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With the space today, which player would you want most to see?

all of them

My favorite player ever - Tim Duncan

pipfan wrote:With the space today, which player would you want most to see?

Bill Russell. I would like to see how his unparalled defensive impact translated in today's more perimeter oriented NBA.

FuShengTHEGreat wrote:

pipfan wrote:With the space today, which player would you want most to see?

Bill Russell. I would like to see how his unparalled defensive impact translated in today's more perimeter oriented NBA.

That would be interesting indeed. Russell had a perfect body type for 2022 playoffs matchups, but on top of that his BBIQ was off the charts as well. Imagine taller Rob Williams with Bam Adebayo quickness and Draymond Green mind (without these stupid antics), that would be surreal to watch.

Actually, Hakeem would be cool to see today for that matter as well. Not the same level of basketball mind, but similar physically.

I'd love to see how much pre-modern perimeter players would thrive in this era. Especially Oscar Robertson and Julius Erving.

I'd like to see these All-Time Greats in today's game.

1) Hyper-athletic MJ. I think he might score 100+ points in a RS game if he wanted to and average 45+ PPG too.

2) Some of the physically dominant Centers of the past: Wilt and Shaq when they were young and mobile.

3) Some of the best skilled + athletic players of the past: Kobe, Hakeem, T-Mac.

Magic Johnson

Nash

Bird

I mean, really all of them, but I voted 09 LeBron. The kind of room he'd have to operate in today's game is just frightening to think about.

Peak Shaq would been fun to watch!

Peak Shaq would legitimately break the Matrix if he played today.

Wilt, West, Roger Brown, Erving, David Thompson . . . just off the top of my head.

Stan wrote:Peak Shaq would legitimately break the Matrix if he played today.

Since the Matrix was made from Wilt's numbers in the ridiculously high paced 1962 campaign, which of those numbers is Shaq exceeding?

50+ points?
27+ rebounds (in 61)
48+ minutes? (seriously!)
10+ blocks? (ok, that's based on a very small sample size)

Stockton's assists and steals?

Shaq was amazing and incredible but the only record he might have a realistic shot at in today's game is FG% (Wilt currently second to Mitch Robinson at 73% to 74% both on not great volume).

Of the choices given, Shaq is the most interesting to me. We have big guys with great post games down low(though not to the level of Shaq), but even they have an outside shot. Would Shaq try to develop an outside shot?

Jordan would be my second pick(of the choices). Part of what made him so great was his near goat level midrange jumper. Those long 2s would be mostly coached out of him at a young age these days. All those long 2 drills in practice would more than likely be replaced with 3 point drills. How much better would his 3 point shot be if here were entering the league in 2022? Could his near goat level long 2s be converted to near goat level 3s?

Out of everyone(including those not in the poll), Bill Russell would be most interesting IMO. In his day, his defense was so great that it was taking below average to legitimately bad offenses to championships. With how spread out the game is now, I don't think it's possible for 1 player to have that much impact with just defense. Russell was an amazing basketball mind, so he'd figure this out right away. How would he change his game to maximize his team's chance of winning? Develop his passing game more? Develop a 3 point shot? Honestly, it's hard to say. I could see him being a supercharged(both physically and mentally) Draymond Green.

ardee wrote:I mean, really all of them, but I voted 09 LeBron. The kind of room he'd have to operate in today's game is just frightening to think about.

We already saw Lebron play a large portion of his prime in these conditions, no? He was only 26 when he and Wade formed the super-team in Miami.

The most interesting player to me is Barkley. I'd be fascinated to see the offensive damage he'd do and how much his lack of defensive awareness would make him a target

LAL1947 wrote:

ardee wrote:I mean, really all of them, but I voted 09 LeBron. The kind of room he'd have to operate in today's game is just frightening to think about.

We already saw Lebron play a large portion of his prime in these conditions, no? He was only 26 when he and Wade formed the super-team in Miami.

2010 might as well have been 1955 the way things are currently going in the league

RCM88x wrote:

LAL1947 wrote:

ardee wrote:I mean, really all of them, but I voted 09 LeBron. The kind of room he'd have to operate in today's game is just frightening to think about.

We already saw Lebron play a large portion of his prime in these conditions, no? He was only 26 when he and Wade formed the super-team in Miami.

2010 might as well have been 1955 the way things are currently going in the league

That and LeBron bulked up considerably between his last Cavs season and first Miami season. I’d love to see 2009 LeBron in today’s league as well.