Shaquille O'Neal is the most dominating big man of all-time

Wilt's athleticism will make Shaq look even dumber by dropping his jaw to the ground.

Wilt could dunk the ball from the FT line. He was a bad FT shooter so he chose to dunk it instead. The league didn't want to see the NBA becoming Wilt's one man show, so they moved the FT line further out just to limit Wilt's dominance.

Beside, Wilt's stamina would blow Shaq out of the roof. If not how do you possibley explain averaging a ton of minutes on the court and screwing 20000 women off the court?

 

OK chief, whatever.

But your huge proclamation appears to say that Wilt was #1 until Shaq. Is everyone "blind" for disagreeing with that, for saying Russell was better than Wilt.

Look, Hakeem Olajuwon and Bill Russell were the two best defenders of all time. No one really even comes close. For that reason, they make their teams better, because their teams can play more aggressive defense.

When trying to win a championship, I take Hakeem over Shaq anyday. And scores of people take Russell over Wilt.

The game is played on both sides of the court with 5 teammates. There are other issues to consider, like that it clearly isn't blind to think Hakeem could fluster Shaq enough to draw even with him, which wins a series every year based on Hakeem making his teammates better on defense and offense.

So what is it? Is it Shaq or is it due to the "greatest duo in league history." What do you think would have happened if Hakeem got matched with Jordan, Magic, or Bird. Huh?

A-Train,
Wilt didn't have the grace or speed of Hakeem or Russell. And saying he had the court awareness of Walton, to me, is utter disrespect for how amazing Walton was and what the different levels of court awareness there are.

I do agree that Shaq doesn't play against HOFers. That is the best point about comparing Shaq to Wilt.

 

It depends on what rules you are using. In Wilt's day, most of the contact that Shaq get's away with today would not have been allowed.

 

The two Most Dominant -- Wilt and Shaq. Both four letter names. Coincidence?

 

If you guys want to use stats to compare players, make sure you adjust them. There were a lot more rebounds available and a lot more points scored per game back then. A lot. Games were played at a very fast tempo in comparison to today's game. So, 20 rebounds then isn't nearly as impressive as 20 rebounds now would be.

 

I am not sure about this conclusion. Dennis Rodman was able to get around 20 RPG one year wasn't he? And I don't think he was the rebounder Wilt was.

...On the best of all time...

Shaq right now IMO is at best the 3rd best center of all time--behind Wilt and Kareem.

Honestly I have little doubt if you placed Wilt, Kareem, Shaq or Hakeem with the all-star filled roster Russell played with those Celts teams would not have missed a beat. That is also why (competing against a whole Eastern Conference all-star team int he Celts) Wilt only ended with 2 rings I think--the same number as Hakeem and only 1 less than Shaq. If you go by rings--I think you have to end with Kareem as the best.

...More on Wilt...

Those who played against Wilt said he was unbelievably strong. Maybe not stronger than Shaq--but he certainly could overpower Hakeem (as Shaq was one of the few who could), Duncan, or Robinson. One similar thing is both Shaq and Wilt could have broken people left and right--but they were fairly non-retalitory to being fouled.

Another interesting bit about Wilt. He was a 7 FT+ high jumper (NCAA champ or finalist I think), and not only the best basketball player in the world at the time but also the best volleyball player in the world. Shaq might be stronger in the lower body (maybe not in the upper body)--but Wilt was a more unique blend of athleticsm. Further, where as the rules today help players like Shaq (e.g., defenders can't camp out in the lane, the give offensive players the advantage on all but the most blatent contact plays initiated by the offfensive player, allowing the brute power game) the previous rules (no dunking, play any defense, the creation of goal tending, restricting power play) were designed to slow players like Wilt.

In sum if you start out with a question like who is the most dominant big man of all time you have to start and end the debate with Wilt.

 

phi

If it is about RINGs. . . then it is ALL RUSSEL!!

Rocket River

 

Bah.....I'd still take Dream over both of those fruits.

 

Shaq is way more dominant.
Wilt would be average today.
But he was a monster back then.
Imagine Shaq back then.
Shaq is probably much stronger than Wilt ever was.
Yeah..Wilt was good. But it was easier back then.

Of course! Hakeem was also great for a period!

 

Wilt led the league in assist one year. Do you know why? Because he wanted to, he called his shot and did it. He was college sprinter. He's the best athlete the NBA has ever seen and he would be dominant today. Period.

Shaq's a great athlete also, he's not a big lug like some people imply. Hakeem's a better all around player, but between the two, if I need one game to win, I'm taking Shaq.

 

That's the single most ignorant basketball statement I've ever heard or read on this bbs.

 

Play-By-Play Commentator: "Oh, my goodness. Shaquille O'Neal fouls out again!"

Color Commentator: "Unbelievable! That's the 17th time this season and we're not even at the All-Star break! You would think that this guy could figure out how to stop charging on every single play."

Play-By-Play Commentator: "Yeah, this guy is strong and has a lot of potential, but he won't last long in this league, if he can't learn to play under control."

Color Commentator: "What's going on in this guy's head? Does he really believe that the refs won't call such obvious offensive fouls?"

 

Damn, A-Train. I have to say that when you want to get serious, you are one kickass poster! However, I do like the funny stuff as well, but that is a great post.

Cabbage,

I know that you are frustrated like me and everyone else here about the Rockets missing the playoffs again, but damn, man, don't drown your sorrows by becoming a Shaq lover. Sheesh.

 

Sheesh! Well sorry!

He was more athletic and dominant than MJ?

 

To answer your question, in my opinion, yes. Especially given that Wilt did the things he could do at 7'1".

Read the stats. Rules we're made to slow down Wilt, virtually to no effect. You know why the lane was widened? Wilt. Why the rule was made that you had to keep your feet planted when shooting a free throw? Wilt. Wilt Chamberlain was the single most dominant athlete ever to play in the NBA. Read about him and his accomplishments in the NBA and in other sports. The guy was a sprinter, a high-jumper, threw the shot put....Wilt was simply amazing. The guy was such an amazing specimen that there were attempts to get him to come out of retirement when he was in his 50's.

I'm not knocking MJ, Dream, or anyone for that matter. Shaq is an incredibly dominant player; the most dominant today by a long shot. Wilt was just more so, imo. Of course its nearly impossible to compare eras, but to say it was "easier back then," and that Wilt would "just be average today," truly shows a lack of knowledge about the game. Especially when you consider the Hall of Famers Wilt played against.

And don't think I believe this because I'm "old." I'm only 27 and I was brought up on Dream, MJ, and the other stars who made up the draft classes of the mid-'80s.

Wilt was a freak.

 

Whether Wilt or MJ was the better basketball player is a tough question to answer. Whether Wilt is a better overall basketball player than Hakeem is also a somewhat tough question to answer. Whether Wilt was more dominant and more athletic than Jordan is an easy question to answer however. Given Wilt's track and field success, and fact he was the best player in the world in 2 different team spots simulatanously, the fact Jordan unlike other pro athletes of his time couldn't even succeed in a 2nd sport at a high level (Bo, Dein, Brian Jordan are other guys who could compete at the highest level in two major sports)--it is obvious to me who was the greater or more dominant athlete.

 

Also....
I didn't mean to be rude. You can make an argument that Shaq is more dominant; that MJ is the greatest; that Dream was better than Russell....the list of comparisons can literally go on and on and on with a definite conclusion being impossible to make.

So argue away, by all means. But I gotta tell you, your comments were ignorant. You are the first person I've ever heard say that about Wilt.

Like someone upstream said, Wilt lead the league in assists because he wanted to. Someone back then was giving Wilt crap about only being a scorer, and Wilt said, "I'll lead the league in assists this year." And he did. By a lot, I believe, and still managed to score a bajillion points per game.

 

This is from www.NBA.com:

 

Lynus, you need to keep in mind that its probably Littley1521 just with a new moniker. Same posting style and frequency. With that, your post should be applied to everyone of his/her posts.

 

I wonder how many posters actually saw Wilt back in the day. The man was a giant among his peers as Shaq is today.

A battle between the two would have been clearly epic.

If nothing else neither combatant would have been intimidated.