Would the best Big Men of today fare better or worse in the 90s-00s?

[tsherkin]

I think Joker would hurt from needing to be more engaged defensively on ball against post ups and the lack of spacing around him on offense.

He'd pick most guys apart in that league. He'd benefit from the defensive rules being a little more liberal about camping out right underneath the rim, too. And he is an insane iso post guy, and players were able to get good isolation sets back then even more than now, so I can't see the spacing being a huge issue for him at all, most especially with his passing.

[hugepatsfan]

I think Joker would hurt from needing to be more engaged defensively on ball against post ups and the lack of spacing around him on offense.

He'd pick most guys apart in that league. He'd benefit from the defensive rules being a little more liberal about camping out right underneath the rim, too. And he is an insane iso post guy, and players were able to get good isolation sets back then even more than now, so I can't see the spacing being a huge issue for him at all, most especially with his passing.

I mean, he's going to go down as a top whatever player of all time. Guy is a generational talent. He'd be elite in any era. Certainly some things he'd benefit from in the older game. I just think on the balance of it, he'd struggle to guard the post up centers of that era and his passing from the top of the key is somewhat lessened with room inside and weaker shooters on the outside.

[tsherkin]

I just think on the balance of it, he'd struggle to guard the post up centers of that era and his passing from the top of the key is somewhat lessened with room inside and weaker shooters on the outside.

Oh, yeah. Guarding them. Dream would be a problem. Robinson was less skilled at going iso post against guys his own size, but he was a face-up nightmare, so taht would be problematic. Shaq, obvious issue for basically anyone. Mourning, eh. Ewing, more manageable. Still not awesome, but like, he traveled every other possession, was a weak passer and loved facing up and tossing 17-footers too much. But the first three guys were problems for basically anyone, and Jokic would be giving back at least as bad as he got.

As far as the top of key passing, it's not even that. It's from anywhere. He isn't just a high post passer, after all.

[Blame Rasho]

We are all old, but did you remember that Kurt Thomas actually led the NCAA in scoring and rebounding? I honestly thought he would be a way better scorer in the NBA. He was money from mid range.

I did not remember that, but of course, I don't really care about the NCAA. It's meaningless. Adam Morrison led the nation with 28.1 ppg in his junior year and was co-player of the year with JJ Redick. And then he was a scrub for 161 games and scraped up a couple titles with Kobe before playing in Serbia, you know what I mean?

But yes, KT's mid-range J was quite nice.

I been trying to find his draft video for giggles but I have not found it.

I sometimes think of some players and how radically they become once they enter the NBA.

Would you believe me Quintin Richardson was a 20/10 guy at DePaul as a swing player? He wasn’t this guy who would just shoot threes.

Anyway I see your point with Morrison but he was just a bust like other players.

My point is that Thomas could score but really refined his abilities to excel and focused on other items to ensure a lengthy career.

[tsherkin]

Would you believe me Quintin Richardson was a 20/10 guy at DePaul as a swing player? He wasn’t this guy who would just shoot threes.

That's because the NCAA is trash compared to the NBA, so of course it's a radical alteration.

Anyway I see your point with Morrison but he was just a bust like other players.

Yes, and injured and diabetic and so forth. I didn't mean to draw a connection between him and KT specifically, just to note that what happens in college is almost meaningless to the NBA.

My point is that Thomas could score but really refined his abilities to excel and focused on other items to ensure a lengthy career.

Thomas put in the work, man. He wasn't the most talented guy once he hit the NBA, but that never stopped him. He just kept grinding, and he ended up with an 18-year career. Not bad. Not bad at all.

[Blame Rasho]

Watch on YouTube

Found it.

KG was just a kid. He was so skinny.

Thomas with his outfit. I didn’t remember Thomas being hurt during college or him ever being cocky.