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Scottie Pippen was recently asked to draw comparisons between the NBA during his playing days and the current game, focusing on stars like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
“I’m not sure,” he replied in an interview with Marca, when questioned about whether the Slovenian and Serbian stars would thrive in the 1980s and 1990s. “We applied pressure all over the court. Would Jokic be able to handle the ball under that kind of pressure? I can’t say for certain. He certainly possesses excellent court vision and passing skills, but I’m not convinced he’d be at ease bringing the ball up against such pressure.”
He emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving success, stating, “Basketball is ultimately a team sport. No matter how talented an individual player is, that alone doesn’t secure a championship. Success requires a formidable team effort.”
Pippen then elaborated on the contrast between today’s NBA and the game he played.
“It’s a completely different environment in terms of promotion, officiating, and player attributes,” he observed. “Players are larger, stronger, and faster than before.”
He noted, “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s more physical now. Basketball in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s was incredibly tough. I don’t perceive the current game as being as physical as it was back then due to the nature of fouls that were permissible. Teams approached the game with a distinct mentality.”
Pippen also weighed in on a hypothetical showdown between the 1996 Chicago Bulls and the 2016 Golden State Warriors, two of the most successful franchises from their respective eras based on win-loss records.
“It all hinges on the rules,” he stated. “Under the rules of the ‘90s, Steph Curry would play differently. If we were to compete in their era, it would feel like breaking free from confinement. There’s more liberty on the court; you aren’t being held back or knocked down, so they would likely have the advantage in that regard. With Steph and Klay Thompson, they have two of the best three-point shooters, which wasn’t necessarily our specialty.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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