Back In The Day NBA

Did Expansion Create A Watered-Down NBA During Michael Jordan Era?

Shandel Richardson

June 10, 1998; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan dribbles against Utah Jazz defender Jeff Hornacek in the first quarter of game four of the 2018 NBA Finals at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
June 10, 1998; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan dribbles against Utah Jazz defender Jeff Hornacek in the first quarter of game four of the 2018 NBA Finals at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY / Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY via Imagn

Before he became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick was an effective podcaster.

He had a knack for tackling topics that raised questions. More importantly, they received attention.

One of them occurred a few months ago when he suggested Michael Jordan dominated a watered-down NBA because of expansion in the late 1980s and 1990s.


"Jordan was drafted during his heyday, and six teams were added to the NBA," Redick said. "There were 90 players added to the NBA ... Does that not water down the regular season to a degree?”

Someone once told me well listen to what Bird said about Jordan back in the 80’s. And I told him to keep that same energy about everything Bird said. So again keep that same energy

Posted by John Gaskew III on Sunday, June 23, 2024

Many consider Jordan the greatest player in league history, but let's hear out Redick. In 1988, the NBA added the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. A year later, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic were born. Then came the Vancouver Grizzlies (now Memphis) and Toronto Raptors in 1995.

Since, some quotes from former NBA stars have surfaced to back the expansion theory. Dennis Rodman, who was one of Jordan's teammates, made a similar statement way before Redick.

"I just think the league has really filtered out and diluted itself," Rodman once said. "I just think it's kind of hurting the league right now."

And here's what Hall of Famer Larry Bird had to say.

"Well, I think the expansion teams really hurt the league," Bird said. "I think it's depleted some of the talent in our league."

No one will dispute the greatness of Jordan but this does raise some questions about the strength of his era.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson

SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com