Just for fun: if you could see any player from past eras play in today's NBA, who would you want to see?

[shopson67]

I could see MJ averaging 40 today, if his surrounding cast was bad enough.

He came close to 40 that one year before he had Pippen and company.

I don't know. In this era of 3s? He wasn't very good from 3, outside of a couple outlier seasons and never averaged more than 4 attempts per game.

 

[shopson67]

It was fun for one season only though. The casting was incredible every actor really nailed their parts, felt just like I imagined them. Kinda bummed they messed around with facts and timelines though.

A 2nd season exists, but was shut down part way through.

 

[broncosmitty]

I don't know. In this era of 3s? He wasn't very good from 3, outside of a couple outlier seasons and never averaged more than 4 attempts per game.

Aren’t we assuming guys from the past would adjust?

Brook Lopez has made the adjustment during his career.

 

[shopson67]

Aren’t we assuming guys from the past would adjust?

Brook Lopez has made the adjustment during his career.

It's not the Lopez couldn't shoot, he just didn't. His first season with a reasonable amount of attempts he was basically at league average at nearly 35% and has hovered within about 3% of that number since.

 

[tlance]

It's not the Lopez couldn't shoot, he just didn't. His first season with a reasonable amount of attempts he was basically at league average at nearly 35% and has hovered within about 3% of that number since.

It was a different time.

Larry Bird was a career 37.6% 3 point shooter on 1.9 attempts a game.

I guarantee he would have a lot more volume and a higher percentage if he played today.

 

[logic]

It was a different time.

Larry Bird was a career 37.6% 3 point shooter on 1.9 attempts a game.

I guarantee he would have a lot more volume and a higher percentage if he played today.

You could say the same of Jordan. If he played in today's game he'd be hitting a lot more 3s and you would be screwed if you closed out on him too hard.

 

[tlance]

You could say the same of Jordan. If he played in today's game he'd be hitting a lot more 3s and you would be screwed if you closed out on him too hard.

Totally agree.

Don’t think he would be a great 3 point shooter, but surely would be average or better.

And that is good enough to open the driving lanes.

 

[broncosmitty]

It's not the Lopez couldn't shoot, he just didn't. His first season with a reasonable amount of attempts he was basically at league average at nearly 35% and has hovered within about 3% of that number since.

Went from never bombing away, to always bombing away.

I don’t think his abilities are rare. Just was in the league at the right time to change.

 

[LogicMan]

For me I'd be very curious to see how Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain's games translate.

Bird was a very good shooter who surely would be a more prolific 3 point shooter today with how the game is played vs when he did. That plus his tremendous passing ability would make him almost as good today as he was then IMO

Wilt is different, he wouldn't be a stretch 5 today, so maybe his game wouldn't translate as well. But he was a better defender than Bird (yet he would have trouble defending in space in today's game), and a good passer. Also a big part of his dominance was the 'men among boys' thing. I think he'd be a perennial all star today but probably not the legendary dominant force he was.

I would also love to see Wilt in today’s NBA. He had the size of Shaq with more athleticism than Shaq had even in his youth. I don’t think he would have issues covering big guys in space due to his athleticism, it just wasn’t part of the game back then. And he could still be a force on the inside and unstoppable in the pick and roll.

Of course I’d also love to see the big O in modern times and what Russel looks like in an NBA with more parity as well.

I've seen the big O and Wilt, just impressive to see, Wilt in person, he was approachable in Philly.

I'd like to see Pistol Pete he introduced the style of playmaker. I also would like to see Jerry West. Those 2 in today's environment.
Pete could adapt very well to today since he practically invented it himself. West just just efficient, great skills but West had great talent around him too.

I chose those because they played roughly 50 years ago, which would leave those expectations with more doubt than say the 80-90 players, The game is sooo different today

There are couple names that are obvious:

Bird
Hakeem
Oscar
Wilt
McHale
Pistol Pete

One name that wasn't mentioned is Jerry West. I think he would be a great combo guard that can shoot lights out and just about do everything you want from a guard.

Of all the ballers mentioned I have to think the Big O would easily be my vote. He had multi tools and if he had learned to cross dribble and shooting more with his left hand he would be a top 10 today