Five athletes you wish were active today and in their prime

I think the important factor in any of these cases is, are we simply using a time machine and pulling 25-year-olds into this era or having these athletes be born in 1987 and growing up in this era? Babe Ruth would have to make major adjustments to the better equipment and new pitching styles of the day. That wouldn't happen right away. Wilt Chamberlain would have to learn to play against players as tall and taller than him who also are more athletic. That wouldn't happen right away. There are dozens of rule changes Bobby Orr would need to master because they mostly affect defense. That wouldn't happen right away.

 

I'm not convinced Chamberlain would play against that many 7-footers as athletic as him. The man had excellent strength, speed, stamina and jumping ability in his prime. There's not a ton of film from early in his career, but what exists is impressive and people that actually saw him play say he was unreal.

 

How often do low-post centers need to dribble?

 

That or me going back to their era and watching them compete.

 

He had a fade away jumper and a finger roll with either hand. If you len forward to try and stop the jumper, he would go over you with the finger roll.

Watch that above video. He had more offensive weapons from the low block than any other player I have ever seen. Kareem had the greatest weapon, but he did not have the variety Wilt had. And in many of those clips, Wilt is going over Kareem, who was 7-4.

 

If Wilt Chamberlain were born in 1987, he would be the best center in the NBA.

 

I love this. Wilt would dominate the NBA in any era. He was just THAT good.
Aaron, Ruth, Mays and Josh Gibson would feast on today's MLB pitching.
Would be interesting to see Jim Brown going up against today's linebackers.
Have to wonder if Richard Petty would still be considered the king if he raced today.
As for Secretariat, that horse was a freaking machine. So big. So strong. So powerful. So majestic. Loved watching him run.

 

You have to be joking? Comparing Wilt Chamberlain to David Robinson? Wilt did things and played at a level David wished he could do.

 

Thread's dead, baby.

 

Does anyone really think Wilt would have played Center if he was of the current Era? I think he ends up being a Lebron type player handling the ball and playing facing the basket.

 

Wilt Chamberlain was 7-1 and played his whole career in the post. LeBron James is 6-8 and played his whole career at the wing or on the point. It's tough to say exactly how a player would translate, but I don't think Chamberlain, who wasn't a particularly good shooter, keep in mind, could play on the wing much less run the point. No 7-foot wing has been particularly successful. Chamberlain, if he grew up in the modern game, could be devastating on the high post, like David Robinson.