Where Would You Rank Peak Kevin McHale Today?

[Milbuck]

Where would you rank Kevin McHale in today's NBA ?

[GIF REACTION]

Kevin McHung.

[christian1923]

Best white player. Maybe top 15 overall

[ArbitraryWater]

Best white player. Maybe top 15 overall

dumb as shit

[tpols]

Other than bron, durant, davis, steph, paul, and Westbrook idk of any are hands down better.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Best big man for sure, top 5 player
can u fcking imagine Mchales torture chamber of a postgame with the arsenal of shots and footwork in todays league with these post defenders he was a really good defender and rebounder too

[smoovegittar]

He'd still be that talented pain in the ass. Hated him back then.

[SHAQisGOAT]

His 1987 "version"? Only PF I'd take over him, nowadays, would be Anthony Davis, also because of potential/upside.

-> Peak McHale would've clearly been a top10 player right now, borderline top5 even...
Similar to what he "was" back then.

It lasted very little though, only major downside to it, pretty shameful...
He was really coming into his own by 1984, kept improving and they had to move him into the starting lineup in 1985, still took that extra step and really peaked in 1986-87... But then played through a broken foot for the 1987 Playoffs which really screwed him, never the same again, just kept going downhill from there into his 30's...


Describing him at his peak:

Dude was just a great scoring PF.
He had every move you can think of while in the post (only Hakeem rivals him at that), extremely close to unstoppable there 1on1, terrific soft-touch around the rim, had a hook-shot and a turnaround fader.
Had very good basketball IQ, moving without the ball going to his best spots, winning position.
Could hit plenty of open jumpers with some range to it, shot over 80% from the FT line.
Great overall defensive player, pretty good rebounder...

Not what you'd call a bad passer (in terms of skill) but certainly not that close to a good one and could turn into a blackhole plenty, many times tried to do too much if not "influenced" otherwise.
Was very tall, extremely long, pretty mobile but not very strong or physical.
Didn't have that pick-n-roll/pop game.
Despite being a great defender, didn't have that defensive bigmen anchor type of impact, ala Timmy or KG.
Didn't have that killer mentality either, nor that alpha-dog work ethic.

[turret]

He wrote the book on up/ under & his version of the sky hook he was near unstoppable
With the ticky tack sh*t they call now, he might out do Harden on the line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdtgUOiWHJg

Barkley on open court said he was the best he ever played against
and Charles was a beast.

easy top 5 today

[SHAQisGOAT]

He wrote the book on up/ under & his version of the sky hook he was near unstoppable
With the ticky tack sh*t they call now, he might out do Harden on the line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdtgUOiWHJg

Barkley on open court said he was the best he ever played against
and Charles was a beast.

easy top 5 today

That vid always gets me, beautiful display of scoring in the post, just amazing

Don't know about best but he definitely said, plenty of times, that McHale was his toughest matchup (could even be on both ends combined).

Wouldn't say easy top5 today though, not at all...
Active players I'd take over 1987 McHale would be LeBron, Durant, Curry, Davis, probably Westbrook and CP3, you also got Harden... So, wouldn't really say top5 but very close to it anyways.
Like I've said, similar to what he "was" back then.
And, again, shame that it lasted very little.

[LAZERUSS]

His 1987 "version"? Only PF I'd take over him, nowadays, would be Anthony Davis, also because of potential/upside.

-> Peak McHale would've clearly been a top10 player right now, borderline top5 even...
Similar to what he "was" back then.

It lasted very little though, only major downside to it, pretty shameful...
He was really coming into his own by 1984, kept improving and they had to move him into the starting lineup in 1985, still took that extra step and really peaked in 1986-87... But then played through a broken foot for the 1987 Playoffs which really screwed him, never the same again, just kept going downhill from there into his 30's...


Describing him at his peak:

Dude was just a great scoring PF.
He had every move you can think of while in the post (only Hakeem rivals him at that), extremely close to unstoppable there 1on1, terrific soft-touch around the rim, had a hook-shot and a turnaround fader.
Had very good basketball IQ, moving without the ball going to his best spots, winning position.
Could hit plenty of open jumpers with some range to it, shot over 80% from the FT line.
Great overall defensive player, pretty good rebounder...

Not what you'd call a bad passer (in terms of skill) but certainly not that close to a good one and could turn into a blackhole plenty, many times tried to do too much if not "influenced" otherwise.
Was very tall, extremely long, pretty mobile but not very strong or physical.
Didn't have that pick-n-roll/pop game.
Despite being a great defender, didn't have that defensive bigmen anchor type of impact, ala Timmy or KG.
Didn't have that killer mentality either, nor that alpha-dog work ethic.

And right now...I would take a peak McHale over AD. Long term, probably not.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

And right now...I would take a peak McHale over AD. Long term, probably not.

Agreed

[christian1923]

dumb as shit

You probably never watched him play

[SHAQisGOAT]

And right now...I would take a peak McHale over AD. Long term, probably not.

Hmm, I don't know, you could definitely say that though...
Kevin was clearly a better scorer although AD has been a clear-cut #1 option while being a better rebounder and showing he can pass or share the ball better/more than McHale. Their defensive impact, as of right now, is pretty comparable.
McHale at his best was a proven winner though, a very smart, "refined" veteran with very good impact on some great teams...

Long term? Knowing what I know now? I'd definitely take AD (providing he keeps it up and stays healthy), as he's only 21 and prime McHale lasted very little...

[FKAri]

He'd be worse defensively but better offensively in today's league.