Today's International NBA stars vs. Golden Age's NBA Icons?

Question

People say that foreign players today are as good as American players. People say that the world has caught up with the U.S., in terms of basketball.

Given that all players are in their prime..

PG:Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton
SG: Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars
SF: Dominique Wilkins, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin
PF: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Larry Bird
C: Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson
Reserve: Kevin Johnson

against

PG: Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Leandro Barbosa
SG: Manu Ginobili, Luol Deng, Gordan Giricek
SF: Andrei Kirilenko, Andres Nocioni, Boris Diaw
PF: Dirk Nowitski, Pau Gasol, Hedo Turkoglu
C: Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut, Andrea Bargnani
Reserve: Mehmet Okhur

Who would win and by how much?

Answer 1

I think the US set the standard for what is good in basketball. And the players that you've listed are all the standard setters of what is good in basketball. So, if I had to pick, the Golden Age would rock the international players, I would say by a fair margin of 10 or more.

If we look at the match-ups, what we have is flashy show (modern players) against solid fundamentals (Golden Age). The only player that plays similarly in game to the older players is Yao, and he would seriously just get out bodied by either Ewing or Robinson. Additionally, Bogut and Bargnani are not real centers. If we look at all the matchups, the only one I think that would be of any real contest would be the PGs, but I would take Stockton any day over Nash. The man (Stockton) is not like third overall in assists and second overall in steals (don't quote me on this) for no reason. The game of the international players would be faster, somewhat, since they're a physically smaller team, but a lot of these players are week on the inside, they'd get worked in the low-post and the guards from the Golden Era can just sort of fire away. Team-play was where it was at back then, and that's what made each of these players good, they played as a team. Additionally, many of the players you've mentioned (Stockton, Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Barkley, Ewing, Olajuowon, and Robinson) have played together before (think Dream Team), solidifying their team offense.

Answer 2

The American players win every game they play by an average margin of 30. I would say that with the exception of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, none of the European players listed have real winning experience. Dirk chokes, Nash and Andre don't want to take shots in the clutch, Yao is too slow, and who are the rest of the guys?

There is no comparison. You listed top 50 greatest players not of just the NBA, but of all basketball. They are too smart, too fast, and too talented to be competed against. Just go back to the original Dream Team. What happened since then is Europe got a little better, but USA basketball got a lot worse. Reason being that everyone all of a sudden though that they can be a high caliber player like Jordan or Magic, so selfishness has entered the world of US basketball, and the game suffered for about 10 years. New players are improving this situation and American basketball will once again be king.

Answer 3

First of all, you forgot Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabar.

The legends would win because they're much more physical and talented. I admit, Nash and Dirk would give Magic and Isiah some problems, but no one else matches up to MJ, Human Highlight Reel, Big Mound of Rebound or the Ewster. MJ can take over a game with no problems, Nash can but he has to have the support of his team.

Another thing, Manu Ginibili isn't even that good. He's just a finesse player. Put Dumars against him defensively and he won't score a single point. Ewing, Olajuwan, and Robinson would destroy Yao, Bogut and Bargnani. They havne't blossomed at all and they're all vets, except for Bargnani. The Legends are called 'Legends' for a reason, they dominated the game. They're much more acrobatic and much more physical than players from overseas. You'll never see a French Michael Jordan or an Spanish Magic Johnson. They have nowhere near the talent those two had alone. Don't even get me started on the rest.


The Legends win by more than enough, I say 30, 40, or 50 points.

Answer 4

Great question (and actually,Olajuwon is technically an international player (Nigeria) and possibly Ewing (born in Jamaica) and Wilkins (born in France) depending on how technical you want to get but we'll keep them where they are for the sake of the question.) With that said though, I would definitely say the Golden Agers would win and probably by around 25 or so. But as you mentioned, basketball has really only become as big as it is on the international level for about 10 years or so. So, with a much more concentrated effort by other nations on basketball, it would be interesting to see the thoughts on this question in about 20 years or so. For example, look at baseball. The Hispanic/Latin player population is exploding and some of the games' best have been and are from other countries (Clemente, Pujols, Soriano, Santana and a very long list of others). I like the question, and it'll be interesting to see how the NBA (and other professional sports leagues) develop.

Answer 5

Of course the hall of framers would win (i.e. the original and real "Dream Team") The world has caught up with the U.S., in basketball because the US team is losing in the recent world championships and olympics. Also Nash and Dirk won the 3 most recent season MVPs. Although the NBA titles still dominate by US based players with Detroit, Shaq's team (bothe LA and Miami) and the Spurs (anchor by Tim Duncan, although they have Parker and Ginobili, but it is Duncan's team).

btw, Hakeem Olajuwon should be consider as international player, even though he got US citizenship in the 90's. Also the international team is missing Ben Godon and Peja Stojakovic.

Also the original dream team beat any team that you could ever come up with, doesn't matter if you put in the best players of any stretch of time.

Answer 6

Are you comparing Andrew Bogut with Hakeem Olajuwon
or Steve Nash with Magic Johnson?
definitely the American team is gonna win (I'm not American)
and no, foreign players are not as good as American players.

Answer 7

Icons by like 25, but Hakeem Olajuwon is African so replace him with Wilt Chamberlain.

Answer 8

Man, it's the legends for me. Can't beat the golden generation.

You are missing a few names there. Jabbar, Chamberlain, McHale, Robertson, Maravich, Hayes.

Answer 9

Golden Age Icons by 20 at least. GAI are too strong inside, too physical.

Answer 10

The International stars are very good, butthey don't stand a chance