Ever since LeBron James began breaking records, NBA fans, analysts, and players have debated whether he is better than Michael Jordan. Jordan’s career ended just before James entered the league, so fans never saw them play against each other.
As the game evolved, especially with Steph Curry leading a 3-point shooting revolution, many believe James has the edge, pointing to Jordan’s limited three-point shooting. But Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played alongside Jordan during the Bulls’ second three-peat in the 1990s, disagrees.
Steve Kerr Explains How Michael Jordan Would Dominate the Modern NBA
During the 2017 NBA playoffs, Kerr mocked the idea that today’s game is inferior to the past. In a 2022 interview with The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg, Kerr was asked how Jordan would perform in today’s NBA.
At that time, James and Kobe Bryant had each attempted more than 5,000 three-pointers, while Jordan had only taken 1,778 in his career.
“Assuming he was in his prime playing today, I have no doubt he would have shot one million 3-pointers in practice and become a better 3-point shooter and a more high volume 3-point shooter,” Kerr said. “Besides that, he just would have been dominant emotionally, physically and spiritually, just like he was then.”
32 years ago today…
Michael Jordan hit six 3-pointers in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals against POR and delivered his iconic shrug! pic.twitter.com/s7RToQ4qUv
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 3, 2024
Stacey King, another teammate of Jordan’s, agreed with Kerr.
“MJ’s game would have evolved into what the game is today because he became a better 3-point shooter as he got older,” King said. “Before, he was so dominant with his athleticism that he could jump over everybody. He was much faster than everybody. And he was more explosive. So he didn’t have to rely on the 3-point shot. But I guarantee you MJ would have evolved in this game.”
Kerr’s friendship with Jordan began after a fight during a practice scrimmage in 1995, before the 1995-96 season. Jordan took offense at Kerr’s intensity and trash-talking and fouled him. Kerr hit Jordan in the chest, and Jordan responded with a punch to the face, giving Kerr a black eye.
Teammates broke up the fight, and coach Phil Jackson suspended Jordan from practice. Despite the confrontation, their friendship grew after Jordan apologized by phone later that day. Kerr has credited the incident with building trust between them, shown when Jordan assisted Kerr in making the game-winning shot in the 1997 NBA Finals.
In addition to the three NBA titles Kerr won as a player with the Bulls, he also won two with the San Antonio Spurs, featuring Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Since becoming the Warriors’ coach in 2014, Kerr has led them to four championships: 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
