Peaks: Lebron vs Jordan vs Shaq vs Hakeem

[SkyHookFTW]

This is a tough comparison. Hakeem is the best balanced player of the bunch but doesn't really excel over the other three in any single area.

Jordan is number one. The stats don't lie when it comes to Jordan. I'm not even counting rings, which I really don't like to do anyway. Superb defense, elite scoring. I will add that after he came back to play he had trouble with quicker players. I would say from 1985-93 his defense was outstanding. I am putting emphasis on this because I think his defense gets overlooked due to his offensive skills. You always had a chance to win the game with peak MJ. What more can you say?

I put Shaq at number two. At his peak, he was the best rim defender in the game. His power under the basket allowed him to take a beating and still drop buckets and scoop the boards better than anyone in his peak years at that time. Absolute defensive anchor and surprisingly mobile in his younger days. No one could stop him from scoring inside. If given a chance to start a franchise with any of these four at their peak, I'd lean towards Shaq because GOAT/near GOAT-level big men who can anchor a defense like Shaq are the rarest of players. Heck, Wilt and Shaq are just about the only two I can say that I have seen in person that can do it at GOAT level (KAJ was a hell of a defender but did get pushed around...should have had a few more pounds on him).

LeBron is number three. No need to expound on the best player in the game today. Great defender (why people knock his defense I don't fully understand). I not sure he has reached his peak yet. I think he benefits a bit from the lack of really strong/skilled centers. Peak Howard gets crushed by peak Wilt, Shaq, or KAJ. That's not Lebron's fault, as the game has changed. When his career is over, he will have a pile of points, rebounds, assists, and a lot of fans proclaiming his greatness. Maybe they are right.

Hakeem is number four on this list, and that bothers me a little bit. He was such a well-rounded player. Defense, scoring, quickness...all there. Would easily be the best center in the game today. He was so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. People don't realize he was in the top seven in steals. Excellent fundamentals. Also, I recall him doing rather well against Shaq in 1995.

No one deserves to be last on this list, as they were/are so good.

Its your rankings according peak years or careers? Why Jordan is for you best peak ever if you would start franchise with Shaq?

Simple. It's harder to find a guy like Shaq/Wilt than a guy like Jordan or guys a notch below. One can always find scorers, shooters, and wing players. But how many true big post-up anchors can you find? They are few and far between, so if I was starting a franchise and can start with an elite big who can defend, score, rebound and play elite defense from the low post I'm taking him first. I can build a great defense around that player.

My ranking goes for both peak years and careers.

[Gregoire]

This is a tough comparison. Hakeem is the best balanced player of the bunch but doesn't really excel over the other three in any single area.

Jordan is number one. The stats don't lie when it comes to Jordan. I'm not even counting rings, which I really don't like to do anyway. Superb defense, elite scoring. I will add that after he came back to play he had trouble with quicker players. I would say from 1985-93 his defense was outstanding. I am putting emphasis on this because I think his defense gets overlooked due to his offensive skills. You always had a chance to win the game with peak MJ. What more can you say?

I put Shaq at number two. At his peak, he was the best rim defender in the game. His power under the basket allowed him to take a beating and still drop buckets and scoop the boards better than anyone in his peak years at that time. Absolute defensive anchor and surprisingly mobile in his younger days. No one could stop him from scoring inside. If given a chance to start a franchise with any of these four at their peak, I'd lean towards Shaq because GOAT/near GOAT-level big men who can anchor a defense like Shaq are the rarest of players. Heck, Wilt and Shaq are just about the only two I can say that I have seen in person that can do it at GOAT level (KAJ was a hell of a defender but did get pushed around...should have had a few more pounds on him).

LeBron is number three. No need to expound on the best player in the game today. Great defender (why people knock his defense I don't fully understand). I not sure he has reached his peak yet. I think he benefits a bit from the lack of really strong/skilled centers. Peak Howard gets crushed by peak Wilt, Shaq, or KAJ. That's not Lebron's fault, as the game has changed. When his career is over, he will have a pile of points, rebounds, assists, and a lot of fans proclaiming his greatness. Maybe they are right.

Hakeem is number four on this list, and that bothers me a little bit. He was such a well-rounded player. Defense, scoring, quickness...all there. Would easily be the best center in the game today. He was so versatile because of what he can give you from that position. It's not just his scoring, not just his rebounding or not just his blocked shots. People don't realize he was in the top seven in steals. Excellent fundamentals. Also, I recall him doing rather well against Shaq in 1995.

No one deserves to be last on this list, as they were/are so good.

Its your rankings according peak years or careers? Why Jordan is for you best peak ever if you would start franchise with Shaq?

Simple. It's harder to find a guy like Shaq/Wilt than a guy like Jordan or guys a notch below. One can always find scorers, shooters, and wing players. But how many true big post-up anchors can you find? They are few and far between, so if I was starting a franchise and can start with an elite big who can defend, score, rebound and play elite defense from the low post I'm taking him first. I can build a great defense around that player.

My ranking goes for both peak years and careers.

So, if you want to win the ring in one particular playoffs in which order you choose Jordan 91, Shaq 00 and Wilt 67 versions for your team assuming other players could be random?

[Gregoire]

Shaq was the best peak ever, his stretch from 00-03 I would take over any three year stretch. Him having one MVP is a crime but history is history and his career gets demoted.
Jordan next 88-91

Lebron is one of the 5 players I would rate 99 but wasn't better then these two at any stretch(3 seasons or the first 10 seasons)

And how do you rank their best one-year stretches, not 3year?

Hard to rank single seasons for me. The picking of which season is the most difficult.
89 Jordan is the best regular season for me but as a whole season it would fall short compared to what the other two accomplished.
13 Lebron is perfect. Jordan GOAT season is the best but he forced it down the leagues throat. The team wasn't great. On neither side of the ball was the team elite so he picked up a cape and went super nova. Lebron in 13 was also great but he acknowledged his greatness, saw the talent around him and played accordingly. He took all the fat out of his game. Took nearly all spot up three's or pump step in's. He drove to the rim in transition or in the drive. Taking very few "balling" shots. So few that the ones he did stick out in your memory. He was attacking to rim like no one I ever seen and from there being more selective then any star I ever witnessed. It's a perfect season.
00Shaq has the obvious flaw of FT shooting. He was more dominant then Lebron. But it wasn't perfect. Lebron was perfection.

That was a lot so
13Lebron for perfection as a wing
00Shaq for being an absolute force of nature
89MJ GOAT regular season and even without a ring or Finals appearance gets to be mentioned with these other two.

Same question, if you want to win the ring in one particular playoffs in which order you choose Jordan 91 (or 89), Shaq 00 and Lebron 13 versions for your team assuming other players could be random?

[RayBan-Sematra]

I wouldn't call 13 Lebron perfect or a guy without flaws.
If his jumper was off certain defenses could still make him struggle to score as we saw in the first couple of games in the 2013 Finals.
What happened to him over those first couple of games was kind of embarrassing and would never have happened to Peak Jordan or Shaq.

[SkyHookFTW]

Its your rankings according peak years or careers? Why Jordan is for you best peak ever if you would start franchise with Shaq?

Simple. It's harder to find a guy like Shaq/Wilt than a guy like Jordan or guys a notch below. One can always find scorers, shooters, and wing players. But how many true big post-up anchors can you find? They are few and far between, so if I was starting a franchise and can start with an elite big who can defend, score, rebound and play elite defense from the low post I'm taking him first. I can build a great defense around that player.

My ranking goes for both peak years and careers.

So, if you want to win the ring in one particular playoffs in which order you choose Jordan 91, Shaq 00 and Wilt 67 versions for your team assuming other players could be random?

Damn, tough question. The 67 version of Wilt showed what he could have been if he played within the structure of a team. If Wilt was that guy for most of his career he probably has 5-6 rings and could be called the GOAT...not because of the rings but because he wouldn't have any critics that said he was all about stats and didn't care about team. To me, that is the difference between being the best player and being the greatest player. Assuming other players could be random...you are making this tough! On the surface, it would seem that you would want a guy who could take over, that unbelievable athlete who can't be stopped. Yet, those players simply don't win without help. You picked three incredible peaks, yet those peaks on an average team don't win anything. With a gun to my head....although I think Wilt is the best player, and long term I would build around prime Wilt or prime Shaq for previous reasons listed, I think MJ gets the nod in one random particular playoffs. Of course, if the "randomizer" spun a different way, it might well be Wilt. Very tough question as asked, but a very good question that makes one think. Give MJ the nod because he did it so often.

[ChokeFasncists]

Tier 1: undoubted greatness and dominance

1. I'd have to say Shaq. Without Shaq it would be a bad team, he was pretty much unstoppable. Got all the opposing big men in foul trouble. His Achilles' heel of course is FT shooting and he himself would get into foul trouble often but so it's an extremely close call.

2. MJ was great but there was always a sense that you could beat his team using normal means. (therefore much better to watch.) His team wasn't very bad when he didn't play and an SG is easier to replace. He never won without Pips and Phil.



Tier 2: Not sure if could win without MJ's retirement and teaming up to form Big 3

3. Hakeem. Incredible everything. He is a center. On a mission.

4. LeBron. Incredible everything. Not a center, had more help and needed some luck, easier conference.

[Louie_Ruckuz]

I'm caught in a predicament because as dominant as Shaq was the Lakers twice were on the brink of losing and almost being knocked out by the Blazers and the Kings. This is how I would rank them...

1. Jordan
2. Shaq
3. Hakeem
4. Lebron

[Louie_Ruckuz]

Tier 1: undoubted greatness and dominance

1. I'd have to say Shaq. Without Shaq it would be a bad team, he was pretty much unstoppable. Got all the opposing big men in foul trouble. His Achilles' heel of course is FT shooting and he himself would get into foul trouble often but so it's an extremely close call.

2. MJ was great but there was always a sense that you could beat his team using normal means. (therefore much better to watch.) His team wasn't very bad when he didn't play and an SG is easier to replace. He never won without Pips and Phil.



Tier 2: Not sure if could win without MJ's retirement and teaming up to form Big 3

3. Hakeem. Incredible everything. He is a center. On a mission.

4. LeBron. Incredible everything. Not a center, had more help and needed some luck, easier conference.

I would switch out Shaq and Jordan and for my reason up above lol

[ChokeFasncists]

Tier 1: undoubted greatness and dominance

1. I'd have to say Shaq. Without Shaq it would be a bad team, he was pretty much unstoppable. Got all the opposing big men in foul trouble. His Achilles' heel of course is FT shooting and he himself would get into foul trouble often but so it's an extremely close call.

2. MJ was great but there was always a sense that you could beat his team using normal means. (therefore much better to watch.) His team wasn't very bad when he didn't play and an SG is easier to replace. He never won without Pips and Phil.



Tier 2: Not sure if could win without MJ's retirement and teaming up to form Big 3

3. Hakeem. Incredible everything. He is a center. On a mission.

4. LeBron. Incredible everything. Not a center, had more help and needed some luck, easier conference.

I would switch out Shaq and Jordan and for my reason up above lol

Well, Shaq had FT problems and he got into foul trouble. He was consistently double teamed or sometimes triple teamed.

What you're saying is relevant but it is more of an indication of how good their teams were and how good their opponents were. The Kings series wouldn't count cuz that'd be post-peak.

But you're right, it's a real close call. MJ's head was much better obviously.

[lilojmayo]

Jordan obviously

[Gregoire]

bumb

[Rastas]

Lebron / Shaq
Jordan

Hakeem

[Ballerhogger]

Jordan
Hakeem
Lebron
Shaq.

[Gregoire]

For now

Jordan
Lebron
Shaq
Hakeem

[LoyalKing]

Jordan
Shaq
Hakeem
Lebron

[JulesWinnfield]

Tier 1: undoubted greatness and dominance

1. I'd have to say Shaq. Without Shaq it would be a bad team, he was pretty much unstoppable. Got all the opposing big men in foul trouble. His Achilles' heel of course is FT shooting and he himself would get into foul trouble often but so it's an extremely close call.

2. MJ was great but there was always a sense that you could beat his team using normal means. (therefore much better to watch.) His team wasn't very bad when he didn't play and an SG is easier to replace. He never won without Pips and Phil.



Tier 2: Not sure if could win without MJ's retirement and teaming up to form Big 3

3. Hakeem. Incredible everything. He is a center. On a mission.

4. LeBron. Incredible everything. Not a center, had more help and needed some luck, easier conference.

The notion that Lebron had clearly the most help out of this group to win titles is completely indefensible and the direct opposite of accurate. If anything he wore more hats for his teams than anyone in this conversation, and outside of the 94 rockets absolutely carried the largest overall load. The guy was their leader in scoring, rebounding. assists and was their best defender at a minimum of 3 and arguably 4 positions. This has never happend on any team let alone a back to back title team. Shouldn't be a surprise that Lebron's 12 and 13 playoffs are both top 5 all time in win shares

They were flawed squads in Miami even though casual fans get drunk off name power and the whole narrative of a big 3. In reality they were the worst rebounding teams and worst interior defensive teams to ever win. They had injuries heavily impact both of their title runs in postseason to boot. No one won with any less help than Lebron got in the 2013 playoffs with D Wade's corpse limping around averaging 15 inefficient points a night, and Bosh dealing with a crisis of confidence in addition to getting bullied in the post in every series, making guys like Roy Hibbert look like Hakeem/Shaq

[Brenice]

What about the easier conference Jules, those others may have had more help (not Hakeem ) but the mountain they had to climb (Hakeem included) to get to the top was better quality than LeBron had to climb.

LeBron does heavy lifting, sure. But the others do the sacrificing. You degrade Bosh for playing a position he shouldn't be playing. LeBron sure wasn't using his 260 lbs of muscle on centers.

You get a legit center and a legit point guard and a legit PF and play them with either Jordan, Hakeem, Shaq, or LeBron. Say CP3 and the Mailman. Which trio would be more successful ?

[JeepCSC]

Hakeem's peak is underrated here. He was like a god.

[ThaRegul8r]

Hakeem's peak is underrated here. He was like a god.

I thought that was Jordan.

[JeepCSC]

That's what I said, Hakeem was like a Jordan.