The other night, Van gundy was talking about how the Rockets and Lakers are one of the few teams who have had like 3 or more great centers. Anyone think of another team who has had several great centers? Also who would win when you matched up the centers?
Depends on how you define great lets see: Some with only two. Philly: Malone, Chamberlain GS/Warriors: Thurmond, Chamberlain (actually started together for a year or so) Boston: Russell, Parish, Cowens Washington: Bellamy, Hayes, Unseld, Malone (Hayes was more of a PG though) Im sure there are a few more that I can not think of.
all those listed are impressive lists of quality centers but i don't quite think they compare to: Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabar, O'neil or Malone, Olajawon, Yao! (though honestly it's a bit early to call Yao a great center)
How about Hayes, Malone, Sampson (former rookie of the year, all-star mvp), Hakeem Olajuwan and Yao Ming.
Calling Ralph Sampson "great" is stretching it a bit... Derrick Coleman won the NBA rookie of the year and Tom Chambers won an all star game MVP...I wouldn't call either of them great...
The thing is, until injuries killed his career, Sampson WAS great. For four years, he was a GREAT C. If he'd stayed healthy, he would've been up there in the same class as Robinson, Ewing and so on . . . Our twin-towers of Dream and Sampson could've dominated for many, many years. Too bad Sampson didn't have Yao Ming's legs . . .
