Hornets: Would Michael Jordan Dominate Today’s Game?

Michael Jordan, primary owner of the Charlotte Hornets, was in the news over the weekend. It was not for anything the billionaire did wrong. Instead, his name popped up in an interview with former NBA point guard Jason Williams.

In an extended interview comparing the NBA’s past and present, White Chocolate made a claim that turned many heads in the basketball world. In regards to if he thought MJ would be the greatest player in today’s game, Williams went on to say:

“Anybody in the NBA is going to beat anybody one on one, let alone Michael Jordan. I think he’d be great, be an All-Star for sure, but not the Michael Jordan that he was back then if that’s fair to say.”

This is certainly a controversial take. Because Mike has one of the largest athletic fan bases in the world, this hot take quickly became a topic of discussion.

Personally, I am inclined to agree with Williams’ perspective. Could the Hornets’ owner have dominated in today’s style of play? Absolutely. He would have been raised differently, shot more triples, and adapted to the speed with which the game is played now.

Does that mean he would have been an all-time great? Not necessarily. Jordan is undoubtedly a contender for the NBA’s G.O.A.T. crown due to the era he played in and the style of game he possessed. If Mike became more of a James Harden type of scorer and finisher to thrive in this era, would he be the greatest shooting guard of all-time, let alone in debates for the greatest player of all-time?

It’s an interesting question – one that can truly never be answered. One thing is for sure: Mike would have been elite no matter what era he played in. In the 60s and 70s, his athleticism would have reigned supreme. In the 80s and 90s, he dominated the league. In the 2000s and 10s, he would have battled Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James for countless chips. As we enter the 20s, there is no doubt that Jordan would have been an All-NBA level player, but he may not have been the Airness that we know him as today.