Which GOAT candidate would make the best Hybrid Player?

[DraymondGold]

A hybrid player is when you take all the best traits of two players and combine them into a single player (preferably with semi-realistic considerations for motor, balancing strength vs weight vs speed, etc).

Starting with the standard Mount Rushmore Candidates, I’ve tried to create player hybrids for each that fill in some of their imperfections as goat candidates. The hybrid players are:
-Russell + Magic
-Kareem + Hakeem
-Jordan + Curry
-LeBron + Bird

Which hybrid player would have the greatest peak and career? If you rank any of these hybrids clearly last, would any of these other hybrids do any better (Russell + Jokic, Kareem + Walton, Jordan + Nash, LeBron + Durant)?

Credit: I was inspired by coastalmarker99’s really interesting “What would turn our goat candidates into the undisputed goat on this board” thread

[70sFan]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

[dygaction]

Is AI+Yao allowed?

[Vox Populi]

A hybrid of a player with the best individual skills and coordination with the tallest and most athletic player.

MJ + Wilt
Magic + Wilt
Kobe + Wilt
Curry + Wilt

You could also go with Russell, Hakeem and Giannis who are very athletic but Wilt towers over them.

If we are to only pick from the four you listed, I will go with MJ + Steph. Steph's threepoint shooting and offball movement along the perimeter added to MJ's other skills and athleticism is tantalizing. Followed by Russell + Magic. That would be a beast of a player to have as Point Center.

Think I would prefer Russell + Jokic, MJ + Nash (50/40/90 Point-MJ running the show like Nash?), and Lebron + Durant to Russell + Magic, Kareem + Hakeem and Lebron + Bird.

[Dutchball97]

Russell (or someone like Hakeem or Duncan if you like modern players more) combined with an offensive engine is the way to go imo. Magic is already mentioned rightfully as he'd give you the best playmaking, transition offense and still also be a good scorer. MJ was the first to pop in my head as I see him as the most valuable offensive player opposed to Russell being the most valuable defensive player. You'd still get strong playmaking but the emphasis here would lie more on scoring to create a one man army who could singlehandedly break down an opposing team on both sides of the ball. A third option is LeBron. He isn't as good a playmaker as Magic or as good a scorer as MJ but he's not far off either so you'd have the most versatile and complete offensive engine with him. In any case Russell + any of Magic, LeBron or MJ seems unbeatable to me.

[coastalmarker99]

Curry + Wilt would be comical.

As Wilt with the shooting skills of Curry would have averaged over 50 PPG in multiple seasons.

Plus multiple 100 point games.




As how the hell would you able to stop him if he could pull up from anywhere and shoot over 90 percent from the foul-line while dominating in the low post.

[Vox Populi]

Russell (or someone like Hakeem or Duncan if you like modern players more) combined with an offensive engine is the way to go imo. Magic is already mentioned rightfully as he'd give you the best playmaking, transition offense and still also be a good scorer. MJ was the first to pop in my head as I see him as the most valuable offensive player opposed to Russell being the most valuable defensive player. You'd still get strong playmaking but the emphasis here would lie more on scoring to create a one man army who could singlehandedly break down an opposing team on both sides of the ball. A third option is LeBron. He isn't as good a playmaker as Magic or as good a scorer as MJ but he's not far off either so you'd have the most versatile and complete offensive engine with him. In any case Russell + any of Magic, LeBron or MJ seems unbeatable to me.

This is fun! But I am not sure how this works. So if you take Duncan + Steph, are you giving him Steph's speed, mobility, reflexes and coordination? If that is the case, Yao Ming will be top of my list. Yao's frame was proportional for his height compared to guys like Manute Bol or Tacko Fall. I imagine Yao's defensive abilities going through the roof with Steph's speed, mobility, reflexes and coordination.

[dygaction]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Is this hybrid even better than peak LeBron? Still no range to 3pt line, not enough volume scoring, and not enough size compared to many other combinations.
Dirk/LeBron for me. LeBron's speed, atheletism, defense skills, and passing in Dirk's frame and range

[Jaivl]

Easily Russell Magic. That's a +10 SRS kind of player.

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Is this hybrid even better than peak LeBron? Still no range to 3pt line, not enough volume scoring, and not enough size compared to many other combinations.
Dirk/LeBron for me. LeBron's speed, atheletism, defense skills, and passing in Dirk's frame and range

A reminder you're adding Russell's athletic traits here -- he's much longer than LeBron, about as fast and a more nimble leaper. Magic has decent 3pt range as well.

And the difference in defense is huge.

[70sFan]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Is this hybrid even better than peak LeBron? Still no range to 3pt line, not enough volume scoring, and not enough size compared to many other combinations.
Dirk/LeBron for me. LeBron's speed, atheletism, defense skills, and passing in Dirk's frame and range

Yes, much better than LeBron. Defensive gap is large and Magic with Russell size and athleticism would be unquestionable offensive GOAT. I can't even imagine him in transition or in the post. LeBron can't touch that. Peak Magic had three point range by the way.

LeBron/Dirk still would be significantly worse defender and rebounder than Magic/Russell, while being a lesser playmaker as well.

[Dutchball97]

Russell (or someone like Hakeem or Duncan if you like modern players more) combined with an offensive engine is the way to go imo. Magic is already mentioned rightfully as he'd give you the best playmaking, transition offense and still also be a good scorer. MJ was the first to pop in my head as I see him as the most valuable offensive player opposed to Russell being the most valuable defensive player. You'd still get strong playmaking but the emphasis here would lie more on scoring to create a one man army who could singlehandedly break down an opposing team on both sides of the ball. A third option is LeBron. He isn't as good a playmaker as Magic or as good a scorer as MJ but he's not far off either so you'd have the most versatile and complete offensive engine with him. In any case Russell + any of Magic, LeBron or MJ seems unbeatable to me.

This is fun! But I am not sure how this works. So if you take Duncan + Steph, are you giving him Steph's speed, mobility, reflexes and coordination? If that is the case, Yao Ming will be top of my list. Yao's frame was proportional for his height compared to guys like Manute Bol or Tacko Fall. I imagine Yao's defensive abilities going through the roof with Steph's speed, mobility, reflexes and coordination.

That's a good question. I personally like to keep it somewhat realistic. Russell is listed as 6'10 and was one of the best athletes the NBA has ever seen so it's not unthinkable that he would've been able to replicate the offense of 6'8/6'9 players like LeBron and Magic if given those basketball skills. 6'6 MJ is already a longer shot but even that difference is 3-4 inches and not entirely impossible. Considering KD being the same height to slightly taller than Russell and being able to be such an effective perimeter scorer at least makes a Russell/MJ hybrid somewhat believable as well.

A 7'6 giant like Yao with the coordination of 6'3 Steph just doesn't seem physically possible to me but if hypothetically possible it'd definitely be interesting to see. Even then, all that running around would be tiresome as hell with such a large frame. I'd first try to look at a combo of guys just over 7 feet like Wilt, Kareem and Robinson with the athleticism and mobility of sturdy wings like Dr J or Vince Carter. That also seems insane but more realistic than Yao + Steph at least.

[dygaction]

Russell and Magic is a clear choice to me.

Is this hybrid even better than peak LeBron? Still no range to 3pt line, not enough volume scoring, and not enough size compared to many other combinations.
Dirk/LeBron for me. LeBron's speed, atheletism, defense skills, and passing in Dirk's frame and range

Yes, much better than LeBron. Defensive gap is large and Magic with Russell size and athleticism would be unquestionable offensive GOAT. I can't even imagine him in transition or in the post. LeBron can't touch that. Peak Magic had three point range by the way.

LeBron/Dirk still would be significantly worse defender and rebounder than Magic/Russell, while being a lesser playmaker as well.

but a much much better scorer and finisher. Both can win with talent, but without talent, LeBron/Dirk gives you a higher floor as you don't have to depend on teammates to make their shots.

[70sFan]

Is this hybrid even better than peak LeBron? Still no range to 3pt line, not enough volume scoring, and not enough size compared to many other combinations.
Dirk/LeBron for me. LeBron's speed, atheletism, defense skills, and passing in Dirk's frame and range

Yes, much better than LeBron. Defensive gap is large and Magic with Russell size and athleticism would be unquestionable offensive GOAT. I can't even imagine him in transition or in the post. LeBron can't touch that. Peak Magic had three point range by the way.

LeBron/Dirk still would be significantly worse defender and rebounder than Magic/Russell, while being a lesser playmaker as well.

but a much much better scorer and finisher. Both can win with talent, but without talent, LeBron/Dirk gives you a higher floor as you don't have to depend on teammates to make their shots.

Magic was elite scorer, give him Russell athletic capabilites and he'd become Giannis on steroids with jumper and GOAT passing. No, that player wouldn't be dependent on his teammates any more than your hybrid.

Not to mention that this hybrid could play with any type of roster and still produce elite results on both sides of the court. You can't guarantee that your team will be good defensively with James/Dirk hybrid.

[OhayoKD]

bill+magic I think though if you're modernist about it, maybe you drop that for lbj.bird or mj/curry. Problem with the other combinations is there's alot of overlap. Russell and Magic are almost opposites

[dygaction]

Yes, much better than LeBron. Defensive gap is large and Magic with Russell size and athleticism would be unquestionable offensive GOAT. I can't even imagine him in transition or in the post. LeBron can't touch that. Peak Magic had three point range by the way.

LeBron/Dirk still would be significantly worse defender and rebounder than Magic/Russell, while being a lesser playmaker as well.

but a much much better scorer and finisher. Both can win with talent, but without talent, LeBron/Dirk gives you a higher floor as you don't have to depend on teammates to make their shots.

Magic was elite scorer, give him Russell athletic capabilites and he'd become Giannis on steroids with jumper and GOAT passing. No, that player wouldn't be dependent on his teammates any more than your hybrid.

Not to mention that this hybrid could play with any type of roster and still produce elite results on both sides of the court. You can't guarantee that your team will be good defensively with James/Dirk hybrid.

No he wouldn't nearly approach Giannis level in scoring... Using your hyperbole, give Curry Wilt's height, strength, stamina, defense... he will score you 100+ pts every night.

[TT8198]

LeBron + Bird would be insane. Their combined basketball IQ, insane passing acumen, with Birds shooting and LeBrons athleticism. That's the greatest player in history its almost unfair. Zero weakness

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[AEnigma]

I would one-up Magic/Russell and Curry/Russell with Nash/Russell: greatest offensive skillset with greatest defensive skillset.

Lebron/Garnett would be a fun one. Boosts the defence from “elite forward” to truly all-time levels, gives a better mid-range shot and free-throw form, and without functionally changing much else would retroactively make all the port scolds recognise how he has willingly acted as an off-ball hub for years. Only real weakness left is distance shooting, but I think Garnett’s form with Lebron’s willingness would get that to a respectable level anyway, and none of that is worth sacrificing fusion with a top five to ten defender ever.

[70sFan]

but a much much better scorer and finisher. Both can win with talent, but without talent, LeBron/Dirk gives you a higher floor as you don't have to depend on teammates to make their shots.

Magic was elite scorer, give him Russell athletic capabilites and he'd become Giannis on steroids with jumper and GOAT passing. No, that player wouldn't be dependent on his teammates any more than your hybrid.

Not to mention that this hybrid could play with any type of roster and still produce elite results on both sides of the court. You can't guarantee that your team will be good defensively with James/Dirk hybrid.

No he wouldn't nearly approach Giannis level in scoring... Using your hyperbole, give Curry Wilt's height, strength, stamina, defense... he will score you 100+ pts every night.

Why not? Much better shooter, much better post game, much better ball-handler... All in similar body type and better athleticism. Magic in Russell body would be arguably the best post player ever and the best transition player ever, along with being much better shooter than Giannis.

Seriously, what would be Giannis case?

[Wallace_Wallace]

I mean, it really isn't that hard to combine two players and make them a GOAT tier player.

Kyle Korver and Ben Wallace, you have arguably the greatest defender ever can now shoot threes at bot like efficiency.

[dygaction]

Magic was elite scorer, give him Russell athletic capabilites and he'd become Giannis on steroids with jumper and GOAT passing. No, that player wouldn't be dependent on his teammates any more than your hybrid.

Not to mention that this hybrid could play with any type of roster and still produce elite results on both sides of the court. You can't guarantee that your team will be good defensively with James/Dirk hybrid.

No he wouldn't nearly approach Giannis level in scoring... Using your hyperbole, give Curry Wilt's height, strength, stamina, defense... he will score you 100+ pts every night.

Why not? Much better shooter, much better post game, much better ball-handler... All in similar body type and better athleticism. Magic in Russell body would be arguably the best post player ever and the best transition player ever, along with being much better shooter than Giannis.

Seriously, what would be Giannis case?

Giannis does not have a strong case than Magic/Russell hybrid, except speed, athleticism (not agree here), and rim finish; but Magic/Russell can do nothing about Curry/Wilt's 100+ a game. 3pters worth 50% more than 2s.