Top 5 Centers of All-Time

Finally, we have the final position (Center). I had a lot of fun doing my top five players at each position. Now, onto the position (Center) that dominated basketball for much of the game's history. Here are my current top five greatest giants.

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5. Hakeem Olajuwon

Known as “The Dream”. Hakeem was one of the best two-way players that the game had seen. Hakeem was a transcendent player from the post. He had a variety of moves (his signature move was the Dream Shake) and his footwork and agility from the post was nothing that was ever seen from the center position. The highlight of Hakeem’s career is without question, winning back-to-back championships, while being the lone-star in Houston. One area from his all-around defense that stands out is his ‘shot blocking’ ability. As he is the all-time leader in blocks in with 3,830. Hakeem was the number one pick in 1984 and lived up to every bit of it as he is the greatest player to ever play for the Houston Rockets. He could do a little bit of everything as his career stats and accolades proved it. Career stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG, and 1.7 SPG while shooting 51.2% from the field. Accolades: MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA selection, 9x All-Defensive, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 3x Blocks Champ, 2x Rebound Champ, All-Star Game MVP, and a two-time NBA Champion.

4. Bill Russell

Bill Russell doesn’t have the numbers as some of the other players on my list. However; he’s the ultimate winner as he won a record eleven championships (including eight in a row). He won all of these championships while Wilt was in the league which deserves more credit. He’s arguably the best defensive big of all-time as he was a terror and dominate on the defensive end. Bill Russell was never an elite scorer, but not too many players made more winning plays or impacted the game in more ways than Bill Russell. He played his best basketball at the biggest stages as his ‘record setting’ eleven championships proves it. One of his most impressive feats is that he’s still number one all-time in defensive win-shares. Even if there wasn’t as many teams back in the 60s as it is now. I find it hard to imagine that someone will come close to winning eleven championships. Career stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, and 4.3 APG, while shooting 44% from the field. Accolades: 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, All-Defensive, 4x Rebound Champ, All-Star Game MVP, and an eleven-time NBA Champion.

3. Shaquille O’Neal

During his prime, Shaq was the most physically dominant player that the game had seen. Easily the best center of his generation and possibly the last great center in NBA history with the way the NBA is evolving. His size and strength alone overwhelmed everyone, but he was nimbler and more athletic than people realized. He also had a soft touch around the rim and carried the Lakers to three straight NBA championships. Shaq was so dominant that the NBA had to make a rule regarding to Shaq. With the current rules and how the game is played now, it appears there will never again be as dominant a center as Shaq. There will also be question marks about what more could Shaq had accomplished if he taken better care of his body. Shaq will always be regarded as one of the best and most powerful players that the game had ever seen. Career stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, and 4.3 APG, while shooting 44% from the field. Accolades: MVP, 3x Finals MVP, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA, 3x All-Defensive, 2x Scoring Champ, 3x All-Star Game MVP, Rookie of the Year and a four-time NBA Champion.

2. Wilt Chamberlain

You can knock Wilt for the competition he played against all you want. However; you can’t argue that Wilt is statistically, the most dominant player in NBA history. Just like the NBA did with Shaq, the league changed rules in order to limit Wilt's dominance. But it didn’t matter, he was unstoppable. He was so much bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anyone else, that double/triple teams didn’t matter on him. In his first season in the league, he averaged an insane 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game becoming the first rookie ever to win MVP. As everyone who is a basketball fan, knows that Wilt also holds the record for most points in a game with 100, and averaged an insane 50.4 points per game during the 1962 season, two records that I doubt will ever be broken. He set records that I believe no one will ever come close to breaking. Career stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, and 4.4 APG, while shooting 54% from the field. Accolades: 4x MVP, Finals MVP, 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 11x Rebound Champ, 7x Scoring Champ, Assist Champ, All-Star Game MVP, Rookie of the Year, and a two-time NBA Champion.

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

The greatest center of all-time in my opinion. Kareem’s longevity and dominance for pretty much his entire career gives him the nod. To simply put it, he’s the most accomplished player in history. I’ll mention this briefly, he was a four-time state champion in high school, three-time national champion and that’s before he entered the NBA. He would go on and accomplish a lot more in the NBA. He is the all-time leader in points with 38,387, first in MVPs with six, most All-Star selections with 19, first in career offensive win shares, career overall win shares, career field goals and career minutes played. His signature move was the infamous ‘sky hook’ as many would say that the sky hook is the most unstoppable move in history. I never understood when people have discussions on who they believe is the GOAT, never mention Kareem. People need to give him the respect he deserves because he absolutely deserves to be in the GOAT discussion. Career stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.6 BPG while shooting 55.9% from the field. Accolades: 6x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 19x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 11x All-Defensive, 4x Blocks Champ, 2x Scoring Champ, Rebound Champ, Rookie of the Year, and a six-time NBA Champion.