Stephen Curry/Lebron James or Michael Jordan/Hakeem Olajuwon

[HeartBreakKid]

What questions would there be regarding them?

The fact they didn't play in the most sophisticated and Advanced Era of basketball.

Are we assuming we take Jordan and Hakeem for what they knew when they played and transport them? Or do we all subjectively identify how they would do if they grew up in the modern era?

Is this just the ol' "Jordan couldn't shoot threes" thing?

Asserting Hakeem and MJ are too dumb to read a scouting report is unconvincing. (and also has little to do with skill-sets)

I mean other things are different about basketball other than shooting 3 pointers.

[Colbinii]

What questions would there be regarding them?

The fact they didn't play in the most sophisticated and Advanced Era of basketball.

Are we assuming we take Jordan and Hakeem for what they knew when they played and transport them? Or do we all subjectively identify how they would do if they grew up in the modern era?

Is this just the ol' "Jordan couldn't shoot threes" thing?

Asserting Hakeem and MJ are too dumb to read a scouting report is unconvincing. (and also has little to do with skill-sets)

No--I never asserted any of that.

[rrravenred]

Think Lebron and Curry are additive on the offensive end, wheras I'm not 100% sure about that for Hakeem and Jordan (Hakeem's comfortably the worst passer in this, and that's not nothing). Lebron's passing and Steph's offball movement/gravity are a pretty devastating combo, wheras Hakeem probably has enough range and offensive quickness to complement Jordan, although space near the basket might become a bit limited.

Defensively, it's a clear landslide for Hakeem and Jordan (although we shouldn't conflate Defensive-Peak Jordan with Offensive-Peak Jordan). Perimeter Stopper and Rim Protector. Lebron remains a fantastic swiss army knife on defence (but see the conflation issue above) and Curry is at least neutral on that end (though playing with Green likely burnishes that to a degree).

In terms of longevity, Lebron is quite possibly the most consistently productive player ever, wheras Curry has been injury prone over the course of his career. Hakeem and Jordan are no slouches (if we discount Jordan's baseball years) in terms of production, with Jordan in particular remaining dangerously relevant at an advanced age.

Don't see any particular chemistry issues with either pair. Suspect Hakeem would relish the opportunity to devote more energy at the defensive end and be situational/opportunist at the other end, wheras I can imagine Lebron and Curry to have an unbelievably lethal two-man game. Hakeem's ability to establish deep position puts him on the spot to clean up

In terms of building around them, for Jordan and Hakeem, you need a distributor and ball-handler to maximise Jordan's offball threat (and to create for Hakeem when Jordan's off the floor) as well as outside shooters to space the floor wheras for Lebron and Curry you need a garbageman/post defender/hard screener as well as a Pool-esque third option on O. Don't see either team as being especially difficult to build around.

Think Lebron and Curry could arguably peak higher on the offensive end, but for the long-term, all-around performance Hakeem and Jordan are probably the safer bet.