Which GOAT candidate would make the best Hybrid Player?

[picko]

The best combination is always an elite big and an elite small.

A Wilt + Curry combination would be stronger than a Russell + Magic combination.

[DraymondGold]

The best combination is always an elite big and an elite small.

A Wilt + Curry combination would be stronger than a Russell + Magic combination.

I definitely agree that a Wilt + Curry combo, if possible, would be the clear GOAT and probably better than the other Combos.

But the intention behind this thread was to discuss realistic hybrids. Someone mentioned this on the previous page, but a Wilt + Curry hybrid that actually retained all their skills doesn't seem physically possible. One of the key things that makes Curry's offense so potent is the fact that he's arguably the GOAT off-ball player. He gets this offball value from a crazy combination of endurance, speed, and agility/quickness. I don't think it's really possible (at least for a human) to be the size and weight of Wilt (7+ feet, 275-300 pounds) while moving around with the agility of Curry. Likewise, much of Wilt's offensive power comes from his unique combination of size strength. If you shrunk down the Wilt-Curry hybrid to allow them to be as agile as Curry actually is, I don't think they'd retain Wilt's size or strength.

In other words, it doesn't seem physically possible for an actual human to have all the skills/traits of a true Wilt-Curry hybrid.

I think that's where the advantage of a Russell + Magic hybrid comes... they have similar enough body types that it seems at least physically possible for a Russel-Magic hybrid to do the things each of them does individually.

Another way of thinking about this question might be: what's the best hybrid you can make, if you're only combining similar body types (e.g. within ~2 inches in height, within ~20 pounds in weight, not vastly different in their functional body shape).

[dygaction]

The best combination is always an elite big and an elite small.

A Wilt + Curry combination would be stronger than a Russell + Magic combination.

I definitely agree that a Wilt + Curry combo, if possible, would be the clear GOAT and probably better than the other Combos.

But the intention behind this thread was to discuss realistic hybrids. Someone mentioned this on the previous page, but a Wilt + Curry hybrid that actually retained all their skills doesn't seem physically possible. One of the key things that makes Curry's offense so potent is the fact that he's arguably the GOAT off-ball player. He gets this offball value from a crazy combination of endurance, speed, and agility/quickness. I don't think it's really possible (at least for a human) to be the size and weight of Wilt (7+ feet, 275-300 pounds) while moving around with the agility of Curry. Likewise, much of Wilt's offensive power comes from his unique combination of size strength. If you shrunk down the Wilt-Curry hybrid to allow them to be as agile as Curry actually is, I don't think they'd retain Wilt's size or strength.

In other words, it doesn't seem physically possible for an actual human to have all the skills/traits of a true Wilt-Curry hybrid.

I think that's where the advantage of a Russell + Magic hybrid comes... they have similar enough body types that it seems at least physically possible for a Russel-Magic hybrid to do the things each of them does individually.

Another way of thinking about this question might be: what's the best hybrid you can make, if you're only combining similar body types (e.g. within ~2 inches in height, within ~20 pounds in weight, not vastly different in their functional body shape).

the offball part for Curry/Wilt can consider Jokic with higher mobility but less passing/vision. Still GOAT if Wilt has Curry's shooting skills alone

Luka/Kawhi will be a deadly combo following your rule - exact 6'7" and 5lb difference in weight. Luka with much enhanced 3pt and free throw shooting, together with great atheletic and goat wing defense abilities, everything he can use.

[DraymondGold]

The best combination is always an elite big and an elite small.

A Wilt + Curry combination would be stronger than a Russell + Magic combination.

I definitely agree that a Wilt + Curry combo, if possible, would be the clear GOAT and probably better than the other Combos.

But the intention behind this thread was to discuss realistic hybrids. Someone mentioned this on the previous page, but a Wilt + Curry hybrid that actually retained all their skills doesn't seem physically possible. One of the key things that makes Curry's offense so potent is the fact that he's arguably the GOAT off-ball player. He gets this offball value from a crazy combination of endurance, speed, and agility/quickness. I don't think it's really possible (at least for a human) to be the size and weight of Wilt (7+ feet, 275-300 pounds) while moving around with the agility of Curry. Likewise, much of Wilt's offensive power comes from his unique combination of size strength. If you shrunk down the Wilt-Curry hybrid to allow them to be as agile as Curry actually is, I don't think they'd retain Wilt's size or strength.

In other words, it doesn't seem physically possible for an actual human to have all the skills/traits of a true Wilt-Curry hybrid.

I think that's where the advantage of a Russell + Magic hybrid comes... they have similar enough body types that it seems at least physically possible for a Russel-Magic hybrid to do the things each of them does individually.

Another way of thinking about this question might be: what's the best hybrid you can make, if you're only combining similar body types (e.g. within ~2 inches in height, within ~20 pounds in weight, not vastly different in their functional body shape).

the offball part for Curry/Wilt can consider Jokic with higher mobility but less passing/vision. Still GOAT if Wilt has Curry's shooting skills alone

Luka/Kawhi will be a deadly combo following your rule - exact 6'7" and 5lb difference in weight. Luka with much enhanced 3pt and free throw shooting, together with great atheletic and goat wing defense abilities, everything he can use.

Good comment re: Wilt and Curry! The way to form a realistic Curry/Wilt hybrid would be to try to give Wilt specific skills that Curry has that Wilt could actually use (like his shooting touch). It's hard to imagine just how efficient Wilt would be in the paint if he had Curry's hand-eye coordination and feel for shooting. Just to expand on my off-ball comment a bit, a big man can definitely still have off-ball value... I just think it would just look very different then a 7-foot-300-pound Olympic Athlete zig-zagging across the perimeter and around screens like Curry

Me personally, I might also prefer to add Curry's sense of "offensive flow" to Wilt. Ironically, one of the things that Wilt struggled with (this came out of his greatest strengths!) is balancing all the incredible things he could do on the floor. Wilt had all-time volume-scoring potential, he could have all-time efficiency on lesser volume, he could pass with the best bigs, he was an all-time rebounder, and he was an all-time defender. I think where he struggled was finding the right balance between those skills. For example: When he focused on passing more in 1967 and 1968, he had to focus less on volume-scoring like he did in 62. When he focused on defense and rebounding more in 72, he had to focus even less on volume scoring. I think Curry's feel for when to try to score, when to try to pass, and how to stay involved in the offense without the ball would help Wilt a lot with that difficult balancing act.

Re: Luka/Kawhi, that's not a combo I'd considered before! I like the idea... it solves Kawhi's biggest career issue (injuries) and his biggest offensive issue (passing), and solves Luka's biggest issue (defense).

[PistolPeteJR]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Agreed. My first thought as well. I think you can make a bit of a case for LeBron + Bird, but I think it’s very difficult and thus, I got Russell and Magic.

Now if you made it LeBron + Curry, that’s a much more even comparison.

[cupcakesnake]

I kind of like Nash+Shaq even if that wouldn't be a great defensive player.

[Heej]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Personally I'd raise you Curry and Russell just because Curry at that height would be a superb passer (not to mention Russell is arguably the most underrated *passing* big man in NBA history), especially slinging skip pass dimes getting trapped 30 feet from the hoop.

But Curry isn't a real GOAT candidate so I guess I would go with Shaq x Bird. Jordan x Hakeem is actually very spicy as a go to scorer and lockdown defender. That's basically KD squared minus a 3 ball

[SilentA]

Just going to throw out Curry + Hakeem as one combo that could rival Magic + Russell. Sure, Magic + Russell has much better passing, but Curry + Hakeem's scoring (on and off the ball) would be noticeably better too. Imagine having Curry's shooting and Hakeem's post game. Deadly on and off the ball. And obviously Hakeem's defense is up there too.

While I see the argument of Curry + Wilt being impossible, Curry + Hakeem is easier to imagine because of how agile Hakeem was at his best.