[bdoody42Participant]

 I have been watching NBA basketball since the 80s and I was wondering how you think these past stars would do today with the modern rules and athleticism.

Larry Bird

John Stockton

Mitch Richmond

Penny Hardaway

Chris Mullin.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

i think they would’ve all thrived, just in different roles. Bird would be very much a stretch 4 today. Stock’s game would be just the same, potentially a better scorer with modern rules. Mitch and Penn would be fine- the game wasn’t that different 20 years ago!

The only one who I think would have a lesser role in history is Chris Mullin.

[mookieParticipant]

Couldn’t agree more morestealsthanscores

[mookieParticipant]

Couldn’t agree more morestealsthanscores

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I disagree with you on mullin. I still think he’d be just as good today were he in his prime. He was never the best athlete, but he thrived on being an extremely intelligent and creative scorer, outstanding movement off the ball, and an outstanding feel for the game and passing ability. He was actually very similar to bird in his prime, except for being smaller and not as good of a rebounder. I do think him and bird would be exploited on defense a little more in this era though.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I disagree with you on mullin. I still think he’d be just as good today were he in his prime. He was never the best athlete, but he thrived on being an extremely intelligent and creative scorer, outstanding movement off the ball, and an outstanding feel for the game and passing ability. He was actually very similar to bird in his prime, except for being smaller and not as good of a rebounder. I do think him and bird would be exploited on defense a little more in this era though.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

i think they would’ve all thrived, just in different roles. Bird would be very much a stretch 4 today. Stock’s game would be just the same, potentially a better scorer with modern rules. Mitch and Penn would be fine- the game wasn’t that different 20 years ago!

The only one who I think would have a lesser role in history is Chris Mullin.

[LALEAKERSParticipant]

 I think they would all do well, basketball was more of a skill game back in the 80’s and often didn’t lift as nearly as often as players in todays game. 

[LALEAKERSParticipant]

 I think they would all do well, basketball was more of a skill game back in the 80’s and often didn’t lift as nearly as often as players in todays game. 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Bird could average a triple-double.  Stockton would lead the league in assists every season.  Richmond would score in the paint like Wade and hit outside shots like Redick.  Hardaway, he could score over all the shorter point guards and wouldn’t have trouble against shooting guards.  Mullin would shoot like K Thompson but better, and in the same uniform.

There really isn’t modern athleticism, Larry Bird played against Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving so anyone today isn’t that special.  

I would like to know what Wilt could do.  If he was getting 40 points a game when many other teams had good centers, what would he do now with teams going small and with low-quality centers?

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Bird could average a triple-double.  Stockton would lead the league in assists every season.  Richmond would score in the paint like Wade and hit outside shots like Redick.  Hardaway, he could score over all the shorter point guards and wouldn’t have trouble against shooting guards.  Mullin would shoot like K Thompson but better, and in the same uniform.

There really isn’t modern athleticism, Larry Bird played against Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving so anyone today isn’t that special.  

I would like to know what Wilt could do.  If he was getting 40 points a game when many other teams had good centers, what would he do now with teams going small and with low-quality centers?

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Wilt would not average more than 25 ppg at any point in his career if he played in this era. He was so physically superior to everyone back then that it was not even fair. The league was still in its infancy stages then. A lot of teams started 6-6 and 6-7 guys that couldn’t jump at center. If you look at his stats even when he was averaging 50 a game he was only shooting like 40% from the field. While he was an incredible physical specimen for his time, he was just not that skilled of a basketball player. While it’s impossible to project, I have a feeling guys like shaq and Hakeem would have been even more dominant than wilt in that era.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Wilt would not average more than 25 ppg at any point in his career if he played in this era. He was so physically superior to everyone back then that it was not even fair. The league was still in its infancy stages then. A lot of teams started 6-6 and 6-7 guys that couldn’t jump at center. If you look at his stats even when he was averaging 50 a game he was only shooting like 40% from the field. While he was an incredible physical specimen for his time, he was just not that skilled of a basketball player. While it’s impossible to project, I have a feeling guys like shaq and Hakeem would have been even more dominant than wilt in that era.

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