We don't have to guess if someone like Labron would make as much as he makes now without a union because MJ got paid about as much. That said, you're right that

We don't have to guess if someone like Labron would make as much as he makes now without a union because MJ got paid about as much. That said, you're right that the median NBA salary is much higher now. The question is whether that came at the expense of players like Labron or at the expense of the teams.