NBA fans on social media have had intense debates while comparing Michael Jordan to their favorite players and analyzing who would win a face-off. However, comparing players from separate eras is difficult. Analyst Shannon Sharpe also pondered the same topic after NBA agent Rich Paul and Max Kellerman discussed it on Paul’s show.
The TV personality claimed that MJ would average a 40-point triple-double in the current era, while Paul disagreed with him and stated that the NBA’s youngsters would make it difficult for Jordan to choose and pick his shots.
On his Nightcap show, Sharpe and his crew discussed the numbers the former Chicago Bulls guard would accumulate in the current era. Former NBA player Iso Joe first chipped in with his take and said that he agreed with Max’s statement. He added:
“I think the cream always rises to the top. I do think MJ would probably average a 40-point triple-double in this era. He was so dynamic, he was fast, he was quick, he was explosive, with unstoppable turnarounds mid-range jump shots, are you kidding?”
However, Sharpe did bring out the elephant in the room and discussed MJ’s numbers from deep. He stated that to average a 40-point triple-double, Jordan would have to shoot at least 8-10 three-pointers, which the legend did not like, as he felt it took away from his aggressiveness.
Sharpe’s crew member Joe then supported his argument by playing the defense card. He stated that MJ was a good defender and would get about 10 points from his defense alone. The third panelist and former NFL player Chad Johnson also agreed with them. However, Sharpe was not impressed with the idea that putting up 40-point triple-doubles every game would be an easy task for MJ in the current era.
Sharpe argued:
“Back then, there weren’t a whole lot of players; these guys now are more skilled… Them guys couldn’t shoot, and everybody on the team now can shoot the three.”
MJ’s 3-pointer shooting percentage has always haunted him during his playing days and would have become a serious factor in the current era of basketball.
How good was Michael Jordan from deep?
Michael Jordan was not a great 3-point shooter, but he made some crucial shots from deep to put his team in front. However, he relied more on the medium-range jumpers that gave him solid results. In his career, he averages 32.7% from beyond the arc.
Besides, it can also not be ignored that MJ’s era had some big teams with elite defenses. Even then, the 5-time NBA MVP averaged 30+ points in eight seasons out of his total 15. Moreover, his elite defense added another feather to his resume. The 1998 Defensive Player of the Year’s vision and activeness on the defense keep him a cut above the rest.
Michael Jordan did not average even close to a triple-double in any season of his career. The closest he came was in the 1988-89 season, in which he averaged 32.5 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, along with 2.9 steals. While it might be difficult for him to average a triple-double, 40 points per game doesn’t seem like a big task for the NBA legend.
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