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  1. #1
    Veteran Thebesteva's Avatar
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    http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...verage-player/

    “If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s or early ’90s, he’d be just an average player.”That is Dennis Rodman, talking about comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan.
    “If Michael played today … really? If he played the game today at 28 years old, he would average 40 points a game, probably more….
    “I’m just sick and tired of people always comparing him and Michael Jordan. It’s a whole different era, man.”
    First off, that’s what we as fans do. We compare the greats of different eras, even though we know that it is inherently unfair to do so. Is LeBron greater in his era then Jordan in his? No. Or to be fair not yet as LeBron is 28, but LeBron will never be the cultural icon that Jordan was because MJ was the perfect storm of the right player at the right time for growing the game. But did Jordan change the game as much as Magic Johnson? Were either of them really greater in their era than Bill Russell in his?
    These are barstool debates with no real answer. It’s fun to discuss, but it’s a meaningless hypothetical.
    What I think is fair to say — LeBron in the 1990s would have been a great player. LeBron in any era would have been a great player. How great is up for debate, but he would not have been average. That’s overselling it.
    Here is the first half of the Rodman interview, where he is at his most Rodman.

  2. #2
    Veteran Richie's Avatar
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    Ridiculous comment.

    However, it's equally ridiculous to compare Lebron to Jordan. He's always been more Magic than Michael.

  3. #3
    No darkness Cry Havoc's Avatar
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    Jordan would find it much more difficult to score these days with the way defenses have evolved. He would undoubtedly adapt and find a way, but it's a different league now.

    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.

  4. #4
    Mr Robinsons hood denizen Creepn's Avatar
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    Rodman says that Lebron "would NOT have been average" towards the end of your quote there. But your thread le says otherwise.

  5. #5
    Veteran Thebesteva's Avatar
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    Jordan would find it much more difficult to score these days with the way defenses have evolved. He would undoubtedly adapt and find a way, but it's a different league now.

    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.
    I understand why the NBA wanted to go this direction, I just wish they didnt/ I miss the old school tough league

  6. #6
    Mr Robinsons hood denizen Creepn's Avatar
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    Jordan would find it much more difficult to score these days with the way defenses have evolved. He would undoubtedly adapt and find a way, but it's a different league now.

    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.
    Jordan flopped.

  7. #7
    Veteran Thebesteva's Avatar
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    Rodman says that Lebron "would NOT have been average" towards the end of your quote there. But your thread le says otherwise.
    NO. That's Rodman saying “If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s or early ’90s, he’d be just an average player.” The guy who wrote the article chimes in and says he would be a great player.

  8. #8
    Believe. jeebus's Avatar
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    Lebron would be a poor man's Jack Haley if he played in the 90s

  9. #9
    ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■) AaronY's Avatar
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    Jordan would find it much more difficult to score these days with the way defenses have evolved. He would undoubtedly adapt and find a way, but it's a different league now.

    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.
    I watched his whole 90s career since we have WGN down here in Central Florida, he almost never flopped, Clipper Nation likes to play this gif or youtube or whatever of one of the few times he flopped like that proves a point or something but it just wasn't in his character..it's like with Shaq, Shaq pretty much never flopped but then one time he flopped against Dwight and it became a national event

  10. #10
    Mr Robinsons hood denizen Creepn's Avatar
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    NO. That's Rodman saying “If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s or early ’90s, he’d be just an average player.” The guy who wrote the article chimes in and says he would be a great player.
    Yup, you're right. My bad. Do your thing.

  11. #11
    Ina world of hype, we win IronMexican's Avatar
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    Why do past players love making the stupidest comments? I think Magic is the king at these.

  12. #12
    Veteran jimbo's Avatar
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    The older a player gets, the better they get. In 20 years we'll be making these comments about Lebron and the next big thing too.

  13. #13
    No darkness Cry Havoc's Avatar
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    Why do past players love making the stupidest comments? I think Magic is the king at these.
    I don't know, but I do know that Bill Walton just stopped by and said Tony Parker just made the greatest play in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

  14. #14
    Board Man Comes Home Clipper Nation's Avatar
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    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.
    http://ballislife.com/even-the-goat-flops-michael-jordan-flops-against-isiah-thomas/

    MJ flopped.... deal with it, AaronY

    He didn't need to flop too often in his prime, though, since he pretty much automatically got the calls just for being MJ, tbh....

  15. #15
    Veteran JoeTait75's Avatar
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    Didn't the Rodmonian also say that Larry Bird would have been considered just an average player if he wasn't white?

  16. #16
    Rippin N Tearin fevertrees's Avatar
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    Why do past players love making the stupidest comments? I think Magic is the king at these.

  17. #17
    Veteran hater's Avatar
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    I have to agree on Jordan ruling this era.

    If a poor man's Jordan, Kobe can be so successful in this era. Imagine the real deal.

    regarding Lebron being average. no. Pippen was not average. Lebron would be a Pippen. A great 2nd banana to a GOAT IMO

  18. #18
    Veteran LkrFan's Avatar
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    I have to agree on Jordan ruling this era.

    If a poor man's Jordan, Kobe can be so successful in this era. Imagine the real deal.

    regarding Lebron being average. no. Pippen was not average. Lebron would be a Pippen. A great 2nd banana to a GOAT IMO
    Agreed offensively. Defensively? Pip was light years better than LBJ would ever dream of.

    But I agree with Rodman to an extent. LBJ would be an all star, but nowhere near the conversation as an all-time great. '80s were a different animal altogether. He wouldn't be able to just physically overwhelm 98% of the league like he does today and teams like the Pistons, Knicks, and 6ers would be given full reigns to tee off on his ass. We'd see a lot of this tbqh:



    The league didn't even protect MJ - who was way more mentally tough than LBJ is. I could see somebody like Lambeer punking LBJ or Rick Majorn making LBJ his tbh. , we saw how Rodman used to get in Zo Mourning's head. It would be quite comical if LBJ were doing his antics back then (i.e. dancing on the sidelines, chosen 1 tats, pregame powder routine, etc). Them old school players would take turns pounding LBJ every chance they got. would be funny as .


  19. #19
    I want some nasty GaryJohnston's Avatar
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    Jordan would find it much more difficult to score these days with the way defenses have evolved. He would undoubtedly adapt and find a way, but it's a different league now.

    Can anyone imagine MJ flopping? It would be sad and also kind of hilarious. Dude was always so locked in, a flop from him would look comical.
    I disagree. I think Jordan would find it easier to score in today's NBA, what with all the rule changes that took place. Lebron would find it alot harder to score in the 80s and 90s. But he would still be a great player, albeit not the best with all the HOFers that played in that era. It was a tough league back then, I loved it....

  20. #20
    I want some nasty GaryJohnston's Avatar
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    Agreed offensively. Defensively? Pip was light years better than LBJ would ever dream of.

    But I agree with Rodman to an extent. LBJ would be an all star, but nowhere near the conversation as an all-time great. '80s were a different animal altogether. He wouldn't be able to just physically overwhelm 98% of the league like he does today and teams like the Pistons, Knicks, and 6ers would be given full reigns to tee off on his ass. We'd see a lot of this tbqh:



    The league didn't even protect MJ - who was way more mentally tough than LBJ is. I could see somebody like Lambeer punking LBJ or Rick Majorn making LBJ his tbh. , we saw how Rodman used to get in Zo Mourning's head. It would be quite comical if LBJ were doing his antics back then (i.e. dancing on the sidelines, chosen 1 tats, pregame powder routine, etc). Them old school players would take turns pounding LBJ every chance they got. would be funny as .

    Word.

  21. #21
    Board Man Comes Home Clipper Nation's Avatar
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    Agreed offensively. Defensively? Pip was light years better than LBJ would ever dream of.
    Pippen also benefitted from hand-checking and less over-officiating on the defensive end, tbh.... LeBron would easily be one of the best defenders in the '90s, imho....

    The league didn't even protect MJ
    That's your worst take yet.... come on, you don't really believe that, right?

  22. #22
    No darkness Cry Havoc's Avatar
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    I disagree. I think Jordan would find it easier to score in today's NBA, what with all the rule changes that took place. Lebron would find it alot harder to score in the 80s and 90s. But he would still be a great player, albeit not the best with all the HOFers that played in that era. It was a tough league back then, I loved it....
    LeBron in the 80s would have been comical. Are you kidding me? A bigger stronger faster Magic Johnson running the court? Dude would have averaged 35+.

    Your "tough" league consisted of absolutely no defense, even in the finals. Giving hard fouls is not tantamount to playing good defense. Go back and watch the tapes from the NBA Finals in the 80s. No team put the effort into defense that teams do today.

  23. #23
    No darkness Cry Havoc's Avatar
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    The league didn't even protect MJ - who was way more mentally tough than LBJ is.
    Dude. Just... what. What? Come on. I ain't even gonna argue that point with you.

  24. #24
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    It's probably true. The NBA was better in the 1990s and the big man existed. Ewing, Robinson, Hakeem, Mutombo, Shaq, and Rik Smits would have given Lebron trouble.

  25. #25
    Veteran LkrFan's Avatar
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    Pippen also benefitted from hand-checking and less over-officiating on the defensive end, tbh.... LeBron would easily be one of the best defenders in the '90s, imho....


    That's your worst take yet.... come on, you don't really believe that, right?
    The Bad Boys used to rough MJ up (Jordan Rules). The league didn't hand out flagrants like halloween candy like they do today. You'd have to damn near die to get a flagrant back then. For example, when Mailman knocked Zeke Thomas the out (causing him to need 40 facial s ches), he wasn't even called for a foul. Come on son, you know that's what I meant. -10 points.

    Agreed about the hand checking though. But it's the ability to hand check and deliver hard fouls that would have damn near neutered LBJ if he played back then. No ref protection from certified thugs. Like I said - would have been funny as watching him get roughed up. A wise man once said: "If you know you are about to get raped, you should just relax and enjoy it!" This would have been great advice for LBJ tbh. Them players would have had him grabbing his ankles and biting his bottom lip for real son.


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