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Just a question that always bubbled in my mind. I always try to put the players of the past and see if they would still be all time greats. Obviously this is a subjective exercise as everyone will feel differently about different players. Here are my thoughts;
Magic Johnson: I think he would still be an all time great today. A great passer is always relevant, no matter what era. And the thing about point guards is that you dont have to be the most athletic to thrive. Look at Steve Nash. He is isnt the quickest point guard around yet he had dominated for a few years. Add in the fact that his height advantage gave him the mismatch even today and I think he would be fine.
Michael Jordan: Yep, he would still dominate. Nuff said.
Isaiah Thomas: See Magic above
John Stockton: Ditto
Larry Bird: Here is the one guy who I think would struggle today. I watch old tape of him on Youtube and he looks slow even back then. No quickness, no hops, just a deadly jumpshot...sorry to say but I think he would get eaten up today. Do you see him scoring 30 against Josh Smith, Lebron, Young KG, Bruce Bowen, Young Artest...the list goes on and on...plus who would he guard on defense??? I see him being at best Peja Stojacovic with balls. But even Peja could only succeed on a team with multiple other options like the Kings had with Webber and Bibby. Make Peja the franchise? disaster. I think Bird got lucky that the era he played in didnt have a whole lot of athletic players yet...hell even his gay lover Bill Simmons admitted it. So what do you guys think?
Larry Bird would be a great player in any era. He never had physical talent. Wasn't fast, quick, couldn't jump a lick. What he did have was a very high basketball IQ, instincts, hard work, desire, and most importantly HEART!!
And this is coming from Laker fan who hated Larry Bird back in the day. Now I respect the heck out of how he played.
Again, Bird played against Jordan, Magic, Dominique Wilkins and a host of other guys that are every bit as athletic as any player currently in the league.
A better question might be: could today's best players last 5 minutes in a 1986 game without being benched for multiple travelling violations in the first quarter?
Bird played in an era when you would be called for travelling if you took more than one and a half steps without passing or shooting the ball. That rule is still in the books by the way, hard as it is to believe.
Anyway, Bird would dominate in today's game. Heart, hustle, 3 point and FT %, passing, using his left hand....all too much for today's player to handle.
I think, from watching Bird in his career, that he would definitely be an elite player in today's NBA. He was one of the smartest players, and deceptively athletic, even though he seemed lunky.
There are players like Bird & Jordan who would be great in any era. When you can shoot lights out from anywhere on the court, how high you jump or how fast you run becomes inconsequential.
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