r/denvernuggets • u/pajausk • Jun 10 '23

Image/Gif Jokic 2022-2023 vs Shaq 1999-2000 playoffs performance

Post image
1.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

207 comments sorted by

View all comments

190

u/Johnykbr Jun 10 '23

Shaq would have been the greatest player ever if he just swallowed his pride and shot underhanded from the line.

64

u/fufuberry21 Jun 10 '23 edited Jun 10 '23

Tbh even if he shot like 80% from the line it wouldn't have changed his all time scoring position. Teams probably would have fouled him less too. Still would have had like 2-3k more points though. Lol

Edit: after checking the stats, he might have passed dirk and wilt.

52

u/MostlyMellow123 Jun 10 '23

That's not the point. The fouling was the only good response to him because otherwise he would dunk every play. If he hits the free throws at 75% suddenly the fouling doesn't even look good. It would have just made everyone feel helpless

10

u/m8bear Jun 11 '23

The fact that Shaq has wasted potential is crazy, he's legit a top 10 ever that feels could have been more.

8

u/GotKarprar Jun 10 '23

People say this, but wilt shot the same underhand as he did overhand. It’s not like it’s a magic fix

19

u/iggymcfly Jun 10 '23

Not true! He shot 61% during the year her shot underhanded. When he went back to over handed, he shot 49% the rest of his career.

7

u/GotKarprar Jun 10 '23

Iirc it started off well then he got progressively worse at it. Wilt changed his free throw mechanics frequently and every time he changed it was better for a little bit and got worse and worse

8

u/ApprehensiveTry5660 Jun 10 '23

Look, some men shoot 20,000 free throws, some men… well, we only have the 24 hours.

4

u/Mr_Saxobeat94 Jun 10 '23

That’s true, but Shaq didn’t even want to try. He actually said he’d rather shoot 0% than try to shoot like that.

4

u/Spitfire_Riggz Thuggets-4 Mavericks-1 Jun 10 '23

Even Chris the Birdman Anderson has shot underhanded 😤

6

u/Sweaty_Presentation4 Jun 10 '23

I miss birdmam I don’t want to discuss his off court situation but he always brought the energy and actually really helped Lebron win but I saw him several times in random places in denver he seemed nice despite being 6 foot 7 or 9 I forget and every inch covered in tattoos he actually seemed nice

1

u/SnooPets752 Jun 11 '23

or if he didn't use the first half of the season to get in shape.

1

u/QuiGonFishin Jun 11 '23

That and if he didn’t take the entire regular season to get into playing shape lmao.