Dennis Rodman Says LeBron James Would Be “Just an Average Player” In 1990s
By Josh Hill
Former Chicago Bulls master rebounder and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is throwing his two cents into the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan jar, saying he’s sick of the comparisons being made between the two. Appearing on Dan Patrick’s radio show, Rodman furthered his claim that LeBron doesn’t hold a candle to Jordan saying if LeBron had played in Jordan’s era, he’d have just been another average player.
“If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s or early ’90s, he’d be just an average player,” Rodman said to Dan Patrick about the constant comparisons between his former teammate and Miami’s big star. “If Michael played today … really? If he played the game today at 28 years old, he would average 40 points a game, probably more. … I’m just sick and tired of people always comparing him and Michael Jordan. It’s a whole different era, man.”
Rodman has been known to be outspoken at times but he may have a point in saying the eras are different. THe only thing about it though is everyone’s been pointing out the difference in eras so it’s not really all that original of an argument. But where Rodman stirs the pot is when he calls LeBron James an “average” player had he played in Jordan’s era.
As much as LeBron fans hate to admit it, Rodman is right.
Think about all the great players that played in Jordan’s era and how they’re always remembered after Jordan. There is no argument when it comes to guys like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and others like Dikembe Mutombo that they’re legendary players. But Jordan was an icon and he did so much more for the game than simply play it well.
Jordan revolutionized the way the sport was sold to the public and he helped market it as one of the most popular sports in America. Nothing supports this more than the drop-off the NBA suffered when Jordan retired at the end of the 90s.
Calling him “average” is stiff, but it’s not hard to believe that LeBron James would be in the category with Barkley, Ewing and others had he played in Jordan’s era. That’s not to say LeBron James isn’t the best player in the game today, but you have to calculate for the inflation of Michael Jordan when making comparisons and leave it to The Worm to point that out.