Where does Shaq rank all time among NBA centers?
- Thread starter Hanmudog
- Start date
I just can't help but think if Shaq was a better FT shooter how much higher regarded he would be. He was a 52.7 percent free throw shooter, and he missed over 5,000 free throws in his career. That's just amazing to think about the fact he left that many points out there. He shoots 65percent for his career and he might be top 3 for me. I like physical play around the basket, and I don't think there was anyone better than him at that aspect of the game. Just a force around the basket. Fun guy to watch.
How would Wilt stack up against todays players? Every time I see a Wilt highlight, its him (barely) dunking on some 6'4", 200 lb white guy. (Not being racist, just observant)<div>In my eyes, he was one of the only players on the court that even mildly resembled a modern basketball player. </div><div>I really think MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Jabbar, even Shaq might have averaged 50 points against that competition. </div><div>Am I way off base? Am I the only one that thinks Wilt played against JV teams?</div>
This is one of those rivalries I wish I could have witnessed.
<span> <span id="temp-0"><span> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7UsLn9IjEhc?f=videos&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425" allowScriptAccess="never" ></embed> </span> </span> </span>
<span> <span id="temp-0"><span> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7UsLn9IjEhc?f=videos&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425" allowScriptAccess="never" ></embed> </span> </span> </span>
I have often wondered that too but the fact remains that one season Wilt averaged 50ppg and 25 reb. Plus he shagged 25,000 women. Those are incredible numbers in any era.aTotal360 said:
Has anyone ever seen a stat showing the average height and weight for players in the 50's and 60's? I know the speed was not the same as today but Idon't think most of the players wereas smallas some think.
Only the very best players from back then would even have a chance to make a roster now. Yeah, Wilt did play against a lot of 6'5" white guys, but you also had 240 lb offensive linemen blocking for 170 lb. running backs that ran a 4.9 40.
In Wilt's case, if he had a modern S&C program and had grown up in the modern game, I think he'd probably be a pretty good player and maybe a star. He wouldn't average 50 points per game though.
In Wilt's case, if he had a modern S&C program and had grown up in the modern game, I think he'd probably be a pretty good player and maybe a star. He wouldn't average 50 points per game though.
1. Kareem<div>2. Shaq</div><div>3. Wilt</div><div>4. Russell</div><div>5. Olajuwon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">
</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">This ranking is scientifically based off youtube videos and my personal opinion on size, athleticism, nicknames, and SoS.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">
</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Oddly enough, I think Shaq would beat all these guys in the low post game.</span></font></div>
</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">This ranking is scientifically based off youtube videos and my personal opinion on size, athleticism, nicknames, and SoS.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">
</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Oddly enough, I think Shaq would beat all these guys in the low post game.</span></font></div>
1. Russell
2. Chamberlain
3. Abdul-Jabbar
4. O'Neal
5. Moses Malone (as much as I like Olajuwon, the Bulls would have won the '94 and '95 titlesif Jordan weren't playing minor league baseball)
2. Chamberlain
3. Abdul-Jabbar
4. O'Neal
5. Moses Malone (as much as I like Olajuwon, the Bulls would have won the '94 and '95 titlesif Jordan weren't playing minor league baseball)
Shaqwas a liability at the end of games dueto his inability to hit free throws.I think it was Greeny onM&M this morning that said if he was starting a team he would take Hakeem over Shaq and I agree withhim. No freaking way he is ahead of Chamberlain.
<div>Career FT %</div><div>Wilt Chamberlain - .511</div><div>Bill Russell - .561</div><div>Shaq - .527</div><div>
</div><div>I'd put Shaq at #2 greatest ever behind Kareem.</div>
</div><div>I'd put Shaq at #2 greatest ever behind Kareem.</div>
This guy was an awesome athlete who was a track star in High School running the 440, a world class volley ball player. Now, Bill Russell was the greatest team player for a center but played on the best teams in their day. If Wilt was playing today he would still be the greatest, he could do it all but shoot free throw. He dominated the inside in a era that had great all around centers such as Nate Thurman who most of you young puppies wouldn't know. Fact is, at one time Wilt was wanting to fight Ali in his prime and I was one who would have loved to have seen that fight as Wilt had as much confidence and pride as Ali did back then.
Wilt was way better than Shaq, Robinson, Malone, Kareem and all of the rest. Think about this, he led the league in scoring many times, rebounding block shots and one year he led the league in assist. He challenged everybody inside and couldn't be stopped on offense and would do the same now if he was playing.
What a player. Oh, back then the game was played at a slower pace but teams run offenses and didn't play street ball like the game is played today.
Wilt was way better than Shaq, Robinson, Malone, Kareem and all of the rest. Think about this, he led the league in scoring many times, rebounding block shots and one year he led the league in assist. He challenged everybody inside and couldn't be stopped on offense and would do the same now if he was playing.
What a player. Oh, back then the game was played at a slower pace but teams run offenses and didn't play street ball like the game is played today.
Pretty much a stat padder in an era where shots were thrown up like candy. Great athlete no doubt, but not top 5 GoAT and not the best center.
He was unguardable for a 10 yr stretch- and guys fouled him so much to try and stop him the officials just started letting them get away with it because if they didnt, the other team wouldnt have been able to keep a tall player in the game. If Shaq could have made FT's, he would have been the best Center of all-time
1. Chamberlin
2. Lew Alcindor
3. Shaq
4. Hakeem
5. Russell
Walton could have been bigtime had he not done so many damn drugs and worn his body out.
1. Chamberlin
2. Lew Alcindor
3. Shaq
4. Hakeem
5. Russell
Walton could have been bigtime had he not done so many damn drugs and worn his body out.
Shaq was the most physically dominant center the nba has ever seen. He is #1 hands down. Sure he couldnt shoot free throws, so what. Any center on any of your other list, how do they match up in their primes with shaq in his prime. They dont, he would treat them all like rag dolls offensively and defensively.
Unless you argue that Shaq's prime was the time that hakeem embarassed him. Maybe Shaq in his prime could have closed the gap a little bit by beating up on Hakeem a little bit and wearing him down, but he also could have ended up sitting on the bench in foul trouble the whole time. </p>