My friend and I were discussing what Elie said that the Dream was the best he played with. Which he is entitled to his opinion. But I posed this question to my friend how do you judge is the best? Do you go by stats, Rings, MVP's or what ccmbination? I dont disagree that Dream is on a short list of people who could be the best, but when you throw names like russell, or wilt, kareem or any dominating center that ever played who is the best. My friend thinks walton is the best (he and red that is all I am going to say). For example Duncan( many might saw he isnt a center but he plays both positions) could be nominated since he has 2 rings, 2 mvp's in six years but he does have the stats. What about russell 11 rings ( he has to hire someone if he want to wear them all, but is he was in a different era does that disqualify him. I what people be to be objective and no homers on who is the best.
My totally biased opinion: He's probably one of the greatest PLAY-OFF performers (if not THE greatest) of all time (check his numbers ... the dude was able to raise his game (in nearly all aspects) to another level despite intense play-off defenses designed to stop him). I can't say if I can consider him the best player ever, though. It's too hard to make a judgement between all the different players at different positions playing in different eras. I'm content with the opinion that he was just one of the greatest to ever play the game - which ain't bad at all.
I think Michael Jordan is the greatest all round player of all times, but I honestly from the bottom of my heart think Hakeem is the GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER ever!! He is extremely under rated as a defensive player. He is the only center in the TOP 10 steals all time.. and the next center is not even close. Not to mention he is the all time leading shot blocker (I dont care if they did not count Kareem and Wilts block stats). The true understanding comes from actually have being able to watch Hakeem in his prime. He owned the paint! This is also why I believe he is the Best Center of all times. He might not have the 11 rings or the Total Points record, but does that truly define how great a player is? I mean Robert Horry has 5 rings and Karl Malone is gonna overtake Kareem in points. It just goes to show you that there are other variables when deciding who is the GREATEST OF ALL TIMES!
No possible way to determine who was the absolute greatest. Hakeem was a great player, that's enough.
greatest centers of all time goes like this, if u like it or not. 1. Wilt 2. Hakeem 3. Kareem 4. Shaq 5. Russell
I think you misunderstood what Elie was saying on 610. He was asked who is the best player he has PLAYED/coached. He said Hakeem b/c he had to face great centers in the prime like Robinson, Ewing, Mourning, Shaq. He wasn't saying that Hakeem is the greatest player of all time.
I wasent implying that Elie meant that Hakeem was the greatest of all time. I posed the question is he the greatest? I am on and off rockets fan if the Spurs arent playing. So I would be biased to say that he isnt the greatest just for the fact it houston. I am not I know he was a defensive god and a great scorer to he had one of the best two ways game. I wanted to know who was the best.
I think you also have to take how long a great player remained great into consideration. Someone could have had the best year of all time in the NBA then been washed up the very next year. Who knows how good Ralph Sampson could have been if it weren't for those knees ...
I think he is the greatest ALL-AROUND center to ever play. Wilt and Shaq had power, Kareem had grace, the Dream had it all. Whether it was to power someone by backing them down, making a quick drive, putting a whole defense in the popcorn machine with too many moves to count, or just hitting the outside jumper; he was just about unstoppable. Thats not even mentioning his complete dominance defensively (blocks and steal). He dominated at ALL facets unlike the other centers at the top of the list and that's why I believe he is the best.
Like everybody has said, it is hard to say who is the best. Hakeem was the best center during a stretch where 5 of the best centers to ever play the game played. If you look at most of the other eras of basketball I dont think you will find a time when there was more great centers playing than the 90s.
I consider these factors whenever I think about Olajuwon's place in history. 1) The era he played in contained more and perhaps the most dominant centers ever. Ewing, Robinson, O'Neal.. you could even throw in Mutombo, Mourning, etc.. 2) He absolutely dominated his position. Every time he walked onto the floor, he knew he was the best player out there. He took control of games from the starting tip. As Olajuwon did, so did the Rockets. 3) He accomplished AMAZING things for someone barely pushing 6'11" and not always being the strongest guy on the court. Someone his size being the NBA's alltime leading shot blocker is astounding. 4) No one would argue that in his prime he was the most athletic center to ever play, the man ran the court like a gazelle and amazing explosive power. 5) Olajuwon's lack of size in relation to the other centers of his era forced Olajuwon to develop true fundamental basketball skill since he couldn't just throw around shoulders and elbows to get his points and rebounds (see O'Neal, Malone). Watching Olajuwon work his magic in the post would often leave me dizzy.. if the man had the ball inside the 3 point line, you were toast. In terms of skill, he was none-surpassed.
1. Shaq 2. Jabbar 3. Wilt 4. Dream I don't think Dream was the best but he was by far the most entertaining center that I have seen and probaly ever will
During his career, he faced Kareem, Ewing, Robinson, Shaq, Parish and Mourning and he dominated all of them. He was a stud. If Wilt was around, Dream would have dominated him too.
You guys dont know how good Wilt was. He was definatly more atletic then Hakeem...Wilt was 300 pounds(7-2, back then he was listed at 7-1 without shoes), could jump about 40 iniches, and ran the court alot better then Hakeem. Theres noway Shaq could be better then Wilt, Kareem, or Hakeem. He cant take a team to a championsip by him self, he had Penny and now has Kobe, he would be nothing without the two. What did Hakeem? Just a buch of role players.
40inch vert for a 7foot guy? I think if you put Hakeem or Shaq in Wilt's era they would be racking up 50rebounds a game too
