Now here’s a matchup we at the offices of the ShaqFu Radio blog would have paid just about any price to see… if we could first invent the time machine to make it happen. A three-on-three matchup featuring our man Shaq, along with LeBron and Kobe, against Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Hakeem Olajuwon!
Wow, our heads are spinning at that matchup of the GOATs! Who would have taken that fantasy crown?
Of course hoops fans (and analysts) are always putting together various fantasy teams and matchups… and the mix of different superstars from different eras of a sport are always some of the juiciest.
This time around, the big man says he’s confident his threesome would not only win a series, but would sweep the team of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Hakeem Olajuwon in a seven-game series.
While there can only be one true GOAT, all of these players are in the conversation as the best to play the game. For some, it’s the best at their respective position. For others (looking at you MJ and LeBron), it’s an all-time thing.
As for O’Neal.. He’s definitely considered to be one of the most dominant players of all time, having averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during his career. He’s a 15-time All-Star, four-time champion, three-time Finals MVP and one-time MVP.
Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant recorded 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game during his 20-year career with the Lakers. The one-time MVP was named an All-Star 18 times and won five NBA titles.
The third member of Shaq’s dream threesome, King James, is the lone active player in the matchup, as he’s in his fifth season with the Lakers. He holds career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Barring something unforeseen, the four-time champion will become the league’s all-time leader in points scored this season.
On the other side, there’s the man many still consider the all-time GOAT. During his long career, Michael Jordan won six NBA titles and five MVP awards. He averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Larry Bird was one of the best players in the league during his career and averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. He’s a 12-time All-Star, three-time champion and three-time MVP. With the Celtics his entire career, Bird was a constant thorn in the side of Lakers fans for many years.
Then there’s Olajuwon, who maybe didn’t get all the recognition and props he deserved for a stellar career. He averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game during his career. He won two NBA titles, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and one MVP award.
Just the idea of those two big, BIG men, Shaq and Olajuwon, going at each other would be something to behold. Add in the other superstars, and it’d be a matchup for the ages.
Of course it’ll never happen IRL – unless we do get that time machine invention off th ground – but NBA fans can do a little digital fantasy plan. Using the latest version of NBA 2K it is possible to put all those players on the floor at the same time… still, what a dream matchup!