Who would you want as your franchise big man: Hakeem or Kareem?

These are the questions that keep me up at night. I have Kareem slightly over Hakeem as the best center around, but if I'm playing a pickup game where I die if I lose, I pick Hakeem because he's the better two way player.

I really don't know, I'd be happy with either.

 

Hakeem during his prime -- the best center ever. Jabbar? He was amazing early and aged so well. He also seemed more willing to take a lesser role as he aged. Hakeem wanted to be the man until he couldn't walk anymore. Look at Duncan now, he's a positive force for San Antonio because he gracefully took a backseat. Jabbar might make more sense. Really tough call.

 

It's going to be slighted towards Olajuwon, but considering Kareem was on the downside of his career when played Olajuwon and did get the best of matchups against him earlier on.

Olajuwon might have his handful against Milwaukee Kareem, which I think was when Kareem was at his absolute best. You have keep in mind Dream played against a much older, toned-down version of Kareem. Jabbar said the same thing when he played against Wilt Chamberlain in his twilight, and even said he couldn't be off his game for one second.


Olajuwon had the more advanced post game and sleeker moves, better defense, still Jabbar has the edge rebounding, passing, possibly natural feel for the game, more adept, and is a physical specimen in his own right.


Honestly, I think both players are still not quite as good as Chamberlain. If there were one player I would take over Bird, Magic, MJ, or Kobe. It would Wilt.

You give Wilt a great team, early in his career, that team is winning no less than 8 titles in any decade.

 

How does Hasheem sound?

 

I love the Dream but Kareem has an edge.

Personally, I would pick Hakeem based on what I know about him but Kareem was probably a better player.

 

I seriously didn't like Kareem, so it is hard to be objective. They are both in the "great" category. Not much matters after that.

 

Kareem was 39

 

From a statistical standpoint; it's got to be Kareem, anything else is homeristic to the extreme.

But realistically, it's comparing 6 years of Kareem with 1 championship to 16 years of Dream with 2 championships. Kareem hated the Midwest so much he forced a trade from a 59 win team that had just lost in 7 to the Boston Celtics, to the WORST team in the NBA, the 30 win Lakers. You really have to wonder how badly he'd get excoriated with today's media; leaving a team AFTER winning a championship purely for non-basketball reasons?

For that reason, while I can respect his skills, I'll never be a fan of Kareem, and I'm amazingly glad that I had the good fortune to watch Hakeem growing up. I'd like to think that the humble, quiet way he went about destroying people influenced me in life, the same way that Kareem's arrogance, total dickishness and general prick-ness cultivated the insufferable Laker fans everyone has to deal with today.

 

And won a championhship the year before. Kareem played in Los Angeles, on a team chocked full of All Stars and future Hall of Famers. Yes, he was 39, but Akeem was only in his second year, with many years of learning left to acquire. Jabbar was the crafty vet, still playing at a championship level. Olajuwon was the new kid on the block. That '86 Lakers team was heavily favored, and it was a stunning upset that they lost to the "lowly" Houston Rockets, who were given no chance, even by Houston beat writers like Fran Blindbury.

I would take Olajuwon over Jabbar everyday, and twice on Sundays. Kareem was a great player, deservedly called one of the best in NBA history. The Dream was simply better, in my opinion.

 

Best two centers are Wilt and Kareem. After that there is a significant drop to the Hakeem/Shaq/Russell/Malone tier. Kareem won the title every year he played high school and college ball, then went on to win 6 MVPs and 6 Championships in the NBA, along with the scoring title. Hakeem's career had neither the peak nor the longevity of Kareem's. It is only blatant homerism that has Dream ahead in this poll.

 

And he didn't win more rings because he got too fat.

So what?

 

Kareem Abdul Jabbar was just so dominant I have to go with him.

I think watching Hakeem lose in the 90's to the Sonics and Jazz biases me a little against him.

Kareem had the stats and lots of winning to go with it. He's the all-time scoring leader for a reason.

 

You put Magic and Dream together in their prime and Dream's career becomes top five, easily.

 

I'll go with the guy who was my franchise's center, thank you.

And for all of you who want to move Dream to the 4, learn the history of the franchise and the man.

 

Kareem was better at his peak and his peak lasted longer.

 

Enlighten us.

 

This is certainly a close one and I've been lucky enough to watch Hakeem progress as a player from his early years with the franchise, the championship years, and into his days in Toronto. I am still going with the Dream based on the fact that one has to assume that the game progresses as does its athletes. It's only natural that the game evolves and players are able to build on the skills of their predecessors. I'm going to bat with the ONLY guy that ever won the Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year all in the same season, the one and only, Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon.

 

I'm going with Dream. Kareem is a legend who had phenomenal longevity but he benefited a lot later years playing with the likes of Magic and James Worthy.

I would take Magic Johnson though over Robert Reid, Jon Lucas, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, Scotty Brooks, Dirk Minnifield, Matt Maloney and any other PG that played with Dream.

 

I'd be happy with either one. At this point, I'd be happy just having a player of that caliber on our team. We're in no position to be picky.

 

So you don't recall that when Olajuwon was drafted by the Rockets, they already had a young center that was the number one pick in the draft, who held the record (possibly still does, can't remember) for both the most awards as College Player of the Year and the number of times gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. Who was Rookie of the Year and MVP of the All Star game (and now in the Hall of Fame himself), all accomplished by the time the Dream was just getting his feet wet in the NBA. A guy named Ralph Sampson, who did all that as a CENTER. Olajuwon was so good as a center that Sampson lost his position and became the starting power forward.

Is that enough enlightenment for you? Notice that I didn't write, "Is that enough enlightenment for you, chump?" That would be impolite.