Which All Time Great Would you Like to see in Today's Game?

[scrabbarista]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

[ardee]

I mean, really all of them, but I voted 09 LeBron. The kind of room he'd have to operate in today's game is just frightening to think about.

We already saw Lebron play a large portion of his prime in these conditions, no? He was only 26 when he and Wade formed the super-team in Miami.

On average, teams took 18.0 3s a game in 2011. In 2022, they took 35.2. It's a whole different level of pace and space, and yeah, as someone mentioned, he was a heavier guy his entire time in Miami, and didn't slim down until he got back to Cleveland for the second go-around, by which point he wasn't as athletic (still the best version of him overall IMO, but 2009 LeBron was peak athlete).

[ardee]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

[falcolombardi]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

davis may be a closer stylistical comparision tbh, body type wise i feel like hakeem is inbetween both

[capfan33]

2009 Lebron has to be #1, can't imagine what he could do with today's spacing. Ditto for young MJ. I think a modernized Jerry West would be sick. All the old schoold bigs, especially Kareem and Wilt would feast with the 5-out spacing they never got during their careers.

[70sFan]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

Embiid is much bigger and much less mobile though. They aren't comparable on either side of the floor to be honest.

[MyUniBroDavis]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

Embiid is much bigger and much less mobile though. They aren't comparable on either side of the floor to be honest.

Hakeems mobility is next level but I never got the vibe Embiid isnt a really mobile big though not on the same level of Hakeem of course

I feel Embiid gets a bit underrated at times, he’s had his playoff struggles although injuries played a part in that this year (I’ll fully admit I didn’t watch the 76ers much this year) but pre harden they were 4-8 without him (27 win pace) 30-15 with him (56 win pace).

Technically 2 wins without Embiid were without harden too though, but I do think that team prolly was a 30-35 win team without him and a mid 50 win team with him, pre harden, although their synergy wasn’t great I would assume some of it was coaching on both fronts

I think when he played he was an mvp caliber player, although obv not the mvp if that makes sense

I do think if he gets his offense in the playoffs right he’d be a contender with since defense seemingly gets better come playoff time too

[70sFan]

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

Embiid is much bigger and much less mobile though. They aren't comparable on either side of the floor to be honest.

Hakeems mobility is next level but I never got the vibe Embiid isnt a really mobile big though not on the same level of Hakeem of course

Yeah, I didn't say Embiid isn't mobile but he's not close to Hakeem in that aspect. Hakeem gave you Bam's level of mobility with much better rim protection.

Another thing is that Embiid rarely shows his mobility. He preserves his energy for offense and usually plays very conservative defense. It's another huge difference between him and Hakeem, who at times was almost too agressive.

[Rastas]

Wilt

[ardee]

I went peak MJ (of course!), but I would've really, really loved to see Hakeem come up in the modern game, with a full development cycle from Africa to college to the NBA in today's basketball environment. Dude was the ultimate natural basketball athlete.

Embiid is probably the closest version of that we'll get right now.

Embiid is much bigger and much less mobile though. They aren't comparable on either side of the floor to be honest.

I didn't mean in terms of playstyle, moreso someone who took such a nontraditional route to the pros (both Hakeem and Embiid started the game in their mid teens).

[capfan33]

Embiid is much bigger and much less mobile though. They aren't comparable on either side of the floor to be honest.

Hakeems mobility is next level but I never got the vibe Embiid isnt a really mobile big though not on the same level of Hakeem of course

Yeah, I didn't say Embiid isn't mobile but he's not close to Hakeem in that aspect. Hakeem gave you Bam's level of mobility with much better rim protection.

Another thing is that Embiid rarely shows his mobility. He preserves his energy for offense and usually plays very conservative defense. It's another huge difference between him and Hakeem, who at times was almost too agressive.

You've said it before I think, but Embiid is basically a more skilled Ewing, correct?

[70sFan]

Hakeems mobility is next level but I never got the vibe Embiid isnt a really mobile big though not on the same level of Hakeem of course

Yeah, I didn't say Embiid isn't mobile but he's not close to Hakeem in that aspect. Hakeem gave you Bam's level of mobility with much better rim protection.

Another thing is that Embiid rarely shows his mobility. He preserves his energy for offense and usually plays very conservative defense. It's another huge difference between him and Hakeem, who at times was almost too agressive.

You've said it before I think, but Embiid is basically a more skilled Ewing, correct?

Yes, more skilled and bigger, but also less relentless and smart on defense I'd say.

[countryboy667]

Peak Wilt--just to show the posters here who think he was overrated how wrong they are if nothing else.