Does anyone else think Ben Wallace has a good chance if healthy of beating toping Hakeem's blocked shot record before his career is over? I was worried Mutombo might one day but dosent look like he will now.
Doesn't even look close...He needs another 3 000 blocks...He's 29 so he may have another 6 or 7 years to go...do the math, that's a lot of blocks each year...
29? gee I didnt know he was that old... ohwell, I wonder if anyone will ever get there? not an easy task.
I always thought Zo had a chance until he had his kidney problem. He was a shotblocking machine in his prime, Hakeem's record will be safe for a while probably.
I don't think Hakeem's record will be in any danger for a long time. There aren't that many guys with a realistic shot, but here are those with the best shots: [Hakeem, 3830 blocks, 3.09 BPG] Dikembe Mutombo, 2885, 3.32, 37 years old Shawn Bradley, 1986, 2.85, 31 years old Theo Ratliff, 1291, 2.69, 30 years old Tim Duncan, 1143, 2.51, 27 years old Ben Wallace, 1017, 2.18, 29 years old None of these guys are projected to break Hakeem's record. Dikembe needs to have about 4 more productive seasons to come close, and I don't see that happening. Ben Wallace may have the best chance assuming he can average over 3.5 BPG for another 10 years, which also is a long shot in reality. Duncan just isn't averaging enough BPG to make it. And Shawn and Theo are both relatively old, inconsistent and/or oft-injured.
SOme of the younger players with that potential to break the record in my opinion are: Nene Hilario(He's still very raw, but he can reject with the best of em) Tyson Chandler( The guy is 7-2, and just may be able to turn into an enforcer) Akirelinko ( the sleeper - hes very underrated, the guy blocks more than many Centers)
He's great and all, but I havent really seen the weakside blocks roll in like they did with The dream
Patience, my friend. Yao's still young, has plenty of time to learn, is a willing learner, and has height to his advantage. As I can recall, nearly all of the NBA players over 7'4" have been accomplished shot blockers despite a lack of athleticism. That includes Eaton, Bol, Bradley, Sampson, and Muresan. And Yao is definitely more athletic than all maybe except for Sampson, who's 2 inches shorter. Time will tell.
I think Yao deters too many challengers when he's under the basket. Hakeem sort of blended in with the others, and came out of nowhere to swat a bunch of shots.
They are decent shotblockers, but they are nowhere close to Olajuwons level. Tyson Chandler averages something like 1.5 blocks a game, that's not even close to the league lead. At that pace he would have to play for 30 seasons or so to break the record. Kirilenko blocks like two shots a game, Nene averages less than 1! Olajuwon averaged 3 a game for his entire career. There's a lot more to shot blocking than being tall and having long arms; Olajuwon and Wallace prove that.
