Magic/Shaq or Bird/Hakeem or Kobe/Duncan

[JordansBulls]

Which duo would you rather start a team around?

[Redskins10]

Magic/Shaq.

[todu82]

Magic and Shaq.

[Bos_Sports4Life]

1. Magic/Shaq
2. Bird/Hakeem
3. Duncan/Kobe

[HouRealCoach]

Cant go wrong with neither but I might have to go with Magic & Shaq

[JordansBulls]

I kinda like the Bird/Hakeem for some reason.

[Lakersfan2483]

Hard to decide as all 3 would be great compliments to one another. I like the duo of Kobe and Duncan the most.

[Bos_Sports4Life]

I kinda like the Bird/Hakeem for some reason.

The one reason I like that duo is because of the smaller ego's and I could see them playing togethr easier

[b@llhog24]

what about Jordan/Ewing?

[LAKobeBryant]

duncan and kobe isn't a good combo, they both need the ball to create their own shot

[Rentzias]

I kinda like the Bird/Hakeem for some reason.

I like Dream over Shaq, so I'm in the same boat.

[KnicksorBust]

The one reason I like that duo is because of the smaller ego's and I could see them playing togethr easier

Whose got the small ego? Hakeem deserves credit for being one of the most complete basketball players of all-time but if there's one knock on him, he wasn't exactly the most willing passer.

Give me Magic and Shaq.

[BRADfromOZ]

Bird/Hakeem for me to. Both would do anything to win.

[valade16]

Whose got the small ego? Hakeem deserves credit for being one of the most complete basketball players of all-time but if there's one knock on him, he wasn't exactly the most willing passer.

Give me Magic and Shaq.

And yet for being unwilling to pass his Assist numbers are virtually identical to Shaqs.

Also, the idea that Hakeem's Ego could be even close to the level of Shaq's is a big

[KnicksorBust]

And yet for being unwilling to pass his Assist numbers are virtually identical to Shaqs.

Also, the idea that Hakeem's Ego could be even close to the level of Shaq's is a big

Who compared Hakeem's Ego to Shaq's? Not me.

If you want to compare them as passers (again which I didn't) then we can talk about that. Let's say we set the barometer at a standard 10% assists for teammates you'll see how wrong you are about saying they are identical.

Hakeem had 10 seasons of 10% assist percentage or more.
Shaq had 15 seasons of 10% assist percentage or more.

If we stretch it to 12% assist percentage.

Hakeem - 8 seasons
Shaq - 13 seasons.

He consistently produced better passing numbers. Whether it is raw stats or advanced statistics.

While producing more assists Shaq STILL managed to produce LESS turnovers for his career and at their peaks.

At their absolute peaks:

Hakeem - 18.3 assist % and 12.5 turnover %
Shaq - 19.3 assist % and 9.9 turnover %

I also prefer the Magic/Shaq pairing because they are the only combination with a true PG to feed the post all game. Bird was a phenomenal passer but he's still below the GOAT passer of all-time, Magic Johnson.