Who would you take in the current NBA : Shaq or Kareem ?

[superduper]

Wow a legit good question on ISH? What's happened to this board?

It's actually really hard to say because the players wouldn't develop the same in this era. Young Shaq might be Zion-like. He was so athletic, strong and had skills. He could dribble... pass... and - who knows - if he was in an era where people encouraged him to develop a shot, he might have been a passable shooter.

He became big, heavy Shaq because that's the way the league wanted him to be.

Kareem, I didn't watch in person but with his size, agility and skill set, why couldn't he be a much better version of Karl Towns?

A concept 98% of basketball fans can't fathom.

[The Iron Fist]

Shaq was elite the moment he stepped on the court though. 1992 certainly wasn't his 'prime' but it should be considered in the context of how many seasons he was an elite player, which is 14.

Kareem wasn’t elite the moment he stepped on the court? Who turned around their team more in their very first season? Kareem or Shaq?

[Phoenix]

Kareem wasn’t elite the moment he stepped on the court? Who turned around their team more in their very first season? Kareem or Shaq?

How are you interpreting what you quoted as me comparing Shaq and Kareem? I made no reference to Kareem whatsoever. The poster I replied to said that Shaq's prime was short, and I countered that Shaq was elite the moment he stepped on the floor and enjoyed 14 seasons of dominant play.

[The Iron Fist]

How are you interpreting what you quoted as me comparing Shaq and Kareem? I made no reference to Kareem whatsoever. The poster I replied to said that Shaq's prime was short, and I countered that Shaq was elite the moment he stepped on the floor and enjoyed 14 seasons of dominant play.

This is a Kareem Shaq thread. At least it says so in the title. My mistake, I got it completely wrong.

[Phoenix]

This is a Kareem Shaq thread. At least it says so in the title. My mistake, I got it completely wrong.

Yes it is, and I've already spoken to Shaq AND Kareem earlier in the thread. In the post you quoted, I was specifically talking about Shaq. If I wanted to compare Shaq and Kareem directly I would have been very clear in doing so. But no worries on the misunderstanding...

[Manny98]

Df are you laughing at

Shaq and Kareem are post scorers which are awful for today's NBA.

Robinson is perfect for today's era as he's athletic af and a best on the pick and roll + Admiral is a better defender than both Shaq and Kareem

[andgar923]

People talking bout "but they can't switch on the perimeter" urr... nobody really can anyway. The rules don't allow bigs to camp and protect the lanes. The rules don't allow them to be physical. The rules don't allow them to do many things defensively.

Which is why they'd dominate even more so today.

I'll take their pure offensive dominance in the paint over switching to a 3pt shooter any day.

They can have their .340% shot, I'll take the .560% one any day. I'll foul out your team by the half or Im averaging .650% and getting bucket after bucket after bucket.

Cause you can't shoot 3s if you're not not he floor due to foul troubles.

Either way, I'd still play my big in the middle and dare refs call anything. They'll eventually stop calling shit and let the game go, while my bigs stay camped and protect the paint. My wing defenders will close out forcing them into my big where they'll alter and block shots repeatedly.

[andgar923]

Wow a legit good question on ISH? What's happened to this board?

It's actually really hard to say because the players wouldn't develop the same in this era. Young Shaq might be Zion-like. He was so athletic, strong and had skills. He could dribble... pass... and - who knows - if he was in an era where people encouraged him to develop a shot, he might have been a passable shooter.

He became big, heavy Shaq because that's the way the league wanted him to be.

Kareem, I didn't watch in person but with his size, agility and skill set, why couldn't he be a much better version of Karl Towns?

This.

[AirBonner]

Shaq would effectively end small ball. Kareem would adapt to small ball. That is the difference

[SouBeachTalents]

Shaq was elite the moment he stepped on the court though. 1992 certainly wasn't his 'prime' but it should be considered in the context of how many seasons he was an elite player, which is 14.

Shaq having poor longevity is legitimately one of the biggest myths surrounding an ATG player. Shaq was elite from his rookie year through roughly '06, a 14 year span, a time frame that literally all but a handful of players were able to match or surpass

[tpols]

Shaq having poor longevity is legitimately one of the biggest myths surrounding an ATG player. Shaq was elite from his rookie year through roughly '06, a 14 year span, a time frame that literally all but a handful of players were able to match or surpass

and it couldve been far longer.

Shaq with a kobe discipline couldve had a 20 year prime.

Hes a true freak of nature... a bulky wilt the likes of which has never been seen before or after.

[AirBonner]

and it couldve been far longer.

Shaq with a kobe discipline couldve had a 20 year prime.

Hes a true freak of nature... a bulky wilt the likes of which has never been seen before or after.

Prime is taking the best years from a career. No player has or never will have 20 “best” years

[tpols]

Prime is taking the best years from a career. No player has or never will have 20 “best” years

shaq couldve.

He put up 14 years of straight dominance without giving a ****.

[SouBeachTalents]

and it couldve been far longer.

Shaq with a kobe discipline couldve had a 20 year prime.

Hes a true freak of nature... a bulky wilt the likes of which has never been seen before or after.

Lol, I doubt anyone is gonna argue he wasn't a lazy bastard, or that he maximized his full potential. But even without dieting or working out all summer, he still managed to have really impressive longevity, especially considering how massive the guy was

[Turbo Slayer]

Absolute Legends. Salute!

Insanity.

One of the greatest duos of all-time!

I pick Shaq.