Is Shaq really a Hall of Fame 'basketballer'?

[slightly biased bias fan]

Just the sheer query has me afraid that Kazaam will get me haha... but I think it's worth discussing.

When I use basketballer in inverted commas I mean that if you stripped Shaq of his size and strength what is left? Is he even a solid basketballer? I understand that most big men of his, and previous generations did not require complex skill sets but if you are talking about a HOF player I believe he is lacking in the skill department. Shaq couldn't shoot, was never an elite defender, passer, shot blocker (stats fluctuated often), couldn't take free throws so what is left? His physical presence was his game & perhaps was the greatest athlete (factoring in his size) we have ever seen on a basketball court but does that make him a HOF basketballer? Olajuwon could essentially do it all, Kareem had the most unstoppable shot in basketball history, Wilt actually had a midrange game and was an elite defender and shot blocker ect. I may be on my own here in thinking for all his potential, Shaquille O'Neal was actually a fairly average 'basketballer'.

Thoughts?

[wdleehi]

If you strip Lebron of his size, speed and strength, is he a hall of fame "basketballer'?




If Magic was the size of the average PG, would he be a top 5 player of all time?




Every player among the greats in the NBA have physical gifts and likely tailored their games around it.



Shaq was a physical monster who played that way and was the most dominating force of his era. 

[Moranis]

This is a ridiculous thread

[slightly biased bias fan]

If you strip Lebron of his size, speed and strength, is he a hall of fame "basketballer'?




If Magic was the size of the average PG, would he be a top 5 player of all time?




Every player among the greats in the NBA have physical gifts and likely tailored their games around it.



Shaq was a physical monster who played that way and was the most dominating force of his era.

Magic had all time level vision, passing game and developed a post game

Lebron can literally do it all at this stage of his career he is a complete basketballer

If you stripped both these men of their elite athleticism they would still be fantastic at the game of Basketball...this is my point.

The same can't be said as much for Shaq.

[Jon]

If you strip Lebron of his size, speed and strength, is he a hall of fame "basketballer'?




If Magic was the size of the average PG, would he be a top 5 player of all time?




Every player among the greats in the NBA have physical gifts and likely tailored their games around it.



Shaq was a physical monster who played that way and was the most dominating force of his era.

Magic had all time level vision, passing game and developed a post game

Lebron can literally do it all at this stage of his career he is a complete basketballer

If you stripped both these men of their elite athleticism they would still be fantastic at the game of Basketball...this is my point.

The same can't be said as much for Shaq.

I agree that this thread is silly. And I don't agree that you can take LeBron's size, speed, and athleticism away and he's still be a great player. If you took that all away, he'd probably be something closer to Antoine Walker.

[Somebody]

He had good footwork and post moves; he was also had good quickness and good timing making him an above average shot blocker. The OP is underrating shaq a bit

[wdleehi]

If you strip Lebron of his size, speed and strength, is he a hall of fame "basketballer'?




If Magic was the size of the average PG, would he be a top 5 player of all time?




Every player among the greats in the NBA have physical gifts and likely tailored their games around it.



Shaq was a physical monster who played that way and was the most dominating force of his era.

Magic had all time level vision, passing game and developed a post game

Lebron can literally do it all at this stage of his career he is a complete basketballer

If you stripped both these men of their elite athleticism they would still be fantastic at the game of Basketball...this is my point.

The same can't be said as much for Shaq.

Magic had both great vision and the ability to easily see over the other players?   How would his game have changed if he couldn't just back his defender around the court while looking over the top?


No one saying they wouldn't be skilled basketball players.   There are plenty of skilled basketball players out there, only a few that have the athletic gifts that allow them to play in the NBA.

[Mempitt18]

Same can be said for 90% of the big men in the HOF, particularly Wilt

[feckless]

Yes.

[Redz]

If we gave him 8 arms and the ability to breathe under water he'd make a heck of an octopus though. 

Shaqtapus?  Could be a good SciFi Channel movie.

[TheSundanceKid]

I would say that just because Shaq played within a system doesn't mean he couldn't do more than that. He (and many other players) talk about what they can do that they were never allowed to showcase in games. Particularly big men who have long been restricted to roles in ways guards haven't.

Remember when Shaq took it rim to rim? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVsWuHblBwU

[Donoghus]

Magic era Shaq was pretty darn athletic.  Pretty solid handle for a guy his size and he wasn't against leading fast breaks.  Really good footwork.  He was remarkably athletic for a guy his size.  Especially in his LSU/early NBA days.

[Geo123]

Come on now... 

[Roy H.]

If Bill Russell was 5'10" he wouldn't have started above Division III.

[Ogaju]

This is a ridiculous thread

TP, probably your easiest TP.

OP lost me at 'I think it is worth discussing' Up to that point I was willing to buy his sense of humor, but after that I was like oh 'brother?'