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Scottie Pippen was invited to provide his thoughts on the differences between the NBA during his playing days and the current game, specifically regarding stars like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
“I’m not sure,” he responded in an interview with Marca, when asked if the Slovenian and Serbian phenoms would have thrived in the 1980s and 1990s. “We applied pressure all over the court. Would Jokic handle bringing the ball up under that kind of intensity? I can’t say for certain. He has a great court vision and passing skills, but I’m not convinced he’d feel at ease bringing the ball up against such defenses.”
He emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving success in the sport, stating, “Basketball is a collective effort. No matter how talented an individual player is, they can’t win a championship alone. A strong team is essential.”
Pippen elaborated on the variations in the contemporary NBA compared to his era. “The game is different now regarding its promotion, officiating, and the players themselves. They’re generally larger, stronger, and faster,” he noted.
He clarified, “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s more physical now. Basketball in the late ’80s and early ’90s was incredibly tough. I feel today’s game isn’t as physical as it used to be, primarily due to the types of hard fouls that were permissible back then. Teams approached the game with a different mindset.”
Discussing a hypothetical matchup between the 1996 Chicago Bulls and the 2016 Golden State Warriors—two of the most dominant teams in their respective eras—he said, “It really depends on the rules. Under ’90s rules, Steph Curry wouldn’t have the same impact. However, if we were to play in their era, it would feel like breaking free; there would be so much more freedom on the court without the same level of physicality. They could potentially win in that context, especially with Steph and Klay [Thompson], who are likely two of the greatest shooters. That aspect wasn’t our strong suit.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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