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Comments
Well, Kareem beat the crap out of Bruce Lee. Talk about tough! I think he could handle Shaq.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ic2k2P_FG0
Peak Shaq was a force of nature. If he got the ball in the post, he was going to do whatever he wanted to the defender. He was arguably the best player on 4 championship teams, and it's argued he underachieved. That's how good he was.
He was an underachiever given all of his gifts. I’ll never forgive him for the Fat-Shaq years where he showed up 400+ pounds. He coasted on the backs of his team during the regular season, would play himself just into shape enough to be good in the playoffs and expect the team to play through him in the big moments. His peak was shorter than it should have been because he didn’t focus on his diet until the Lakers chose Kobe over him.
I agree. He got complacent
His problem was always his dismal foul shooting (hack-a-Shaq)!
I think Shaqs foot work is vastly underrated, people just he was too big and dunked on people. The guy’s foot work is insane extremely skilled as a big man.
I think you should go look at Wilts film or documentary, the dude had like a 45 inch vertical, and was an athlete. At 7’1 was able run the hurdles and had some speed. He would be an elite player in today’s game. He prolly wouldn’t score a 100 but he would be a dominant force. I think he deserves to be in any top 10 of all time.
Fair point, recency/generational biases here. When 6’4 guys are the ones guarding you, you put up 100. I just think those other guys are better.
Crazy to think that Shaq was the same height as Kareem, but 100lbs heavier.
The all time players are so talented in their own right, I'm not sure the distinctions matter much. If you let me pick my entire starting lineup first, I would bet your "second" five could take them to a Game 7.
Example:
Let's say I go first and choose Oscar, MJ, Baylor, Bird, and Kareem. I prefer that five because it gives me the best player (MJ), the all time leading scorer (Kareem), the best pure shooter (Bird), plus Robertson and Baylor, who not only score but are great passers as well.
That leaves you with what: Magic, Kobe, Lebron, Malone, and Shaq? That's insane! An argument can be made that your five could not only compete but actually win a seven game series against mine. That's how close these comparisons are.
As @Dawgy_Fresh said, it's fun to have the debate.
Good points. So, outside of LeBron and Curry...who are the legends playing right now? Serious question because I really haven't watched basketball since the Jordan years. I have no idea who, right now, are the greats. Back in the 80's and 90's you had probably 20-30 absolute legends in the league, aside from those already mentioned you had guys like Robinson, Drexler, Barkley, Kemp, Malone, Wilkins, Mutombo, Mullen, Ewing, Hardaway, Divac, Blaylock, Grant, Stockton...pretty much all playing at the same time. These were household names back then. I have no idea who the superstars are now.
I don't follow it as closely as I once did, so there are forum members who can probably answer your question better, but off the top of my head:
Lebron was the best of the past decade. In addition to Curry, other great players (since 2000) include Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitski, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, James Harden.
Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the best player today. Zion Williamson could take that title in the near future. Other great young players include Jokic, Doncic, maybe Porzingis?
I'm sure there are other names that could be added to those lists. And there's no doubt that guys like Durant/Giannis/Zion could hold their own against anyone from the 80's/90's.
Nope you win, you have MJ.
Ha! I wonder how far that carries you. I mean, do I win with MJ even if I have to replace Kareem with Jon Koncak? Or Bird with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute?
Probably not, but with top 20 players only, the team with MJ wins.
MJ won three titles with the three headed white stiff at Center...he could win with Jon Koncak