In the current NBA, the offensive rhythm is getting faster and faster, the offensive area is more and more extensive, the defensive intensity is getting weaker and weaker, and the referee's whistle is becoming more and more random.
In the previous NBA, it was relatively rare for a team to score more than 100 points in a single game. In today's NBA, it is not normal to score less than 110 points in a single game.
Therefore, in this context, many people believe that in today's NBA, the data is obviously "inflation", and the current 40 points per game is different from the previous 40 points per game, which is a different concept, like the current 100 yuan, and the previous 100 yuan, the purchasing power gap is very large.
This begs the question: If Kobe Bryant or Jordan were placed in today's small-ball era, would they be able to score 100 points per game in a single game, or average 40 points per game in a season?
In fact, this issue should be discussed at two levels.
The first level, translation.
That is, to move the former Kobe Bryant to today's small-ball era, and other subjective factors remain the same.
Then the most intuitive is to move Kobe Bryant in the 05-06 season, that season, Kobe averaged 35.4 points per game, the highest score in a single game was 81 points, and he once scored 62 points in three quarters.
That season, Bryant appeared in 80 games, averaging 27.2 shots per game, hitting 12.2 of them, including 2.3 of 6.5 three-pointers and 8.7 of 10.2 free throws, averaging 35.4 points per game.
If it is placed in the current era, Kobe's playing style remains the same, will Kobe's average points per game increase?
The answer is yes.
The first is the scale of blowing penalties, and the scale of blowing penalties today is much looser than 18 years ago, that is, among Kobe's 27.2 shots, there will be at least a few times when the referee will blow the opponent's foul, and the number of Kobe's free throws will increase. With Kobe's style of play that year, it is not an exaggeration to add 2 fouls per game, and then use Kobe's free throw shooting rate to convert, 4 free throws, you can score 3.4 free throws, and the score will increase by 3.4 points.
The second is the offensive rhythm, the offensive rhythm is faster now, so the Lakers' offensive rounds will increase, so Kobe Bryant's shots will also increase, so the score will continue to go up. As for the physical problem, there is no need to worry at all, Kobe's physical fitness has never been a problem, and now that the defense has become weaker, Kobe's defensive investment is appropriately reduced, and the physical fitness will only be more sufficient.
If the offensive rounds are increased by 6 in a game, then Bryant's shots can be increased by 2 and the score can be increased by another 2.6 points.
With these two added alone, Kobe Bryant averaged 41.4 points per game this season.
That is, to put Kobe Bryant in the small-ball era, and it is not too difficult to average 40 points per game this season.
As for 100 points in a single game, it is unattainable in itself.
Taking Kobe Bryant's 81 points in a single game as an example, if the pace is accelerated, then in that game, Kobe Bryant may indeed score 100 points, but this is only a subjective condition, and the objective condition may not allow it.
Because if the pace changes, then it is likely that with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, the score will be 122-104, and the Lakers will lead by 18 points, at which point Bryant will score 81 points. Even if you consider the deviation caused by the problem of blowing the penalty scale, Kobe Bryant's score exceeds 81 points, assuming that it reaches 85 points, but in the remaining 7 minutes, will Kobe Bryant score 15 points?
There is a high probability that it will not, because the game has entered garbage time, and it is not meaningful to brush up points at this time. Just like when he scored 62 points in the third quarter, Kobe Bryant would still take the initiative to choose to give up.
In short, with Kobe's physical fitness and fighting spirit, as long as conditions allow and he is personally willing, he has every chance to challenge for 100 points in a single game.
The second level is substitution simulation.
Let's say the beginning of Kobe's career was in the small-ball era.
With Kobe's personality and adaptability, his style of play will be different from before, and it will become more suitable for the small-ball era, for example, Kobe's three-point shots will increase, and he will also specialize in training three-point shooting skills, thereby improving his three-point shooting rate.
In addition, he will also invest less on the defensive end, so that he has more energy and options on the offensive end, and becomes more comfortable.
In this case, averaging 40 points per game during the season is not a problem.
The same question applies to Jordan as well. With Kobe Bryant and Jordan's ability to adjust, is there really anyone who doubts that they can't adapt in the small-ball era? Jordan's three-point shots are infrequent and inconsistent because he doesn't need to, not because he can't.
Jordan and Kobe Bryant could improve one of their skills in an offseason if needed.
Therefore, whether it is an average of 40 points per game in the season or 100 points per game, for Kobe Bryant and Jordan, it will not be very difficult to achieve in the small-ball era.