The viral TikTok clip from content creator Gros Sel—titled “Comparer pas l’incomparable” (Don’t compare the incomparable)—has reignited basketball’s most enduring debate: Can we truly compare players across eras, positions, and skill sets? With 78 likes and counting, the 15-second video taps into a question that has frustrated fans, analysts, and even the players themselves for generations. The answer, as we’ll explore, is both scientifically impossible and culturally irresistible.

Why You can’t Resist the Comparison Game

Basketball’s evolution makes direct comparisons inherently flawed. Consider these verified era-defining shifts:

• Pace of play: The 1961-62 NBA season averaged 125.4 possessions per game. By 2025-26, that number had dropped to 97.2, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
• Three-point revolution: In 1980, teams averaged 2.8 three-point attempts per game. This season, that number stands at 38.1, per NBA Advanced Stats.
• Physical profiles: The average NBA player in 1952 was 6’4″ and 195 pounds. Today’s average is 6’6″ and 220 pounds, with wingspans that would have been considered freakish just decades ago.

“You’re comparing different sports,” said Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in a 2023 interview with The Athletic. “The game I played in the ’60s was physical to the point of brutality. Today’s players are faster, stronger, and have skills we never dreamed of.”

The Statistical Illusion of Comparability

Modern analytics have given us more data than ever—yet the numbers often obscure more than they reveal. Let’s examine three all-time greats through the lens of their era’s statistical context:

Notice how Jokić’s 24.5 points per game would have ranked just 10th in his era—yet his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 32.8 leads all active players. This disconnect reveals the limitations of raw statistics when comparing across generations.

The Positional Revolution: When Centers Play Like Guards

The most dramatic shift in player comparisons comes from positional evolution. Consider these verified developments:

• In 1980, only 12% of NBA centers averaged more than 2 assists per game. In 2026, that number stands at 68%, per NBA Advanced Stats.
• Victor Wembanyama, the 7’4″ French phenom, entered the league in 2023 averaging more blocks (3.0) and threes (1.2) per game than any rookie in history—skills that would have been considered mutually exclusive just a decade ago.
• Stephen Curry’s 2015-16 season saw him attempt 11.2 threes per game. The entire league averaged 10.0 threes per game in 2000-01.

“When I came into the league, if you were 6’10” and could dribble, you were a ‘point forward,'” said Magic Johnson in a 2024 ESPN interview. “Now? That’s just Tuesday for these young guys.”

The Psychological Appeal: Why We Keep Trying

Despite the logical impossibility, the comparison game persists as it serves three fundamental human needs:

1. Narrative creation: Sports thrive on storylines. Comparing LeBron James to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gives us a 50-year arc of basketball evolution to discuss.
2. Cultural shorthand: When we call Luka Dončić “the next Larry Bird,” we’re not making a literal comparison—we’re invoking Bird’s playmaking genius to help fans understand Dončić’s vision.
3. Generational bonding: Debating whether Zion Williamson or Wembanyama is “better” becomes a way for fans of different ages to connect over their shared love of the game.

Sports psychologist Dr. Jen Carter notes, “These comparisons aren’t about objective truth—they’re about identity. When we argue for our favorite player, we’re really arguing for the values we admire in the game.”

The Future of Comparisons: AI and the Search for Objectivity

With the rise of artificial intelligence, teams and analysts are attempting to create more “objective” comparison models. The most advanced systems now incorporate:

• Player tracking data (available since 2013) that measures speed, acceleration, and defensive positioning
• Biometric data including wingspan, hand size, and vertical leap
• Contextual factors like strength of schedule, teammate quality, and coaching systems
• Era-adjusted metrics that account for pace, rule changes, and competition level

Even these models have limitations. As Basketball-Reference founder Justin Kubatko told Archysport, “We can adjust for pace and league average production, but we can’t adjust for the fact that Wilt Chamberlain played in an era with only 8 teams, or that today’s players have access to nutrition and training that would have been considered science fiction in the 1960s.”

Key Takeaways: How to Compare Responsibly

• Compare within eras first: Start by understanding how a player dominated their own time before comparing across generations.
• Focus on impact, not stats: Bill Russell’s 11 championships matter more than his 15.1 points per game. The numbers don’t capture his defensive dominance or leadership.
• Consider the full picture: A player’s peak, longevity, playoff performance, and cultural impact all matter when making comparisons.
• Embrace the subjectivity: The best comparisons aren’t about declaring a “winner”—they’re about appreciating what each player brought to the game.
• Use era-adjusted metrics cautiously: Tools like Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) can help, but they’re not perfect.
• Remember the human element: Players are more than their statistics. The intangibles—leadership, clutch performance, and ability to elevate teammates—often define greatness.

What’s Next: The Comparison Debate in 2026

As we look ahead to the 2026 NBA season, several emerging storylines will fuel the comparison conversation:

• Victor Wembanyama’s sophomore leap: After winning Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, Wemby’s second season will determine whether he’s on a Hakeem Olajuwon or Ralph Sampson trajectory.
• Zion Williamson’s health: If Williamson can stay on the court for a full season, we may finally get to compare him to the dominant power forwards of the past—without the injury caveats.
• The next international wave: Players like France’s Victor Wembanyama and Slovenia’s Luka Dončić are redefining what we expect from international prospects, forcing us to rethink historical comparisons.
• Rule changes: The NBA’s ongoing experimentation with rules (like the 65-foot three-point line tested in G League) could further alter the statistical landscape.

The next major comparison moment will likely come during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, when we’ll see whether Wembanyama can lead the Spurs to their first postseason appearance since 2019. His playoff performance will inevitably spark debates about how his two-way dominance compares to other young big men in NBA history.

For now, the “comparer pas l’incomparable” debate reminds us why we love basketball: the game is constantly evolving, yet the arguments remain timeless. Whether you’re comparing Steph Curry to Pete Maravich or Caitlin Clark to Diana Taurasi, the conversation itself is part of what makes sports so compelling.

What do you think? Who’s the most incomparable player in basketball history? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow Archysport for more in-depth basketball analysis.