It is true. Michael Jordan believes he is better than he actually was.
To generate some hype surrounding the release of the video game NBA 2K11, which features Jordan on the cover, the NBA legend gave an interview with USA Today’s Game Hunters blog to discuss the game to which he dedicated his life.
When Jordan was asked how the game has changed since his playing days, the five-time MVP said based on the rules that exist today, he could have scored 100 points in a game if he was playing his style of basketball.
That’s a bit hard to believe.
Although he might have been the greatest player ever to grace the court, there is no way that Jordan would have scored 100 points in today’s game. The most Jordan ever scored in a game was 69 points, and that was with overtime.
Wilt Chamberlain will be the only NBA player to ever score 100 points, and there are a few reasons for this. The Philadelphia Warriors fouled the New York Knicks every possession to stop the clock as much as possible, a move that would never be allowed in today’s game. Chamberlain was given the ball every time down the court, scoring 100 of the Warrior’s 167 points on March 2, 1962. The game, which ended with a score of 167-147, was an absolute joke, and that’s how it should be remembered in NBA history.
Maybe, just maybe, Jordan would be able to match Kobe Bryant‘s career high of 81 points in a game but even that is pushing it. Bryant is the closest any player has come to reaching the 100 points Chamberlain put up in one game. This 81-point game for Kobe was very impressive due to the competitive action that was happening on the court, not to mention the seven three-pointers he knocked down. In Chamberlain’s case, however, he was just running to the basket each time down the court where a teammate would pass him the ball.
Jordan’s career three-point percentage was 29 percent, a number that would have to change dramatically if he ever wanted to pass his career high of 69 points.
Since most, if not all, of the NBA considers Jordan to be the best player to ever play the game, he should just be content with that label, and enjoy being remembered as such.
Do you think Michael Jordan could score 100 points in today’s NBA? Share your thoughts below.
