“Are athletes today better than the ones 20 years ago?” This is a debate that can go on for a long time. But when Denny Hamlin was asked this question, he provided some interesting insights, especially when his co-owner for 23XI Racing, Michael Jordan, was a part of the argument.

Right before NASCAR’s Martinsville advance, Hamlin and Frank Fleming got their heart rates up walking around the oldest active track on the season schedule. As reported by Fleming’s video on ‘Rumble’, the duo talked compared current athletes to the legends of yesteryears.

The two-decade NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin said, “I know it’s a hard comparison, but I believe athletes today, basketball players. I don’t care what technique it is. Football, basketball and it’s maybe an unpopular opinion. They’re better today than they were 20 years ago because they started early, have more technology, more analytics, more things. They’re more educated on how to be better today than they were back in the day. They had to just be naturally talented…”

But his host had a very enriching reply to Hamlin’s initial sentiments, taking the ironic example of 23XI’s co-owner Michael Jordan. “Well, there’s one guy. There’s one guy, who I think stands above them all, and could. If he was given the ability to play in today’s sports science technology, he’d be superhuman, and I’m talking about your co-owner, Michael Jordan.”

“100%” agreed Denny, retracting his initial statement as he announced, “What I loved about him and watching him is that he did anything he could to be better than everyone else. We saw it with Kobe Bryant as well… Now, given his work ethic and the technology that you’re saying is available today. Absolutely, 100%. Unstoppable especially when you look at how the rules have changed in sports over time. It’s become softer, right?”

And Hamlin might not be wrong here. MJ’s playing style would fit well in today’s NBA with more space on the floor and the attention on three-point shooting. Also, let us not forget his adaptability skills. Further, new rules that have been introduced make the game less physical. For example: Hand checking was banned ahead of the 2004-2005 NBA season. But when Jordan was an active player, it was a widely used defensive tactic.

Additionally, more attention is given to hard fouls today. But back in the day, ejections were not so common. As a result, a lot of times, Jordan’s opponents would display over-the-top physicality. No doubt, MJ would be accosted a lot, especially in the playoffs.

So Frank Fleming let his opinion be known when he said, “I think I think if Jordan played today. He’d average 50 points for his career.” It is safe to say, with 6 NBA championship rings followed by consequent Finals MVP awards, that could have very well been the reality for MJ. But what about NASCAR?

Is NASCAR getting softer?

With three Daytona 500 titles, 53 Cup Series race wins, and no championships to show in an incredible racing career, Denny Hamlin’s hunger looks largely unsatisfied as he steps into his 18th consecutive year as a Joe Gibbs driver. In these eighteen years, Denny Hamlin steadily built his acclaim, becoming one of the winningest active drivers in NASCAR, while making the sanctioning body’s 75 Greatest Drivers list. Like his business partner Michael Jordan, Denny has more than enough credentials and accolades to hang with arguably the Greatest NBA player of all time.

However, like the NBA, NASCAR too has evolved over the years. Some new rules have been welcomed by fans, but some have faced their wrath. One example is the overtime line. It was created after the 2015 Playoff race at Talladega, where late cautions forced NASCAR to enforce an overtime line for the cars to cross for an overtime attempt to count. But what if they didn’t? Well, they would have to keep trying until they crossed the line.

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The rule was disliked by many. Later on, in 2017, it was altered so that the start-finish line could also be the overtime line. While the rule was adjusted, it still exists. Similarly, the caution clock and the Next-Gen short track package were not received well. But can we say that sports are getting softer? After all, nothing is permanent except change. Is it getting softer or is it just a natural evolution? Let us know in the comments below.