's league would be one of the favourites foe MVP in today's league

Better version? Are we sure post 91 Jordan (in any year) has replicated 19 Kawhi on defense?

rk2023 · Post #13 » by **rk2023** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:33 am

Red Pill Sports wrote:Jokic and Luka, two guys currently considered Top 5, are both unathletic sloths who are defensive liabilities. Even 34 year old Jordan would be the best or at worst 2nd best player in the league.

And before anyone brings up 3-point percentage Giannis, Luka, and SGA are all averaging over 30 PPG while shooting poorly from three.

"Unathletic sloths", What is this, a Twitter comment section? If you would like a comparison, how about the one where current Luka and Jokic create far better opportunities for their teammates and objectively impact winning more than 1997 Jordan

Red Pill Sports · Post #14 » by **Red Pill Sports** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:44 am

"Unathletic sloths", What is this, a Twitter comment section? If you would like a comparison, how about the one where current Luka and Jokic create far better opportunities for their teammates and objectively impact winning more than 1997 Jordan

Now give '97 Jordan 2022 rules while factoring in his activity on the defensive end and the small ball style that would generate more rebounds for him at that age. If the league isn't too hard for these sloths, it isn't too hard for '97 Jordan.

SNPA · Post #15 » by **SNPA** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:03 am

Floor spread and you can’t touch him? He’d do just fine.

rk2023 · Post #16 » by **rk2023** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:06 am

Red Pill Sports wrote:
"Unathletic sloths", What is this, a Twitter comment section? If you would like a comparison, how about the one where current Luka and Jokic create far better opportunities for their teammates and objectively impact winning more than 1997 Jordan

Now give '97 Jordan 2022 rules while factoring in his activity on the defensive end and the small ball style that would generate more rebounds for him at that age. If the league isn't too hard for these sloths, it isn't too hard for '97 Jordan.

1997 wasn't one of his most active years on defense by any means.

Is there any correlation with non-big rebounding %s and league YoY offensive rating? What makes him more likely to rebound more, amongst all stat categories?

"Sloths" once again, this isn't quite basketball analysis and nobody said today's league isn't easy for Jordan. Being a top 5 player (which I voted) today still is a pretty stellar bar for a 34 year old.. It sounds like you are just talking to talk

Red Pill Sports · Post #17 » by **Red Pill Sports** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:15 am

Still more active on defense than Luka and Joker.

Small ball, bigs shooting threes, quicker pace creating more rebound opportunities, far less crowded lanes due to modern spacing etc. All of these will lead to him averaging more rebounds. If a 6-foot-3 guard can average double digit rebounds in the modern era, there's literally no reason to say he wouldn't rebound more now.

AEnigma · Post #18 » by **AEnigma** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:20 am

True, and as we learned in 2017, basketball is about how many rebounds you can accumulate as a perimetre player.

mysticOscar · Post #19 » by **mysticOscar** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:19 pm

rk2023 wrote:
mysticOscar wrote:Lol God the takes from some ppl on this board. 1997 Jordan was a better version of a more healthy 2020 Kawhi.

Jordan in today's league would be one of the favourites foe MVP in today's league

Better version? Are we sure post 91 Jordan (in any year) has replicated 19 Kawhi on defense?

In today's league where the offense is generally coming from a perimeter player compared to inside post in his era? I think MJs defense would have more of an impact today...so the defense is quite close to me.

In terms of offense, MJs gap is just so much bigger. Just the quickness compared to Kawhi and more array of shots.

It's just hard to see how today's rules can slow down MJ even his 2nd 3peat version

1993Playoffs · Post #20 » by **1993Playoffs** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:27 pm

rk2023 wrote:
mysticOscar wrote:Lol God the takes from some ppl on this board. 1997 Jordan was a better version of a more healthy 2020 Kawhi.

Jordan in today's league would be one of the favourites foe MVP in today's league

Better version? Are we sure post 91 Jordan (in any year) has replicated 19 Kawhi on defense?

It’s tough because I don’t think Kawhi in 2019 was at his defensive peak anymore at least from 2015-16.

How that relates to any post 91 MJ season? I can’t say but I can’t imagine the gap being huge