Whats so funny? no player at that age can say they are in their prime..it is not true...shaq was amazing 3 years ago...the year after..it was only this year he struggled...Shaq is considered by many the most dominate EVER....it is like saying mcgrady is in his prime..so is kobe..when that is totally not true..neither have hit their prime and they won't be quite a few more years yet....Put shaq of 3,2 years ago v Hakeem in his prime and shaq would win the match-up...
Hakeem's 14th-17th years are what bring his career stats and they will eventually bring Shaq's stats down as well (if he plays that long). If you look at Hakeem's stats through 11 years, you get 756 games, 26.33ppg, 13.54 rpg, 3.95bpg, 2.09 spg, and 2.82 assists per game. I don't know about you, but I would take 1.44rpg, 1.34bpg, 1.38spg, and 0.2apg (ok that's a small one hehe) over 1.3 more points a game. What you don't see is that Hakeem averaged these stats playing against stong centers including David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Shaq, and Mutombo when they were young / in their prime, plus some other centers that were heading downhill but still close to their prime during Hakeem's early years like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert Parish, and Moses Malone. Shaq played against Robinson/Ewing/Olajuwon during their downhill years and he was peers with Mourning and Mutombo. Other than that he hasn't played against as many elite centers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Whats so funny? no player at that age can say they are in their prime..it is not true...shaq was amazing 3 years ago...the year after..it was only this year he struggled...Shaq is considered by many the most dominate EVER....it is like saying mcgrady is in his prime..so is kobe..when that is totally not true..neither have hit their prime and they won't be quite a few more years yet....Put shaq of 3,2 years ago v Hakeem in his prime and shaq would win the match-up...</div> BS. there have been hundreds of players including some of the greats who never were as great as they were their first few years including wilt chamberlain. Michael jordan never had the kind of numbers he had his first 4 years
I think Jordan was a better player his middle years than he was during his first four years because he had a more complete offensive game... he improved his jumper a large amount while he was able to keep his explosiveness to the hole. His team also improved.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">BS. there have been hundreds of players including some of the greats who never were as great as they were their first few years including wilt chamberlain. Michael jordan never had the kind of numbers he had his first 4 years</div> But it isn't their prime...As thats what you said.....Prime is when they are near the end of their career..not at the start
Shaq Look ,Shaq was much better than Hakeem! He just dominated the lowpost! Hakeem wasn't really a banger too! He didn't like that... It was kind of Moses against Kareem... Kareem also didn't like to bang down low... Although Kareem still was better than Moses but Shaq is way ahead of Hakeem... Hakeem did more damage in the highpost with that silly jumper of his... That you can block... But you can't block Shaq's dunk... Well, I only saw Shaq getting blocked on a dunk once... Pat Ewing in the allstar game of '96 I think... So the list is : 1.Jordan 2.Shaq 3.Hakeem 4.Barkley 5.Pippen 6.Malone 7.Stockton 8.Ewing 9.Robinson 10.Clyde
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">But it isn't their prime...As thats what you said.....Prime is when they are near the end of their career..not at the start</div> BS. PRIME is when youre at the best part of your career. and shaq never had better overall numbers than his first two years. someplayers are in their prime when theyre youngest. some when theyre near the end. some players never play better ball than when theyre in college and JWill the freak, I think youre a little confused. its not the best players of all time we're talking about its the best of the last 20 years. That means players drafted after 1983 but before 95 or so. wilt and russ were retired by the mid 70s
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">BS. PRIME is when youre at the best part of your career. and shaq never had better overall numbers than his first two years. someplayers are in their prime when theyre youngest. some when theyre near the end. some players never play better ball than when theyre in college </div> Actually no..Shaq had his best year in 99/00...that by many would be considered in his prime not his 2nd season in the league....That was the year L.A won the first of the 3 straight titles...that was when he was in his prime...in 99..he was unstoppable...his best season in his career for sure...He also led Lakers to a 16-1 record in the playoffs.....that record for one shows he could not be stopped..stats aren't the only important thing when deciding when he was better...
I agree 99/00 was Shaq's best year. He was unstoppable and just like AllNet pointed out, the 16-1 playoff record was amazing. I cannot believe Bird & Magic are not on everyone's list. The last 20 years includes the 80's and these two players were the best during that decade. Here is my list 1 - MJ 2 - Magic 3 - Bird 4 - Hakeem 5 - Shaq 6 - K. Malone 7 - Barkley 8 - Stockton 9 - Pippen 10 - Abdul Jabbar
I guess you could argue it either way but in shaqs ffirst year he had almost 14 rebounds a game and over 3 and a half blocks a game which he never did again. In his second year he had 29 points a game which he only did once after his 3rd year and an eye popping .600 fg% (.599) which he never did again. I think its safe to say that was his prime. He wouldve been just as unstoppable in the playoffs then if there werent other dominant centers in the legaue plus michael jordan. and shape, I meant players in the last 20 years as in players drafted after 83 with 8 or moreyears of experience. id be curioius to hear your list under those rules
1 - MJ 2 - Hakeem 3 - Shaq 4 - K. Malone 5 - Barkley 6 - Stockton 7 - Pippen 8 - D. Robinson 9 - Drexler 10 - Kidd
yea I can see that. Maybe Im underrating shaq a bit but I really dont think hes had as great a career as any of these guys. maybe i overrated charles though 1.MJ 2.Hakeem 3.Malone 4. Barkely 5. Stockton 6. Robinson 7. Shaq 8. tie Ewing/Payton 9. reggie Lewis 10. Clyde drexler
both drafted after 1983. Im talking about players who started in the last 20 years. How many times do I have to reiterate this? and no Lebrons or Kobes or players drafted after 1994/5
1. Michael Jordon 2. David Robinson 3. Clyde Drexler 4. Charles Barkley 5. Larry Bird 6. Patrick Ewing 7. Gary Payton 8. Scotty Pippen 9. Sean Eliott 10. John Stockton It was hard for me to put Stockton. I wasn't a real big fan, but I do have to agree that he was a outstanding point guard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting azr&b:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Michael Jordon 2. David Robinson 3. Clyde Drexler 4. Charles Barkley 5. Larry Bird 6. Patrick Ewing 7. Gary Payton 8. Scotty Pippen 9. Sean Eliott 10. John Stockton It was hard for me to put Stockton. I wasn't a real big fan, but I do have to agree that he was a outstanding point guard.</div> and Malone is where??????????
I said it was hard enough for me to put Stockton... I've never been a Jazz fan. And I think that Malone is a winey little biacth. We'll just have to see how well he matches with Shaq...
You may think Malone whines....but fact is..he is one of the best power forwards of all-time...Put up consistant numbers all his career....his 18 years in Utah he was Mr consistant....As far as him whining? well I don't re-call him ever being like that...he has always seemed like a player who just played the game and not caused trouble EVER...A great person to have in the locker room...
