Like many, NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins was shocked to hear that Michael Jordan will joining be NBC Sports this fall, and he offered a bold prediction about what that may look like.
During an exclusive interview with ESports Insider, the Atlanta Hawks legend and former MJ rival told the publication, "I know this: If Jordan is doing this, it’s got to be a huge payday. Huge. I’ve seen some of the rumors (on pay) and it’s like, 'I get it.'" Wilkins added, "I love it, because we’re going to see another aspect of basketball from the greatest to ever do it. How would you combat that? Like, how would you question his outlook on the game? It’s going to be interesting. They are going to hear it from a guy who has done it on a level that only a few get a chance to achieve."
The hoops legend also gave his thoughts about current players thinking they are more skilled than their predecessors. "It’s a ridiculous thought. (They act like) we played on peach baskets or something. I give credit to every era, because it’s that respect and love for the game that made us who we are. When I hear, 'Well the league wasn’t that skilled back then,' it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. If you haven’t seen that era, played in that era, you cannot make that statement."
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Another interesting topic discussed in the interview was Wilkins' knowledge of competitive esports tournaments, along with his thoughts on the controversial Luka Doncic trade earlier this season. "I’ve just started paying attention to that this year. I’m blown away," he said when asked about his knowledge of esports tournaments as a whole. "This is something guys are actually making money off of, and a lot of money. That blew me away. The world is going virtual."
As for Doncic, Wilkins explained, "Like everybody across the world, I was shocked. Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That’s a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don’t know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance."
You can check out the full interview here.
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