If Yao Ming develops as expected, Moses Malone (a sure hofer) will be the 3rd best center in Houston history. Did any team have 3 players of that caliber at center (or any other position)? Houston: Hakeem, Yao, Moses (and cool names) The only 3 that may be better is the Lakers: Wilt,Jabbar,Shaq
Another nice trio is the Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors with Wilt, Nate Thurmond, and Robert Parish (though most of his good years were with Boston) Lots of teams have had two: New York (Ewing and Willis Reed) Milwaukee (Alcindor and Bob Lanier) San Antonio (Duncan and Robinson) Boston (Russell and Parish) Heck, you could even reach with Walton and Sabonis in Portland...
Yao is already showing signs of greatness. We are experienceing history before our eyes. Yao will be one of the top five center ever. 1.dream 2.Shaq 3.yao 4.russell 5.jabbar
i prefer 1. Hakeem 2.Yao 3. Wilt 4. Jabbar 5.Russel Call me biased, but I really do not like Shaq very much.
Any list of the best centers that doesn't begin: 1. Wilt 2. Kareem is not a very good list. Sorry Hakeem fans, but he is no better than 3rd, and arguments could be made for Shaq and Russell to pass him as well.
how about the Vancouver Grizzlies? Bryant Reeves Benoit Benjamin Tony Massenburg unstoppable. no, but for real: 1. Wilt 2. Shaq 3. Russell 4. Kareem 5. Dream and i think that both Yao and Duncan have the potential to get get on that list...if they both keep progressing.
I think Duncan could make that list too.................... IF HE EVER PLAYED A MINUTE OF CENTER IN THE NBA. he's a power forward guys. he plays the four. David Robinson was always their center. For several years, Kevin Willis has been their back up center. Duncan has never played any center. This year may be the first they even think of sliding him to the center position but he's still listed as their power forward with Rasho Nesterovic playing the center. I've always wondered why people like to call Duncan a center but they never call Karl Malone, Chris Webber, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand or any other power forward a center. What's that all about? As to my top list of centers- 1. Wilt (though I really think he'd have gotten owned by a Shaq. He dominated with size and Shaq is several inches taller and has never been less than 40 pounds heavier since he's been in the league. He's about 70 pounds heavier now. But none the less, Wilt was the most dominant center of his era ever.) 2. Kareem 3. Dream 4. Shaq 5. Russell 6. Moses
I agree that Wilt and Kareem should be the first two choices (although maybe not in that particular order) and should Shaq regain his throne that Mr. Duncan has seized, it's very possible to take the number two spot.
Keep in mind, I'm a Spurs fan: Wilt - 100 points in a game and averaged 50 (1962), led the league in assists (1968), shot .727 (1973). He may have played against inferior opponents compared with more modern players, but to dominate this thoroughly requires excellence Jabbar - Neither Magic, nor Oscar Robertson, won rings without him. The skyhook was the all-time least stoppable move in the history of sport. Hakeem - Slight edge over Robinson, Hakeem's advantage lies in his shotmaking - Robinson never did develop a useful go to move, let alone match the array that Hakeem did Robinson - See above Shaq - If Shaq bothered with defense and shotblocking, I'd put him above Hakeem. Hakeem, and Robinson, are committed defenders; Shaq can swat the hell out of point guards every three or four games
1. Chamberlain 2. Russel 3. Jabbar 4. Hakeem 5. Shaq We dont know what kind of center Yao will be, but right now he seems to be leaning towards the Walton/Robinson kind of type...Can he crack the top 5? I dont know...
The only thing that can stop Yao is his future health. Im worried that he will only have about 5-6 productive years.
At his height, he is bound to come across foot problems. If you look at the history of centers that were taller than 7'2", then you would see this common trend. Mix that with the fact that he plays summers in China, then you could run into a problem. Now, Im not saying that this will happen, but the odds are against him.
Possible but what is odd about Yao is that he is a giant who doesn't look like a giant. He actually looks really coordinated meaning he moves like you or I would move. This is what makes Yao so special. Aside from this point, the NBA has a huge investment on this guy Yao meaning they want to protect him and make him look look good. Don't forget the NBA is a business first before it is a sport. Therefore, if the NBA wants to expand into asia they want to make Yao look good as possible.
