Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

[Max Juggernaut]

I get in discussions with people all the time and ALOT of people try to tell me that players from others Era's couldnt play today. I am a NBA Junkie and there are PLENTY of players that could play today. I know its just opinion but for people to tell me that Walt Frazier, Pete Maravich, Oscar Robertson or Bill Russell couldn't play today is beyond disturbing. There are contributing factors such as the size of the lane changing and the 3 point shot and some guys stats might be different in today's NBA but these men could play....

Pistol Pete
Walt Frazier
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Tiny Archibald
Elgin Baylor
Earl Monroe
Rick Berry
John Havlicek
Bernard King
Elvin Hayes
and any 7-Footer

there are more....i could go on and on. Never forget or downplay greatness....

[st0rmb11]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Russell could play, but he wouldn't be near as dominant. I still think he could be an All-Star caliber player, though.

all of your list could, but many would be COMPLETELY different players as far as play-style goes. (Elgin Baylor, for example).

Jordan is the first that comes to mind. but I'm sure you mean before then.

Bird
Magic
McHale (wouldn't be a Hall of Famer)
Olajuwon would own this era of big men.
Chamberlain
Cousy
Michael Ray Richardson
Drexler would thrive in this NBA
prime Walton
Jabbar would be just as unstoppable as he was in the 70s
Moses Malone
Gervin would thrive with a 3 point line.

[The15thunter]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Russell could play, but he wouldn't be near as dominant. I still think he could be an All-Star caliber player, though.

all of your list could, but many would be COMPLETELY different players as far as play-style goes. (Elgin Baylor, for example).

Jordan is the first that comes to mind. but I'm sure you mean before then.

Bird
Magic
McHale (wouldn't be a Hall of Famer)
Olajuwon would own this era of big men.
Chamberlain
Cousy
Michael Ray Richardson
Drexler would thrive in this NBA
prime Walton
Jabbar would be just as unstoppable as he was in the 70s
Moses Malone
Gervin would thrive with a 3 point line.

i disagree with you in saying mchale wouldn't be a hall of famer in today's nba.

[Shield]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

I believe all the old timers could play in the NBA today. Now whether or not they could take all the hard hits is another story. Russell, Wilt, and Big O definitely couldn't average triple doubles or 20reb/game but 20 & 15 isn't out of the question IMO.

[BATMON]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Isnt there a similar Thread from a month ago?

[The15thunter]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Isnt there a similar Thread from a month ago?

i think that was just a larry bird thread.

[Max Juggernaut]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

i disagree with you in saying mchale wouldn't be a hall of famer in today's nba.

Dont forget how awesome McHale was at scoring in the post....the NBA today doesnt have the post players as in the past. McHale could play today i believe.

[Max Juggernaut]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

I believe all the old timers could play in the NBA today. Now whether or not they could take all the hard hits is another story. Russell, Wilt, and Big O definitely couldn't average triple doubles or 20reb/game but 20 & 15 isn't out of the question IMO.

Wilt would average 12-14 reb a game today....The first year the NBA widened the lane (1965) Wilt's reb. average didnt go down and I took the average heights and weights of the centers Wilt was playing against in 1965 and the ave. was 6-9 225....Today every team has 7 footers but Wilt was just a beast regardless...7-1 275 with all that skill 25-30 PPG I would think too. Agreed....The Big O was also a beast but wouldnt average a triple double but could very well be 20 pts 6 rebs 9 ast range. Russell would still play stellar Defense today, he could guard Wilt for Gods sake and Bill was 6-9 225.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Wilt would average 12-14 reb a game today....

Kevin Love averages 15, you don't think Wilt can top that? He would have a physical advantage over every center in the league other than Dwight.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

Dont forget how awesome McHale was at scoring in the post....the NBA today doesnt have the post players as in the past. McHale could play today i believe.

Given today's training and conditioning, easily. Mchale was one of the greatest post players to play the game. Tim Duncan dominated purely with fundamentals and average athleticism. And he doesn't have nearly the vast array of post moves Mchale had.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

All of them.

[The15thunter]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

All of them.

you mean all modern-era guys? i don't think george mikan has any place in today's league.

[wwharton]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

you mean all modern-era guys? i don't think george mikan has any place in today's league.

If he got the ball in position to make a layup with no contact, I have no doubt that he'd never miss.

[The15thunter]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

If he got the ball in position to make a layup with no contact, I have no doubt that he'd never miss.

yes, he would thrive in practice and in uncontested lay-up situations. anything more and he would be ritualistically slaughtered.

[The15thunter]

Re: Leave Opinions Here...NBA Legends that could play in todays NBA.

i don't think bob cousy would thrive, he would be a bench rotational player at best.

bill russell would be more like ben wallace in his prime with better intangibles.

wilt would be like a hybrid of shaq and dwight howard.

jerry west would be fine.

oscar robertson and elgin baylor would both be less effective, but would be able to fill up stat sheets effectively.

rick barry would thrive.

pistol pete would be a mega-star.

earl the pearl, walt frazier and tiny archibald would be running amok.

dr. j would be exposed.

kareem would be just as effective, if not moreso because fouls would be called on his defenders more.

hakeem would dominate.

that's all i care to think of for now. be interesting to see if there are disagreements.