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Let's say you put peak Jordan on a team around .500 and play him at PG for the entire season.
With the spacing into today's NBA, lack of dominant post bigs, amount of 3pt shots creating long rebound opportunities and Jordan's size/athleticism, I don't think he'd have a problem getting 10 rebounds.
I also don't see him having a problem averaging ~4 more assist if he constantly has the ball in his hands.
Jordan started 24 games at PG in '89 and averaged 30.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 10.7 apg, 2.7 spg. I'm guessing he also shot 50%+ from the field.
I think he'd easily average a triple double today...especially if he was chasing the mark every night like some of today's players. Perhaps something like 34/12/12/52%.
defintely russell westbrook reminds me off in terms atheletism
I agree, he's a freak athlete like Jordan up to his late 20s. If Westbrook had Jordan's efficienctcy/control, there would be no questions about who's the best player on the planet.
Wow Jordan was that close for averaging a triple double over that time? Doesn't surprise me. I'm sure if other guys pushed for it too they could've gotten it done like Jordan, Kobe, Magic, Bird, Lebron, etc. Wilt came pretty close actually and who knows with blocks with him and Russell.
Bump for 2024. I would say Jordan would average Luka like levels of boards and assists in today's game. So, yes, more of a triple double threat on a nightly basis but not someone is likely to average it for a season because, like Luka, his main focus is scoring (and yeah, he would average 35+ easily)
Bump for 2024. I would say Jordan would average Luka like levels of boards and assists in today's game. So, yes, more of a triple double threat on a nightly basis but not someone is likely to average it for a season because, like Luka, his main focus is scoring (and yeah, he would average 35+ easily)
His best all round season was 32-8-8. For the assists and rebounds, those were career highs that he never came close to touching at any other point in his career. He was more naturally a 30-6-5 player. So could he average a triple double? sure, but it would be something really forced, he would get the 10 assists but probably have high turnover averages, and to be a high rebounding guard, it would mean sacrificing his top quality defense to chase boards. In other words, he would have to be like Westbrook during his OKC days, sacrificing the team success to gain individual stats.
Luka is certainly a better option for the triple double since he's already a great scorer and excellent passer. The rebounding could be achieved but I think unlikely because that is where his lack of focus on his weight really lets him down. Rebounding is hard, physical work. I dont think he has enough to do that and everything else he does at his current fitness level.
The best option is Jokic. Great scorer and rebounder already, and the offense runs through him so the assists can be had if he wants it, but like was mentioned on another thread, it's just not his focus.
His best all round season was 32-8-8. For the assists and rebounds, those were career highs that he never came close to touching at any other point in his career. He was more naturally a 30-6-5 player. So could he average a triple double? sure, but it would be something really forced, he would get the 10 assists but probably have high turnover averages, and to be a high rebounding guard, it would mean sacrificing his top quality defense to chase boards. In other words, he would have to be like Westbrook during his OKC days, sacrificing the team success to gain individual stats.
Luka is certainly a better option for the triple double since he's already a great scorer and excellent passer. The rebounding could be achieved but I think unlikely because that is where his lack of focus on his weight really lets him down. Rebounding is hard, physical work. I dont think he has enough to do that and everything else he does at his current fitness level.
The best option is Jokic. Great scorer and rebounder already, and the offense runs through him so the assists can be had if he wants it, but like was mentioned on another thread, it's just not his focus.
What year did he have that average? Early in his career, when he was a gunner, he could have came close to that achievement. After a while, he got tired of losing to the Celtics, Sixers, Pistons, Lakers, etc. The elite of the 80's so he stopped focusing on stats and tried to make good basketball plays. He could bucket 30+ every game in his sleep. The rebounding would have taken a toll on his body. Also, he wanted management to get the players he wanted so he could win.
Jordan's rebounds go up naturally because teams play smaller now and at 6-6 with that leaping ability, he would be needed to grab more. I'll also add that "grab and go" has become a common NBA tactic to try and free up easy 3-pointers in transition. Jordan would excel at this.
His assists would naturally go up because, well, scorers are really lax these days in handing them out. I would estimate at least 2 of Jokic's assists per game (especially at home) are questionable scorer decisions that involve 2 dribbles and some skating, step backs and additional moves. I'll add the end of the illegal defense rules would make double teaming him easier, probably forcing some more passes.
I'll add that the "triple double" is a trendy stat line to pull off, guys chase it. Jordan was about winning, but also made sure to feed himself along the way, so desire on his end would have a lot to do with it too.
Luka is pretty steady at about 8.5 boards and assists over his career to date, which may be more than Jordan would average looking at some advanced stats like rebound and assist percents, but 35/8/7 doesn't seem nuts to me in an era where stat stuffing is what stars do.
No. MJ is a just scorer but he's par excellance on that.
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