Ex-Michael Jordan teammate: 'Klay…
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Ex-Michael Jordan teammate: 'Klay Thompson could've excelled in Jordan era'
Steph Curry, Magic Johnson said, could also have played in the '90s
Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) smiles as he celebrates during the final minute of the fourth quarter of Game 6 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Friday, May 10, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 118-113. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By Gary Peterson | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 20, 2020 at 9:57 a.m. | UPDATED: May 20, 2020 at 9:57 a.m.
At last "The Last Dance" is over. Now comes the search for deeper meaning.
B.J. Armstrong, a member of the Bulls during their first three-peat, has a thought. And it involves one of the Warriors who participated in the team's NBA Finals five-peat.
Recently Armstrong appeared on ESPN's "First Take" where Stephen A. Smith asked him:
"Knowing how the game was played back then, and knowing what you know about the game today, who do you think would have excelled in the previous era? The (Michael) Jordan era."
Keep in mind, the Bulls' championship reign began 30 years ago. The game was different. Far more physical, especially those Eastern Conference playoff series. The 3-point line was not an object of affection as it is today.
The question did not catch Armstrong off guard.
"I think about that all the time," he told Smith. "One of the players I think would excel most in that era would be Klay Thompson. He's a big guard, he has some physicality of the game and he (plays) the game in the way that they all played."
And how was that?
"You ran plays where the two-guard had to provide spacing and you had to be able to take your matchup. I think he (is) big enough to take that matchup every single night. I just think he would be a player that would fit into that era beautifully because of how he plays the game now. I think it translates."
Armstrong has paying attention. Everyone knows Thompson is a shooter's shooter, prone to ridiculous hot streaks. He is no slouch on defense. He was named to the All-Defensive for the 2018-19 season (that it was his first such honor is a joke). He's clutch, witness his high-profile Game 6's. He has grit and has played hurt. The guy shot free throws after tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals last June.
"The Last Dance" reinforced Michael Jordan's status as the Bulls' uber alpha, demanding deference and that teammates earn his trust.
Thompson has been the ultimate Warrior, doing whatever the team needs on a given night. He fit seamlessly into Golden State's All-Star ensembles.
"I can see him playing against Joe Dumars," Armstrong said. "I can see him playing against Clyde Drexler. I can see him playing against Michael Jordan. And he would pose some problems."
Meanwhile, Magic Johnson was playing his own game of "Who Could Hang in the M.J. '90s?"
"That's really easy for me," Johnson said, fielding the question that Smith posed to Armstrong.
"We start with LeBron James, then KD, Kevin Durant, no question, I mean, that guy can score in any era, right? And I think Steph Curry could still shoot the way he's shooting right now because I love watching Steph Curry play. And I think I would probably take Anthony Davis and the Greek Freak (Giannis Antetokounmpo). Those guys could definitely play in the era that I was in, and other guys as well."
Inside Sports
Gary Peterson | East Bay metro columnist
Gary Peterson is a sports content creator for the Bay Area News Group. His prior assignments included 31 years as a sports columnist, serving as a general assignment news reporter, covering courts and writing a metro column before finding his way back to sports.
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