"Nobody could guard him, not right now" - Gary Payton explains why Michael Jordan would dominate the modern NBA with ease
The era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls , a run that produced six titles in six NBA Finals trips, remains so powerful that its shadow looms over every modern basketball conversation.
Many believe that era was the pinnacle of physicality in the league's 80-year history. Yet, even in those defensive trenches, MJ thrived, retiring as the all-time leader in points per game with a 30.1 average.
He left behind timeless names like Wilt Chamberlain in his wake and those who witnessed his greatness firsthand are convinced his numbers would be even more astronomical today. One of those witnesses is his greatest rival, Gary Payton .
"Forty, easily," Payton said in an interview with "Covers". "Nobody could guard him, not right now. There's only a couple of teams that play defense. You saw last year, the two teams who made it. Why did Indiana make it? Because they played defense. They brought their team, played defense. I think Oklahoma City plays a lot of great defense."
"Y'all got to understand, nobody can stop that kind of scorer," he added. "All you can do is slow him down and try to make it close and make yourself have a chance of winning games. But with him, I think he would average 40. He would average 40 a game easily in this league."
There was ultimately no real solution for Michael
Payton knows Jordan better than most. Their legendary 1996 NBA Finals battle is etched in history, where Phil Jackson's squad eventually outlasted the Seattle SuperSonics 4-2.
It was just another day at the office for Michael, another trophy and Finals MVP for the case, a cigar in his mouth, and the celebration could begin. But Gary was never a man who feared the 10-time scoring champ.
In fact, the man widely considered the greatest defensive guard of all time sent a message to the five-time MVP that he wasn't playing around. To this day, GP remains the only player in history to hold MJ to under 30 points per game in a Finals series. Jordan's 27.3 points on 41.5 percent shooting in that series were his lowest-ever Finals numbers.
And while there was no shame in being slowed down by the 1996 DPOY, there was ultimately no real solution for Michael. However, Gary didn't see himself as just another victim of the Bulls' dynasty, but as the one man willing to invade his space.
Having survived those trenches, it's clear why Payton maintains he never feared the Jordan aura .
"Everyone was so scared of him. He puts his pants on just like us," Payton explained . "You know what I'm saying? He was a great basketball player, but I was a great one too. And at that time in '96, I was the Defensive Player of the Year and he was the offensive player of the year, so let's go get it. My daddy raised me in a way where you don't back down from nobody."
Numbers are on Jordan's side
Finding a player with that kind of mentality in today's league is a tall order. The NBA has done everything in its power to tilt the rules in favor of the offense, prioritizing "flow" and resulting in record-breaking numbers on a nightly basis.
The hand-checking era, where His Airness dominated, is a thing of the past. We are now watching a league where the average offensive rating sits around 115.0, compared to the roughly 105.0 of that era, while the scoring average has jumped by nearly 15 points per game.
The difference in pace is just as staggering — around 100 possessions per game today versus roughly 92 in 1996. While the mid-range has been replaced by the 3-point shot, which wasn't exactly Jordan's forte, there is little doubt a player of his mentality would have mastered it.
With the lane more open than ever and his ability to finish at the rim being virtually unstoppable even in a physical era, it's frightening to imagine what he would do to today's defenses.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
