Here in the dog days of summer as we wait for some news, any news, I thought a friendly debate about the greatest players ever would be fun and take our minds of our so far drag of a Blazer summer. Today: Who is the best center ever? I say Wilt. He dominated like no one ever, even leading the league in assists the year he decided to do that. Russ what as great winner, but Wilt was a great player.
Wilt primarily dominated due to his size/strength advantages. I tend to lean towards Kareem in this debate, because his dominance was based a lot more on skill than just size. Plus, the arguments for Wilt are based on stats; the arguments for Russell are based on rings. Kareem had 6 rings, and is the all-time leading scorer, not to mention one of the most dominant college players ever.
Other notable things about Kareem: No one has blocked more shots, played in more All-Star games, won more MVP awards, or played more seasons.
I went Shaq over Chamberlain because of competition. In order I have them listed like this. I included Sabas because you didn't specify NBA center. Shaq Wilt Kareem Sabas (other) Russell Hakeem Walton
Bill Russell: Kiss the rings, bitches. I'd have to say it's a toss up between Wilt and Shaq. However, If Sabonis came over and stayed healthy this poll would look a lot different.
15 years in the league would have put Sabonis near the top of the list. He might be my favorite Blazer ever. He was the best passing center I ever saw.
I would probably place Wilt Chamberlain at the top of the heap, as well. I don't think he was far ahead of later players, as his raw stats suggest due to different environments, but I think he was probably the greatest mix of offense, rebounding and defense. I'd probably rank centers as: Top Tier Wilt Chamberlain Hakeem Olajuwon Shaquille O'Neal Kareem Abdul-Jabbar David Robinson Bill Russell Second Tier Moses Malone Patrick Ewing Bill Walton
I have to say, if you want to talk about a guy who put up dominant stats in a very competitive era, and also was a key person in 6 championships, there's a pretty good argument for Kareem. Wilt put up more dominant stats, but the competition wasn't there. Russel got all the rings, but again, it was playing against a lot of guys who wouldn't even make it to the bench in the modern NBA. Hakeem was great, but if Jordan doesn't retire he probably doesn't win a championship. Even still, he only won 2. Shaq was a more dominant center, but over fewer years and didn't win as many championships. I'd probably put Kareem first and Shaq second. I realize that's pretty controversial, but you have to look at the level of competition back in the Wilt/Russel era. Great competitors need great competition to really prove themselves.
You guys REALLY need to read up about russell. anyone that put in wilt, does not know how russell shut him down EVERY TIME!!!! Seriously he was SICK, read up the wiki stuff about russell vs Wilt. He did not get the points like Wilt, but he was THE defensive king. He would drop off his man to help, and then be quick enough to come back to his man. Wilt's ppg would drop like 14 or something whenever he faced Russell.
I am old enough to have seen Wilt play. Most of the comments here do not give him the credit he deserves. If we are talking individual performance, he is the greatest. If we are talking team performance, Russell is the greatest. If we are talking a blend of both, Jabbar comes pretty close. Wilt was a champion high jumper and short distance sprinter in college. He is probably the greatest athlete to ever play basketball. His stats are inflated because he was that good, and that fast, and that strong. They changed the rules for free throws so he couldn't dunk from the line. Russell could not handle Wilt one on one. Russell was smarter though and played better team defense. Wilt's biggest problem was the jealousy of those around him and his own personal arrogance. It was only by the time he got to LA that he started to play team ball and there he was still dominant as a rebounder and defensive specialist.
I don't know about that. I wouldn't say Russell shut down Wilt every time. Look at their career head-to-head numbers. http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Russell_vs._Wilt
Wow. That's crazy. Chamberlain was so much more dominant than Shaq it isn't funny, and the "competition" argument doesn't hold much sway with me. Did you ever actually see Chamberlain play?
Very little, and I was young, but yes. I'm not going to arue with anyone, unless they choose Walton. It is a personal opinion, and I think you can make cases for Wilt, Kareem, Russell and Shaq as the best center ever.
Yes, I watched him play too (damn we're old!). They also widened the lane because of him. I also think the goal tending rule came in because of Wilt. He has the all time high in rebounding in one game - 55! I once heard that on the day he scored 100 he also set the all time high score on a pinball machine near the arena.
Absolutely right. Some of Chamberlain's individual feats are mind-boggling. The NBA has never changed its rules because of Shaq, but they did because of Chamberlain.
To me it's between Kareem and Wilt. You can make a terrific argument for either one. It depends on what you value more in a player.
Good discussion for now. Enjoy it while you can. In ten or fifteen years, of course, Oden will make it a closed subject.
