I have thought that Jordan would have a tougher time in today's NBA.
With the current hand check rule?
Look, the average height of an NBA player hasn't changed in two decades and there isn't a two guard in the game as quick or as fast as Jordan. I don't see what has changed since Jordan's prime. If Kobe Bryant was able to score 35 per game during a season, I don't see why a player with bigger hands, quicker feet, and a higher vertical leap would have any trouble. Hell, a 38 year-old Jordan averaged 23/6/5 in 03.
Where are the great NBA centers? Jordan played in era with Hakeem, Robinson, and Ewing.
A lot of those lob passes that Bird throws are passes I see get picked off in todays game. The recovery time, as long as they aren't lazy, is much quicker. As impressive as Wilkins was, Lebron is probably on yet another level and the levels below him fall to formerly 'great' athletic levels. The real difference is in skill and basketball wits.
Unless a defensive player anticipates those passes, he can't react quick enough. Mental reaction time hasn't changed.
Anyway, if the defensive players are more athletic, it would only stand to reason that the offensive players are too--THEY'RE THE SAME PLAYERS! Those passes Bird threw would be thrown higher of further.
Yes LeBron is a freak. Wilt was a freak. It didn't make the early 60s a super athletic league.