Hakeem was a center throughout his whole career, Sampson moved over to PF when Hakeem came along. Hakeem's averages rose up in the playoffs and had big numbers in prime time games. He loved the limelight and big stage. Your posts are the perfect example of the type of stereo typing Hakeem had to put up with and disprove throughout his career. He had a motor and the ambition to be the best that I would put on par with Magic, Bird, and Jordan. Just because he wasn't the trash talker like Bird and Jordan or the flamboyance of Magic doesn't mean his will to win was less than them. And his African background coming from another country probably made him more reserved in talking to the media, which people like you would say he's just a nice reserved guy.
So why did Barkley not win any at all? What about Malone and Stockton? I'm sure it was because they were content with individual accolades. I'm sure it's bc they lacked heart, desire, and killer instinct. It takes 5. Hakeem played in the deepest era of basketball and still got his. You must be around 20?
went through the motions - How about the Rockets put mediocre talent around him after the 86 finals and wasted many of his prime years? the sizzle ran out - Les and Rudy tried to put together a Big 3 unit around Hakeem so he can extend his career and keep in contention. His body finally started breaking down, that's mother nature.
No I am simply pointing out: Shaq got 4. Magic 5. Jordan 6. Larry 3. Tim got 4. You must not remember that Hakeem was accused of dogging it the year before Rudy T took over. Are you 20? Or don't you remember that?
Steve Kerr has 5. Steve Kerr's killer instinct > Hakeem's by your logic Tim Duncan > Wilt Chamberlain since Wilt only has 2 Hakeem wasn't accused of dogging it. He was accused of faking an injury to get an extension. Dogging it is like playing like crap.
And the Grizzlies barely got their first playoff win this season and you think Rudy Gay is the next Michael Jordan. Look up Hakeem's numbers esp defensively. You don't put up beastly numbers like that and make first team all-nba if you're "dogging it".
This is kind of unfair. Some of these guys at their peak were putting up PERs of 31 or 32. To put stats like that up you have to be very good, but you also have to have the ball in your hands a lot. So if a player went from a team with no superstars or there was a trade where another player came in their PER would suffer. Also it is a lot easier to put up a per of 21 year after year than a PER of 30.
Obviously when we look at championship rings we don't count role players. And yes an argument could be made that Tim was greater than Wilt. Tim got his rings on a team of basically secondary stars in an ear that had him playing the likes of Shaq and Kobe. Teams championships are on par with the greatest accomplishments in NBA history because of the players that he had around him. Wilt HAS to be brought down a notch because championships DO MATTER.
You really need to research Hakeem. Competition and anger were basically all he was early in his career. His competitive spirit never went away, but his anger did, and none of it really had anything to with David Robinson.
Great post, thanks for that. With regards to Wilt, he purposely dialed back his offensive game after being traded to the Lakers. He, in order to win a championship, sacrificed his offensive game and focused on defense and rebounding. Thanks again.
Here is a secret: and any long time rocket fan will admit to it. Hakeem WAS dogging it because he did want to be traded and only Rudy T saved us from him leaving for the clippers. Rudy T was the best thing that happened to Hakeem.
I've conceded that early in his career he was hungrier. Then, for what ever reason, he got lackadaisical and it culminated in the year that the rockets management accused Hakeem of dogging it. After that, luckily Rudy T became coach and convinced Hakeem to stay. Then Hakeem got back on track.
And each of those guys played on what was inarguably one of the most talented (and well coached) teams in the league. How many years was that true for Hakeem? Even when he was leading his team to championships, they were far from the most talented. They had one amazingly talented player, and a number of great role players that fit together extremely well and played hard and smart every night. If Hakeem spent the majority of his prime years with at least one other HOF player (like everyone else on your list except Tim Duncan), he would probably have won more than the two championships.
Rudy T became the Rockets HC in Feb 92. In 91-92, Hakeem averaged 21.6 pts, 12.1 rebs, 1.8 stls, & 4.3 blocks. In the season before (90-91), he averaged 21.2 pts, 13.8 rebs, 2.16 steals and 4 blocks a game in 56 games He may or may not have faked an injury but he never dogged it on the court.
Wilt played in an era where he had to play against the great Celtics teams for much of his career. So I think his rings were just as worthy.
There are many years Hakeem couldn't get out of the 1st round. If he was so great why was that the case. I hate it when people degrade the the 93-94 team just to make hakeem look better. That was a great team led by a great player.
Wow, I didn't expect another one. I thought everyone was against me. It's the truth though, there was a stretch of 4 years when Hakeem wasn't doing squat to get out of the first round of the playoffs. It basically drove Charlie Thomas to an early retirement. But people want to forget how bad it really was, and how people, even rockets fans, were bad mouthing hakeem, saying he sucked.
The only thing Hakeem lacked that Bird, Magic, Jordan, and Shaq had were the hall of fame teammates they had. In Bird, Magic, and Jordans's cases 2-3 hall of fame teammates.
