Best Big Men to Ever Play the Game

[rubbrband]

Wilt, Russel, Shaq, Duncan, and Kareem are the top 5 as far as I am considered but in what order?

[Assani Fisher]

Its so tough to compare such different eras. I could honestly see an argument for any one of those players at #1:

Wilt: Most dominating statistically

Russell: Biggest winner

Shaq: Most dominating physically

Duncan: Although Russell was the biggest winner, if you look at everyone's surrounding cast then compare wins, Duncan would be #1

Kareem: longevity, overall excellence

Hakeem, KG, and Sabonis are the next tier in my opinion.


Great topic, but for once I really have no definitive opinion. I do predict, though, that most people will list Duncan at #5 which will cause me to come in here and defend him.

[dlk9s]

Don't forget George Mikan.

[MEbenhoe]

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I do predict, though, that most people will list Duncan at #5 which will cause me to come in here and defend him.

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#5 would be overrating him. Especially considering the 5 other guys you listed are all clearly better.

edit: whoops assumed you listed Hakeem on his own.

[MEbenhoe]

btw, for the purposes of this, what are we considering a "big man"? Anyone over a certain height? Anyone to ever play C or PF? What the qualifications are could have a decent effect on the rankings.

[MEbenhoe]

Another note, those who don't rank David Robinson ahead of Duncan apparently werent watching basketball before 1995 when David Robinson put up sick peak numbers that Duncan's peak can't match and against better competition at the C position than Duncan has ever faced. Their is a 7 year period of time where Robinson averages 26/12, while being one of the best defensive Cs in the game. Notice that Duncan and Robinson's career averages look pretty close to each other and thats with Robinson playing til he was 37, and having a crappy last two seasons.

[Wynton]

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Another note, those who don't rank David Robinson ahead of Duncan apparently werent watching basketball before 1995 when David Robinson put up sick peak numbers that Duncan's peak can't match and against better competition at the C position than Duncan has ever faced. Their is a 7 year period of time where Robinson averages 26/12, while being one of the best defensive Cs in the game. Notice that Duncan and Robinson's career averages look pretty close to each other and thats with Robinson playing til he was 37, and having a crappy last two seasons.

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I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion, but this is a situation where I think it is inappropriate to rely exclusively on statistics. Stats are very influenced by one's teammates and team system, as well as one's opponents. For example, many great players arguably would have scored a lot more had they been on less balanced teams.

Stats also don't do a good job of showing defensive prowess. Russell is routinely called the best defensive big man ever, and I doubt that is reflected in blocks per game or any other stat.

[barryc83]

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Hakeem, KG, and Sabonis are the next tier in my opinion.


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reality check assani, we all have guys that we like thats fine and im sure Sabonis of one of those guys to you but this is laughable.

[Assani Fisher]

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Hakeem, KG, and Sabonis are the next tier in my opinion.


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reality check assani, we all have guys that we like thats fine and im sure Sabonis of one of those guys to you but this is laughable.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabonis

Ex-players and current players alike contend that Sabonis, fairly unknown in the U.S., would have been recognized as one of the top centers ever to play the game of basketball had he come to America in his prime. Scottie Pippen was quoted as saying that Arvydas was "the best European basketball player to ever play the game". Ex-Spur Sean Elliott routinely claimed that Arvydas "should be in the conversation as one of the greatest centers ever". Hall of Famer Bill Walton describes "Sabas" as "the greatest passing center of all time". And Dino Radja, a former Boston Celtics player, said that Sabonis would have been an all-star "ten times over" had he played his healthy years in the States.

Brian Meehan, a columnist for The Oregonian, followed Sabonis' career over the course of decades. Recalling the 1988 Olympics, when Sabonis' Soviet team beat a United States team with the likes of NBA stars David Robinson and Mitch Richmond. Meehan notes one play when a healthy Sabonis reacted to a teammate's missed shot: Sabonis slashed towards the rim, jumped over Robinson, and slammed the ball home. Meehan is of the opinion that it was the play of Arvydas in the '88 Olympics that influenced Team USA to use professional players in the Olympics, thus the "Dream Teams" of 1992 and 1996. Meehan ranks Sabonis as the 6th best all-time center behind, in no particular order, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

[BLdSWtTRs]

1 Wilt
2 Shaq
3 Kareem
4 Hakeem
5 Russel