One of the strongest arguments supporting the legacy of Michael Jordan as the GOAT is not simply his individual awards or championship count, but the remarkable consistency he demonstrated on the NBA's biggest stage.
Jordan won five MVP awards, Abdul-Jabbar won six. Similarly, he won six championships, whereas Bill Russell has eleven to his name. However, what distinguishes Jordan's resume is that he captured the Larry O'Brien Trophy each time he reached the championship round. And Raymond Felton firmly declared that this record would likely remain unchanged even if MJ competed in today's era.
Put simply, regardless of the rise of competition and superteams in the modern-day, Felton remains certain that MJ's ability to elevate his performance in the ultimate pressure situations would translate seamlessly to today's game.
Jordan's six championships with the Chicago Bulls came during an era widely known for its intense physicality. Defenders often used aggressive tactics, including hard fouls, mid-air contacts and constant pressure to disrupt offensive players. Despite regularly being heckled by opponents, Jordan always established himself as the best player in the Finals series against different superstar-led teams, from Magic's Lakers to Barkley's Suns, Payton's Sonics and Malone's Jazz .
Moreover, given how modern NBA rules tend to favor the offense and limit physical contact on defense, it would make it even more challenging for today's defenders to stop Jordan from scoring. In other words, with more freedom of movement and greater protection from referees, Jordan would likely find more opportunities to score.
Felton further emphasized the strength of Jordan's supporting cast. He pointed out that defenders like Scottie Pippen and Ron Harper would have dominated modern-day scorers, making it more difficult for any team to beat the Bulls in the NBA Finals.
"If you can't touch Michael Jordan, who's stopping him? The man was getting knocked out of the air. The man was getting bluntly fouled every possession. And you can't touch him now. If you can't touch Michael Jordan in his prime, he's going through everybody by himself, " Felton said on his podcast. "I don't care. With his team? Scottie Pippen, Ron Harper - these dudes played defense, dude."
On a different note, there are several important factors making this argument more complex. The modern-day NBA landscape has evolved into a far more global and analytically driven league. International stars have dramatically elevated the level of competition, and teams now rely heavily on advanced strategies, spacing and three-point shooting.
Modern offenses can produce significantly higher scoring outputs, which might create challenges even for historically dominant teams.
So, while Mike and Co. would have definitely left their mark in any NBA era, these points suggest there are reasons to challenge Felton's idea that the Bulls might have endured a loss in the Finals, given the changed conditions. But then again, all these discussions are purely hypothetical.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
