young prime Wilt would do him like he did that Center back in that era who was avg like 30ppg and Wilt blocked like his first 9 attempts, then after halftime Wilt told him he could go ahead and now p!ay his game Can't think of the players name and that he did that to but it is documented Nobody can really shut any great player down but Wilt would super contain him and would block his shot similar to what AD did to Jokic, but on 10x higher level of volume
Dream would pick that high dribble spin move. Dream would get some blocks. Dream would force bad shots. Dream would know where some of those passes were going. Dream would rebound better than anyone on the Heat. It would be like Dream vs. Shaq. Jokic would get numbers (but not great numbers) through the early 4th quarter because Dream wouldn't want to get in foul trouble. The last five minutes, Jokic would be shut down.
Basically Dream would guard him as well as anyone in the history of the NBA could and Jokic would produce less obviously. Bam is not close to the defender Hakeem was. He is the best defensive C of all time imo even if stat-wise or championship-wise he didn't peak for long. He's the number one player a C wouldn't want to be guarded by. I wouldn't say the same for Bill Russell who would simply struggle with C's who can shoot. Hakeem could guard quick, strong, athletic or sweet-shooting C's. He's got all the bases covered. That doesn't mean Jokic wouldn't put up MVP-ish stats. As with David Robinson and Shaq though, sometimes that's not enough against Hakeem.
All you're saying is Jokic is more versatile. But he's nowhere near the skill level Hakeem was. The internet will say anything
Haven’t read anything except this page but there’s an overall point that sports fans as a whole have to begin to understand… We have to start comparing players within two separate discussions. We can have “greatness” discussions where we debate who should rank higher on made up lists. Separate than that though we need to be able to acknowledge reality. Reality is that nearly 100% of current professional athletes would excel at an extreme level if they were playing in a previous era. The further you go back, the more true this becomes. With that said. It is undeniable that Jokic is a more advanced basketball player than Hakeem was. Now, Hakeem’s accomplishments during his time put him very high on the “greatness” scale that can transcend eras. But if you’re just looking at the player, it’s not particularly close and it’s in Jokic’s favor.
Yet Hakeem excelled at a thing Jokic could never do in bunches. Athletic skillsets and shot blocking which is a skill. Jokic could hardly average 1 block per game for his size and immense width. Dream also stole the ball 2x more.
Dream was on D what Harden was on Offense just pure domination. See only Bill Russell and Kareem. And I personally think Dream's Offense was better than Jokic' Defense. While you could call Jokic more skilled on O, Olajuwon is the better overall Player for me. But Jokic made it more interesting the last years.
The NBA evolved so their systems evolved as well. You can't just go in there and hold the advancements the NBA made after Dream's retirement to hold it against him. Give Dream today's game, he would be an even better and more versatile player while still blocking most of the shots. Denver's game is light years ahead of what Rudy T ran back in the day. But it is also possible to play Hakeem alongside Jokic now and then.
Taking into account the difference in athlete each guy faced/is facing on a nightly basis, this doesn’t mean much to me. Not many stats do to be honest. I’d also say, Hakeem was a super athlete and would still be a better defender today than Jokic. But that doesn’t make him an overall better player.
Not even getting into the bigs like Shaq, Mourning, Barkley, Malone, Deke, Rodman, David Robinson, Keem, Jokic never had to face a Michael Jordan in prime. After that, Kobe, Penny, Wade, AI, KG, Duncan.... The best of the best. Creme of the crop.
From https://www.sportscasting.com/wilt-chamberlain-savagely-welcomed-walt-bellamy-nba-blocking-9-shots/: The first time they played against each other, Bellamy is said to have approached Wilt saying, “Hello, Mr. Chamberlain. I’m Walter Bellamy.” Wilt returned his greeting, shaking his hand and saying, “Hello, Walter. You won’t get a shot off in the first half.” And Wilt was true to his word, going out and blocking Bellamy’s first nine shots. When the second half started, Wilt is said to have told Bellamy, “Okay, Walter, now you can play.”
You’re doing exactly what I’m saying we have to stop doing… Those guys were great and some are legends. Some of them would just be guys today though. Shaq’s getting cooked in the modern NBA. Deke would be Capela at best. I don’t say these things to be disrespectful. They were, at the time, the best we’d seen. They were so good that they drove the game forward so that the players that come after them could take it even further. This is the case in all sports. It’s the nature of competition, it’s always getting better.
he wouldn’t be the MVP of the league. He wouldn’t be the best Center in the league. Not even the top 5 Centers in the league during the 90s. He would get out muscled easily imo.
Of course we should be stop doing that but it is like Amen Thompson literally balling against 17 year olds and we embellish his competition. It is obvious. I also respect Amen Thompson to a degree but that must be said, sorry, I went elsewhere with this. Young Hakeem entering a league with those oxygen chambers and how they do physical therapy and modern tech modern practice methods......it is so over! For the competition. Hakeem was there when there were thugs, not Ja Morants with water pistols, in the league and players doing coke or whatever drugs in masses.
Noteworthy centers back in the 90s... Dream Shaq Admiral Mourning Mutombo Ewing Divac Outside of Dream and Shaq, you seriously telling me Jokic wouldn't find a place amongst the top 5?
young prime Wilt would do him like he did that Center back in that era who was avg like 30ppg and Wilt blocked like his first 9 attempts, then after halftime Wilt told him he could go ahead and now p!ay his game Can't think of the players name and that he did that to but it is documented Nobody can really shut any great player down but Wilt would super contain him and would block his shot similar to what AD did to Jokic, but on 10x higher level of volume Now just replace Bellamy with Jokic and its pretty much the same, young Wilt first seven seasons they claimed he avg around 17-18 blocks per game and some opponents coaching staff would keep track of his blocks when they played and recorded 20 to 25 blocks each time, utterly ridiculous
The Joker is unbelievable. Put respect on his name. Right now he has accomplished less than Hakeem. But if Jokic wins more than 2 titles he will also have more MVPs and statistical records. He would deserve to be placed ahead of Hakeem.
