I think many of them are too young to know what Hakeem could do at his prime. here's the monster #s Hakeem did when young: Avarage 27.8 ppg (94'-95') Avarage 14.0 rpg (89'-90') Avarage 4.59 bpg (89'-90') Avarage 3.6 apg twice Avarage 2.6 spg (88'-89') I like Yao Ming but I don't think he'll ever avarage those #s in any time of his career. I'd be happy if he has Hakeem's rookie #s: 20.6 points 11.9 rebounds (5.4 offensive) 2.68 blocks 1.21 steals
From a statistical standpoint, I agree that it will be very difficult for Yao to achieve the kind of production that Hakeem did in his prime. But I think at least some of that has to do with the way the game's played today vs. in Hakeem's younger days. I don't believe you had the kind of sophisticated defensive schemes in the 80s and early 90s that exist today. It's much harder for one player to dominate offensively from bell to bell than it was. It's the old problem of comparing players from one era to another. Would Hakeem have scored 50 ppg in Wilt's time? Look at this way: how many MVP awards is Yao capable of collecting in his career? Hard to say at this point, but he seems to have the potential to earn at least one or two.
If he touches the ball only a few times a game, not very much. He needs many more touches to get in a rhythm. He will never be an Hakeem, but he could become an All Star player. I expect that progress will be slow, the jury will be out for a long time.
Hakeem dominated the game in an era filled of elite centers: Parish, Ewing, Robinson, Mutombo, Shaq, Morning and today, Shaq is the only threat for Yao. who has the tougher competetion?
