ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith claims Michael Jordan changed basketball for the worse

NBA pundit Stephen A. Smith is copping a tsunami of backlash after claiming that Michael Jordan changed basketball for the worse.

Stephen A. Smith and Michael Jordan.

ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith is copping a tsunami of backlash after claiming that six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, widely considered to be the greatest player in history, changed basketball for the worse.

Speaking on First Take ahead of the NBA Finals series, Smith and his ESPN co-hosts discussed how high-profile players, such as Jordan and eight-time NBA All-Star Steph Curry, impacted the current brand of basketball.

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The 54-year-old argued that basketball was a team-centred sport before Jordan burst on the scene in the 1980s, claiming his popularity turned the NBA into a single-star-marketed game.

“People said he (Curry) changed the game,” Smith started.

“No, he elevated it to a point where it was acceptable because you’re looking for somebody to produce close in the vicinity to what he does and what Klay Thompson does to a slightly lesser degree.

“My brother, the guy that I love so much, that I believe is the greatest player to have ever played. Michael Jordan is responsible as much as anybody for changing the game for the worse. This is throwing no shade on Michael Jordan of course, he’s the greatest ever … but he was so phenomenal that the NBA marketed the individual, the audience gravitated towards the individual and the game became a bit more individualised. Because people wanted to ‘Be Like Mike.’ Before Mike, you have (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson).

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. Picture: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

“What I’m saying is you were thinking team until Jordan elevated it to another level. Then from Jordan, you had the Kobe (Bryant)’s, the Vince Carter’s and others that came along thereafter and the individualisation of the sport, particularly because of the money that came with it became more of a focal point.

“So I would tell you, Mike D’Antoni, in terms of the three-point shooting and maintaining the pace and letting people score so you don’t disrupt the pace and then Jordan with the individuality, even though he obviously was a team player and the Chicago Bulls were a great team. The marketing of the individual, those two components is what made the game what it is today.”

Needless to say, those remarks didn’t sit well with NBA fans.

And Stephen A helped ruin sports media.

— HEY HEY HEY HEY (@e_knifongTV) June 2, 2022

Can definitely see this @stephenasmith but it was #NBA’s doing, not MJ. MJ was a freak of nature. Steph has made it possible for less physical athletes, more shooters. No 7 foot starters in NBA Finals this year. https://t.co/Dc8RxHsobi

— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) June 1, 2022

Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant responded on Twitter: “My theory is that guys like Steve (A. Smith), Skip (Bayless) and Shannon (Sharpe) have changed the game for the worse. Playas like Stephen and Michael can only push the game forward.”

Smith quickly returned serve: “You’re certainly entitled to your opinion. Love both MJ

@StephenCurry30. Was only alluding to MJ being so great, it enticed folks to focus on individuality instead of team. Nothing more. As for us changing the game for the worse, we disagree. But here’s the news for you. We ain’t going any damn place. For every @stephenasmith, Skip, @ShannonSharpe and others, there’s thousands more coming down the pike. We’re not going away. We multiply. Sorry!”

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated’s Alek Arend wrote on The Spun: “Saying Jordan negatively impacted basketball is like saying Tom Brady has negatively impacted football. It’s pure blasphemy.”

On Friday AEST, the Boston Celtics pulled off a stunning fourth-quarter comeback to shock the Golden State Warriors 120-108 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Originally published as ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith claims Michael Jordan changed basketball for the worse