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Scottie Pippen was invited to draw parallels between the NBA of his time and the modern game, specifically regarding Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
When asked in an interview with Marca if the two European stars would be as dominant in the 1980s and 1990s, he replied, “I’m not certain. We applied pressure all over the court back then. Could Jokic handle bringing the ball up against that kind of pressure? I don’t know. He certainly has the vision and passing skills, but I’m not convinced that he could manage the ball under such circumstances.”
Pippen also emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving success, stating, “Basketball is fundamentally a team sport. It doesn’t matter how talented an individual player is; you need a solid team to win a championship.”
The six-time NBA champion elaborated on the differences between his era and the current league. “The game has evolved significantly in terms of promotion, officiating, and the physicality of players. Today’s athletes are generally larger, stronger, and faster,” he noted.
“I hesitate to say it is more physical now,” he remarked, acknowledging the intensity of the game in the late ’80s and early ’90s. “Basketball was extremely rugged back then, and I don’t believe today’s game matches that level of physicality, particularly because of the types of fouls that were permissible. Teams approached the game with a different mentality.”
Pippen also speculated on a potential face-off between the legendary 1996 Chicago Bulls and the 2016 Golden State Warriors, two of the most successful franchises in NBA history based on win-loss records.
“It all hinges on the rules,” he explained. “Under the rules of the ‘90s, Steph Curry wouldn’t be the player he is today. However, playing in their era would feel like liberation for us; there’s less holding and fewer hard fouls. In that context, they would likely have the upper hand, especially with Steph and Klay Thompson, who are among the top three-point shooters, an area where we weren’t as proficient.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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