RealGM

One of the most common detractions I see against Dirk is that his defense was mediocre at best. What if he had, for example, Duncan's defense? Or, say, a random all-defense second team player's defense? At what point would that elevate him to GOAT status in your eyes?

AK47-level defense would be enough for me.

Dirk with Duncan's defense would give him a strong GOAT argument.

Dirk with second team all-defense level of play would be a significant upgrade, especially considering he's a big man. Maybe around #6-10.

This is assuming a focus on peak.

I would start discussions at the Elvin Hayes level. Duncan definitely does it. So somewhere between Hayes and Duncan seems like the line.

Shaq gets in discussions for GOAT peak with worse defence than that, and I am not sure I would take Shaq’s offence over peak Dirk’s (if nothing else, all-defence Dirk gives you a lot more positional flexibility).

Yeah, Hayes is a good starting point. That would put him around the best bigs ever in my opinion, although it still wouldn't be clear to me.

Maybe around Rasheed Wallace level

Even if he were a better defender, he'd need to have more than 1 ring to be in the GOAT discussion. David Robinson was a two-way player, but almost no one has him as a Top 10 all time player.

It would depend on how much impact this improved defense had on results. Dirk is one of the great offensive engines because he was not only individually good but he drew a lot of attention making his teammates better too. He would need that kind of impact on both ends to be better than guys like LeBron or MJ who were better offensively or someone like Russell whose defense had such a ridiculous impact on his era. How he does it, rim protection, generating turnovers, improved offense, or just having the ability to read opposing offenses so well that he always puts his teammates in the best position, does not matter.

Still doesn`t make him a great playmaker or a big game player. Lot of Dirk fanboys in here!