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Former Bad Boys Pistons Star Lists Two NBA Stars Who Could Have Challenged Michael Jordan Easily

Published 04/26/2020, 2:39 AM EDT

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Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas believed players of this generation often do not get much credit. He felt that players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant are as athletic as Michael Jordan was during his time.

Thomas was a part of the Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons that won two consecutive Championships in 1989 and 1990. It was the time in NBA when the dominance was shifting to Michael Jordan and co. with the Chicago Bulls. While Thomas believed that Jordan was the best in his generation, the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant aren’t far behind.

“I think this generation is not getting enough credit for what they’re doing because the athletes that are in this generation are so far superior than what was in my generation. Jordan was the best athlete that we had ever seen, from an athletic standpoint. There are like 10 or 11 guys in the NBA right now with Jordan’s athleticism,” he said in an interview with Chris Broussard of Fox Sports.

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“We didn’t have that back then. With what KD and LeBron are doing, if you put them back in the era of the ’80s, with their talent, their athleticism, and their skill, who’s the GOAT?”

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While Thomas believed LeBron James, Kevin Durant could easily challenge Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry was close to his style of play

Thomas also talked a little about Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry. “What Steph Curry has done and what he has been doing, is similar to what I was doing to Jordan, Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), and Magic (Johnson). I know how hard it is when we are this size,” he said.

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Curry plays the same position for the Warriors that Thomas had played for the Pistons. Thomas said that they have to be more selective while shooting, because they are shorter in comparison.

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Thomas played for 13 seasons in the NBA between 1981 and 1994. Playing for the Pistons in his whole career, he was a 12-time All-Star and has two Championships to his name.

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Written by:

Saketh Kandadai

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