Todays NBA: Charles Barkley or Scottie Pippen?

[Matt15]

Who would you rather build a team around in today's NBA?

[jojo4341]

My first instinct was to pick Pippen because I'd prefer him on an "all-time" team; he's portable to any system; and you need long, athletic wings for defense. However, Barkley would be even more of a beast on offense today even without a 3-point shot. He'd be a much more durable and eccentric Zion today. His personality alone, though polarizing in his playing days, would be more marketable too. Though neither won a title as the "man," Barkley was closer and was the alpha for much longer. So I choose Barkley. I'd try to surround him with athletic/defensive bigs and shooters.

[B-Mitch 30]

I don't like to overuse the whole "this player could have become a three-point shooter if they grew up today" card, but Barkley is certainly an interesting case. Dude liked to take a lot of threes for his era despite being bad at it outside of 1995 and maybe 1993. However, Chuck also said he never practiced it IIRC, so who knows.

[tsherkin]

Id take Chuck for the focal option. Pippen's D was great but he was bleh offensively even then. Philly Chuck was a monster and would remain so today. Easier to build around that.

[Hair Jordan]

It’s a tough call. Barkley led Philly and Phoenix for years. Pippen led Chicago for 1.5 seasons. He was a legitimate MVP candidate the first year in Jordan’s absence (1993-94) but famously sat out the final seconds against the Knicks in the playoffs while he pouted on the bench. Pippen was always a bit of a head case (as he’s proven the last few years especially) and was always a better second banana. Barkley was an alpha dog from day one. The modern game would allow both players to flourish but I think Barkley would feast more than Scottie, especially against all of the skinny stretch 4’s masquerading as centers nowadays. He’d be a billionaires Zion.

[dygaction]

Pippen for Mavs; Barkley for Knicks

[KingofTheClay]

I mean…..Pippen isn’t holding Barkleys jock strap.


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[SilentA]

Tough call for me honestly.

- Barkley is great and would still be today assuming adjustment period, but he's one of the few whose style might not age as well, whereas Pippen switchable defending value would be more valuable (while Barkley would get targeted).
- I think Pippen would also get a little bit more value from spacing (athletic slashing + good passer).
- Doubt either would be great from 3, average at best if given time.

Both would still be great, to be clear. Barkley was greater back then, but modern NBA favours Pippen slightly, balancing it out.

[rand]

Build a team around? How could it not be Barkley? He's at least two tiers above Pippen offensively.

[henshao]

The more positionless basketball becomes, the more Charles Barkley would thrive IMO

[penbeast0]

Build a team around? How could it not be Barkley? He's at least two tiers above Pippen offensively.

And Pippen is at least 4 tiers above Barkley defensively. Plus, modern basketball relies on spreading the floor which Pippen was better at and not being a dominant inside scorer, Pippen would be shooting a lot more 3's and probably be at least NBA average at it though probably not outstanding. Charles's impact relies on having a center that could play outside while simultaneously covering for him defensively, there aren't that many that do both well. He would get great stats without equivalently great impact, like a turbocharged version of Julius Randle.

[canada_dry]

Barkley easily

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[OdomFan]

For a 1st Option? Barkley
For a team that already has a first option and needs a player to help space the floor? Pippen.

That was what Pippens role was with the 90s Bulls. Barkley at his best was a MVP winner and consistent candidate for it every year that he played a lot of games. I'd like to see Pippen with the Bucks today, and Charles Barkley with a team like the Knicks. I think the Knicks could use better leadership.

[homecourtloss]

Barkley easily
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Build a team around? How could it not be Barkley? He's at least two tiers above Pippen offensively.

Since the OP is asking about today’s game, I don’t think this is a clear cut case at all.

1) Barkley’s defense, suspect as it is in his era, becomes much more of a liability in today’s game. Maybe this changes if he grows up for today’s game, but if he’s the same Barkley, he didn’t make rotations well, hunted DRebs, demonstrated lazy footwork on defense, ball-watched frequently, etc,

2) Would his scoring offense at his peak levels still be as efficacious? You had a +11 to nearly +13 rTS player there in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. Could he possibly be that in today’s game? He’d have to be a 70%-72% TS player to match that efficacy for today’s game.

3j Barkley as the best player and most efficient scorer on a team led to middling teams in Philly with one decent one with a very good offense and two years of very good offenses right before he left. With his scoring likely not at +12 to +13 rTS, his playmaking decent but not anything special, and with being even more of a defensive liability, I don’t see a very high ceiling for his team unless there’s a perfect fit.

1993 Barkley led a better team, of course, but that wasn’t peak scoring Barkley, but he did have a more nuanced offensive game including more dribble drive, off hand finishing, etc., but he wasn’t that same monster.

4. I think Pippen’s defense becomes perhaps even more valuable as he would be able to defend 1-4 (sometimes 1-5). Don’t know if his three point shot improves or not but he’d need that, but his playmaking in a more talented offensive league would also be more effective. On a lesser talented 1994 and 1995 teams, Pippen’s overall offense showed signs of being unlocked when given the opportunity.

[One_and_Done]

Barkley to sell tickets, probably Pippen to win.

[NW BBALL]

I was always a huge fan of Pippen, but he would still need to be a 2nd (or 3rd in a super team) option because of his limited efficiency.

I think a 1993 or earlier Chuck would still be a wrecking ball in the NBA today. A Zion comp with more attitude is a good analogy.

[louc1970]

Barkley was/is my favorite player of all-time. But if I was starting a team today, I would take Pippen.

Barkley shot better than 30% from 3 only 1 year in his career. So his offense would be relegated to the interior. Not a major issue because he was dominant in the middle for a 6'5" PF.

Pippen on the other hand didn't shoot well either but he could play outstanding defense.

The big difference is do I need a leader or a role player. Pippen is not an alpha player.