Hakeem is the best center all time. Wilt and Russell were just average players in today's standards playing against non-athletic scrubs back in the days. Only old timers sitting in their wheel chair would bust a nut over those stupid old timer athletes. Screw the old timers. Hakeem is the best. Hands down.
This is the problem with comparing across eras, numbers and accomplishments (like Russel's rings) don't mean ****. You had to have actually seen the guy play and name some of his skills that were supreme and compare those instead, and since I wasn't alive when he played I won't do it. But just saying he led a (much smaller) league in such and such isn't saying much.
I have seen tons of footage of Wilt. I saw Hakeem play many times. I never missed his playoff games. Hakeem was every bit as good, or better.
Bomani Jones and Micheal Smith gave some love to The Dream today on Around the Horn; Said Shaq is still behind Hakeem on the all time center list. Plaschke was outraged.
I've been watching the Rockets since they first came to Houston, so I got to see Wilt play his final two years. At that point, Wilt was past his prime, but he still was a beast in the middle. The Lakers had a very talented team, so Wilt was not needed to do all the work on offense. The Lakers surrounded Wilt with players like Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Happy Hairston, and Jim McMillian. In his final two seasons Wilt still averaged close to 20 rebounds per game. And although he was past his prime at this point, he still played against and had good games against opposing players like Bob Lanier and Abdul-Jabbar. I love Hakeem, but I will always think of Wilt as the best player of all time.
What. The. Hell? I even left a comment. What utter crap. No his not what? Confused. Absolutely true. The guy could do anything at will...post up, hit jumpers, defend like a madman, pass. Amazing talent. Duh. Plaschke has been making his money writing literary handjobs for the Lakers for 15 years.
Wilt did something that nobody ever did, I think he deserves to be the best center of all time. Kareem and Hakeem tied at second.
Wilt did a lot of things that no other player ever did. The NBA changed rules specifically to help opposing players compete against Wilt.
All of those guys played for the Lakers or the Celtics. Had Hakeem played with Jordan or played on the Celts/Lakers, he'd be there. You can't argue with people really...so what do I say. Inch for inch, pound for pound, Hakeem Olajuwon was the greatest center ever. Usually no one can argue with that.
These losers(media people outside of houston) then dish out something like.. hey, houston, there is no such thing as an east coast bias. You guys are just insecure. In reality, the Bias exists and it's same bias that keeps someone like Guy Lewis out of the hall of fame. It's a shame.
Yes, I may be biased...but Hakeem definitely needs to be considered a top 5 center of all time. But, referring to the question, I would have to go with Wilt Chamberlain. Although I am too young to experience him in person, from what I have researched, he is one heck of player and one of the most unstoppable forces that basketball has seen.
I like your style Will Samples. I think we can become friends. I know the Samples size is pretty small, Will, but I think you can be one of the top 5 posters on this BBS of all time.
