Former Chicago Bulls basketball player and three-time NBA champion Toni Kukoc talked about how different today’s league is from the period in which he played, emphasizing that the style of play has changed significantly.
In an interview with Sport Klub, he emphasized that modern basketball is largely focused on the three-point shot.
He recalled the time when his generation was at its peak, stating that the team averaged about 16 three-point attempts per game. Today, he says, some teams shoot up to 45 or 50 shots behind the 6.75 line in one match.
He believes that this is exactly the reason why the total results are much higher than before, so games often bring 260, 280 or even 300 points. He added that he is not sure how much that style of play really appeals to the crowd.
When asked how he would manage in the modern NBA league, Kukoc pointed out that he believes that he would adapt without major difficulties. Thanks to his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, he is confident that he would be close to a triple double performance on a regular basis.
Speaking about Michael Jordan, with whom he shared the locker room during the championship years in Chicago, Kukoc emphasized that the legendary guard would have an even greater advantage in today’s rules.
He believes that Jordan would often make between 20 and 25 free throws per game because any contact with a forward is sanctioned as a foul today. In his opinion, Jordan would easily average around 45 points per game.
He pointed out that this attitude is shared not only by him, but also by many former and current players, including Kevin Garnett, and that Jordan is a player who would dominate in any era, especially in today’s, which is extremely offensive-oriented.
(Vijesti.ba)
