When do you think the league passed by guys like Malone?

[MyUniBroDavis]

Malone would be a superstar in any era and his skillset would translate well to modern league.

The ability to facilitate and pass is required for this archetype [Bam, Towns to a degree].

Malone had that for sure, he was an excellent passer and solid ball-handler. He was used in a different way of course back then, but he had all the tools to run playmaking big role today.

Laughs in 1945

[Bubbachuck2]

A small ball center is what Malone would be. Similar to PF's like Elvin Hayes, Kevin Mchale, Horace Grant, Buck Williams, Shawn Kemp, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal etc. Pairing them with the AD's, Bam's and Mobley's of the world would be ideal

[Colbinii]

Malone would be a superstar in any era and his skillset would translate well to modern league.

The ability to facilitate and pass is required for this archetype [Bam, Towns to a degree].

Malone had that for sure, he was an excellent passer and solid ball-handler. He was used in a different way of course back then, but he had all the tools to run playmaking big role today.

Of course he did. Aldridge didn't though, which makes the comparison weird.

[Dr Positivity]

There are elements of his game in AD. I think that the pre-eminent PF in Giannis plays like he does instead of Malone doesn't really mean anything in terms of era, if anything modern era should favor players who can shoot like Malone instead of Giannis.

[Ron Swanson]

Thought for sure this was gonna be about Moses. Because this is an awful weird thread to make when we literally just saw Domantas Sabonis make an All-NBA team. While I think everyone agrees on the notion that modern NBA offense has dramatically shifted away from post-ups, that doesn't really affect Malone too much as he was an incredibly versatile offensive player who could be equally effective on or off-ball (mid-range shooting, high post passing, above-average handle for his size, screen setting, pick and roll finishing). He'd be great with today's spacing.

[OhayoKD]

Thought for sure this was gonna be about Moses. Because this is an awful weird thread to make when we literally just saw Domantas Sabonis make an All-NBA team. While I think everyone agrees on the notion that modern NBA offense has dramatically shifted away from post-ups, that doesn't really affect Malone too much as he was an incredibly versatile offensive player who could be equally effective on or off-ball (mid-range shooting, high post passing, above-average handle for his size, screen setting, pick and roll finishing). He'd be great with today's spacing.

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

[OhayoKD]

There are elements of his game in AD. I think that the pre-eminent PF in Giannis plays like he does instead of Malone doesn't really mean anything in terms of era, if anything modern era should favor players who can shoot like Malone instead of Giannis.

Why would a shooting big be favored in an era where bigs who can shoot aren't special?

Giannis is of course a much better player than Davis so there's also that. Era-translation is not "player score more -> player get better"

[Warspite]

There aren't players today like Karl Malone simply because there aren't players like Karl Malone. The man was a once every 50 years type of player.

The League hasnt passed guys like him. There simply aren't players today like him.

[Ron Swanson]

Thought for sure this was gonna be about Moses. Because this is an awful weird thread to make when we literally just saw Domantas Sabonis make an All-NBA team. While I think everyone agrees on the notion that modern NBA offense has dramatically shifted away from post-ups, that doesn't really affect Malone too much as he was an incredibly versatile offensive player who could be equally effective on or off-ball (mid-range shooting, high post passing, above-average handle for his size, screen setting, pick and roll finishing). He'd be great with today's spacing.

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. If it's in reference to Sabonis, I brought him up as a guy with some similarities in the type of role Malone would play in "today's league" (high post fulcrum of an elite offense), not as an actual similar caliber/level of player.

[Colbinii]

Thought for sure this was gonna be about Moses. Because this is an awful weird thread to make when we literally just saw Domantas Sabonis make an All-NBA team. While I think everyone agrees on the notion that modern NBA offense has dramatically shifted away from post-ups, that doesn't really affect Malone too much as he was an incredibly versatile offensive player who could be equally effective on or off-ball (mid-range shooting, high post passing, above-average handle for his size, screen setting, pick and roll finishing). He'd be great with today's spacing.

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. If it's in reference to Sabonis, I brought him up as a guy with some similarities in the type of role Malone would play in "today's league" (high post fulcrum of an elite offense), not as an actual similar caliber/level of player.

Do you think Malone could do Sabonis' role better than Sabonis?

Do you think Malone simply being a better Sabonis makes him a Top 10 player?

[Ron Swanson]

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. If it's in reference to Sabonis, I brought him up as a guy with some similarities in the type of role Malone would play in "today's league" (high post fulcrum of an elite offense), not as an actual similar caliber/level of player.

Do you think Malone could do Sabonis' role better than Sabonis?

Do you think Malone simply being a better Sabonis makes him a Top 10 player?

With the caveat of slightly lesser play-making/passing (don't think he's quite on Sabonis' level) but vastly better scoring versatility and defense? I think those are two pretty obvious "yes's".

[OhayoKD]

Thought for sure this was gonna be about Moses. Because this is an awful weird thread to make when we literally just saw Domantas Sabonis make an All-NBA team. While I think everyone agrees on the notion that modern NBA offense has dramatically shifted away from post-ups, that doesn't really affect Malone too much as he was an incredibly versatile offensive player who could be equally effective on or off-ball (mid-range shooting, high post passing, above-average handle for his size, screen setting, pick and roll finishing). He'd be great with today's spacing.

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. If it's in reference to Sabonis, I brought him up as a guy with some similarities in the type of role Malone would play in "today's league" (high post fulcrum of an elite offense), not as an actual similar caliber/level of player.

Yup and without establishing the gap this does absolutely nothing for whatever you're pushing lol

[Ron Swanson]

Is there a reason every single time we get a thread like this we get a post along the lines of

"here is this player who was way worse in this era than malone was in his, malone might be better than them!"

"Jordan would be better than derozan!"

"Wade would be better than SGA!"

Y'all realize that is not a winning case?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. If it's in reference to Sabonis, I brought him up as a guy with some similarities in the type of role Malone would play in "today's league" (high post fulcrum of an elite offense), not as an actual similar caliber/level of player.

Yup and without establishing the gap this does absolutely nothing for whatever you're pushing lol

And what exactly am I "pushing"? I pointed out how a similar archetype that's often seen as outdated by modern NBA standards (offense-first PF lacking 3PT range and lateral defensive quickness/switchability) could still thrive and anchor the best RS offense in the league in 2023. Stands to reason IMO that a much superior version would have no trouble translating. That you mistakenly thought I was making an absolute 1-for-1 comparison doesn't negate my point.

The archtype that has been passed by is the role player version of Malone. A 4th or 5th option PF who's a good but not elite defender and doesn't have 3 point range. In general you want your role players to keep the center of the court free for your stars to attack. It's not as important for your stars to hit catch and shoot 3's as they generally aren't taking them (outside of the Klay/Reggie type who create offense through off the ball movement). 1st options like Malone are the guys creating the catch and shoot 3's for role players.

This

[Jaivl]

There aren't players today like Karl Malone simply because there aren't players like Karl Malone. The man was a once every 50 years type of player.

The League hasnt passed guys like him. There simply aren't players today like him.

I mean, a bunch of PFs alone have been better over the last 50 years.

If one considers Duncan, KG, Dirk and as better... He would be at most a once every 13 years type of player.