Peaks: Lebron vs Jordan vs Shaq vs Jokic

Gregoire · Post #1 » by **Gregoire** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 9:25 am

Which player of the 4 was more impactful and better in the vacuum player at their respective peaks?

Jordan, Jokic, LeBron or Shaq? Which player do you take for win with random team after you know how they actually played in the RS and PO? Or maybe suggest some other criteria to rank their peak value?

Rank them from 1 to 4 in these scenarios:

One peak Game in their respective leagues: ?

One peak Series in their respective leagues: ?

One Peak Season in their respective leagues: ?

One peak Game in current league: ?

One peak Series in current league: ?

One Peak Season in current league: ?

TheNG · Post #2 » by **TheNG** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 10:18 am

MJ, and it's not even close.

baldur · Post #3 » by **baldur** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 10:24 am

still mj. all these accolades, and parameters are actually what makes him GOAT. .

PierceFan4ever · Post #4 » by **PierceFan4ever** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 10:34 am

Jordan
Shaq
Jokic
Lebron

FreeBird23 · Post #5 » by **FreeBird23** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 10:38 am

MJ
Shaq
Jokic
Lebron

Iwasawitness · Post #6 » by **Iwasawitness** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 10:40 am

Who do I have on my team? If I’m getting a team with a bunch of scrubs, I’m taking LeBron pretty easily.

SkyHookFTW · Post #7 » by **SkyHookFTW** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 11:33 am

We don't know what Jokic's peak is yet.

KembaWalker · Post #8 » by **KembaWalker** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 11:34 am

MJ = Jokic > LeBron > Shaq

Drakeem · Post #9 » by **Drakeem** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:20 pm

Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

art_tatum · Post #10 » by **art_tatum** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:28 pm

If we are talking 1 or 2 year peaks Crazy that Lebron who some consider goat and most consider top 2/3 doesn't even have a top 5 peak

Jordan
Shaq
Wilt
Joker
Hakeem
Curry (maybeee)

I would say those peaked higher.

Then there's lebron bird magic kaj Giannis luka

KembaWalker · Post #11 » by **KembaWalker** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:33 pm

Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

I ranked Shaq last cause I’m considering peak as if I had to win a game tomorrow and I get this guy on the best day of their life and with Shaq, even on the best day of his life, can still be a handicap in the 4th. I mean, maybe on the best day of his life even Shaq hits his free throws, but not sure that’s a gamble I’d be willing to take

Petergrifindor · Post #12 » by **Petergrifindor** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:35 pm

Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

Nah, MJ was better than the best Shaq.

Highest level of basketball best 3 years:

MJ
Shaq
Lebron/Jokic (I put them on the same level).

UglyBugBall · Post #13 » by **UglyBugBall** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:43 pm

How is Jokic in this conversation? Lol

UglyBugBall · Post #14 » by **UglyBugBall** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 1:46 pm

Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

Shaqs free throw shooting is too much of a weakness to have him over Jordan. MJs game had no weakness, and so regardless of how a game plays out, how close it is or how he's defended he'll always have a counter to it. With Shaq you can be in a situation where he becomes a liability.

FreeBird23 · Post #15 » by **FreeBird23** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 2:26 pm

KembaWalker wrote:
Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

I ranked Shaq last cause I’m considering peak as if I had to win a game tomorrow and I get this guy on the best day of their life and with Shaq, even on the best day of his life, can still be a handicap in the 4th. I mean, maybe on the best day of his life even Shaq hits his free throws, but not sure that’s a gamble I’d be willing to take

Read on Twitter

I really think this narrative is false. Shaq was always clutch in the 4th in the playoffs. When it counts.

dhsilv2 · Post #16 » by **dhsilv2** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 2:46 pm

I'm not doing 6 different scenario rankings but just to simi answer.

Peak game - I'd say it's still MJ but Lebron might be close.
Peak series - it just has to be Shaq, there were series that the other team just didn't physically have the personnel to deal with him.
Season - I could see Jokic, MJ or Lebron here. Gun to head I might go with Jokic. Shaq missed too many games in his best years imo. 2000 shaq was insane though.

Beethoven · Post #17 » by **Beethoven** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 2:53 pm

UglyBugBall wrote:
Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

Shaqs free throw shooting is too much of a weakness to have him over Jordan. MJs game had no weakness, and so regardless of how a game plays out, how close it is or how he's defended he'll always have a counter to it. With Shaq you can be in a situation where he becomes a liability.

Not sure if you watched, but I've followed Shaqs career on the Lakers I have watched a lot of his games. Yes he is a liability in free throws and usually he does so when the game isn't a play off or crucial game. There were PLENTY of games when we had the big lead and he just gets fouled and doesn't try to focus on the free throws. Even Chick Hearn made mention to this during the broadcasts so many times.

When the games were tight or they were playoffs or a game was important and in the crucial moments (and there were a lot) Shaq was a very high free throw shooter.

Beethoven · Post #18 » by **Beethoven** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 2:57 pm

I put lebron and Shaq on top.

I like mj but you can't surround him with a mediocre team and expect him to do anything. Not sure if you all remember during the second stint, there was a period when scottie was injured for a while and mj was swarmed every game and couldn't barely a 500 level team during that time. I recall the sportscasters saying that mj really needed pippen to be back to be a fully effective bulls team.

jokic? lol
We'll see but I'm wondering why he's even being mentioned in this list.

Marrrcuss · Post #19 » by **Marrrcuss** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 3:07 pm

Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

This.
I mean, the MJ fans are loyal to a fault to their guy.

Im a bron guy but nothing compares to shaq at his peak.

NZB2323 · Post #20 » by **NZB2323** » Thu Apr 4, 2024 3:12 pm

Drakeem wrote:Putting MJ over Shaq is nuts to me if we're just considering top play. We're not debating careers; we're saying in a hypothetical situation where you take the absolute best version of someone. Peak Shaq is the greatest player the league has seen.

Shaq has weaknesses. His free throw shooting and pick and roll defense. If I’m playing against Shaq now I do the hack-a-Shaq strategy and put him in pick and rolls to get open 3s.