Who would you choose?
Just off the top of my head as well
T-Mac - Probably the most exciting player at the time plus kobe was in the midst of rape allegations I think not sure though.
Shaq - Still the most dominant force in the league at the time.
Duncan - I think Malone won his second MVP this season but the Spurs won the title with Duncan being absolutely dominant in the playoffs.
Hakeem - Hands down the best center in the league at the time. Was menacing on both defense and offense and was much more dangerous on offense with his unlimited arsenal of moves.
Kidd - Was in the prime of his career and carried the Nets to two straight Finals appearances
Magic - It was close but I only picked him because I copy his moves more than Bird.
Duncan - Although he didn't make the Finals, he's still a more complete player than Dirk minus the 3 point shot.
Charles - Just for the sake of putting the Chuckster on this list lol. But before all the Krispy Kream donuts, he was one of the most dominant forces in the league and likely standing at only 6'4 hard to imagine how he just abuses taller matchups and still have enough strength to carry his weight and dunk over them.
@MJ for Life, I don't think there were rape allegations on Kobe untill a year later, then again I'm not sure.
But the reason I chose that year was because I felt it was the only time where I feel it would be fair to mention Kobe and TMac in the same sentence.
If TMac had a better work ethic, we still might be mentioning him along w/ Kobe, Dirk, and Nash, as guys who have managed to stay productive into their thirties.
@aamir543 yeah I think you're right it probably happened a year later, still got mad respect for kobe's skills though. T-Mac was in his prime during that year it's a shame he just couldn't get past the first round of the playoffs during his career.
^ True, injuries were the main reason, but around 6 months ago, I remember reading somewhere where Jeff Van Gundy said that TMac didn't put in the work necesary, and depended soley on his talent. I think one of the reasons a guys like Kobe and MJ stay healthy is obviously luck, but also that they keep themselves in top notch shape.
And one thing I wanted to know is who would you rather want to start your franchise with at TMac's peak in 03, Kobe or TMac. Personally, I would take TMac at the time because of his combination of speed and size, to go along with his athleticism (ask Shawn Bradley) and handles. At the time I thought he was on his way for player of the decade, and was going to challange Lebron. And although he did have nice years through the 07-08 season, I think we all expected a bit more from him after he was traded to Houston.
In 2002-2003 season- Kobe or T-Mac
2004-2005 season- Shaq or Yao
1998-1999 season- Karl Malone or Duncan
1994-1995 season- Shaq or Hakeem
1999-2000 season- Gary Payton or Jason Kidd
1986- 1987 season- Larry or Magic
2005-2006 season- Dirk or Duncan
1990-1991 season- Sir Charles or Hakeem
This is a solid idea for a topic. My guidelines for choosing who over who would be who I felt the better individual player was, not who had the better individual season. I think in most cases, the better player would have had the better individual season, given whatever circumstance they were given.
2002-03: Kobe. I know T-Mac was off of the chain and averaged more points per game, but I think this was the time where Kobe Bryant was claiming his spot as being the best basketball player in the world. A spot he did not relinquish for quite a while. Also, MJForLife, rape allegations that summer. So, not effecting his play during that year, where he was absolutely ridiculously awesome.
2004-05: Shaq. Easily. Thinking of the right year here? Shaq was still fantastic for the next couple of years until Yao Ming became a better player legitimately. I felt Shaq should more than likely have won MVP this year, and he was the second best player on a title team that next year. Yao was not even on the radar as an MVP candidate during this year, and I do not think he truly became better than Shaq until a couple years later.
1998-99: Tim Duncan. Robbed of the MVP. They won the title, and their was a pivotal game in the shortened season where Duncan clearly outplayed Karl Malone to give the Spurs home court advantage. The numbers may say Malone, but Duncan was the better player at the time.
1994-95: Hakeem. Hurts to say, since Shaq was such a beast, but Hakeem was better at the time. I think Shaq became much better as he got older, though he was maybe more statistically dominant during this season than others. Nonetheless, a 32 year old Hakeem Olajuwon got the better of a 22 year old Shaquille O'Neal, and I think Hakeem was the best player in the league during this year, as he was the year before as well.
1999-2000: Gary Payton. Kidd's team was better, but I think a 31 year old GP was still the Glove. Jason Kidd got better in his older years, as well, but I think Gary was the better player during this year.
1986-87: Magic Johnson. I actually feel like Larry is the better All-Time player of the two, and I believe this was the season before he destroyed his back. But, Magic won the title and was playing the best basketball of his career. Larry had a better early career period, with Magic's later career being slightly better, this season being one where I think Magic was at his best. Season before, give me Bird, but 86-87 was Magic.
2005-06: Tim Duncan was still better than Dirk at this point. Truly, the Spurs were robbed of a Finals appearance. The Mavs won, but in Game 7, I remember clear as day, Duncan was hacked across the body, with the score tied and no foul was called. You could always have done something not to be in that situation, but Timmy was still better, hence his leading the Spurs to a ring no more than a year later while Dirk watched from home after a first round exit. Dirk took a few years after this before I would consider taking him over Timmy. By the way, Dirk may have had better regular season numbers, but check out Timmy's post-season. The Spurs clearly should have met Dallas in the conference Finals, but a really stupid rule at the time, that has since been changed, prevented that from happening as the Suns and Nuggets, both of whom were not on the same level as the Spurs and Mavs, were seeded 2 and 3. Incredibly stupid, hence the Spurs looking like they were possibly not the team that they were. I think they would have given Miami more of a run for their money than the Mavs would have personally, so them losing was probably a blessing in disguise.
1990-91: Hakeem. Charles had the better season, as Hakeem was hurt, but I think it was still safe to say that Hakeem was more than likely the better player. He only played 56 games in 1990-91, so I guess the season goes to the healthy Barkley I suppose. But, if you were going to ask me who I wanted on my team to win games, give me Hakeem Olajuwon during that time period in their careers.
Which player would you choose during the season listed
In 2002-2003 season- Kobe or T-Mac
2004-2005 season- Shaq or Yao
1998-1999 season- Karl Malone or Duncan
1994-1995 season- Shaq or Hakeem
1999-2000 season- Gary Payton or Jason Kidd
1986- 1987 season- Larry or Magic
2005-2006 season- Dirk or Duncan
1990-1991 season- Sir Charles or Hakeem
Feel free to add any of your own.