What if... (Lebron vs. Shaq)

[Green Blood]

Okay, so sitting around the office this morning me and a buddy got to talking hooops.

Before I went to grab my morning kick in the teeth (4 shots of espresso on ice) I asked him what he would do if he was a GM and he had the first pick in a fantasy draft that included Shaq (fresh out of LSU) and Lebron (fresh out of St. Vincent - St. Mary's).

Both were the definition of freak athletic specimen when they joined the league, and both were no brainers as the number one pick in their respective draft classes.

I think that it is safe to say these are the two most dominant players of the last decade. So which do you choose?

For arguments sake let's assume that you have fifteen open roster spots when you are making this decision, and that once you make a choice you will be building your team around this player.

[Emperor Young]

Lebron was one of three players in NBA history to average 20,5,5 in their rookie season, but Shaq averaged 23 and 14 in his rookie season.. tough decision but I'd pick Lebron because i know he isn't going to get outta shap and can hit the freethrow

[yall hate]

Shaq...and I am not sure it even really requires much thinking.  He was dominant at a position that lacks anyone near equal.  He could defend, score, etc...

Lebron is an amazing player, but if you were building a team, it is harder to get the big man then a wing, and some might argue that Lebron isnt even the best wing. 

[Celtic]

Easy for me, Shaq, you can't pass up on a physical 7 footer who is as mobile as he was.

[CelticsWhat35]

Hey LeBron, tell me how my...ah you know the rest.   

[Who]

Shaq and it's an easy decision

[Roy Hobbs]

Shaq and it's an easy decision

Yeah, agreed.  Now that Shaq is on the downward slope of his career, I think people are forgetting just how dominant he was in his prime.  He's won four rings, and made two other Finals.  He gets the nod, fairly easily.

It's ridiculous that Shaq only won one MVP award.  He was in the top three in points per game eight years in a row, led the league in field goal percentage for roughly a decade, and was a top rebounder and shot blocker, as well.  Stats don't do him justice, though.  He was just truly a dominant player, who never seemed to go into a slump and needed to be game-planned for every night.

[zerophase]

people forget how [dang] good shaq was. he averaged almost 30 points per game (didn't take 3's, so that's amazing) with 11-13 rebounds. his rookie season he had 3.5 blocks. plus, good centers are always hard to find.

[KCattheStripe]

It's Shaq all day and everyday. Aside from Michael's Bulls, name a Professional Basketball team in the past 30 years that won without a dominate player in weither the C or PF spot.

[Ian]

Shaq put up, arguably, better stats than LeBron is now, and was a bonafide winner. No-brainer I'm taking Shaq.

[Redz]

Shaq...You can't teach size

[Roy Hobbs]

Shaq...You can't teach size

But you can apparently increase it, by intentionally breaking your legs and having Chinese doctors subject you to painful surgery.

http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=64&topic=21712.0

[RebusRankin]

Shaq.

[RockinRyA]

shaq.. imagine if he shoots freethrows decently.

people literaly hold him down to keep him from scoring but dunks them anyway. though as an owner my income would have a lot of expenses in it under "broken ring"

some rules did diminish his dominance (zone, etc.) but he stil dominated them anyway.

[Hollywood]

I thought this thread was about shaq vs. lebron in a fist/sumo fight.

I would assume they would both have crews so I think this is how it would go down...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JawHRggFPGo&feature=related

I guess it comes down to whos who..I guess shaq is the warriors

can you dig it?