[Memphisboy14Participant]

I am a bit skeptical and doubt it if some of our all time greats would have been superstars in this era. I think a guy like Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Michael Jordan would have been fine regardless but other guys like Jerry West and Elgin Baylor I’m not so sure of. I don’t mean to take anything away from any of our all time greats since they were the greatest players of their respective era’s but I’m not so sure about some of them. Anyway what are your thoughts?

[trelos6Participant]

 So going off the greatest players of all time list.

Jordan – He should still average 30ppg and play lockdown D

Wilt – Could easily put up 30/15 a night.  Dude was strong and athletic.

Russell – I’m thinking Serge Ibaka.  No disrespect to the greatest winner (and I’m a Celtics fan), but Russell is only 6’9".

Big O – Bigger Derrick Rose.  Would still dominate.

Magic – Dominates with ease

Kareem, Hakeem – Again, 7′ with great offensive game.  Not many of those in today’s NBA.  25/13 looks good.

Bird – Think KD.  Great shooter, good rebounder, great teammate.

West – I can see west like a James Harden type.

Elgin – Starter but maybe not all-star.  Still was a good rebounder for his 6’5" frame.

Pettit – Probably a super sub.  Listed at 205 lbs.  Lacks the msucle for todays game 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

 So going off the greatest players of all time list.

Jordan – He should still average 30ppg and play lockdown D

Wilt – Could easily put up 30/15 a night.  Dude was strong and athletic.

Russell – I’m thinking Serge Ibaka.  No disrespect to the greatest winner (and I’m a Celtics fan), but Russell is only 6’9".

Big O – Bigger Derrick Rose.  Would still dominate.

Magic – Dominates with ease

Kareem, Hakeem – Again, 7′ with great offensive game.  Not many of those in today’s NBA.  25/13 looks good.

Bird – Think KD.  Great shooter, good rebounder, great teammate.

West – I can see west like a James Harden type.

Elgin – Starter but maybe not all-star.  Still was a good rebounder for his 6’5" frame.

Pettit – Probably a super sub.  Listed at 205 lbs.  Lacks the msucle for todays game 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SwaggyVCParticipant]

 Look you cant really compare…. Its all about context and they helped build the game but that being said:

MJ: About the same level of dominance

Hakeem Olajuwon: Considering the lack of elite Centers in todays game he should be even better….

Magic: Still dominant but from the small forward position aka Point forward [which he played later in his career anyway

Bird: Elite but would probably play PF almost exclusively….

Oscar Robertson: Think athletic scoring Jason Kidd

Russell: Not sure how his game would translate…. Ben Wallace with some offense maybe? winner tho

Wilt: Think Tyson Chanler on steroids with with Dwights offensive ability….

Pettit: Sadly…. Probs  Eric Collison [mind blank about his name]

Kareem: Same as the dream

 

 

[SwaggyVCParticipant]

 Look you cant really compare…. Its all about context and they helped build the game but that being said:

MJ: About the same level of dominance

Hakeem Olajuwon: Considering the lack of elite Centers in todays game he should be even better….

Magic: Still dominant but from the small forward position aka Point forward [which he played later in his career anyway

Bird: Elite but would probably play PF almost exclusively….

Oscar Robertson: Think athletic scoring Jason Kidd

Russell: Not sure how his game would translate…. Ben Wallace with some offense maybe? winner tho

Wilt: Think Tyson Chanler on steroids with with Dwights offensive ability….

Pettit: Sadly…. Probs  Eric Collison [mind blank about his name]

Kareem: Same as the dream

 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

"Wilt: Think Tyson Chanler on steroids with with Dwights offensive ability…."

Seriously, don’t ever slight Wilt Chamberlain like that.   That’s a flat out disgrace to how good he was.

 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

"Wilt: Think Tyson Chanler on steroids with with Dwights offensive ability…."

Seriously, don’t ever slight Wilt Chamberlain like that.   That’s a flat out disgrace to how good he was.

 

 

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Whenever someone compares players of different eras to current eras, I think it’s stupid when they use their weight as a huge determining factor. If they played in the current NBA, they would be in a weight training program like all of the current players and would probably weigh 20-30 more pounds given the player. I don’t know. It just always seemed like a very weak argument to me. If their skill set is subpar, that’s one thing but saying someone from 60s or 70s wouldn’t succeed today simply due to their weight seems like you’re reaching a bit much.

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Whenever someone compares players of different eras to current eras, I think it’s stupid when they use their weight as a huge determining factor. If they played in the current NBA, they would be in a weight training program like all of the current players and would probably weigh 20-30 more pounds given the player. I don’t know. It just always seemed like a very weak argument to me. If their skill set is subpar, that’s one thing but saying someone from 60s or 70s wouldn’t succeed today simply due to their weight seems like you’re reaching a bit much.

[capecodderParticipant]

 Let me start off by saying I am a lifelong Celtics fan and saw my first game in 1947…..Jerry West put fear into me all those years of the Lakers/Celtics finals…..he would be all pro in any era…..Oscar Robertson could do it all….averaging a triple double for a season 

[capecodderParticipant]

 Let me start off by saying I am a lifelong Celtics fan and saw my first game in 1947…..Jerry West put fear into me all those years of the Lakers/Celtics finals…..he would be all pro in any era…..Oscar Robertson could do it all….averaging a triple double for a season 

[JoeWolf1]

 Well, you also have to figure Lebron would probably only be about 240 if he played in 1960. James entered the league at 235 and didn’t start lifting until he went pro. They even had a big write up in SI about how lifting helped him. Dwight Howard had a similar experience. 

Guys didn’t lift back then, which is why many that weren’t natually musclebound ( like Big O, for example ) were lighter and look skinny in comparision.

You put a 19 year old Bob Pettit, who was 6’9” 205 lb on an NBA team today, and he’s 230 lbs by the time he’s 22. Of course these guys could hang if they were in today’s league. The league was lighter as an average because of less weight lifting. These guys were skilled, maybe a little shorter, but I think your stars of that era could be stars of this era. 

 Bill Russell would be a 6’9” less crazy Rodman. He was a 6’9” high jumper in college, was an elite leaper, and despite being undersized was one of the most cerebral rebounders and shot blockers of all time. He didn’t score a lot in his era, but I think he could get you 15-16 rebounds per game and 3 blocks in todays’ game…probably as a power forward, though.

However, I think a lot of your 8th, 9th, and 10th men of that era, in many cases, would have a tougher time.

l

[JoeWolf1]

 Well, you also have to figure Lebron would probably only be about 240 if he played in 1960. James entered the league at 235 and didn’t start lifting until he went pro. They even had a big write up in SI about how lifting helped him. Dwight Howard had a similar experience. 

Guys didn’t lift back then, which is why many that weren’t natually musclebound ( like Big O, for example ) were lighter and look skinny in comparision.

You put a 19 year old Bob Pettit, who was 6’9” 205 lb on an NBA team today, and he’s 230 lbs by the time he’s 22. Of course these guys could hang if they were in today’s league. The league was lighter as an average because of less weight lifting. These guys were skilled, maybe a little shorter, but I think your stars of that era could be stars of this era. 

 Bill Russell would be a 6’9” less crazy Rodman. He was a 6’9” high jumper in college, was an elite leaper, and despite being undersized was one of the most cerebral rebounders and shot blockers of all time. He didn’t score a lot in his era, but I think he could get you 15-16 rebounds per game and 3 blocks in todays’ game…probably as a power forward, though.

However, I think a lot of your 8th, 9th, and 10th men of that era, in many cases, would have a tougher time.

l

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Completely agree. If Dennis Rodman could become a Hall of Famer from playing in the 80s and 90s, there is no doubt in my mind that Bill Russell would be even better. I think we also need to consider who Russell played with on those Celtics teams (Havlicek, Sam Jones, Heinsohn). There were some years where they had four guys score 15 or more a game. Not going to be a whole lot of shots to go around when you play with multiple Hall of Famers.

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Completely agree. If Dennis Rodman could become a Hall of Famer from playing in the 80s and 90s, there is no doubt in my mind that Bill Russell would be even better. I think we also need to consider who Russell played with on those Celtics teams (Havlicek, Sam Jones, Heinsohn). There were some years where they had four guys score 15 or more a game. Not going to be a whole lot of shots to go around when you play with multiple Hall of Famers.

[ropeParticipant]

I have always had a different view of Russell. I think he would be a center in today’s league and produce at the same sort of level. First, he was a legit 6′ 9″, not 6′ 9.75″ in shoes or whatever rounds up to a seven footer today. Dwight Howard isn’t noticably taller than Russell was in his prime. Factor in the abject poverty that Russell grew up in, he just might have grown up a little taller and thicker in an era of better circumstances.

Russell was thin, but he wasn’t a scarecrow. He was a wiry, broad shouldered ahtlete.

When I try to project Russell into today’s game, I think I see Dwight Howards body and athleticism, with Larry Bird’s brain. The dude would be a bitch to deal with and he would be at the center of an elite team.

[ropeParticipant]

I have always had a different view of Russell. I think he would be a center in today’s league and produce at the same sort of level. First, he was a legit 6′ 9″, not 6′ 9.75″ in shoes or whatever rounds up to a seven footer today. Dwight Howard isn’t noticably taller than Russell was in his prime. Factor in the abject poverty that Russell grew up in, he just might have grown up a little taller and thicker in an era of better circumstances.

Russell was thin, but he wasn’t a scarecrow. He was a wiry, broad shouldered ahtlete.

When I try to project Russell into today’s game, I think I see Dwight Howards body and athleticism, with Larry Bird’s brain. The dude would be a bitch to deal with and he would be at the center of an elite team.

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I wanna clarify and say that this thread isn’t meant to compare the players from their respective era’s to todays generation of players. But since the game has changed and has become more reliant on athleticism as well as skill do you think that those guys would make it in this day and age. I don’t wanna take anything away from the all time greats I had a discussion about this with a few of my friends and I just wanted to post it on here. 

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I wanna clarify and say that this thread isn’t meant to compare the players from their respective era’s to todays generation of players. But since the game has changed and has become more reliant on athleticism as well as skill do you think that those guys would make it in this day and age. I don’t wanna take anything away from the all time greats I had a discussion about this with a few of my friends and I just wanted to post it on here. 

[JoeWolf1]

Totally. Human DNA hasn’t changed. It’s training and diet that have helped raise the bar as far as athleticism goes. There were elite athletes back then, who would rival or surpass many today if given the same training. A 18 year old Wilt ( see film that resurfaced last season )makes Joel Embiid look okay in comparison. Even a guy like Havlicek would be a little stronger, faster and quicker in today’s game with equal training.

[JoeWolf1]

Totally. Human DNA hasn’t changed. It’s training and diet that have helped raise the bar as far as athleticism goes. There were elite athletes back then, who would rival or surpass many today if given the same training. A 18 year old Wilt ( see film that resurfaced last season )makes Joel Embiid look okay in comparison. Even a guy like Havlicek would be a little stronger, faster and quicker in today’s game with equal training.

[tbest23Participant]

Considering how Wilt has a confirmed bench of over 400 pounds, was a great high jumper and sprinter,and was a beast… It’s scary to think guys like him might possibly be even more dominant in today’s era with science, diet, training principles, etc. available.

[tbest23Participant]

Considering how Wilt has a confirmed bench of over 400 pounds, was a great high jumper and sprinter,and was a beast… It’s scary to think guys like him might possibly be even more dominant in today’s era with science, diet, training principles, etc. available.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Michael, and Hakeem would still be at the top, and maybe even BETTER.

A healthy Elgin Baylor would put up stats in any era.

Bill Russell’s rebounding would go down (how could it not?), but his blocks, points, and assists numbers would be solid.  His PER would be very high.

Big O as a 6’5 point guard would be very good.  Size and smarts would help him out.

Magic would be really fun to watch.  His decent post game and hook shot would even help.  He would play some stretch four like LeBron in this new era.

Jerry West wouldn’t be an MVP candidate every year but he was tough and could shoot.  Toughness and shooting translate.  He would have to play point guard exclusively, or, better, yet, be a instant offense combo guard off the bench. 

Larry Bird might be BETTER with more flex offenses now and a greater reliance on the 3 point shot.  Also, not as many goon teams like the Bad Boys Pistons.  His finesse, smarts, and all-around play would make him an MVP candidate. 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Michael, and Hakeem would still be at the top, and maybe even BETTER.

A healthy Elgin Baylor would put up stats in any era.

Bill Russell’s rebounding would go down (how could it not?), but his blocks, points, and assists numbers would be solid.  His PER would be very high.

Big O as a 6’5 point guard would be very good.  Size and smarts would help him out.

Magic would be really fun to watch.  His decent post game and hook shot would even help.  He would play some stretch four like LeBron in this new era.

Jerry West wouldn’t be an MVP candidate every year but he was tough and could shoot.  Toughness and shooting translate.  He would have to play point guard exclusively, or, better, yet, be a instant offense combo guard off the bench. 

Larry Bird might be BETTER with more flex offenses now and a greater reliance on the 3 point shot.  Also, not as many goon teams like the Bad Boys Pistons.  His finesse, smarts, and all-around play would make him an MVP candidate. 

 

[ropeParticipant]

I think West would operate a lot like Stephen Curry.  He’d still be a stud.  He would have put up crazy stats with a three point line.

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i totally agree. west was a deadly shooter of the dribble and if he played with a three point line it would of been lights out. jerry west athletic ability is under rated also. he was a good athlete.

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i totally agree. west was a deadly shooter of the dribble and if he played with a three point line it would of been lights out. jerry west athletic ability is under rated also. he was a good athlete.

[ropeParticipant]

I think West would operate a lot like Stephen Curry.  He’d still be a stud.  He would have put up crazy stats with a three point line.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 if you took some of the softer players like Kobe and he had to face real defense (vs. bad boys, or the old knicks), would they still be able to maintain their level of play?

[HaleParticipant]

 If there is one guy in the NBA I wouldn’t call soft, it’s Kobe.

As far as the thread:

Wilt would be a rich mans Dwight. He was more athletic, bigger, stronger and all around better. He’d be a monster in todays game. In his prime he’d probably be getting 30-32 ppg and 14-16 rpg.

Hakeem would be probably be even better. Think a more athletic Roy Hibbert with the best post game ever. That’s a scary player. I think he could be a 30 and 15 guy in this era.

Bird and Magic would still be superstars. They’d both probably be used in a point forward role with Larry also being used as stretch 4. I think they’d tear the league up today. I think both would average near (but not quite) triple doubles in their prime.

Russell would be like rich mans Joakim Noah except way better defensively (which says a lot). I could see 13 and 16 with 4 blocks and being the heart and soul of his teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i’m not a big kobe fan but theres no way kobe’s soft. he’s played through more injurys then anybody of the last 20 years and he never backs down from any player or team.

[Checkbook_docParticipant]

I am not sure if it is the most injuries over the last 20 years, but definitely has played through a lot.

Like I told my last wife, I says, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it’s all in the reflexes."

[Checkbook_docParticipant]

I am not sure if it is the most injuries over the last 20 years, but definitely has played through a lot.

Like I told my last wife, I says, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it’s all in the reflexes."

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i’m not a big kobe fan but theres no way kobe’s soft. he’s played through more injurys then anybody of the last 20 years and he never backs down from any player or team.

[HaleParticipant]

 If there is one guy in the NBA I wouldn’t call soft, it’s Kobe.

As far as the thread:

Wilt would be a rich mans Dwight. He was more athletic, bigger, stronger and all around better. He’d be a monster in todays game. In his prime he’d probably be getting 30-32 ppg and 14-16 rpg.

Hakeem would be probably be even better. Think a more athletic Roy Hibbert with the best post game ever. That’s a scary player. I think he could be a 30 and 15 guy in this era.

Bird and Magic would still be superstars. They’d both probably be used in a point forward role with Larry also being used as stretch 4. I think they’d tear the league up today. I think both would average near (but not quite) triple doubles in their prime.

Russell would be like rich mans Joakim Noah except way better defensively (which says a lot). I could see 13 and 16 with 4 blocks and being the heart and soul of his teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 if you took some of the softer players like Kobe and he had to face real defense (vs. bad boys, or the old knicks), would they still be able to maintain their level of play?

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i thinks Oscar would still be a great player but no way he would average a triple double now. lebron is a bigger more athletic version of Oscar and he’s the only player thats even close of doing it now.

[mplsrawkusParticipant]

 i thinks Oscar would still be a great player but no way he would average a triple double now. lebron is a bigger more athletic version of Oscar and he’s the only player thats even close of doing it now.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

He isn’t an all time great, but is considered up there with the great PG’s that have played the game. I have always been on the fence with Gary Payton. Was he all that lethal, skilled or dynamic for a PG ? I always thought of him as a more quick footed Andre Miller type of guy. Against this age and day PG’s he would be a middle tier guard. Good, but nothing special.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

He isn’t an all time great, but is considered up there with the great PG’s that have played the game. I have always been on the fence with Gary Payton. Was he all that lethal, skilled or dynamic for a PG ? I always thought of him as a more quick footed Andre Miller type of guy. Against this age and day PG’s he would be a middle tier guard. Good, but nothing special.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Isiah Thomas. I really beliveve even now he would be in the disussion for top PG in the league.

[Checkbook_docParticipant]

His style of play would excel in a league where you don’t have hand checking or the hard fouls to think about (I heard Thomas’ poor GM/coaching decisions have been proven to be a direct result of Karl Malone’s elbow).

 

[Checkbook_docParticipant]

His style of play would excel in a league where you don’t have hand checking or the hard fouls to think about (I heard Thomas’ poor GM/coaching decisions have been proven to be a direct result of Karl Malone’s elbow).

 

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Isiah Thomas. I really beliveve even now he would be in the disussion for top PG in the league.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

What about Charles Barkley?  Great talent, but not that tall.  Never focused much on defense without a great outside shot. 

I think he would still be good, but maybe not up there with Duncan, Dirk, Aldridge, Blake Griffin, or maybe a newer guy like Anthony Davis. 

He would still be entertaining today, but I think he would max out at 17-18 points and 10ish rebounds a game with 3-4 assists.  Still really, really good though and maybe THE BIGGEST social media star, but he wouldn’t be in the same class as LeBron James or Kevin Durant.

Oh, and Shawn Kemp would be a god.

[JoeWolf1]

Dude, Sir Charles played against Duncan and Dirk when he was in his mid 30s and damn near 300 lbs and he was a 17/10/3 player long past his prime. 

A young Chuck would still be 22/11 or whatever in today’s game. 

In 8 games vs Duncan, Barkley put up 17 ppg 11.8 rpg compared to Tim’s 16 ppg 10 rpg and this was when Robinson was playing C and the two were directly matching up against each other. 

Barkley’s last head to head game vs Dirk, he went for 26 and 15 ate age 35.

Barkley at 28 would have been just as good.

 

[JoeWolf1]

Dude, Sir Charles played against Duncan and Dirk when he was in his mid 30s and damn near 300 lbs and he was a 17/10/3 player long past his prime. 

A young Chuck would still be 22/11 or whatever in today’s game. 

In 8 games vs Duncan, Barkley put up 17 ppg 11.8 rpg compared to Tim’s 16 ppg 10 rpg and this was when Robinson was playing C and the two were directly matching up against each other. 

Barkley’s last head to head game vs Dirk, he went for 26 and 15 ate age 35.

Barkley at 28 would have been just as good.

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

What about Charles Barkley?  Great talent, but not that tall.  Never focused much on defense without a great outside shot. 

I think he would still be good, but maybe not up there with Duncan, Dirk, Aldridge, Blake Griffin, or maybe a newer guy like Anthony Davis. 

He would still be entertaining today, but I think he would max out at 17-18 points and 10ish rebounds a game with 3-4 assists.  Still really, really good though and maybe THE BIGGEST social media star, but he wouldn’t be in the same class as LeBron James or Kevin Durant.

Oh, and Shawn Kemp would be a god.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 It’s not fair to throw players from the 50’s and 60’s into today’s game.  It’s just simply not fair.  Back then they didn’t have the training tools, coaches, etc etc. that all these kids are around today.

 

This is how I look at things like this, and I hope everyone else does.  You have to take into account as if those players would have grown up in this era, therefore they had the same training, diet, coaches, etc.   Of course if you pluck someone like Bob Cousy out of the his era and put him out there today, he isn’t going to be as good.  You have to give him the benefit of assuming they also grew up during this era.

 

A better assessment of players from the 50s-60s vs players today is how they played against their competition.  Same with baseball with players from 20s-30s vs today.  You can’t just pluck them out of their era and assume they’d be the same player. 

 

 

 

 

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 Completely agree. The NBA is so much better now, sorry to those people who truly believe player back then were better then they are now. It’s just not possible, the game has grown so much and it’s simply evolution. If you were to throw any player from the past, I’m talking like players from the 50s,60s,70s,80s and maybe 90s they simply wouldn’t be as good as they were in there generation. Players are more athletic,longer and yes more skilled. People pull it from 30 feet like its nothing now adays. But like "grandmama" said (not my grandma but the dude above me) if they would have grown up in our era with more training, foods, vitamins, better competition, and the AAU circuit, they could probably develop more. I’m not saying guys like Jordan,Chamberlain, Kareem, etc would be bad but I don’t think they would dominate. For example Wilt wouldn’t ever average 50 ppg in this era but he would probably be a top 10 player.

[HaleParticipant]

 You don’t think Jordan would dominate? He averaged 20 6 and 4 at age 39 in 2003. He abused MKG 1 on 1 just last year at 50. You don’t think a 7’2, skilled, mobile center like Kareem would dominate in an era where centers are the worst they have ever been? You don’t think a more athletic, bigger, better Dwight Howard like Wilt would dominate? I think otherwise.

[HaleParticipant]

 You don’t think Jordan would dominate? He averaged 20 6 and 4 at age 39 in 2003. He abused MKG 1 on 1 just last year at 50. You don’t think a 7’2, skilled, mobile center like Kareem would dominate in an era where centers are the worst they have ever been? You don’t think a more athletic, bigger, better Dwight Howard like Wilt would dominate? I think otherwise.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 Completely agree. The NBA is so much better now, sorry to those people who truly believe player back then were better then they are now. It’s just not possible, the game has grown so much and it’s simply evolution. If you were to throw any player from the past, I’m talking like players from the 50s,60s,70s,80s and maybe 90s they simply wouldn’t be as good as they were in there generation. Players are more athletic,longer and yes more skilled. People pull it from 30 feet like its nothing now adays. But like "grandmama" said (not my grandma but the dude above me) if they would have grown up in our era with more training, foods, vitamins, better competition, and the AAU circuit, they could probably develop more. I’m not saying guys like Jordan,Chamberlain, Kareem, etc would be bad but I don’t think they would dominate. For example Wilt wouldn’t ever average 50 ppg in this era but he would probably be a top 10 player.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 It’s not fair to throw players from the 50’s and 60’s into today’s game.  It’s just simply not fair.  Back then they didn’t have the training tools, coaches, etc etc. that all these kids are around today.

 

This is how I look at things like this, and I hope everyone else does.  You have to take into account as if those players would have grown up in this era, therefore they had the same training, diet, coaches, etc.   Of course if you pluck someone like Bob Cousy out of the his era and put him out there today, he isn’t going to be as good.  You have to give him the benefit of assuming they also grew up during this era.

 

A better assessment of players from the 50s-60s vs players today is how they played against their competition.  Same with baseball with players from 20s-30s vs today.  You can’t just pluck them out of their era and assume they’d be the same player. 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

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