NBA Rank top 10 Center's ever

[FTBS]

Center is one of the most decorated positions, sure, but once again the problem is defining what makes player X better or worse than player Y. Tracy Mcgrady at his peak was better than Ray Allen, but Ray Allen had a better overall career. Do we give Russell credit for sacrificing his own stats for the sake of his team?

I tend to fixate on "impact" which I admit is fairly nebulous itself. I also like to distinguish a player's peak performance from his overall performance. For example, D Rose before the injuries was a top 3 PG easily. Base on "peak performance" and "impact" Shaq from 99 to 2003 was possibly even more valuable than Jordan

I go mostly by impact and longevity. Shaq played with Penny, Eddie and Nick, Kobe, Rice, Wade, Pierce, STAT, Allen, LeBron (probably leaving someone out, damn near forgot Bron ) at or near their primes and flabby GP, Malone, Zo, and KG and won 4 rings in 20 years. During that "peak" he was a Brian Shaw hot streak and a Robert Horry 3 from only winning 1 ring with Kobe in a league that was still reeling from expansion. People hype up this period because he won and the dearth of quality bigs.

 

[Remote]

Yao isn't a what if though, 25/9, 22/11, 22/10.


He was the best center in the league by a wide margin

For a while

 

[Malta]

For a while

So your cousin Al Horford isn't a good center either?

 

[Goatpoacher]

I go mostly by impact and longevity. Shaq played with Penny, Eddie and Nick, Kobe, Rice, Wade, Pierce, STAT, Allen, LeBron (probably leaving someone out, damn near forgot Bron ) at or near their primes and flabby GP, Malone, Zo, and KG and won 4 rings in 20 years. During that "peak" he was a Brian Shaw hot streak and a Robert Horry 3 from only winning 1 ring with Kobe in a league that was still reeling from expansion. People hype up this period because he won and the dearth of quality bigs.

It's easy to forget, however, that young, unrefined Shaq went head to head with historically great centers and matched or exceeded them while these other centers were in their primes.

Also, there is no Center even TODAY that could have guarded Shaq 1 -1. Timmy couldn't guard him.

 

[Columbo]

Maybe im the only one who always thought Ewing was slightly better then Robinson

 

[Remote]

So your cousin Al Horford isn't a good center either?

He married Miss Universe.
He won on a different level.

 

[Juggalo Fred]

Im not understanding why Shaq is being rated so low...


I mean...

Did anybody see him play? This nikka was flat out unstoppable

Hakeem stopped him

 

[Malta]

He married Miss Universe.
He won on a different level.

If I were a star, Amara La Negra would already be on our second child.

 

[Juggalo Fred]

Maybe im the only one who always thought Ewing was slightly better then Robinson

Me too


Robinson being ahead is a product of the gotta have a ring era we live in even tho he needed Duncgawds help

 

[FTBS]

It's easy to forget, however, that young, unrefined Shaq went head to head with historically great centers and matched or exceeded them while these other centers were in their primes.

Also, there is no Center even TODAY that could have guarded Shaq 1 -1. Timmy couldn't guard him.

Why do people constantly harp on this? There are a lot of players that can't/couldn't be guarded 1 on 1. That applies to every halfway decent offensive player in history. Ironically the teams that played him straight up usually fared better. shyt, who could he guard? And don't let a team run that pick and roll.

Shaq also copped L's to those centers (usually sweeps) with comparable or superior talent.

 

[BXKingPin82]

theres only but so many REALLY GREAT centers so its whatever to me long as Kareem at the top

 

[TrebleMan]

I don't know guys, part of me believes prime Shaq would handle Kareem like he did David Robinson.

7'2 225 is way too frail vs Shaq.

 

[Goatpoacher]

Why do people constantly harp on this? There are a lot of players that can't/couldn't be guarded 1 on 1. That applies to every halfway decent offensive player in history. Ironically the teams that played him straight up usually fared better. shyt, who could he guard? And don't let a team run that pick and roll.

Shaq also copped L's to those centers (usually sweeps) with comparable or superior talent.

Shaq was always a big enough presence to basically shut down the lane even without having to try as hard as say, Mutumbo or Zo back then. But you seem to also ignore how those games played out. If Shaq was guarded one on one, he scored so easily it was absurd. usually he got fouled as well. If he was doubled he often still scored but he was also a remarkable passer.

I hated watching shaq play back then because it was so unfair to opponents. He used to dunk the ball with players draped on his back. He broke the fukking game. Tim Duncan, as historically great as he is, didn't have that much of an outsized impact on the game in his best years.

 

[Juggalo Fred]

theres only but so many REALLY GREAT centers so its whatever to me long as Kareem at the top

Even though Russell is better?

 

[BXKingPin82]

Even though Russell is better?

If he WAS then I'd have him before Kareem :methstop: