Hypothetical best player?

[uberhikari]

I've just been thinking about this the last couple of days and can't get it out of my head.

If any player in NBA could take all the knowledge and skills they've acquired by the end of their career and be put back into their 22 y/o body, who would be the best player?

For example, if Michael Jordan has all the knowledge and skills he gained by 1998 and was magically put back in his 22 y/o body would he be the best player ever?

[ardee]

LeBron for sure. Imagine his 2009 athleticism and motor with the 3-point shooting, post-game, basketball IQ and feel for the game he has by now. He'd break the game on a level we couldn't even fathom.

He also wouldn't be the best or anywhere near it, but giving the younger, more athletic Dirk the post-game he developed from 2008 onwards would be interesting to see.

[falcolombardi]

wilt would be interesting to see

but i think the answer here is lebron

[parsnips33]

Kobe would be another good one

[Texas Chuck]

Kevin Garnett would scare the hell out of me. This version really would be a GOAT-level defender.

He's not the answer because offense means Lebron is the only answer. But that makes for a dull thread so wanted to highlight how absurd KG would be as a defensive player.

[tsherkin]

Kevin Garnett would scare the hell out of me. This version really would be a GOAT-level defender.

He's not the answer because offense means Lebron is the only answer. But that makes for a dull thread so wanted to highlight how absurd KG would be as a defensive player.

LIke 02-04 Garnett with everything he learned in Boston? Yeah, that would be an unsettling opponent to face.

EDIT: I guess OP says "22 year-old," so more like 99, but still.

[1993Playoffs]

09 LeBron with 17/18’s IQ would be insane

[Owly]

Not the absolute best but late 80s [circa 87, 88] Bird's offense (shooting, passing, shot selection, turnover economy) with younger Bird's mobility, defense, motor could be interesting.

Also not the choice (nor super close) and I'm lower on his peak than most but Hakeem came to the NBA still somewhat raw and I guess he lost some athleticism by his peak. If he's that skilled offensive player with passing and better smarts to avoid fouls with young legs that would be pretty dangerous.

[ShotCreator]

Hakeem. Mental and skill peak at 31-32.

Athletically brutalized playoff frontcourts with raw instincts in his early to mid 20’s.

Hakeem was a god level, like generational: shot-blocker, offensive rebounder, play finisher, help defender.

This stopped being so true by 94. Everything took a step down. Like an entire, visible step physically.

And yet still, he had a GOAT-ish peak IMHO.

Tim Duncan had an early knee injury that knocked some athleticism off him too that gets overlooked.

Don’t know what a fully healthy 28 year old Chris Paul would’ve been, but Prime LeBron level is not out of the question IMO. But I’m not too high on random LeBron seasons as I say that. I don’t think Paul would’ve ever seen the highs of say 09 LeBron. But like 14? Easily.


Larry Bird is interesting too. Motor and athleticism peaked sometime in the early 80’s. Had a bum finger on his shooting hand from a freak injury.

[No-more-rings]

Hakeem. Mental and skill peak at 31-32.

Athletically brutalized playoff frontcourts with raw instincts in his early to mid 20’s.

Hakeem was a god level, like generational: shot-blocker, offensive rebounder, play finisher, help defender.

This stopped being so true by 94. Everything took a step down. Like an entire, visible step physically.

And yet still, he had a GOAT-ish peak IMHO.

Tim Duncan had an early knee injury that knocked some athleticism off him too that gets overlooked.

Don’t know what a fully healthy 28 year old Chris Paul would’ve been, but Prime LeBron level is not out of the question IMO. But I’m not too high on random LeBron seasons as I say that. I don’t think Paul would’ve ever seen the highs of say 09 LeBron. But like 14? Easily.

Paul’s smaller stature would’ve always limited him to some degree. If nothing else he would’ve never approached Lebron’s level of defense for obvious reasons.

[THFC]

So basically players whose games evolved into different forms as their careers progressed. Combine all of their strenghts from different stages of their careers and you have a transcendent player on your hand.

I doubt he'd be the GOAT, but I'd like to see Kidd in a scenario like this. His pretty much only weakness was his jumpshot earlier in his career, and he improved it by such a margin later that I believe he'd easily be a top 10 player of all time if he had it at 22.

[Jaivl]

Obviously LeBron, then I'm thinking Wilt and Hakeem, then maybe other veterans like Dirk, Kobe or Garnett (I don't think he learned that much later on, that's me being high on his earlier work).

Did Bird learn not to get into fights?

[70sFan]

I'm not sure I'd like to see young Wilt with 1973 "never shoot the ball" mindset on those abysmal Warriors teams...

[ardee]

09 LeBron with 17/18’s IQ would be insane

Why not 2022 IQ? He's smarter now than he's ever been, just worse physically.

[70sFan]

I'd like to see 1972 Kareem with early 1980s experience. He was always a smart player, but can you imagine 1980s Kareem being athletic freak flying all over the floor?

[Ryoga Hibiki]

I think his prime is overrated, but Sabonis is not a bad pick.

By the way you formulated it I guess there are multiple answers.

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[ceoofkobefans]

Not sure if this is exactly what you’re asking but I took this as an excuse to see what 16 Kobe’s scoring would look like if you give him 01 Kobe’s shot making

I did this by multiplying 01 Kobe’s 3pt% by 16’s 3PA 01’s 2pt% by 16’s 2PA and 01’s FT% by 16’s FTA and then i calculated what Kobe’s new ppg and ts% would be

01 Kobe: 30.5 3pt% 48.9 2pt% 85.3 FT%
16 Kobe: 28.5 3pt% 41 2pt% 82.6 FT%

16 Kobe

Before: 17.6 PPG 46.9 TS%
After: 19.7 PPG 52.5 TS%

[LesGrossman]

I think Kidd would be a good choice. The IQ was always there but the shooting came late. Another good one is Kawhi who started very raw and added every year.

[frica]

Not exactly who you're looking for but Rookie Blake Griffin with his 2019 skillset would be quite unsettling.