Top 5 centers of all time?

[jonathanlambert33]

In honor of Shaq's retirement, who are your top five centers of all time? Here's mine:

1- Wilt Chamberlain
2- Bill Russell
3- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4- Hakeem Olajuwon
5- Shaquille O'Neal

You know, I'd even say that Wilt is the most dominating player in NBA history.

 

[Pugz]

1. bill russell
2. wilt chamberlain
3. lou alcindor
4. shaq
5. george mikan/hakeem

 

[jonathanlambert33]

What makes you put Russell before Wilt? Just curious.

Nice avy too.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

1) Wilt
2) Kareem
3) Russell
4) Shaq
5) Hakeem

 

[Pugz]

rings, rebounding, coaching ability, defense, and smarts. its not like i have him beat by a huge margin. ive just always had bill as my number one. hes up there for top players, period.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

rings, rebounding, coaching ability, defense, and smarts. its not like i have him beat by a huge margin. ive just always had bill as my number one. hes up there for top players, period.

Personally, I could put up the argument that Wilt is the best player EVER, over MJ. It's opinion though.

 

[Pugz]

Personally, I could put up the argument that Wilt is the best player EVER, over MJ. It's opinion though.

ive been there with wilt and bill. i dont normally pick the best ever. i do my ranking by position. you cant honestly pick the best PLAYER. scorer, rebounder, passer, teammate. overall player is just sooooo hard for me. mj is right there though so no one think im not saying he isnt

 

[jonathanlambert33]

ive been there with wilt and bill. i dont normally pick the best ever. i do my ranking by position. you cant honestly pick the best PLAYER. scorer, rebounder, passer, teammate. overall player is just sooooo hard for me. mj is right there though so no one think im not saying he isnt

Lol it seems like the widespread opinion is that MJ is the best to ever play the game. But I mean Wilt, the man averaged 50 points and 26 rebounds PER GAME during one season. The next season he averaged 45 and 24 per game, his career averages are 30 points and 23 rebounds per game. Words can't describe how dominate that is. When people said all he does is score, he went out and averaged 9 assists per game over a season.

 

[Pugz]

people argue the fact that wilt and bill didnt play the players that play today. mj played in what many consider the best years of the nba. im on the fence, lol.

 

[Elite]

The game was just so different when Wilt played, nobody played defense and it was a much more up-tempo game

 

[The Young One]

Wilt with all the technology today would still be the best big in the league if he played today. He was a athlete freak and actually had skills. He was just too nice and thats where Russell got him at.

 

[bosoxlover12]

The game was just so different when Wilt played, nobody played defense and it was a much more up-tempo game

Excuse me?

Bill Russell is the best defensive bigman on all time. He stopped Wilt many times, despite a 4-5 inch height difference

No defense? Lol

 

[SaintFan25]

1- Wilt Chamberlain
2- Bill Russell
3- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4- Hakeem Olajuwon
5- Shaquille O'Neal

Exact same as my list.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Great minds think alike, we're also both Saints fans.

You see where I'm going with this?

 

[DJT]

I think its real hard to compare Shaq to these older guys. The game was 100% different back in Wilt's day...

 

[elcheato]

Wilt played in a time where the team who scored the least amount per game, was putting up 112 ppg.. He's not the best.

 

[DJT]

Wilt played in a time where the team who scored the least amount per game, was putting up 112 ppg.. He's not the best.

Also I think most of the players were smaller guys. Weren't they?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Wilt played in a time where the team who scored the least amount per game, was putting up 112 ppg.. He's not the best.

That doesn't take away from his overall skill though. Wilt could come into the league today and still put up amazing numbers. Career high averagess of 50 points, 27 rebounds, and 9 assists. I think he was pretty skilled.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

That doesn't take away from his overall skill though. Wilt could come into the league today and still put up amazing numbers. Career high averagess of 50 points, 27 rebounds, and 9 assists. I think he was pretty skilled.

Wilt is top 2 all time, no doubt about it.

 

[lakerfan]

people argue the fact that wilt and bill didnt play the players that play today. mj played in what many consider the best years of the nba.

Uhhhh, no he didn't. MJ actually played and succeeded in one of the more mediocre eras of NBA basketball, following the demise of the Pistons, Lakers, and Celtics of the 80's and the rise of expansion teams which desperately were trying to find talent.

Other than the Jazz, Sonics, and Suns, I don't see how the talent argument can be made.