The Worm: "LeBron would be an average player" in the '80s/'90s

[Scholar]

Dennis Rodman was on The Dan Patrick Show around 6:30 AM PST this morning. I didn't hear the majority of the interview, but I did tune in just in time to hear him going off on LeBron's playing abilities.

He did reiterate later that "LeBron is a hell of a player," but he also said that LeBron should never be compared to Jordan.

He mentioned that he believes Jordan-Pippen are the best 1-2 punch he's ever seen, and he also claimed that Jordan would be able to average at least 40 ppg in today's NBA.

Lastly, before ending the interview, Rodman insisted that his Bulls squad would mop the floor with the 2013 Heat. He basically implied there'd be no competition. He suggested that if he were assigned to guard LeBron James, he'd be surprised if LBJ scored on him. Rodman also went on to say that Pippen would stop Wade from scoring and that Jordan would likely guard LeBron; thus, there'd be no offense in Miami's game.



Thoughts, ISH?

[irriducibili]

Nothing Rodman says should be taken seriously, but he's correct this time.

[AintNoSunshine]

LOL OK, maybe this lunatic should go back to hang out with Kim

[Bandito]

What's wrong with what he said, it si the truth?

[MiseryCityTexas]

chris bosh and udonis haslem would be pretty useless if they guarded rodman. rodman would probably average 20 rebounds a game against bosh.

[juju151111]

LOL OK, maybe this lunatic should go back to hang out with Kim
96-8 Bulls>>>>>>>Heat foh

[Le Shaqtus]

I don't see why he couldn't still be the same player back then, he literally is a tank. He can dish and take punishment (which is why it's pathetic to see a grown ass 6'8 250 pound man flop). Could he take a beating from 80's and 90's players though? It'd be interesting to see.

[AintNoSunshine]

96-8 Bulls>>>>>>>Heat foh


And where did I say otherwise? But if you agree with him on "surprised if lebron scores on me", then I am not conversing with you anymore.

[irriducibili]

Damn I really wanna see LeFlop vs. the Detroit Bad Boys

[juju151111]

And where did I say otherwise? But if you agree with him on "surprised if lebron scores on me", then I am not conversing with you anymore.
Shaq could barly back him down. Rodman is one of the best defenders ever.

[plowking]

Shaq could barly back him down. Rodman is one of the best defenders ever.

:oldlol:

[To4]

i dunno if Lebron can take those 80's or 90's rules, close lining people only = to a tech foul,.. woot!

[OldSchoolBBall]

I don't see why he couldn't still be the same player back then, he literally is a tank. He can dish and take punishment (which is why it's pathetic to see a grown ass 6'8 250 pound man flop). Could he take a beating from 80's and 90's players though? It'd be interesting to see.

Taking contact and being able to play through it and deal with physicality all game is more mental than physical. THAT'S what people question with Lebron, especially since he's come up in the pampered era of the NBA.

[K Xerxes]

He did reiterate later that "LeBron is a hell of a player," but he also said that LeBron should never be compared to Jordan.

True


He mentioned that he believes Jordan-Pippen are the best 1-2 punch he's ever seen,

True


and he also claimed that Jordan would be able to average at least 40 ppg in today's NBA.

True


Lastly, before ending the interview, Rodman insisted that his Bulls squad would mop the floor with the 2013 Heat.

True


He suggested that if he were assigned to guard LeBron James, he'd be surprised if LBJ scored on him.

False


Rodman also went on to say that Pippen would stop Wade from scoring

True


and that Jordan would likely guard LeBron; thus, there'd be no offense in Miami's game.

False

[Scholar]

All I know is that the league today is watered down defensively. Whereas a shove today warrants a flagrant foul (and with good reason. We don't need players getting injured off some b.s.), in the '80s/'90s, they were just hard fouls. 2 free throws and game resumes.

[edrick]

Hypothetical situations are pointless to discuss, there's absolutely no way of knowing how he would play. People like to make a statement thinking they know Lebron would be the exact same player he is today if he played in a different era. How dumb do you have to be to think that Lebron would have been the same player, knowing that the game was played differently?

[juju151111]

:oldlol:
What you laughing at new LJ nutgagger? Yes LJ going to take him to the post and back him down hen he was barly Moving for Shaq http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg3BiOw4TWo Mj destroys 13 Wade with no problem at all. Lmao at thinking this Heat team can even freaking compare dumbass:rolleyes:

[dh144498]

Rodman the GOAT rebounder and one of the best defenders of all time, with an insanely high basketball IQ finally speaks out on Lebron.
The Worm is right. He recognizes the truth. :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Akhenaten]

this is just stupid

I will say though that in the late 90's to early 2000's he'd struggle mightily playing half court ball though his ast numbers would be higher.

He'd absolutely RAPE in the 80's
there were like a million 6'2 180 pound guards avg 20+ on 50%+

80's was the worst defensive era of NBA basketball BY FAR

[branslowski]

Yawl old school overrating f@gs get me sometimes:oldlol:
A great player is a great player regardless of era...LeBron wouldn't score on Rodman? Seriously? Are older players like superhuman? I can look through the 80/90's and find average players who dropped 40-50 in games during those times...So Bird, Isiah, and Dominique Wilkins was super stronger and better than Bron is? Reggie Miller can have multiple 30+pt games, but LeBron and Kobe wouldn't? GTFO wit this Bullsh!t.

[juju151111]

Yawl old school overrating f@gs get me sometimes:oldlol:
A great player is a great player regardless of era...LeBron wouldn't score on Rodman? Seriously? Are older players like superhuman? I can look through the 80/90's and find average players who dropped 40-50 in games during those times...So Bird, Isiah, and Dominique Wilkins was super stronger and better than Bron is? Reggie Miller can have multiple 30+pt games, but LeBron and Kobe wouldn't? GTFO wit this Bullsh!t.
Obvious ly Rodman is exgerrating, but I think Rodman could definitely limit LJ.

[Foster5k]

Most of what Rodman said is accurate.

Jordan is superior to Lebron.

Dat Bulls squad is way superior to the 13 Heat.

Jordan would murder current NBA.

Worm would lock down Lebron.

[CAstill]

He's pretty much right other than Lebron going scoreless.

[tommy3]

Obvious ly Rodman is exgerrating, but I think Rodman could definitely limit LJ.
Pippen would. Not Rodman.

[AintNoSunshine]

Shaq could barly back him down. Rodman is one of the best defenders ever.


:roll: I agree, nobody has ever scored on him except for jordan in practice. Or he must get surprised a whole lot

[juju151111]

:roll: I agree, nobody has ever scored on him except for jordan in practice. Or he must get surprised a whole lot
He was exgerrating with saying LJ wouldnt score, but rodman would definitely give him problem.

[westsideozzie]

there is a reason the bulls won 210 regular season games in 3 years. They would beat the crap out the heat.

[Rolando]

This is actually one of the better hypothetical matchups but of course the Bulls would win.

Pippen would guard Lebron. This would be fairly epic. I think Lebron would still nearly get his numbers but he would have to work like hell every second of the game.

Rodman would easily defend Bosh and average 20 rebounds per game for the series.

Jordan vs. Wade would be epic as well. I think Wade would be frustrated going against Jordan. Offensively Jordan would destroy Wade.

[ReturnofJPR]

With 90's basketball rules, Rodman is absolutely right. Rodman...thus the R in my screen name.

What children don't understand is that the entire league, the NBA!, had to change their rules because Jordan was so dominant...kids nowadays have no respect!

[nightprowler10]

I would easily put Scottie on Bron and MJ on Wade, not the other way around.

I love the worm and I think he'll easily get inside Lebron's head and **** with him to the point that he won't be as effective, but Lebron will definitely score on him.

[nightprowler10]

With 90's basketball rules, Rodman is absolutely right. Rodman...thus the R in my screen name.

What children don't understand is that the entire league, the NBA!, had to change their rules because Jordan was so dominant...kids nowadays have no respect!
I just got your username. :facepalm on me.

[ReturnofJPR]

I just got your username. :facepalm on me.

It was:

JordanPippenRodman

but it was banned back in 05 before InsideHoops made the conversion to this new website (it was on ezboard, thus all the "June 2006" dates in people's names...

[CAstill]

I would easily put Scottie on Bron and MJ on Wade, not the other way around.

I love the worm and I think he'll easily get inside Lebron's head and **** with him to the point that he won't be as effective, but Lebron will definitely score on him.


In this type of match up knowing Lebron's mental make up, there is no way I see Jordan letting anyone but himself guard Lebron. Pippen would be perfect on Wade as it lets his length bother Wade. Rodman can focus on D and rebounds.

[ConanRulesNBC]

He speaks the truth here. All you LeBron bandwagon fans who just started watching in the last few years won't admit it but people on here who have been watching basketball since the '80s and '90s know that it's a completely different league right now. It's a softer league and LeBron would be getting destroyed in that era.

[nightprowler10]

In this type of match up knowing Lebron's mental make up, there is no way I see Jordan letting anyone but himself guard Lebron. Pippen would be perfect on Wade as it lets his length bother Wade. Rodman can focus on D and rebounds.
While you may be right, I think the best option would be for Pippen to stay on James. LeBron has a game similar to Magic's and Pip did a tremendous job on him in '91.

In either scenario, we've got the Worm on Bosh. Oh dear lord :lol

[CAstill]

While you may be right, I think the best option would be for Pippen to stay on James. LeBron has a game similar to Magic's and Pip did a tremendous job on him in '91.

In either scenario, we've got the Worm on Bosh. Oh dear lord :lol


Yeah Bosh would even be more invisible lol. If both teams are healthy Lebron is not the one that worries me, It's Wade. And if all players get to be in their prime I'm more concerned about Ray Allen too. Seriously.

[nightprowler10]

Yeah Bosh would even be more invisible lol. If both teams are healthy Lebron is not the one that worries me, It's Wade. And if all players get to be in their prime I'm more concerned about Ray Allen too. Seriously.
I was definitely thinking a healthy '13 Heat vs healthy '96 Bulls. So no Ray Allen in his prime, but definitely without his bone spurs.

[Dragonyeuw]

He's right. Jordan and Pippen neutralize Lebron and Wade, especially with Wade playing as he is now? Please. Rodman would completely take Bosh out of the game( not that it's a hard thing to do nowadays).

[#number6ix#]

If lebron played in the 80s and 90s he would be use to the physical play. How would he play in the 90s with a 2013 view on physical play

[TheMarkMadsen]

Imagine Lebron vs the bad boy pistons. Dudes elbow would have exploded by game 2

[kaiteng]

All LeBron needed if he was born in that era is adapting into that environment.

But the current LeBron in 80's/90's now? Not gonna be as good that's for sure.

[branslowski]

If lebron played in the 80s and 90s he would be use to the physical play. How would he play in the 90s with a 2013 view on physical play

Purvis Short finished third behind Jordan and Bird in ppg in 85', he avg 28ppg....including tons of 40pt games and a 59pt game...Yet these idiots saying Bron couldn't play in these times:facepalm ....Also, I don't even like LeBron like that, but I'm not gonna sit here and see the most idiotic statements ever made by ppl and not comment...If these ppl were purposely trolling and admitted it, then ohwell, I guess ppl get bored, but alot of these idiots are dead serious with some of their moronic comments.:facepalm

[deja vu]

90s Bulls would have swept the Heat. Other NBA finalists in the 90s would also have beaten the Heat in a series. Heck, even '95 Orlando Magic would be huge trouble for the Heat. :roll:

[ErhnamDjinn]

imagine Durant in 1990's rules lmao dude would have a shorter career then Larry Bird, the same move of hacking Jordan against the Pistons mid air or those hard fouls by the Knicks.

[outbreak]

If you took LeBron in a time machine back there he wouldn't handle the d well. I'd be grew up in the era and played he would be fine as he would expect those rules and that contact. Maybe wouldn't be such a flopping pusdy about contact

[stephanieg]

Rodman also said Bird was overrated because he was white.

[longtime lurker]

I must have missed where Rodman said Lebron would be an average player. I think he'd be one of the best player but NOT the best player. And yes Lebron would have a hard time adjusting to the physical play of the NBA back then. All that flopping would just make guys go at him even harder.

[NASH = BEST]

Nothing Rodman says should be taken seriously, but he's correct this time.

HAHAHA :oldlol:

This

[ralph_i_el]

but if Lebron was playing back then he'd have grown up getting beat on and he'd be used to it...

[TAZORAC]

I don't see why he couldn't still be the same player back then, he literally is a tank. He can dish and take punishment (which is why it's pathetic to see a grown ass 6'8 250 pound man flop). Could he take a beating from 80's and 90's players though? It'd be interesting to see.

He would be even better, playing against MUCH LESS athletic, slower, 80s/90s players.

Imagine a guy like Lebron on the court with the likes of Bill Lambeer, Larry Bird, Robert Parish etc :facepalm .

There's not a sport on EARTH where people GET BETTER as time goes on.

[Bandito]

He would be even better, playing against MUCH LESS athletic, slower, 80s/90s players.

Imagine a guy like Lebron on the court with the likes of Bill Lambeer, Larry Bird, Robert Parish etc :facepalm .

There's not a sport on EARTH where people GET BETTER as time goes on.
All those players would feast on Lebron's weakling mind.:roll:

[MaxFly]

All I know is that the league today is watered down defensively. Whereas a shove today warrants a flagrant foul (and with good reason. We don't need players getting injured off some b.s.)

So.... the league was watered down because certain styles of play were permissible in the 90s, but it's good that they are no longer permissible because players could get hurt, and that was not real basketball.

[chazzy]

Nostalgia is a powerful thing

[deja vu]

One thing is sure, LeBron won't be bullying his way to the rim with all the giants protecting the basket. LeBron got his sh|t pushed by Hibbert. Now imagine a guy like Dikembe, Mourning, Hakeem, DRob, Ewing... :roll:

[miggyme1]

Idk if lebron would get destroyed in the 80's but he certainly would not be winning mvps. He would average something like 18-20 ppg, 9 apg, 10 rbg. So basically he would average a triple double but he would be on a mediocre team...that wouldnt be good enough to beat the lakers,rockets, jazz if he was in the west or beat the pistons,celtics,bulls etc if he was in the east. But he would be like a bigger rajon rondo in my opinion in the 80's and 90's. Allstar talent but not gonna get u to the promised land

[97 bulls]

Yeah Bosh would even be more invisible lol. If both teams are healthy Lebron is not the one that worries me, It's Wade. And if all players get to be in their prime I'm more concerned about Ray Allen too. Seriously.
If Allen is in his prime, then Ron Harper should also be in his prime.

[La Frescobaldi]

One thing is sure, LeBron won't be bullying his way to the rim with all the giants protecting the basket. LeBron got his sh|t pushed by Hibbert. Now imagine a guy like Dikembe, Mourning, Hakeem, DRob, Ewing... :roll:
or Rik Smits, Moses, Shaq, Kareem, Big Chief Parrish, Sabonis, Eaton, Cartwright, Lanier, Oakley, I dunno........ Artis Gilmore the FREAKING A-TRAIN.....

[Dbrog]

Well...he would be a different player. He would certainly have more fundamentals. How would he not be at least as good or better than Drexler or Dr.J? I just don't see it affecting him as a player that much. Greatness will always be greatness.

[hitmanyr2k]

I think playing in the 80's/90's era would force Lebron to develop some actual offensive skill rather than just bulldozing the rim all the time. Jordan realized he couldn't keep taking the physical pounding when going to the rim and developed that midrange game where the rim protectors/enforcers couldn't constantly beat the shit out of him. And he also developed a great off the ball game where he could move without the ball and beat defenses that tried to key on him.

Lebron seems to be intent on getting away with a limited offensive arsenal relying on his power game and athletic gifts. It works in this weak era with the rule changes and crap centers these days but it wouldn't work in a harder-nosed era during the late 80's/90's.

[jrong]

Rodman is just providing a counter-point to Pippen's comments about LeBron that are just as zany, but in the other direction.

[CAstill]

If Allen is in his prime, then Ron Harper should also be in his prime.

This is very true, Ron was the man. Who do you think would have the edge between the two?

[Kovach]

Imagine a guy like Lebron on the court with the likes of Bill Lambeer
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7TjYNXMLmqk/ShWO2OBjD8I/AAAAAAAAACM/RA8OSd8oAbA/s400/Lebron_hurt.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kaxy5EuMx_Q/S9iB0hnCdsI/AAAAAAAAA4U/hEXiZ8rQu2U/s1600/lebron_hurt.jpg

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2012/06/21/thumbs/P20-120621-a1.jpg

http://elitedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/elite-daily-lebron-james-heat-injury.jpg

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1099512!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/cramp21s-1-web.jpg

http://www.vegassportsbetting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/lebron-james-injury.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SehEsh_sS3pQFAXHnk.AwQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/108485786.jpg

http://concertconfessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lebron-james-crying.3.jpg

[Kovach]

And the idea that LeBron would be an average player in the '80s/'90s is just retarded.

[SpaceJammeR]

you know what... I'm glad rodman said this... Hopefully lebron steps up his game and proves everyone why he's the best player on the planet.

[JtotheIzzo]

Dennis Rodman was on The Dan Patrick Show around 6:30 AM PST this morning. I didn't hear the majority of the interview, but I did tune in just in time to hear him going off on LeBron's playing abilities.

He did reiterate later that "LeBron is a hell of a player," but he also said that LeBron should never be compared to Jordan.

He mentioned that he believes Jordan-Pippen are the best 1-2 punch he's ever seen, and he also claimed that Jordan would be able to average at least 40 ppg in today's NBA.

Lastly, before ending the interview, Rodman insisted that his Bulls squad would mop the floor with the 2013 Heat. He basically implied there'd be no competition. He suggested that if he were assigned to guard LeBron James, he'd be surprised if LBJ scored on him. Rodman also went on to say that Pippen would stop Wade from scoring and that Jordan would likely guard LeBron; thus, there'd be no offense in Miami's game.



Thoughts, ISH?

He also said Larry Bird would be just another player if he were black.

Rodman is an alcoholic, cross-dressing, manic-depressant, self-absorbed, attention whoring boy of a man constantly crying for help.

But yeah, lets take his words as gospel.:facepalm

[eliteballer]

This is the WHOLE quote:


"It's really not a comparison. If LeBron was playing in the late '80s and early '90s, he would be just an average player," Rodman said Friday on "The Dan Patrick Show." "To do what Michael has done ... what he did was more charisma, there was more articulating and stuff like that. LeBron is more like ... there's no flash to his game. He's a great player, don't get me wrong, he's a hell of player, I'll give him that. But to me Scottie (Pippen) and Michael are probably the two best one-two punches I've ever seen."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/9353089/dennis-rodman-says-lebron-james-average-played-90s

[JellyBean]

I don't know what Rodman is talking about. Lebron seem to do well against those "great" players of the 80s and 90s on 2K13. Even in real life, I don't think that Lebron would have had any problems against those players of that era.

[goldenryan]

Let me think would Lebron drive down the middle 20 times a game against Laimbeer/Rodman or Barkley/Mahorn or Malone?

[oh the horror]

Let me think would Lebron drive down the middle 20 times a game against Laimbeer/Rodman or Barkley/Mahorn or Malone?


He won't even do it against Roy Hibbert.

[DFish24]

Far from a Lebron fan, but Lebron would be an all-star in the 90's or any other era. He would rank behind Jordan and Hakeem tho. He'd be a bit better than Malone and Barkley.

[veilside23]

its funny that people say that athletes get better overall as generations come... how come the best center in the L is dwight howard?

sure they maybe alot of high flyers and better dunkers ...

but skillwise cant say it gets better .. Lebron cant even post up for his size he cant even backdown smaller guards . Lebron just happen to become a specimen that relies heavily on driving the ball towards the basket ... the way he shoots the ball is quite awkward actually specially his jumpshot ..

regarding being average i doubt it .. he would be an all star... but needs to develop far better skills than what he has now .

imagine lebron going up against prime shawn kemp , alonso mourning , pj brown,

[Scholar]

This is the WHOLE quote:



http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/9353089/dennis-rodman-says-lebron-james-average-played-90s

Why did you put that part in bold but not the "average player" part? If you read my OP, I pretty much summed up everything the dude said. I didn't give exact quotes but I was 100% accurate in stating what he said.

[kNicKz]

he literally is a tank

he is literally a tank? do you know what "literally" means?

http://i43.tinypic.com/2rd9fuc.jpg