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Michael Jordan dominated in the 90s, and he was one of the most famous athletes in the world. His greatness was sealed in the history books after his 6th title. Though fans still wonder what could’ve been if he had played in today’s game. It is no doubt that he was a great player in his era, but the modern game is way different.

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Today’s game is more based on an individual’s scoring abilities, which basically translates to shooting percentage. A couple of decades ago, big men contributed to the most points scoring in the paint. Would Michael fit in today’s game?

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Durant believes Michael Jordan would’ve easily adapted to today’s game

MJ’s skillset was on another level. He averaged more than 50% from the field shooting mid-range. It is amazing how Jordan wasn’t primarily a 3 point shooter as a shooting guard and made his GOAT career just by dominating from the mid-range. He averaged 1.8 three-point attempts per game in his Bulls career. This basically is contrary to today’s mindset of being a great player. No player would be considered in the top list unless they have great numbers to offer from three.

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Durant respects Jordan’s ability to adapt to the modern game. Michael was a great finisher on top of being a pure shooter. “I mean he can adapt his game to anything. He would fit in as the best player in the league like that’s what he would be,” said Durant when asked how Michael would perform in today’s game.

READ MORE: “Will Smith Should Be MJ”: NBA Fans React as Michael Jordan Refuses Millionaire Hollywood Actor a Biopic Role Request

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Not only that, but what MJ would have to go up against would be the athleticism, as almost every player in the league was drafted either because of his skill or athleticism.

Unlike in the 90s, almost every player is athletic in today’s game

Though KD believes that Jordan can still handle the athleticism part as well. “But there’s more athleticism in this game, there’s more length in this game, but you know it’s also more space for MJ to go to work. We’ll never know, but for sure he’s a master. You know masterful basketball player,” said Durant.

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Kevin said that Jordan’s skill level is also unmatched and that he would do numbers in the game. A player who is dominant in finishing, using his handles to freeze defenders, would have an advantage in the modern era as the hand-checking rule exists.

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WATCH THIS STORY: 3 Sporting Legends Watched in Silence as Michael Jordan Ruined Charles Barkley’s Legacy in Rude 7 Word Response

This will have players avoid fouls which will give Michael more space to perform his insane moves. How many points do you think Jordan would average in today’s game? Do let us know in the comments.

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Balraj Singh Babrah

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Balraj Singh Babrah is an NBA writer with EssentiallySports. He has been an NBA fan since 2016, and watching Curry shoot from distance inspired him to play basketball. Additionally, he loves analyzing and predicting games based on stats. This has allowed him to have a better understanding of the game of basketball. Furthermore, when he is away from sports, he does research on muscle anatomy to have a better understanding of his physique.

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Arunaditya Aima

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