It is always encouraging to see fans recognizing the potential of modern-day players. While Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson has yet to collect major individual accolades, it is refreshing to see him acknowledged as one of the league’s most promising perimeter defenders.
However, YouTuber Kristopher London perhaps went too far in his praise when he suggested that if Amen had played in the NBA during the 1980s and ‘90s, his defensive presence would have been so overwhelming that Michael Jordan might not have enjoyed the same level of success that allowed him to lead the league in scoring for 10 seasons.
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Kristopher London levies heavy praise on Amen Thompson
The old-school NBA was full of quality perimeter defenders. Unlike today’s game, it wasn’t just the quicker defenders who thrived on the perimeter. Given the level of physicality allowed, even taller players like Michael Cooper and Kevin McHale excelled in that role. Despite that, nobody even came close to containing Jordan’s offensive wrath.
Take, for example, Mike’s playoff series against the star-studded Boston Celtics in his sophomore year. Despite the Celtics having defenders like Dennis Johnson, McHale and Danny Ainge, Mike averaged a staggering 43.7 points over the three games of that series. Similarly, against Cooper, Jordan averaged 31.2 points over the nine games. Thus, whether it was strength, length, quickness, or defensive savvy, no tactics worked against the five-time MVP.
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Now, there is no denying that Amen is one of the fastest perimeter defenders who leverages his 6’7” frame to guard even taller opponents easily; he, too, would’ve had issues limiting Jordan. But for YouTuber Kristopher London, that was far from the truth. Instead, if Amen had played in the old-school era, Jordan would have faced a challenge unlike anything he did.
“If he (Thompson) was put in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I’m not sure if Michael Jordan would be talked about the way he is. Not even trying to discredit or disrespect Mike,” London said with a subtle arrogance on his face. “Put the two highlights side by side.”
Michael Jordan was superior to all defenders in his era
Interestingly, even within his own era, Jordan was not necessarily the fastest or most athletic player on the court. What separated him was his adaptability. He averaged more than 30 points per game for seven consecutive seasons, not because of raw speed or leaping ability alone, but because he always found counters to whatever defensive schemes he faced.
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Put simply, when defenders tried to become more physical, he exploited their aggression against them with precision and control.
So, while London is entitled to his opinion of keeping Amen in such a high tier, he perhaps went overboard in his admission.
Some of the greatest perimeter defenders in the league played in the same era as Michael Jeffrey Jordan, yet not one of them can confidently claim that they were effectively able to shut down Jordan, regardless of the time they faced him in their careers—this indicates pure and unparalleled dominance.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.