Michael Jordan: Could He Score 100 in Today's Game?

The recent rave of the hit game, NBA 2K11, features former NBA great Michael Jordan on the front cover in his classic Bulls jersey. It is a big deal for someone like M.J. to appear on such a renowned game and it has naturally brought much attention to not only the gaming world, but to NBA fans.

M.J. recently sat down with USA Today's Game Hunter to discuss NBA 2K11 and the changes we are seeing in the game of basketball today.

In the interview, Game Hunter asks M.J., "How has the game changed from your playing days?" M.J. responded by saying, "It's less physical and the rules have changed, obviously. Based on these rules, if I had to play with my style of play, I'm pretty sure I would have fouled out or I would have been at the free throw line pretty often and I could have scored 100 points."

From digging up M.J.'s past, I found out that his career high was 69 points, and that was in a game that went into overtime. So for M.J. to say he would score 100 points in today's day and age is a bit controversial.

Yes, I know he's arguably the greatest to play the game, and yes, his competition may have been much tougher back then, but could he have scored 100 against the players in the league today?

For me it would have to obviously come down to who he as playing against. If M.J. had Sasha Vujacic on him, I'd bet that he could score 100, maybe even more. But even against Vujacic it'd be a stretch not only for Jordan, but anybody.

That Wilt Chamberlain got the "most scored in a game" title back in 1962, it should tell you something about why he still holds the title. In the time span from Chamberlain's days to now, there have been countless great players: Bird, Magic, M.J., Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Isaiah Thomas, Kobe, I mean you name it, some of the best of the best have played after Chamberlain and yet he still holds his title.

The reason why Chamberlain still holds his title is because of the mix of luck and skill he had back in the days he played. Chamberlain was a 7-footer who played at a time when basketball was just starting up and his only competition was Bill Russell, for the most part. Chamberlain did not score 100 on Bill Russell. In fact, he scored 100 against two different players: Darrall Imhoff and Cleveland Buckner of the New York Knicks. 

Back in those days, there wasn't any defense, and if you were 7'1'' center and you had skills, it was relatively easy to score over 50 a game. The Knicks just happened to catch Chamberlain on an especially special night.

Coming back to M.J. and his statement. I think that M.J. could have scored 100 points in this day and age, but it would have to be against a bad team and a bad defender. M.J. would also have to be fouled a lot to get easy points at the line and he would have to play the entire game, but it's a definite possibility. I mean we are talking about M.J.

Though he is M.J., could he really score 100? Well that's just up to you guys isn't it?

Let the talking begin!