In 1998, Michael Jordan concluded his career with the Chicago Bulls by securing another NBA championship, underlining his status as the unchallenged top player in the world. During that season, he led the league with his scoring average while also maintaining a high shooting efficiency.
Today, numerous players are surpassing the benchmarks set by Jordan in his final MVP season. This raises questions about whether NBA statistics today are inflated or if players have genuinely become better.
NBA offenses have improved significantly, leading to higher game scores. Teams now routinely score well above 100 points, which was once less common, illustrating the explosive growth in team scoring capability.
Adjustments in the rules, enhanced training methods, and changes in offensive play styles have contributed to an improvement in overall scoring. Players today have taken offensive tactics to new heights, becoming more efficient and effective scorers.
Comparing players across different NBA eras is challenging due to changes in the game's pace, rules, and style. Statistics may not always capture the true skill of a player without considering the context of their performance.
The NBA has a larger number of elite offensive talents than in any previous era, leading to a noticeable increase in scoring. These players are highly skilled in breaking down defenses and scoring efficiently.
While the offensive prowess of players has grown, concerns arise over whether the increase is due to artificial enhancements through rules favoring the offense, or if it's a natural progression of athletes' abilities.