How good would LeBron & Durant be in the mid 90's

[Joyner82reload]

Just curious where they would rank in the hand check era. Also the 3 point line was shortened from 23' 9 inches to 22 feet in the mid 90's so god knows what Durant would be shooting from 3.

[russwest0]

Durant has better ball handling, footwork, shooting, etc... The gap would be even bigger than it is today with Durant being better. You mentioned the shortened 3pt line, that is just one way Durant benefits. Durant would be a tougher cover in the 90s in general. LeBrons patened off arm he uses on every drive to the basket wouldn't help him in the 90s nearly as much as it does today.

This question is a good way to distinguish the knowledgeable basketball fans and the casuals.

[Micku]

Durant would abuse the shorten 3pt line, but him and LeBron may have a tougher time scoring in the paint. Teams back then didn't play good spacing and they didn't have the defensive 3 second rule.

I think LeBron is built like a tank, so I'm sure he'll be ok. He has nice touch around the basket, but he'll get fouled harder. Especially he played against the Knicks with Ewing and Oakley down there camping for him. It'll probably get to him mentally more than physically.

I don't know about Durant. But he has a nice shooting touch, good ball handling skills, and good off the ball movement. Like I said, he'll abuse the nba with the shorten 3pt line. I think both LBJ and Durant would probably average roughly the same stats tho, assuming if they have the same teams. They would adjust. No way of knowing however. Just a guess.

[Joyner82reload]

Who the hell would even be able to guard Durant in the mid 90's? Not that anyone can guard him now, because they can't, but it would be even worse. Pippen and Hill are the only one's with a prayer at contesting his shot, and even they were both a good 3 inches shorter than Durant. Just imagine the Rice, Mullins, Larry Johnson, and Mashburn attempting to guard him :lol

[oarabbus]

Who the hell would even be able to guard Durant in the mid 90's? Not that anyone can guard him now, because they can't, but it would be even worse. Pippen and Hill are the only one's with a prayer at contesting his shot, and even they were both a good 3 inches shorter than Durant. Just imagine the Rice, Mullins, Larry Johnson, and Mashburn attempting to guard him :lol

Pippen guarding Durant doesn't end well for the Bulls

[Reggie43]

Who the hell would even be able to guard Durant in the mid 90's? Not that anyone can guard him now, because they can't, but it would be even worse. Pippen and Hill are the only one's with a prayer at contesting his shot, and even they were both a good 3 inches shorter than Durant. Just imagine the Rice, Mullins, Larry Johnson, and Mashburn attempting to guard him :lol

Pippen, young Rodman, Jordan, Derrick Mckey, Cliff Robinson to name a few would probably do a better job defending him as compared to todays so called "defenders". Mckey and Robinson who are both 6"10' could probably contest his shot better than anyone we have in todays nba

[Sharmer]

Much harder back then.

[Trollsmasher]

Since we can expect Durant's FTAs per game to decrease by about 80%

22/7/4 guy on mediocre percentages

LeBron would be the same, but much more of a beast on the defensive side of the ball.

[cos88]

after durant scoring spree this forum is becoming unreadable :facepalm

[Angel Face]

Durant could abuse the shortened 3 point line 95 - 96, 96 - 97 seasons but would get killed in the paint. Hand checking will limit his mobility but it will be hard for defenders to guard him due to his length. Will be a good scorer.

Lebron would still flop tho.

[hitmanyr2k]

More respect was given to defenders in the 90s so Durant can kiss his bullshit rip-thru move goodbye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXYxwBpXEvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8LkHZS1fWU

He's most definitely going to get crowded and ball-denied on the perimeter Tony Allen style.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Damn cant even begin to explain how they would shit on the league. LEBron would be the clear cut Nr.1 as no zones were played and he would be allowed to play physical on defense. he would just dunk on everybody and with his great 3 pter he would shoot 58 % from shortened line:bowdown: :applause:
Durant would be very good too and maybe slightly better than Jordan. as mutch as his FTA would go down and he would have no chance being anywhere close to Bron he would still be slightly better than Jordan imo because of shortened 3 pt line and short defenders on the perimeter aswell as no zone defenses. imagine Lebron and Durant being guarded by 6`2 guards:facepalm :facepalm
1a:LeBron
1b:Shaq
2a: Durant
2b:MJ
:rockon:

[hitmanyr2k]

Damn cant even begin to explain how they would shit on the league. LEBron would be the clear cut Nr.1 as no zones were played and he would be allowed to play physical on defense. he would just dunk on everybody and with his great 3 pter he would shoot 58 % from shortened line:bowdown: :applause:
Durant would be very good too and maybe slightly better than Jordan. as mutch as his FTA would go down and he would have no chance being anywhere close to Bron he would still be slightly better than Jordan imo because of shortened 3 pt line and short defenders on the perimeter aswell as no zone defenses. imagine Lebron and Durant being guarded by 6`2 guards:facepalm :facepalm
1a:LeBron
1b:Shaq
2a: Durant
2b:MJ
:rockon:

Lebron is intimidated by a bum like Roy Hibbert for Chrissake :oldlol: He isn't dunking anything unless he has a fast break.

[Joyner82reload]

Lebron is intimidated by a bum like Roy Hibbert for Chrissake :oldlol: He isn't dunking anything unless he has a fast break.

Durant's not scared of Hibbert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjBV9kO2ls
:lol

[ralph_i_el]

the couple seasons where the 3 point line was short Durant would shoot like 700 3's and shoot ~45%

LeBron would be about the same.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Durant's not scared of Hibbert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjBV9kO2ls
:lol
durants is deadly afraid of bron doe. to the point where he tries to become like him:lol :lol

[NumberSix]

I think Durant's scoring would take a HUGE hit in the 90's.

[Kingwillball]

Durant has better ball handling, footwork, shooting, etc... The gap would be even bigger than it is today with Durant being better. You mentioned the shortened 3pt line, that is just one way Durant benefits. Durant would be a tougher cover in the 90s in general. LeBrons patened off arm he uses on every drive to the basket wouldn't help him in the 90s nearly as much as it does today.

This question is a good way to distinguish the knowledgeable basketball fans and the casuals.

Lebron would be a lot better than Durant cause his body and strength would hold up to the physical play a lot better plus Lebron is used to playing through contact while Durant would not get soft whistle and would get frustrated a lot more by physical play..

[navy]

Durant got roughed up by the Grizzlies. And yall talkin about 90s ball.

[Angel Face]

Marlo Stanfield showing signs of being GoranDragon's alt. Has the same degree of persistence and brain damage. :applause:

[r0drig0lac]

hand check without key 3 second, would have difficulties, tougher defenses, numbers definitely would fall mainly FG%, but lebron would be a better defender than it is today, durant to be a good defender at the time still needs work, not mention that most of the time were real superstars in their primes

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Marlo Stanfield showing signs of being GoranDragon's alt. Has the same degree of persistence and brain damage. :applause:
wonder whos alt you are:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Angel Face]

wonder whos alt you are:roll: :roll: :roll:

Try searching forever, you won't find any. Newly registred 2014.

And nice of you to admit that you're GoranDragon. :applause:

[ArbitraryWater]

Let Samurai end this

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Try searching forever, you won't find any. Newly registred 2014.

And nice of you to admit that you're GoranDragon. :applause:
im nowhere close to being a Goran alt. im not even american and every mod could confirm it.
nice try tho:applause:

[JohnMax]

Lebron would try to form a Superteam

[JohnMax]

Since Durant was drafted by Seattle. They would have been a dynasty in the 1990s with Shawn Kemp and Gary Peyton.

[swagga]

let's see : durant without freethrows or lebron allowed to be much more physical? sky is blue tbh.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

the couple seasons where the 3 point line was short Durant would shoot like 700 3's and shoot ~45%

LeBron would be about the same.

No he wouldn't. The 3PT line in the mid 90's (not the late 80's-to-early-90's) is literally a mid-to-long-range 2PT FG - same distance Lebron has regularly shot ~40%. This is WITHOUT handchecking people. :oldlol:

[russwest0]

Since we can expect Durant's FTAs per game to decrease by about 80%

22/7/4 guy on mediocre percentages

LeBron would be the same, but much more of a beast on the defensive side of the ball.

There were actually more FT's called in the 90s than today.

Like I said before, great way to separate the casual fans from the knowledgeable ones.

[KobesFinger]

Damn cant even begin to explain how they would shit on the league. LEBron would be the clear cut Nr.1 as no zones were played and he would be allowed to play physical on defense. he would just dunk on everybody and with his great 3 pter he would shoot 58 % from shortened line:bowdown: :applause:
Durant would be very good too and maybe slightly better than Jordan. as mutch as his FTA would go down and he would have no chance being anywhere close to Bron he would still be slightly better than Jordan imo because of shortened 3 pt line and short defenders on the perimeter aswell as no zone defenses. imagine Lebron and Durant being guarded by 6`2 guards:facepalm :facepalm
1a:LeBron
1b:Shaq
2a: Durant
2b:MJ
:rockon:

A short 3 point line is basically mid range. LeBron shoots .362 from 16 feet to the 3 point line, so no he wouldn't shoot 58% from downtown in the 90s.

[pauk]

Considering it was a much more physical era with handchecking and what not its fairly logical to believe KD would not have it as easy as Lebron offensively when driving/slashing in due to his frame, you could basically control a guys body/path with hand & body contact.... and if you DO get inside for an easy layup/dunk there is a guy waiting to throw you to the ground first (flagrant today = normal foul back then)... with that being said KD's FT drawing ability at the magnitude he draws today would not work equally well either. Except for that he would pretty much be the same i guess.... he would benefit from the shorter 3PT line.

Lebron's strength however gives him a counter balance to that, nothing would change for him, infact more likely he would be better as the physical freedom will allow him to literally bulldoze & ragdoll people inside.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

A short 3 point line is basically mid range. LeBron shoots .362 from 16 feet to the 3 point line, so no he wouldn't shoot 58% from downtown in the 90s.
i meant 48 and yes he would

[King Jane]

Just curious where they would rank in the hand check era. Also the 3 point line was shortened from 23' 9 inches to 22 feet in the mid 90's so god knows what Durant would be shooting from 3.
I have great respect for the pioneers of the game like Jordan and whatnot, but are u kidding with this? Durant and lebron would run wild against the 90s era have u seen the competition from back then? Terrible floor spacing and defensive schemes, the 'athletes' are all skinny n weak, and elephant in the room... Lebron and Durant are the size and strength of 90s centers with better quickness, handles, and shooting stroke than the best guards 90s had to offer and yes that includes Jordan who needed a 22 foot 3 pt line and he still shot worse than Durant who is a 7 footer :oldlol:

[King Jane]

Barkley physically dominant pf in that era at 6 foot 4... Durant a 7 footer and lebron a 6-9 both sf's in this era... Do I make myself clear? They'd fold the league in the 90s if these two was in it who gonna guard them? Luc longley? :facepalm