Hakeem Olajuwon should be in the GOAT debate...

[invincible1914]

IMO there are only 4 true contenders for the GOAT in basketball: Jordan, Kobe, Wilt, and Hakeem.

Like Kobe, for some reason Hakeem seems to get the least love of the legit GOAT contenders. Most people list him in the 9-12 range when in reality he's closer to 1-4. A by-product of people's obsession with stats and accolades rather than actual playing ability.

Based purely on the ability to play basketball rather than accolades, Hakeem is AT WORST the 4th best player in NBA history after Kobe, Jordan, and Wilt. His game was FLAWLESS. He had no weakness or holes to speak of. He possesed both elite athletism as well as sublime skill. He was not only the best defensive player of all-time but also the most skilled offensive big man in history. His offensive skill set was so amazing that even guards stood to learn from him.

People need to give this man his respect and put him in his rightful place on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball. Hakeem Olajuwon is arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time.

Dream had a goat 2-3 year peak. He’s my favorite player of all time, but he spent most of his career in that David Robinson “elite for his time range” before spazzing for a short stretch where he was basically unstoppable. He’s and all time great defender though.

 

[invincible1914]

He was a championship level player in the 80s

He was tagged up with Ralph Sampson back then. They used to call him a black hole cause once he got the ball it was never coming back. He was always great, but there was a clear point in his career when something just clicked and he took it to another level.

 

[L&HH]

Hakeem had arguably the greatest peak of any player ever (mvp, dpoy, fmvp ) the problem is after he gets those 2 rings, he falls off a cliff just a few years later. His longevity as a championship level player wasn't as long as the other top 3-5 players.

That's cause he was 30 when he won the second title. A guy that big isn't going to be at his peak well into his mid 30's. Shaq fell off when he got into his 30's as well. He just had Wade to carry him to his last title when he was 33. Duncan got similar assistance with his last ring

 

[VBM]

Funny thing is Admiral won 32 of their 48 matchups against Dream (which includes that infamous playoff series). Pure skills, he's GOAT level. Not sure the resume is good enough for top-5 though.

 

[King Jove]

An example of how important the teammate and GM aspect is tied to individual player all-time rankings. Talent and Production he’s as good as anybody., but he never played with a lot of talent for a consistent part of his career, and when he did he got them to the Finals.

He won a title with no-all star on his team and a declining Clyde Drexler, Imagine if he played with a young Penny Hardaway. Young Kobe, Young Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, and LeBron like Shaq?

 

[VBM]

That's cause he was 30 when he won the second title. A guy that big isn't going to be at his peak well into his mid 30's. Shaq fell off when he got into his 30's as well. He just had Wade to carry him to his last title when he was 33. Duncan got similar assistance with his last ring

Off-topic, but this Duncan got carried in 2014 narrative

2014 WCF
Game 1: 27 pts/7 reb
Game 2: 14 pts/12 reb
Game 3: 16 pts/8 reb
Game 4: 9 pts/6 reb
Game 5: 22 pts/12 reb
Game 6: 19 pts/16 reb

2014 Finals:

Game 1: 21 pts/10 reb
Game 2: 18pts/15 reb
Game 3: 14 pts/6 reb (blowout)
Game 4: 10 pts/11 reb (blowout)
Game 5: 14 pts/8 reb (blowout)

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

9 first round exits

Not his fault, he never had that star player at his side like all of the other greats. He had role players.

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

He was tagged up with Ralph Sampson back then. They used to call him a black hole cause once he got the ball it was never coming back. He was always great, but there was a clear point in his career when something just clicked and he took it to another level.

Facts, it happened when he took his religion very seriously. He used to fight and wild out, but once he added the “H”, he calmed down.

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

If Dream wasn’t a devout Muslim he’d be celebrated way more. Please don’t bring up Ali, because he was an anomaly.

 

[010101]

dream made the post look smooth

if his persona was swaggy as his playing style he'd be a bigger star than diesel is/was

*

 

[TheNig]

Greatest center I've ever seen play.

 

[Houston911]

Nothing is more annoying than hearing people say Duncan PLAYED BASKETBALL BETTER than Hakeem

It’s hilarious watching the reactions of dudes who played against/with both

they seem so offended and disrespected

Hakeem definitely super underrated

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Not his fault, he never had that star player at his side like all of the other greats. He had role players.

Except to be in the GOAT debate, you can't really use a "not his fault" scale. You're in that discussion because of what you've proven and acheived, regardless, of what breaks you had/didn't have, otherwise, we'd be talking about that brother up North who was better than Jordan, that ain't get that break.

Dream's one of my all-time favourite players, but I think a lot of folks blur the lines of his peak and his entire career, where the latter ends up getting romanticized. His peak is undeniable, but before that his play was anything but of GOAT standard. Since he picked up the game late in life, it took him a while to get a feel for it; he had black-hole tendencies, ill-disciplined on defense, and it took him a long time to understand the concept of team-play. He's even spoken about this himself.

 

[Eastside Get The Money]

I don’t think big men will ever be in GOAT discussion. Personally Dream is up there tho

 

[I AM WARHOL]

Top 5 for sure. 2nd most skilled next to Bean. Top 2 Superstar Rings ever.