12 time all star, 2 time defensive palyer of the year, 1994 mvp, 2 nba championships, 1st in blocks, 9th in steals, 6th in points, 12th in rebounding all time
Where does Hakeem Olajuwon rank as some of the best centers in NBA history?nba records
I think that The Dream was the best overall center that ever played the game. No center ever had his combination of size, strength, quickness, speed, footwork, and skill. Kareem was a better scorer. Russell was a better rebounder and shotblocker. Chamberlain was bigger and stronger. Hakeem was the whole package.
Where does Hakeem Olajuwon rank as some of the best centers in NBA history?nba championships ,nba teams
Automatically in the top four. Where you put him is your preference. I'd personally put him 3rd. He's the best all around center in the mid 80's-late 90's era.
top 3 fsho
1) Wilt...he can get the job done offensively and defensively
2) Russell..man was a beast on the defensive end...won 8 championships in a row...thats ridiculous
3) Olajuwon...one of the greatest shot blockers of all time and had some sweet moves in the post
Blocks weren't kept during Russell or Wilt's careers, nor were they kept for the first 5 years of Jabbar's career... that's the only reason Olajuwon is the "all time shot block leader"...
Olajuwon is, at best, the 6th best center ever, behind Wilt, Russell, Jabbar, Shaq and Moses Malone. He's better than his contemporaries Robinson and Ewing. He's close to Malone and Shaq, he's not close to Wilt, Russell or Kareem.
There'd be no defensive player of the year or all-defensive teams if it wasn't for Bill Russell. The all-defensive team was created specifically because of him.
I'd say atleast in the top 5. He's the 3rd best center of all time. As veryone alse said, he ahs two rings, two finals MVPs, a lot of records, an MVP, ect. These are the top 5 centers of all time:
1 Wilt Chamberlain
2 Bill Russell
3 Hakeem Olajuwon
4 Shaquille O'Neal
5 A lot of other players
watch this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EvJGghOuFlQ
and write comments in this question
also mister olujuwon is the best, quite frankly
he was very good and has 2 rings, no need to say much more, Houston was good and dominate during that time frame
Behind, Wilt, Kareem, only
Much to consider, I have and seen much, but did not see much of Wilt in his prime and Russel only on a old tapes and his last season. I do have 13 hours of Russel and have watched many hours of Wilt. Trying to be objective and critical, but not possible, still I have a good eye for this stuff and was myself a good post player, and really had to work at it. Talking about their prime not Kareems last 8 years for instance.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Wilt Chamberlain
Bill Russel or Shaq, Russel one of the best if not the best on D but did not score like the rest, and Shaq one of the best on offense but did not defend like the rest.
Hakeem Olajuwon
David Robinson
Patrick Ewing
Artis Gilmore
Bob MacAoo
Bob Lanier
A few guys would have been better that Ewing on down but were limited by injury. Most notably Bill Walton and Willis Reed. Also would have Tim Duncan above Ewing but since I can call him a PF I do, same for Moses Malone.
Anyone before Kareem did not get blocks kept as an official record, even Kare ems blocks for his first 5 seasons were not kept. Artus Gilmore spent part of his prime in the ABA.
Olajuwon was a great player but the shake and bake moves were over-rated, he hit a low FG% on those shots, even though his range with them was good he allowed himself to forced to far from the basket, even his effectiveness as an offensive rebounder and the resulting easy put backs did not make up for that. Others centers won more MVP awards Kareem and Russel, more championships Kareem, Russel and Shaq. The steals are very impressive and he was very scary in the post as a defender, only Russel and Kareem effected more shots, though a lot of people list Wilt there as well you can not tell by the tape I have seen. Others center won more defensive player of the year awards. Most on my list shot a much betterr FG%, but Shaq, Wilt and Kareem by a huge margin, those three and Bob MacAdoo all led the league in scoring as well, something Olajuwon never did.
In no way do I mean to put down Olajuwon but the compitition for the best center in NBA history is fierce and almost reads like the best player in NBA history. It is no disgrace to be behind the likes of Kareem, Wilt, and Russel.
I love Hakeem but he's 4 or 5.
1) Bill Russel- 5 time MVP, 12 time all-star, 11 time NBA Champ, Player Coach from 66-69, Olympic Gold Medalists in 1956, 2 time NCAA Champ, NBA, NCAA, and FIBA Hall of Famer
2) Wilt Chamberlain- 4 time MVP, 13 time all-star, 10 ALL-NBA team selections, 2 time NBA Champ, 11 rebounding titles, 7 scoring titles, 1 assist title, 1 Finals MVP, and Rookie of the year
3)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- 6 time MVP, 6 time NBA Champ, 3 time NCAA Champ, 2 time Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year, 38,387 career points(ALL-TIME Leader)
Than it's a toss up between Hakeem and Shaq. I guess it depends on if you like power or finesse. I'd go with Hakeem.
1.wilt
2.bill russel
3.kareem
4.shaq
5.hakeem
Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem
I would have to place the great Hakeem 4th on my list, right behind Russell, Chamerlain, and a fellow once called Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)...I have him just ahead of Duncan, Walton, and Shaq...and to think that the former post grew up playing soccer rather than the roundball that he fundamentally learned at the Univ of Houston!...Imagine what might have been had he honed his skills, as most American players did, as a youngster.
Wilt Chamberlain is #1 hands down!
30 ppg, 22.9 rpg, 4.4 apg,
2-time NBA Champion
4-time NBA MVP
2. Bill Russell - although he was only 6'9, he played and was listed as a Center.
15 ppg, 22.5rpg, 4.3 apg
11-time NBA Champion
5-time NBA MVP
12-time NBA All-Star
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg
6-time NBA Champion
6-time NBA MVP
19-time All Star
4. Shaquille O'Neal
25.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.8 apg
4-time NBA Champion
1-time NBA MVP
14-time NBA All Star
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
21.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
2-time NBA Champion
1-time NBA MVP
12-time All Star
he good.
I love the Rockets, but honestly, as great a player as the Dream was, I only rank him at number 5 all-time for centres:
Wilt
Shaq
Bill Russell
Kareem
Hakeem
Wilt's a 'gimme' at number 1, anyone with Shaq not coming 2nd has been watching the wrong sport for the last decade, Russell gets the nod at 3 for being the ONLY man to be able to put the brakes on Wilt. Kareem was the creative genius, playing ball the way no other big man had played before.
I hate to say it, but between the top 4 and Hakeem there is a whole lot of daylight, but outside of those four Hakeem is definitely the best of the bunch (certainly much better than that Navy bum from San An!)
