Could peak Shaq still dominate in today's NBA?

[Sudanese Sensation]

Please discuss. Thank you.

[PhutureDynasty]

I don't think there's an era where prime Shaq doesn't dominate.

Even if he struggles slightly defensively with the spacing of today's NBA, any coach is going to surround him with shooting and make his low post game even more dominant because they can't afford to double as easily.

[LNS]

AD is currently averaging about 31ppg on 57% shooting… and he’s playing a similar bully ball style. He’ll still take open 3s but by no means is that his play style. Last I checked he was leading the league in FTA, and that’s because teams can’t physically stop him.

Now imagine Shaq.

[Bush4Ever.]

The 2000 version of Shaq is never going to struggle offensively in any league, ever.

The issue and drops will always be defensive in nature and trying to understand how much it trades off against what he brings offensively.

I think ultimately, he would sacrifice a lot of his bulk/weight and slim down to something closer to his original playing weight in Orlando.

[Robceltsfan]

Biggest issue might be conditioning. He'd be gassed by the middle of the 3rd in today's up-tempo league.

[zombiesonics]

The center position is a way better today that when prime Shaq played. By the time Shaq hit his prime, he was being guarded by Todd MacCullough and Austin Croshere in the Finals.



With that said, he’d still be a beast today.

[zombiesonics]

Biggest issue might be conditioning. He'd be gassed by the middle of the 3rd in today's up-tempo league.

He’d be playing fewer minutes like every other player. There’s a reason nobody plays 40 minutes anymore.

[elartman1973]

Kobeunderballs claims no. Because today's players are so great that Shaq would be a 3rd string player