Shaq comments on Top 5 Centers, including Hakeem (2011)

"This video does not exist"... hmmm.

 

wilt and russell (the worst) are the two most overrated players not just centers in nba history.

dudes played in the early 60s and had no real post moves other than dunks and layups vs the most inferior competition, size, talent, skill, and speed wise in the history of the nba.

I would take ewing, robinson, moses over both of those two let alone shaq and dream.

those two guys are like the babe ruth of basketball. great in their times but could not translate to different eras.

Kareem is the only one from around that time that would translate in any era because he had a skill that was timeless, shoot, the skyhook. Proven when he still played effectively in the 80s.

 

Wilt was effective even when he was old as dirt after playing all game every game for most of his career. Name 1 other player, EVER, that was like that.

 

It's funny, when players are asked who the best Center was, most say Hakeem. When But when Media members are asked, most say either Shaq, Kareem, or Russell. Or as I hear it "Lakers, Lakers, or Celtics" lol

 

Can't speak for Russel but you really don't know anything about Wilt. The man was a beast. His physical abilities were amazing.


- Wilt, unlike other big men, was an amazing leaper. He won the Big 8 in the high jump his junior year of college.

- In college, Wilt was undefeated in the shot put.

- Wilt used to lift weights with Arnold Schwartzenegger and Wilt got his bench press up to 500 pounds.

 

My, I know I'm old compared to the youngsters, but I severely miss the 80s and 90s NBA.. I don't get the connection to the current stars and no one is iconic anymore. From 1985 to 1995 it was all that...

Great interview as well

 

I agree about Russell, most people don't realize that he was only about 6'9 and played in an era where the average Center was like 6'5 or 6'6. Plus, it's easy to block shots when Bob Cousy is the best guard in the league, and he's on your team. Not that Cousy wasn't great, but there weren't many great finishers in that time. Some, but not many.

With Wilt, I agree to a certain point. I think he would have translated better because he had size and power. Lets face it, you can't score 100 points in a game, much less average 50 in a season, unless you really no what you are doing.

But Hakeem would've cooked them both. To me, there are 3 guys you can make an argument for best Center of all time. Hakeem because he did everything, and he wasn't "jack of all traits, master of none" he did it all at the highest level. Shaq because he just physically dominated. He was a freak of nature, in a good way. The most dominant presence ever down low. And then Kareem. I mean come on, he has more points than anyone in NBA history, that alone puts him in the conversation. But what I think sets him apart is that he maintained his success through old age.

Personally, I would take Hakeem over them. But I see why some would take Shaq or Kareem. Anyone else, I dont see much of an argument for.

 

I should add on Hakeem. Another main reason is that he could leave you looking like a fool when guarding him. He's kind of the MJ of big men in that way I think.

 

I can only imagine how many championships Hakeem would have won if he had actually played with another dominant player (by the time Drexler/Barkley showed up, all of them were almost at the end of their respective careers) while Shaq had Penny & Kobe, Kareem had Magic & Oscar, Wilt had Greer as well as inferior competition, Russel had Cousy and Havlicek, yet Hakeem won a championship as well as did damage in the playoffs with Kenny Smith and Otis Thorpe as two of his best teammates.

I'm with MJ. I'll take Hakeem as the greatest center of all time.

 

I missed the part where you gave a basketball skill example.

 

He led the league in assists.

 

That's crazy. Wilt was probably the most gifted athlete to ever play the game. even when he was past his prime he used to block Kareem's skyhooks at their highest point. I'm not sure any player today would be able to do that, and that was Wilt past his athletic prime. And in general he played very well vs. Kareem at the end of his career. If you are going to endorse Kareem, you have to endorse Wilt too, it doesn't make sense otherwise.

 

The Dream could guard EVERY POSITION on the court in addition to being a great shot blocker...

The Dream had great handles and was a better passer than most point guards...

The Dream put up quadruple doubles...

The Dream split the Red Sea and lead a group of roll players to a championship victory...

How many other centers can do that...???

 

The bolded part is not true. Keep in mind, the league was much smaller. Talent was condensed. Nearly every team had a 6'9 to 7ft center.

Re Russell, he was small-ish but very athletic. I don't know if he'd be dominant today. But I imagine at the very least he'd be better than for example Ben Wallace. Especially if he was able to use modern training methods, diet, medical care.

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Wow! That was pretty freaking amazing!

 

Wilt was highly skilled for a big man. I have no idea why you think he wasn't.

 

Seriously?

This is probably the single stupidest post I have ever read on ClutchFans. Wow. It's okay to have a strong opinion about something, just try not to be totally ignorant about what you're discussing.

Wilt was 7'1" and as agile as guys half a foot shorter. Strongest guy in the league. Aggressive, determined attitude. The dude was in this 30s before he finally averaged LESS than 30PPG for a season!

And compared to centers NOW playing? Give me a break -- there's not a single center playing in the league right now that could hold Wilt in his prime under 30, and probably not under 40. Wilt would make Dwight cry.

If here were in his 20s playing in today's NBA, Wilt's stats wouldn't be as ridiculous as they were back then, but he would still average 30+PPG and 15+ RPG, especially against the wimps playing that position nowadays.

Go educate yourself, then come back and talk basketball.

 

Wilt would be awesome in any era (he could get to 13 feet off a one step jump), Russell would be a perennial DPOY candidate, but he'd be more like a Mutombo.