All this "traditional big men are obsolete" talk needs to end

[JohnnySic]

If there was a Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul Jabber in the draft, do you think teams would pass on him because he wouldn't be a fit for small ball and cant step out and shoot 3's?

[IGOTGAME]

we'll see. Joel Embiid is cut from that same cloth, we'll maybe a step below

[WolfGang]

I think Shaq would go first in any draft from 2010-2016 easily. I can't speak on the other guys, but the big fella's dominance would be too obvious to pass up bro.

[sammichoffate]

It's done, KAT/Davis/Cousins and maybe Okafor are gonna run the league soon

[iamgine]

If there was a Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul Jabber in the draft, do you think teams would pass on him because he wouldn't be a fit for small ball and cant step out and shoot 3's?

Teams still draft big men high. What are you talking about?

[Prime_Shaq]

I think Shaq would go first in any draft from 2010-2016 easily. I can't speak on the other guys, but the big fella's dominance would be too obvious to pass up bro.

Shaq would go first in any draft that Jordan isn't in.

[WolfGang]

Shaq would go first in any draft that Jordan isn't in.

...damn, I can't really argue with that. The only draft class I doubt he would go first in is 2003. I don't know if Bron would go second.

[Bankaii]

Shaq would go first in any draft that Jordan isn't in.

Do you not know who was drafted before Jordan?
Shaq would definitely be drafted before him as well.

[TheWinningFam]

In an all time draft the only players you're taking over shaq is Kareem/Lbj 

[G-train]

If there was a Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul Jabber in the draft, do you think teams would pass on him because he wouldn't be a fit for small ball and cant step out and shoot 3's?

Why are there no more players like this?

Because traditional big men are obsolete.

Well to be serious they aren't obsolete, just not as many and not as effective.

NBA is designed for driving and threes now.

So best bigger guys are shot blocker/rebounder/finishers OR they are taught to shoot and put ball on floor rather than post up.

[G-train]

Shaq would go first in any draft that Jordan isn't in.

I'd say depends on era.

I'm big Shaq fan but I'd probably take prime Bird or Kobe over him right now.

They would be unstoppable in current format.

[Sarcastic]

Shaq would go first in any draft that Jordan isn't in.

He would go #1 in the draft that Jordan went in, considering that Olajuwon and Bowie went ahead of him (assuming we don't know how their careers would end up).

Shaq and Kareem were the two most hyped draft prospects in the history of the NBA. No one would ever be chosen ahead of those 2.

[Rizko]

If there was a Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul Jabber in the draft, do you think teams would pass on him because he wouldn't be a fit for small ball and cant step out and shoot 3's?

I don't get why people always bring up all-time great big men when they try to argue against "traditional big men are obsolete".

Personally it's a combo of things. Bigs aren't practicing traditional skills as much in there youth, guards aren't learning how to feed the post, play of post players, etc...

Then when they get to the pro's the rules are against the bigs who do try to learn a post move or two by: Allowing fronting in the post, defensive 3 second rules which help open the lanes up, making the drive and kick more efficient then previously which forces the big to go out and defended the p&r out by the three against a smaller and quicker guard as opposed to staying close to the basket like previously and the fact that refs allow way more contact to be used against traditional post up players then really any other play-style.

Obviously if Shaq came out today he'd be the number 1 pick of 2017. Thing is what about say, the Artis Gilmore's of the world? The Mark Eaton's? It's not like literally every team had a Shaq of Kareem on there roster from 1950-2006. There were plenty of middling big men who would end up being essentially obsolete in todays game IMO.

[Bankaii]

I'd say depends on era.

I'm big Shaq fan but I'd probably take prime Bird or Kobe over him right now.

They would be unstoppable in current format.

This entire post is just

[OnFire]

I think Shaq would go first in any draft from 2010-2016 easily. I can't speak on the other guys, but the big fella's dominance would be too obvious to pass up bro.

All 3 would.

Shaq is obvious because he's a monster..

Im pretty sure a 7'2, 3 time NCAA tournament MVP and champion would go #1 in any draft. Athough in 2016 it would be, 3 time NY HS basketball champion with 71 straight wins, and 1 time ncaa champion...

I think Hakeem would too due to all the hype from his college team with drexler.