Best Two-Way Player of All Time

CodeBreaker · Post #1 » by **CodeBreaker** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 1:44 am

Who deserves the title as the Best Two-Way Player of All Time?

Mr Puddles · Post #2 » by **Mr Puddles** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 1:48 am

Probably a controversial take, but I'd take Giannis. His defensive impact is greater than MJ/ LeBron IMO, while also being a repeated 30ppg scorer.

CodeBreaker · Post #3 » by **CodeBreaker** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 2:24 am

MJ winning the Best Offensive Player poll, and also winning this one would solidify him as the GOAT for Realgm

brackdan70 · Post #4 » by **brackdan70** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 2:54 am

Probably MJ.

MrBigShot · Post #5 » by **MrBigShot** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 3:08 am

MJ. Honorable mention Hakeem.

PicPock · Post #6 » by **PicPock** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 4:49 am

MJ
Kareem(where is he?)
Giannis
Hakeem

Frank Dux · Post #7 » by **Frank Dux** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 5:04 am

Lebron is as good of a scorer as anyone, and is a far better playmaker than anyone else on that list.

While he might not be the big man defensive juggernaut in the paint like Duncan, LeBron’s versatility on defense was special. He also has some of the most clutch and iconic defensive plays of all time.

SlimShady83 · Post #8 » by **SlimShady83** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 5:11 am

MJ always gonna win :nod:

pipfan · Post #9 » by **pipfan** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 5:39 am

I think the only options are MJ/LBJ/KAJ/Hakeem/Wilt

The other guys you mentioned are all super-legends, but these 5 were elite on both ends. I might go with Hakeem

threethehardway · Post #10 » by **threethehardway** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 6:17 am

Jordan is obviously not the best 2 Way Player of All Time.

His defense is overrated.

The correct answer is Giannis. He's second most prolific and efficient scorer out of that group outside of Jordan and his he can anchor a defense, something Jordan can't.

Since Giannis MVP season, until now, he's averaged 29.6 points 12 rebounds and 6 assists with 1.1 stl and 1.2 block on 62.9 TS.

So it's Giannis without even thinking twice.

Maxthirty · Post #11 » by **Maxthirty** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 6:35 am

Isn’t this just “who’s the best player?”

CodeBreaker · Post #12 » by **CodeBreaker** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 6:42 am

Maxthirty wrote:Isn’t this just “who’s the best player?”

Jrue Holiday is not better than Steph Curry

Lalouie · Post #13 » by **Lalouie** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 7:11 am

kawhi, tim, and kg are the most balanced

but kawhi made his bones as a D player and he later developed and unstoppable midrange

Maxthirty · Post #14 » by **Maxthirty** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 7:15 am

CodeBreaker wrote:
Maxthirty wrote:Isn’t this just “who’s the best player?”

Jrue Holiday is not better than Steph Curry

Yeah, but it’s still total value. Offense and defense are the entire game lol. The best two way player = the best player.

Post #15 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 7:22 am

Jordan doesn't really feel like he belongs in this discussion. His defense is well below the other guys, especially the bigs. He was good at it, for sure, particularly when he locked in, but he was never going to replicate the defensive value of All-D big men at all.

Petergrifindor · Post #16 » by **Petergrifindor** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 8:00 am

Michael Jordan

Bloodbather · Post #17 » by **Bloodbather** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 8:53 am

Maxthirty wrote:
CodeBreaker wrote:
Maxthirty wrote:Isn’t this just “who’s the best player?”

Jrue Holiday is not better than Steph Curry

Yeah, but it’s still total value. Offense and defense are the entire game lol. The best two way player = the best player.

I get your sentiment, but "two-way player" is basically a filter for being at least 'good' on both ends. So offensive outliers whose total value are among the very best (Jokic, Steph, Magic, etc) get disqualified because they don't fit the criteria.

Still open to dispute though, because some put the threshold at 'great' or 'elite' instead of 'good'.

Daddy 801 · Post #18 » by **Daddy 801** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 9:04 am

Maxthirty wrote:Isn’t this just “who’s the best player?”

Yeah. Which is why Jordan will win the poll.

Daddy 801 · Post #19 » by **Daddy 801** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 9:18 am

I’m not saying Jordan is, or is not the best two player ever. You can have whatever opinion you want and I don’t care. Just wanted to throw this two cents out there as someone who was alive and lived in Chicago during his three peats.

Chicago would routinely play the first three quarters and it would be semi close. And like clockwork my pops and I watching would both say….here comes the fourth. And the Bulls would clamp down on their opponent and Jordan would go off.

If you’re good enough as a player/team to do that basically every game…..you’re really good. That’s all I have to say. Sometimes I see people bash Jordan for whatever reason about his defense and I don’t think they watched the games in context. They played three quarters on easy mode alll the time and would clamp down on anyone and everyone with ease…routinely.

I haven’t seen another team do that routinely like I have the Bulls. The Spurs in 14 was the most beautiful passing I’ve ever witnessed, the Warriors offense with Durant on the team was out of this world, and LBJ is an alien from another dimension. But I’ve never seen a team like the 90’s Bulls who could just turn it on in the fourth and just decide to win in the span of a half quarter. It was impressive. And Jordan, Pippen, and the rest of the cast were the reason why that happened and it seemed from my young perspective it started with the defense even more than the offenses.

My 2 cents.

phanman · Post #20 » by **phanman** » Mon Sep 1, 2025 9:22 am

There are only 3 guys in league history to win DPOY and MVP: MJ, Hakeem and Giannis.
- Olajuwon was the only to follow it up with a Chip/FMVP in that magical 1994 season where he picked up every individual award and accolade en route to a game 7 series win against the Knicks where he thoroughly embarrassed Ewing with what would consider an underwhelming championship roster

I went with MJ but I can see an argument for having Hakeem over him.