We all know the GOAT debate is never going to end, and yes, Michael Jordan usually tops the list. No doubt, he was one of the best to ever ball on both ends of the court. But let’s break down his defense. Even though he snagged those DPOYs in the ’90s, he wasn’t really known for locking dudes down one-on-one. So how would his defense hold up in today’s game? Let’s look at what veteran Gilbert Arenas has to say about this.
In the Gil Arena podcast, Arenas and his crew discuss how good of a defender Michael Jordan would have been in this era. “There is no way he[Michael Jordan] in hell he would have been able to guard a Klay Thompson at the 2,” Gil said. When you look at the type of player Klay Thompson is, he is not known for his dribbling skills; he is an off-ball shooter and, he is amazing at that. He is constantly moving, making it tough for the defenders to keep up. Plus, with his teammates setting off-ball screens, guarding him becomes a real nightmare for defenders.
“He got hit by like, he must have been a great on ball defender because of the ball, he got hit by every down screen, every pick, he lost his man. So, defensively what he was, a Jrue Holiday off the ball, he was a net guy.” Arenas added. Now, looking at Jordan’s defense, he was tough to get past as an on-ball defender. But what about his off-ball defending skills? As Arenas said, to keep up with a player like Klay Thompson, who is always moving, you have to fight through all the screens from his teammate. If you can’t do that, you know he is going to get open and make you pay.
Let’s dive into the Jrue Holiday comparison. Jrue is not necessarily someone who can lock down the opposing team’s best player with ball pressure, especially if it’s a quick guard. But he definitely has the IQ to grab steals and deflections and he can fit into the schemes pretty well-kind of like how MJ used to play defense back in the day, especially with his off-ball game. So, is there some truth to what Gilbert Arenas said? Maybe. Can’t say for sure.
“He Was the Actual Net Guy”—Gilbert Arenas on Michael Jordan
“Mike wasn’t all that good of a defender,” Wallace said in a recent interview. There’s been a lot of chatter saying Michael Jordan wasn’t an elite defender like Arenas mentioned on his podcast recently. But is that for real? You don’t snag Defensive Player of the Year awards if you’re not top-notch, so this is definitely up for debate. A lot of people also say Scottie Pippen was the better defender and Jordan just rode his coattails.
In another episode of Gil Arena’s podcast, he brought this issue to light. “When we’re thinking about Michael Jordan, when there’s a key stop to be made, he’s making it. Snapping back on Karl Malone to get the steal to go win the game, making the block. He was the actual net guy. As an individual guard, Pippen was a better defender on the ball.” Arenas said.
via Getty
Sure, Pippen was an amazing defender, but he could not have done it alone in the defense without Jordan, so it goes both ways. Like, just look at how aware MJ was as a defender, he could read the play before it even unfolded on the court. So, is it fair to say that Jordan’s defense might be overrated and he would not do well in today’s era? What are your thoughts on this?
