If prime Kevin McHale played in today's NBA... how good would he be?

[bmd]

I also made a sweet visual aid to go along with the question:

http://oi50.tinypic.com/k7qch.jpg

[La Frescobaldi]

cool photoshop job~!

to me, McHale had the best footwork of any player ever, better even than Hakeem.

Barkley and McHale are probably the first 2 power forwards you think of being alongside Duncan for the last MANY years and maybe all-time.

He'd be awesome today, tall, incredibly quick, great hands, long arms... he could really run the court and had great D - whole package

[Lebron23]

Best PF in the NBA.

[red1]

better than kevin love

[kNicKz]

He would be good in any era because his game was all about craftiness, skill and using his length effectively

[Whoah10115]

He'd be the best PF in the league, in all likelihood.

[atljonesbro]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.

[tikay0]

He'd be a much better Z-Bo. Imagine that. :eek:

[tikay0]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.

His skills translate to any ERA. Have a feeling you're a Lebron stan.

[kNicKz]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.

You're acting as if he played in the 1940's. Kevin Mchale isn't that old. He played in an era magic, jordan and bird...would they not be good today?

[gengiskhan]

2 x Season MVPs.
2 x FMVPs.
1 x DPOY.
1 x ROY.
All-NBA first Team.
All-defensive first team.
4 x NBA Champ.

NBA all-time Great. Top 15 GOATs along with Kobe, Sir Charles, Elgin B.

[IGotACoolStory]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.

ikr? Poor man's Jason Smith.

[bmd]

You're acting as if he played in the 1940's. Kevin Mchale isn't that old. He played in an era magic, jordan and bird...would they not be good today?Exactly.

I usually think players like Wilt and Russell are overrated because they played so long ago. The notion that they would dominate today is silly to me.

But McHale played up until 1993, and was still decent. Like kNicKz said, it isn't as if he played in the 1940's.

And people have no problem saying Barkley could be great even in today's game, since he played not that long ago, and Barkley says that Kevin McHale was the best PF he's ever played against. So that's gotta mean something.

[fsvr54]

Rich man's LMA.

[Legends66NBA7]

The rules today do not encourage too much camping in the paint or back to basket play (or that much post play in total), but I do think he would be very good today, just as he was good back with the Celtics.

It also depends what role is he going to come in as. Is he going be the 6th man McHale, where he is on a great team ? A starter on a good team-bad team ? That would decide to me how much he would actually produce. His offense and defense consistency would probably make him the best PF in the game and a Top 10-15 player (again, depending which team).

[LikeABosh]

He'd absolutely clown on guys like Amare, Griffin, Love etc.

[kNicKz]

Exactly.

I usually think players like Wilt and Russell are overrated because they played so long ago. The notion that they would dominate today is silly to me.

But McHale played up until 1993, and was still decent. Like kNicKz said, it isn't as if he played in the 1940's.

And people have no problem saying Barkley could be great even in today's game, since he played not that long ago, and Barkley says that Kevin McHale was the best PF he's ever played against. So that's gotta mean something.

future rep

[Clifton]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.
Well, he's a PF. The best PF in the game right now is Blake Griffin, who basically sucks. That position just happens to be pretty weak right now, as is the C position.

So he'd be a god in this era because Dwight Howard is a god in this era. The bar's really low in the paint-area. It's not nostalgia.

Only guys I think are clearly better than McHale in the game today, based on what I've seen of him, are Lebron, Durant, and Paul. He'd be arguable with a whole slew of guys in the next tier though.

[TOUCH MY BODY]

Kevin McHale in today's NBA? He would make fools cry. This is coming from a Lakers fan.

[Round Mound]

He`d Be The Best PF In the Game (since Tim is on decline) and Would Dominate the Post In Ways People Would Claim as Legendary as Any.

McHale in Today`s Game 25 PPG (61% FG), 9 RPG, 2.0 APG and 2.5 BPG.

[TylerOO]

Equal to Nick Collison

[clayton]

A scrub.

[atljonesbro]

He`d Be The Best PF In the Game (since Tim is on decline) and Would Dominate the Post In Ways People Would Claim as Legendary as Any.

McHale in Today`s Game 25 PPG (61% FG), 9 RPG, 2.0 APG and 2.5 BPG.
Would every player who ever played in 80s 90s be THAT MUCH better than you're claiming he is? Just trying to figure out how much of your childhood you havent let go.

[Micku]

Best PF is a given. And being in the All NBA first team is a given too. He would either first or second All NBA Defensive team. Peak Mchale would crack to be in the top 5-6 players.

[Round Mound]

Would every player who ever played in 80s 90s be THAT MUCH better than you're claiming he is? Just trying to figure out how much of your childhood you havent let go.

Not Every Player But Most Role Players of the 80s and Early 90s Where Better than Today`s Role Players. The Level of Superstars is About the Same, slight Edge to the 80s. Today`s Players Are Better Far Range Shooters But They Lack Post Play, Fundamentals, They Travel More (More Permitted) and Have Bad Shot Selections Compared to the 80s and Early 90s NBA.

[Whoah10115]

Would every player who ever played in 80s 90s be THAT MUCH better than you're claiming he is? Just trying to figure out how much of your childhood you havent let go.


McHale put up those numbers in 1987.

[Whoah10115]

Best PF is a given. And being in the All NBA first team is a given too. He would either first or second All NBA Defensive team. Peak Mchale would crack to be in the top 5-6 players.


The All-Defensive 1st Team would be the given.

[TheBigVeto]

He'll be damn good. All Star. Top 10 in the game.

[Smoke117]

He'd be the best post up player in the league but the main problem with today and the rules where zone defense is allowed is it is a lot harder to feed a post player...not that there really are very many who actually play in the post. He'd absolutely abuse defenders in the post though...it's just a matter of actually getting the touches in the right positions.

[chazzy]

And being in the All NBA first team is a given too
Not with Lebron and Durant still around

[kNicKz]

Would every player who ever played in 80s 90s be THAT MUCH better than you're claiming he is? Just trying to figure out how much of your childhood you havent let go.

We're not talking about every player....we're talking about a top 5 all time power forward

[bdreason]

Best post player in the NBA. Top 5 PF/C.

[Bigsmoke]

2 x Season MVPs.
2 x FMVPs.
1 x DPOY.
1 x ROY.
All-NBA first Team.
All-defensive first team.
4 x NBA Champ.

NBA all-time Great. Top 15 GOATs along with Kobe, Sir Charles, Elgin B.

yeah you're defintely white

[MMM]

I don't deny McHale's ability but today's players/coaches suck at getting the ball into the post consistently. I think there was a article with Phil Jackson that spoke to that a while ago. So while i think he would be the best interior scorer in the league I don't think he would put up the offensive #'s that some people are suggesting.

[ProfessorMurder]

I don't deny McHale's ability but today's players/coaches suck at getting the ball into the post consistently. I think there was a article with Phil Jackson that spoke to that a while ago. So while i think he would be the best interior scorer in the league I don't think he would put up the offensive #'s that some people are suggesting.

Agreed. If there was a coach that would run offense through him, and we're talking prime McHale, he's getting 25/12 easy.

[Micku]

Not with Lebron and Durant still around

This is true. I thought about SF and PF instead of just Forwards. I think it still does depend how well Mchale performs and how well he'll adjust in today's philosophy. Will they give him the ball in the right position and etc.

Either way, the dude's a great scorer. Arguably the best post player ever, and he could shoot a jumper too. And if he gets fouled, he could shoot his FTs.

[AKADS]

in todays NBA he would play a lot of center and if you put a team around him of shooters he would be unreal of the offencive end. On defence he would lack a lot of athletism that the NBA now has.

it all depends who he plays with and how the system is set up. On the Spurs with Duncan at center, or a la Dwight on the Magic 2010. Is the system buillt around him or is he a part of it. Remember we never saw a system built around him, hell he was a 6th man for a while.

[wally_world]

Best PF in the NBA, but thats not saying much in this era

[Harison]

He would be even better now due to soft rules.

30/10 at 50+% FG on a bad team.
20-25/10 at 55+% FG on a good team.

Perennial All-D team, maybe couple DPOYs and MVPs.

My initial thought "he would be the best PF today", but thats not accurate - he would be the best big man today. Not much competition to speak of.

[Pointguard]

He`d Be The Best PF In the Game (since Tim is on decline) and Would Dominate the Post In Ways People Would Claim as Legendary as Any.

McHale in Today`s Game 25 PPG (61% FG), 9 RPG, 2.0 APG and 2.5 BPG.
This.

[Calabis]

Typical, lets pick an oldschool player and say he'll be a god in the current league because we're blinded by nostalgia, thread. It literally happens in every single thread so what I'm saying pretty much is fact.

Yeah because guys like zach randolph who are less skilled than McHale can put up all star numbers, but god forbid a more complete and better player be considered top 2 now..just because he played in the past.....young mfers act like humans took a quantum leap in evolution in 25 years....while ignoring the constant changes in rules in all sports to help produce more scoring.....jim brown at 6'2 230lbs running a 4.3 would suck today only because he played in the past:facepalm

[AlphaWolf24]

- I actually think If Kevin played in today's era he would be a better 20' shooter then he was in the 80's ( and he good then)

- IMO he would be able to play a style like Dirk's from the elbow but with the abilty to score/rebound inside like Duncan ....yeah a Dirk / Duncan hybrid...(not saying as great as those two ...but a Mix of styles ....with Kevin's)


- 19PPG 7reb 2ast ... Def a top 12 player in the league

[Clifton]

.young mfers act like humans took a quantum leap in evolution in 25 years....while ignoring the constant changes in rules in all sports to help produce more scoring.....
The improvements in training and technique (shooting and dribbling) are also considerable.

[OhNoTimNoSho]

If you said no, then you know nothing about basketball.

[Calabis]

The improvements in training and technique (shooting and dribbling) are also considerable.

And without it Mchale would still be a top PF right now....and if shooting and dribbling are so great now...please tell me why its doesn't show in the FG Percentage Column....dribbling is showed a ton more because rule changes allow todays players to face up a ton more..not to mention the lack of calling palming or carrying like they did back in the day.

Also I agree with Alpha he probably wouldn't play the same...but if he did easily Tim Duncan of this era.....not as good as prime Tim...just this eras big fundamental

[kNicKz]

yeah you're defintely white

and you're definitely mad....saying that he isn't an all time great PF is denial

[raid09]

and you're definitely mad....saying that he isn't an all time great PF is denial

If all time great = worse than top 5.... Sure, McHale is an all time great PF. I'd have to disagree with that definition of "an all time great" though

[Crown&Coke]

I imagine prime Pau Gasol mixed with Kenyon Martin toughness and defense

[Bigsmoke]

A white 2003 Rasheed Wallace :confusedshrug:

[Bigsmoke]

and you're definitely mad....saying that he isn't an all time great PF is denial

2x MVP and all that other stuff?

[j3lademaster]

in todays NBA he would play a lot of center and if you put a team around him of shooters he would be unreal of the offencive end. On defence he would lack a lot of athletism that the NBA now has.

it all depends who he plays with and how the system is set up. On the Spurs with Duncan at center, or a la Dwight on the Magic 2010. Is the system buillt around him or is he a part of it. Remember we never saw a system built around him, hell he was a 6th man for a while.How was he unathletic? Who do you think contained Nique when the C's met the Hawks in the playoffs? It wasn't Bird. And Nique is pretty athletic... I mean am I supposed to believe Melo is supposed to be a superior physical specimen?

McHale's perimeter D is what gets overlooked the most. He was a good fit next to Bird due to their abilities to play both forward positions defensively, but make no mistake Bird was the help defender and would guard the lesser forward while McHale was put on the prime time guy be it a post pf or a perimeter oriented sf like Wilkens.

[Round Mound]

Kevin McHale Was a Great Defender. He Had an 8ft Wingspam was 6`10, Quick Footed, Long Armed, Agil and Very Smart. He Could Guard 3 to 5s With Ease. Barkley`Said He Was The Best Defender He Played Against, Let Alone Player.