If you were to create the most perfect basketball player, who would it be and what skills would that player have?
That probably depends on whether you ask a small or a big man. If you asked a big man, they’d probably say something like Yao Ming’s height with Shaquille O’Neal’s strength, along with Wilt Chamberlain’s offense and Bill Russell’s defense. If he can also shoot like Dirk Nowitzki? Forget about it.
Ask a more guard-oriented person and they might tell you a mixture of Michael Jordan’s all around game, along with the ability to shoot from anywhere with pinpoint accuracy the way Stephen Curry does.
The legendary Isiah Thomas was asked what would be his idea of a perfect player, but there was a condition: you have to pick players that are currently in the league. Here is what he had to say:
#OpenCourt: @IamIsiahThomas on his “perfect player” http://t.co/vQNQCEqJ8Z
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 15, 2014
“I would take LeBron James as he is and add two things: Kyrie Irving’s ball handling and Stephen Curry’s jump shot. And then I’m good.”
Can’t really go wrong with that one either. So what’s your idea of a perfect player if you had to pick the skill sets of current NBA players?
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James Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
Driving back from the West Side of Chicago mid-day today I was thinking about Isiah Thomas (“Tuss”) and the fact that he was about as perfect a true point guard as there has ever been. He was so dedicated to his craft that a couple aspects to his game were almost completely hidden.
He could jump out of they gym. Only time I saw it was when he almost out-tipped Will Perdue.
And, he was a great shooter from distance. But he was so focused on running the offense he rarely shot from behind the three.
Like most Bulls fans I hated the guy. But maybe the best pg ever.
While Isiah makes some fine choices, my perfect hoopster would have Russel’s will, Maravich’s magic, Tiny’s speed and impish style, Rick Barry’s hair and touch, Cowens’ fearlessness and the Iceman’s poetry and….he would be eight feet tall.