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Where does Hakeem Olajuwon rank among Centers of all-time?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by RocketKobe24, Feb 18, 2009.

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Where does Olajuwon rank as a center of all-time?

  1. He's the GOAT Center

    231 vote(s)
    47.0%
  2. 2nd best center of all-time

    78 vote(s)
    15.9%
  3. 3rd best center of all-time

    97 vote(s)
    19.7%
  4. 4th best center of all-time

    47 vote(s)
    9.6%
  5. 5th best center of all-time

    32 vote(s)
    6.5%
  6. Not Top 5.

    7 vote(s)
    1.4%
  1. RocketKobe24

    RocketKobe24 Member

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    Here are centers that are Top 5 to me, not in order of course.

    Shaq
    Bill Russell
    Wilt Chamberlain
    Kareem
    Hakeem Olajuwon

    I think it's quite clear Hakeem is a Top 5 center of all-time, but where do you think he ranks? Please list your Top 5 list if you don't agree with mine
     
  2. WillG

    WillG Member

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    Rusell is overrated. Ill say hes for sure top 3
     
  3. MLittle577

    MLittle577 Contributing Member

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    I was gonna post this as a poll, but asked if he had played in L.A. or New York, how would he have been recognized? Probably best ever.
     
  4. Summer Song Giver

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    Top 5 but probably not 1 or 2, anything beyond that and you've got a leg to stand on imo.
     
  5. mbiker

    mbiker Member

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    Wilt Chamberlain
    Bill Russell
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Shaq
    Hakeem Olajuwon
     
  6. Republic

    Republic Member

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    Hakeem is #1. No other center compares. Hakeem would run circles around any of these guys. In fact, he did.
     
  7. Blake

    Blake Contributing Member

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    Wilt
    Kareem
    Hakeem
    Shaq
    Russell
     
  8. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

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    Rocket ... Kobe ... ug.
     
  9. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Your Tweety Bird dance just cost us a run

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    he did? please show me the footage of hakeem vs. wilt/russell!! you have the GOAT videos, clearly..
     
  10. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost not wrong
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    If i'm building a team, give me Hakeem.

    No one did it on both ends of the floor like him.
     
  11. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Your Tweety Bird dance just cost us a run

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    same for me
     
  12. AntiSonic

    AntiSonic Member

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    Have to agree with this.

    Chamberlain is the only guy that I wouldn't pick Hakeem in a heartbeat over.
     
  13. RocketKobe24

    RocketKobe24 Member

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    In my opinion he is either 4th or 5th best. Sorry guys, but I think what Russell, Wilt and Kareem did during their careers was just incredible. Russell with his 11 rings, and he led doing that with his defense and rebounding. Russell also claimed himself a better offensive player than defense, I have link if you want proof.

    Kareem, I think it's obvious he's better than Hakeem, It's nothing to be ashamed about to be honest. Kareem was dominant as a Buck and as a Laker, he dominated on both ends as well. People say if Blocks counted when Kareem was a rookie he probably would have more blocks than Hakeem.

    Wilt? Arguably the most dominant center ever he and Shaq. Averaging 50 PPG? Unbelievable stat and nobody will ever do that again. Although they did play in a weaker ERA, There are not many players who can do that, he had rings as well.

    It really just comes down to Shaq and Hakeem for me.
     
  14. Spacemoth

    Spacemoth Contributing Member

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    1. Kareem
    2. Hakeem
    3. Shaq

    I'm sorry but anybody before the Doctor J era has little legitimacy in my mind. Dr. J instituted a new kind of athleticism around the league, but before him the kind of guys like Wilt and Russell were going up against were undersized AND slow. Kareem I put over Hakeem because sometimes in basketball moves can overcome athleticism. Kareem has the scoring record for a reason--he was just unstoppable, simple at that. It was pretty like Hakeem made the game look, but it worked.

    Kinda like comparing Tim Duncan to Kevin Garnett. Garnett is a specimen but Duncan just gets the job done better.
     
  15. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

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    Horrible name.

    Are you a Rocket fan or a Kobe fan OP? Cause Heaven knows you can't be both son.
     
  16. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    Depends how you look at it. If you want to count it in wins its easily Russell. Longevity, easily Jabbar (Emmitt Smith rule). Dominance at any one time, Shaq. Statistically, Chamberlain...

    But no one had the combo of power, agility, at both ends, like Hakeem. During his prime there is no center that could have possibly stopped him. At his peak, Olajuwon would have mopped the floor with anyone.

    My only knock on Hakeem is that his desire seemed to wane as he got older and had the 2 rings under his belt. Could have been injury and age though.
     
  17. RocketKobe24

    RocketKobe24 Member

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    Kobe is my favorite player, Rockets are my favorite team. I've been a fan of Kobe since he's came into the league. Unless that's illegal.
     
  18. iconoclastic

    iconoclastic Member

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    1. Russell
    2. Hakeem
    3. Shaq
    4. Kareem
    5. Chamberlain

    In terms of winning, not in terms of who was more entertaining to watch or had the better conventional statistics. You can't argue with being the captain of 11 championship teams.

    Hakeem's quickness and fire were undeniable. But he did beat Shaq in their only championship matchup.

    Shaq was the sledgehammer to Hakeem's paintbrush. In his prime no one could even slow Shaq down.

    Kareem's longevity and productivity counts for something. A little boring, but still great.

    Greatest stats of all time.
     
  19. RocketBlood

    RocketBlood Contributing Member

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    Top 3 all time!
     
  20. Gerrard

    Gerrard Member

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    Top 5, to me there isn't a clear cut 1 2 3 4 or 5 in the center position so in any order the top 5 were Shaq, Kareem, Russel, Chamberlain and Olajuwon.
     

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