Matching players from NBA history in imaginative matchups that would never happen is one of the joys of being a basketball fan. It’s one of the most fundamental conversations in the game and recently stirred up arguments on Twitter.
SportsCenter shared an all-time 3×3 MVP matchup between a team of Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O’Neal against Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
All MVPs. All in their prime 👀 pic.twitter.com/aKAxyFdTS0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 14, 2023
Fans quickly came in support of Team 1, citing Shaq’s presence as too much of a mismatch.
First two I’ll concede they cancel out. Shaq would obliterate Giannis on both sides of the court. Not a remotely close matchup. Prime Shaq may be the greatest player ever albeit very short lived.
— GarthVader (@BRiff304) July 14, 2023
Even fans of LeBron James conceded his team wouldn’t win because of Shaq.
I’m a Bronsexual but Prime Shaq isn’t being stopped by Giannis alone
— 🏈A Mandalorian🏀Your Sports Fantasy Girl⚾️ (@sexysportslover) July 14, 2023
One fan thinks Michael Jordan would carry any two teammates to a win in a situation like this.
https://twitter.com/realjimbo_lol/status/1679661317009842176
Fans thought MJ, AI, and Shaq would be way too much for Steph, LeBron, and Giannis to stop.
AI, MJ, and Shaq would be too much for the other three.
— bb ⚡️ (@SultanofStacks) July 14, 2023
Another fan cited Shaq as a difference-maker and criticized Steph’s potential defense on Iverson.
Oddly enough I think the only fair matchup here is MJ V Bron. Steph ain’t guarding AI and nobody is guarding Shaq
— Tommy Hayes (@Tomismoney1) July 14, 2023
One fan thought AI, MJ, and Shaq would win in a sweep.
Team on top🧹
— RK2 aka RK II (@rapper_rk2) July 14, 2023
Shaq tipped it over the scales for most fans.
Although some may not believe it, Shaq makes a difference.
— KRAMPUS (@jimenezxl) July 14, 2023
The fans are right, as there would simply be no stopping prime Shaq in a matchup like this. Giannis’ best defensive assets come from his mobility, as he exceeds as a help defender. Trying to stop Shaq exclusively in the post likely wouldn’t go well for him. The same applies to Iverson being guarded by Curry.
LeBron and Jordan is the fairest matchup in this situation, but the rest of the team means MJ will have help that’ll exceed what LeBron has.
A Pretty One-Sided Battle
What Shaquille O’Neal did in his prime cannot easily be replicated. Giannis has been incredibly dominant for his era, but the physical mismatch with Shaq may just be impossible to overcome. Shaq averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3,0 blocks on 57.4% efficiency in his MVP season and almost became the first unanimous MVP in league history.
Steph Curry is the only player to win a unanimous MVP, and he would have an interesting battle with Iverson. Curry is objectively higher all-time, but in a 3×3 scenario, Iverson’s perimeter pressure and ability to out-muscle Curry to the rim will be a major factor.
LeBron vs. Jordan is a conversation we have had an endless amount of times. It may just be the most common basketball-relayed debate people have. James’ size would be challenging for MJ to overcome, but Jordan’s craftiness and ability to get to the rim will most definitely catch LBJ out. Jordan would make dribbling nigh impossible for LBJ, but James’ handle is elite, and he could have a lot of success in the post.
This would be an incredible matchup, but with MJ and LeBron being comparable and clear mismatches between the other players, we have to go with team AI, MJ, and Shaq ourselves as well.
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