Pippen: Curry, Jokic Would Struggle Under 1990s Rules

Visiting Madrid as an ambassador for the Sanitas Foundation, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen told MARCA the NBA has changed over the past 15–20 years, becoming more offense‑oriented, positionless and three‑point driven, so cross‑era comparisons are unfair. He emphasized that the 1980s–90s game was far more physical, with hand‑checking and full‑court pressure that would have limited modern shooters' explosiveness from three. Asked about current stars, Pippen said Stephen Curry “would not be the same” under 1990s rules and questioned whether Nikola Jokić could thrive facing that era’s defensive pressure. He expressed skepticism that Luka Dončić’s style — which helped the Dallas Mavericks reach the 2024 Finals — will reliably deliver another title without more complementary pieces. Pippen also called his 1995–96 Bulls the greatest “on paper” while reflecting on his career and the Dream Team.