If O Neal teamed up to win the championship in the 1990s, O Neal would be invincible

April 29, among the brilliant galaxies of basketball history, the 1990s was undoubtedly one of the most dazzling chapters. In that era, Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls created two three-game winning streak, while Shaquille O'Neal began to make his mark as a representative of the new generation of centers. Looking back at that era, people can't help but wonder: If O'Neal joined forces with Jordan in the 1990s, what would happen if O'Neal joined forces with Jordan? This hypothetical question not only gives us another possibility in basketball history, but also gives us deeper thinking about the contemporary NBA's group culture.

First of all, we need to be clear that the NBA culture in the 1990s was essentially different from today. In that era, players were more inclined to live in a team and build a championship lineup through drafting and cultivating young players. Jordan's Bulls Dynasty is the best example - Pippen got it through the draft, while Rodman strengthened the last piece of the puzzle through trades. The team management pays more attention to long-term construction rather than quickly forming super teams through free markets. In this cultural context, it is almost impossible for superstars like O'Neal and Jordan to join forces.

However, if we put aside the limitations of the times and analyze the possibility of O'Neal and Jordan joining each other simply from a basketball perspective, it would be a shocking picture. Jordan is the greatest shooting guard in history, with unparalleled scoring ability, defensive awareness and leadership; O'Neal is one of the most dominant centers in history, with his strength, explosiveness and basket skills daunting opponents. If the two are on the same team, they can cover almost all offensive areas on the court.

From the perspective of technical characteristics, the combination of Jordan and O'Neal is perfectly complementary. Jordan's mid- and long-distance shooting and breakthrough ability can make up for O'Neal's shortcomings of insufficient shooting range, and O'Neal's dominance in the inside can create more opportunities for Jordan to score easily. On the defensive end, Jordan's steal and O'Neal's block will form an insurmountable barrier. More importantly, both of them have a strong desire to win and leadership ability. This superposition of spiritual attributes will make the team more reliable at critical moments.

Imagine a scene like this: O'Neal attracts double teams in the inside and passes the ball to Jordan on the outside, or Jordan breaks through and attracts defense and gives O'Neal an all-in-one. Such cooperation is almost impossible to defend, because no matter who the opponent chooses to double-team, it will leave another superstar with the opportunity to score easily. Under the triangular offensive system, the cooperation between the two will be smoother, and Phil Jackson's tactical system can maximize their advantages.

Judging from historical data, Jordan entered the finals six times in the 1990s and won all the championships, while O'Neal began to make his mark in the late 1990s and led the Lakers to complete three consecutive championships in the early 2000s. If the two overlap at their peak and play in the same team, they are likely to create a dynasty that is more brilliant than their actual achievements. Given the overall competitive environment of the NBA in the 1990s, such a super team may monopolize the championship for the entire decade.

However, this assumption also raises a deeper question: what would basketball be like if the 1990s had been popular? First, the league's competitive balance will be completely broken. Jordan's Bulls are already strong enough. If you join a super center like O'Neal, other teams will hardly see hope for winning the championship. Secondly, the emergence of such super teams may accelerate the commercialization process of the NBA and change the player's values ​​and the cultural atmosphere of the league.

In fact, the NBA in the 1990s was regarded as a golden age, in large part because of its competitiveness and purity. Each strong team has its own characteristics and stars, and the game is full of uncertainty and drama. If we had been popular at the time, we might not have seen the classic showdown between Jordan and Malone and Stockton, nor the center battle between O'Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. These great confrontations are exactly part of the charm of basketball.

Looking back from today's perspective, we may be able to look at the phenomenon of grouping more objectively. The modern NBA's group culture has indeed lost some of the suspense of the game, but it has also created new highlights. The choices of stars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant reflect the new ideas of contemporary players in career planning. However, the loyalty of "one person, one city" in the 1990s and the concept of building a championship team through long-term construction are still missed by many old fans.

It is worth mentioning that although O'Neal and Jordan did not join forces at their peak, they still had intersections. At the 1996 All-Star Game, the young O'Neal competed with Jordan, showing the style of a cross-age superstar. In 2006, as the Bobcats' boss, Jordan also tried to recruit O'Neal, who was in his late age. These real interactions give us a glimpse of the possibilities of the collaboration between the two legends.

Ultimately, the development of basketball is always accompanied by changes in the times. It was not popular to be a group in the 1990s, which was the characteristic of that era; the frequent teaming of stars today is also a microcosm of the contemporary NBA. It is certainly a pity that O'Neal and Jordan failed to join forces, but it is this regret that makes basketball history more colorful. Their greatness does not require assumptions to prove that the legends they created are dazzling enough.

Perhaps, we do not have to worry too much about "if", but should cherish the history that has happened. Jordan's Bulls Dynasty and O'Neal's Lakers' three consecutive championships are all classics that cannot be replicated. Their story tells us that the charm of basketball lies not only in victory, but also in the process of competition and the growth trajectory of players. In that era when there were no super teams, every star had to strive for honor through his own efforts and teamwork. This spirit may be the most worth remembering.