would a young Shaq be able to dominate in the modern nba?

[mgent]

Old, out of shape Shaq was still dominating with Rondo not too long ago, so I'm assuming a young in shape Shaq would still dominate just a few years later.

[Emmette Bryant]

See, it's threads like this one that made me EXTREMELY hesitant to play in our All-Time Fantasy Draft, LOL...

Players like Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem - would dominate in TODAY's NBA, TOMORROW's NBA, the NBA in the year 4000....

This generational nonsense is simply crazy.

Wilt would average 40 ppg in todays game no problem

[CF033]

Of course he would. Who's going to stop him? He was a physical anomoly then and he would be a physical anomoly now.

30ppg/15reb easily.

[Moranis]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old. 

[KG Living Legend]

 I'm gonna say 1 ppg and 2.5 RPG in his prime.

 What kind of questions is this.

[GreenFaith1819]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

How long did Malone dominate?

[Somebody]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

[Moranis]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

[gouki88]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

[Moranis]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

Wilt would dominate him.  He is still the strongest player to ever play the game.  He would run up and down the court for 48 minutes, take tremendous beatings, and not diminish his performance at all.  Absolutely incredible what Wilt did.  Frankly, I think his greatest stat and the one that will never be duplicated is playing 48.52 mpg over the course of a season (Wilt has the 7 highest mpg seasons ever).  Hard to find exact data from 61-62, but according to basketball-reference for the season it appears he sat out 8 minutes of game 39, but didn't miss time in any other game (though he certainly could have sat out a few seconds here or there).  https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01/gamelog/1962/

[GreenFaith1819]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

Wilt would dominate him.  He is still the strongest player to ever play the game.  He would run up and down the court for 48 minutes, take tremendous beatings, and not diminish his performance at all.  Absolutely incredible what Wilt did.  Frankly, I think his greatest stat and the one that will never be duplicated is playing 48.52 mpg over the course of a season (Wilt has the 7 highest mpg seasons ever).  Hard to find exact data from 61-62, but according to basketball-reference for the season it appears he sat out 8 minutes of game 39, but didn't miss time in any other game (though he certainly could have sat out a few seconds here or there).  https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01/gamelog/1962/

Who did Wilt compete against? Besides a 6'10" 220 Russell?

[Somebody]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

Wilt would dominate him.  He is still the strongest player to ever play the game.  He would run up and down the court for 48 minutes, take tremendous beatings, and not diminish his performance at all.  Absolutely incredible what Wilt did.  Frankly, I think his greatest stat and the one that will never be duplicated is playing 48.52 mpg over the course of a season (Wilt has the 7 highest mpg seasons ever).  Hard to find exact data from 61-62, but according to basketball-reference for the season it appears he sat out 8 minutes of game 39, but didn't miss time in any other game (though he certainly could have sat out a few seconds here or there).  https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01/gamelog/1962/

Who did Wilt compete against? Besides a 6'10" 220 Russell?

Um the original golden era of centers.

[Somebody]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

Wilt would dominate him.  He is still the strongest player to ever play the game.  He would run up and down the court for 48 minutes, take tremendous beatings, and not diminish his performance at all.  Absolutely incredible what Wilt did.  Frankly, I think his greatest stat and the one that will never be duplicated is playing 48.52 mpg over the course of a season (Wilt has the 7 highest mpg seasons ever).  Hard to find exact data from 61-62, but according to basketball-reference for the season it appears he sat out 8 minutes of game 39, but didn't miss time in any other game (though he certainly could have sat out a few seconds here or there).  https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01/gamelog/1962/

I think prime Shaq would hold up for the first few quarters but end up being gassed at the end of the game.

[GreenFaith1819]

what other centers are also coming with him?  Shaq didn't dominate until Hakeem, Ewing, and Robinson got old.

His game also didn't truly mature until they got old. I think he would've still "BBQ chickened" all 3 of them when he was in his prime, his peak was just a different animal among the 90s centers.

certainly a fair point, but by that maturity Mourning was probably the 2nd best center, and Mourning was nowhere near Shaq's class or size as a player.  Shaq came along at the right time to dominate.  Can't fault him for that.  Very similar to Jordan in that same vein.  His career just timed out perfectly to fit his prime into a void, but at the same time it does make you question just how successful he would have been in another era with greater competition in his position.

What I would do to see Wilt go against Shaq both in their primes. Personally I think Wilt would towel him up, because IMO he's the most simply amazing athlete to ever play NBA. But it would be something else

Wilt would dominate him.  He is still the strongest player to ever play the game.  He would run up and down the court for 48 minutes, take tremendous beatings, and not diminish his performance at all.  Absolutely incredible what Wilt did.  Frankly, I think his greatest stat and the one that will never be duplicated is playing 48.52 mpg over the course of a season (Wilt has the 7 highest mpg seasons ever).  Hard to find exact data from 61-62, but according to basketball-reference for the season it appears he sat out 8 minutes of game 39, but didn't miss time in any other game (though he certainly could have sat out a few seconds here or there).  https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01/gamelog/1962/

I think prime Shaq would hold up for the first few quarters but end up being gassed at the end of the game.

We can talk for 40 pages about the "Would've Could've Should'ves" but unless we run some simulation software to see how Bigs REALLY would've faired against one another it's a moot point.

Right now it's a Popularity contest.

[GreenFaith1819]

Also - how in the world have we gone from Shaq dominating in Today's NBA to "How he would've faired against ALL the Great Bigs to ever play?"

Is this the Historical Draft thread?