Charles Oakley - "Michael Jordan would average forty point a game in this era."

[Sudanese Sensation]

Please discuss. Thank you.

[Kingcarl24]

One of the best players to ever play would score a lot of points in today’s game?

Thanks for the insight Oakley!

[Bush4Ever.]

IIRC he also said Giannis wouldn't be a starter in his era because he "couldn't shoot jump shots and we'd force him into shooting jump shots", or something like that.

Much respect to Oakley the player, but Oakley the analyst might not be the best.

[Sudanese Sensation]

One of the best players to ever play would score a lot of points in today’s game?

Thanks for the insight Oakley!

He was on NBA Radio with Brian Scalbrine and Frank Isola. He also said Isiah Thomas came up to him at Hartsfield Airport to say he didn't like what he was saying about him and he would have beat up Isiah if he didn't have a pending lawsuit against him.

[zombiesonics]

Oakley doesn’t actually believe this.

He’s doing damage control after he essentially admitted that LeGOAT > Jordone. He’s trying to get back in the good graces with MJ and the only way to do this is to massage his ego. He doesn’t want to lose his meal ticket.

[Havlicekstealsit]

Oak & Mike are BFFs, so of course he's gonna fluff Mike's ego some. Wonder if Isiah or Barkley agree.

[elmouse03]

Hasn't every legend who played in the Jordan era said this?

[AlaskaHawks]

That seems low.

An honest line Jordan would average today would be more along the lines of
59, 16, 22, 10. According to TDK and Oakley if Jordan practiced 3s for 10 minutes a week he'd shoot them at 60%

[Havlicekstealsit]

That seems low.

An honest line Jordan would average today would be more along the lines of
59, 16, 22, 10. According to TDK and Oakley if Jordan practiced 3s for 10 minutes a week he'd shoot them at 60%

Especially if elite stars like Giannis were guarding him, since he was able to beat them each and every time.

[Shill Jackson]

and you kids

[vcsgrizzfan]

Hasn't every legend who played in the Jordan era said this?

Most would. Intellectual honesty and awareness of one's biases is not the usual.

Most of these guys also have the flaw that the older they get, the better they think they used to be.

[thedangerouskitchen]

Lillard and and Luka averaged 32+ a game this year, and some guy named Shia averaged 31+ and yet some people doubt whether MJ would average 40???



There's clearly a LOT of clueless people out there...

[thedangerouskitchen]

Jordan average 37+ and 35 a game in a MUCH more physical era that was MUCH tougher for perimeter/wings to Score... but but but, he wouldn't average 40 today, when the game has never been easier (or softer) for perimeter/wing players.

[Titan18]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

[elmouse03]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

Jordan would average 50.2225555 in todays game imho.

[Bush4Ever.]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

What would you say if a modern player said Charles Barkley wouldn't even get off the bench in the modern NBA, and Lebron would average 50 points a game in 1990?

That's the rough equivalent to what Oakley said about Giannis and Jordan and eras.

They would be laughed at, and rightly so.

[Titan18]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

What would you say if a modern player said Charles Barkley wouldn't even get off the bench in the modern NBA, and Lebron would average 50 points a game in 1990?

That's the rough equivalent to what Oakley said about Giannis and Jordan and eras.

They would be laughed at, and rightly so.

That’s fine. That’s their opinion. I’m sure zombie and others would tell you just that anyways.

[thedangerouskitchen]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

What would you say if a modern player said Charles Barkley wouldn't even get off the bench in the modern NBA, and Lebron would average 50 points a game in 1990?

That's the rough equivalent to what Oakley said about Giannis and Jordan and eras.

They would be laughed at, and rightly so.

Claiming Jordan would average a few more PPG in today's zero-contact NBA (than he did in a much more physical era, when it was much tougher for perimeter players/wings to score) is 'not' an absurd assertion.

If Oak said MJ would average 50 a game maybe you'd have a point (although there's no question he 'could' if he was like LeCommie and only cared about "this stats".)

Also... it's not just Oakley who feels this way (about MJ). There are literally boatloads of people inside the NBA circle (fans, former players/coaches, analysts, etc) who believe MJ would average at least 40 today... people who have forgotten more about the sport than you'll ever know.

[Bush4Ever.]

Put it this way...

There is a reason why brainwashed boomers say Jordan would average 40 points per game today, but no one claims peak Drexler would average 35-36 points per game today, or peak Karl Malone would average 36-37 points per game, peak Dominique Wilkins 36 points per game, etc...(i.e.--the same degree of difference vs. Jordan they illustrated in the late 80s/early 90s), all while the Giannis/Embiid/Dame/Lukas are hovering in the low 30s (even if there were an abnormal number of such players this year, they were all hovering in the low 30s).

Because there is an intentional propaganda effort in favor of Jordan and not specific individual players of that era (there is sometimes for the era as a generalized whole, but not specific individuals outside Jordan).

NPCs follow the propaganda, just like in social and political life.

A very old, and very boring story.

Edit: A good thought experiment...imagine Jordan beating 55/40/90 level 2023 Kevin Durant by *eleven* points per game, when he could only beat 1991 Chris Mullin (who had a TS+ 4 points lower than Durant) by fewer than six points per game.

Lunacy.

[Shill Jackson]

Player says something positive about Lebron

“That settles it. Who would know better than an actual nba player”

Player says something positive about Jordan

“He’s bias! Players are the worst at evaluating others they don’t know anything!”

But I’m told it’s different for…reasons.

What would you say if a modern player said Charles Barkley wouldn't even get off the bench in the modern NBA, and Lebron would average 50 points a game in 1990?

That's the rough equivalent to what Oakley said about Giannis and Jordan and eras.

They would be laughed at, and rightly so.

Claiming Jordan would average a few more PPG in today's zero-contact NBA (than he did in a much more physical era, when it was much tougher for perimeter players/wings to score) is 'not' an absurd assertion.

If Oak said MJ would average 50 a game maybe you'd have a point (although there's no question he 'could' if he was like LeCommie and only cared about "this stats".)

Also... it's not just Oakley who feels this way (about MJ). There are literally boatloads of people inside the NBA circle (fans, former players/coaches, analysts, etc) who believe MJ would average at least 40 today... people who have forgotten more about the sport than you'll ever know.

It’s been posted before, but here is that ‘much more physical era, when it was much tougher for perimeter players/wings’