who was more dominating in their prime?

Question

shaq or chamberlin? chamberlin might have some more outragous stats, but remeber the era that he played in. shaq had to go up against at least ostertag. as in body size.

Answer 1

Great question!

Wilt played against much tougher competition overall.

Don't forget, he not only had to face Bill Russell, but because there were many fewer teams, he had to face Russell 8,9,10 times per season.

Then there was Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy, Jerry Lucas, Nate Thurmond, Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bob Lanier, Wes Unseld, Bob McAdoo, Elvin Hayes... these guys are all Hall of Famers....and every one of them is better than any center in the NBA today, with the exception of Shaq.

Shaq is the only center in the NBA today who is a sure-fire Hall of Famer (Duncan is too, if he's considred a center).

Wilt played against Russell 142 times in ten years, including playoffs. That's 14x per year over their 10 year rivalry.

The only HOFamers (or future Hall of Famers) that Shaq played against at center were Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson... Robert Parrish too, but Parrish was pretty much through as a player by the time O'Neal got to the NBA, Parrish was never a match for him. Plus, Shaq never played that many games per year against any of them...

Shaq didn't have to go against hall of famers as often as Wilt did. I guess we can count Tim Duncan as a hall of fame center, if we're counting him as a center.

Trust me on this... Wilt would have LOVED to go against Greg Ostertag...or "Big Country" Reeves...even just once!

Ostertag's coach, Jerry Sloan, played against Wilt while a member of the Chicago Bulls...someone should ask HIM how he thinks his boy Ostertag would have fared against Wilt. I'd love to hear his answer, if he could stop himself from laughing long enough.

The night Wilt scored 100, the Knicks center was 6'11... only 2 inches shorter than Wilt.

Wilt, of course, set marks for both scoring and rebounding that Shaq would have a hard time ever taking a look at....

And unlike Shaq, Wilt was always in shape. Wilt averaged 45.8 min/game over his career, and even averaged over 48 min/game one season.

Wilt and Russell were the greatest individual defensive forces ever to play the game. At his peak, Wilt was stronger than Shaq, a much better leaper, and was far more schooled in the fundamentals.

Shaq dunks a lot more than Wilt did... Wilt didn't like people thinking of him as just a big guy who could only dunk, so he usually wouldn't dunk unless it was necessary... in fact, a number of us Wilt fans used to watch him play on TV and yell at the TV when he wouldn't dunk on plays when we thought he should have... but that wasn't his way.

Shaq, on the other hand, doesn't care what anyone thinks... he's gonna throw it down every time he can, regardless...and actually, I like that attitude better...it's the kind of attitude I'd want to see if I were coaching a player like Wilt or Shaq...

However, I'll say this in Shaq's favor... Elliot Kalb points out (probably correctly) that never before in NBA history has the best player in the league (Shaq, during the last several years) been that much more dominant than the second best player (Duncan)... for this reason, he rates Shaq is the 'Best' baskeball player in NBA history (with Wilt second, Jordan third, follwed by Russell, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Magic and Oscar Robertson...Duncan himself is ranked 9th, right after Oscar).

Shaq's career scoring average of 26.3 is close to Wilt's 30.1... of course, Shaq is in the decline phases of his career, and his avg will continue to drop a little each year...

Both were terrible FT shooters, but both surprised their critics every now and then by knocking down crucial free throws in playoff games, when we least expected it.

And while Shaq has never LED the league in rebounds, he's finished 2nd four times, and he's always in the top 10, when he's healthy. Wilt would out rebound Shaq if they played against each other. Wilt, of course, led the league 11 times in rebounding.

Shaq has also won a little more (4 titles).

Shaq comes the closest to Wilt's dominance of any center today...but as to who was MORE dominant, it really depends on what assumptions one wishes to make about the overall caliber of play in the league... But with Wilt being a better rebounder, more than Shaq's equal as a scorer, the greatest shot-blocker ever (probably) as well as being the only center to lead the league in assists, I'd have to give an edge to Wilt....particularly since he could give you 48 great minutes every night, which Shaq never could do, even when he was young. Shaq has only averaged 40 min/game once in 14 seasons (exactly 40).

Wilt's been retired for 33 years, and still has more 60 pt games than everyone else in the history of the NBA combined.... this was also true of 50 pt games for about 20 years after he retired... 55 rebounds in one game (against Russell btw)... what is considered a crazy game (number wise) for Shaq was often a routine game for Wilt.

Answer 2

Well, both players were good in there prime but i would have toi say that Wilt Chamberlin was more dominating in his prime. I mean the man made 100 points in a game and that could only be done by a dominating machine.

Answer 3

When Kareem was once Shaq's present age, he was once nonetheless an crucial side of the Laker's Showtime. Shaq could have been capable to push him round (now not up to you most often factor although. He driven again towards the Celtics rather mainly) Shaq might now not were capable to manage the sky hook or his quickness. Plus, Kareem was once a miles higher unfastened throw shooter, a .721 common, in comparison to Shaq's profession .524. Kareem has extra jewelry, extra features, extra assists, extra steals, extra blocks (even if they did not depend blocks his first four seasons -- he led the league in blocks four occasions in comparison to Shaq's 0). Kareem was once higher revered by means of everybody, as obvious by means of his 6 MVP's to Shaq's one million. Kareem was once eleven time First or Second All-Defensive group to Shaq's three occasions. Kareem can inform himself that he's higher than Shaq and understand that it's precise.

Answer 4

chamberlain because he did not just have outrageous stats but also he is the one that changed the rules of the game. like the lane for free throws are wider because of him and please say u didnt forget the 100 points in a game come on how can u forget about that. chamberlain had to hold his own against great ones like russell or abdul jabbar i think they both played with each other in the 70s but not sure.

Answer 5

chamberlin was more dominant in his era. your question only ask who was more dominant regardless of who were they playing against. it would be different if you ask who was a better player. that could be though to answer.

Answer 6

Shaq would be nothing if the refs called the travelling and offensive fouls he commits on EVERY possession.

Answer 7

Let's do a Power Rating.
points + rebounds + assists = PR

Shaw - 26.3 + 11.8 + 2.8 = 40.9 (two yrs ago his PR was 43)
The longer you play your averages go down.

Wilt - 30.1 + 22.9 + 4.4 = 57.4
No question who was the best.

The PR leaves out opinion and it is not too complicated (like a lot of rating systems are)

You can get this info from basketball reference or NBA.com.

Answer 8

Wilt the Stilt. I think he scored 99 points once.
Boaz

Answer 9

Shaq's moves are to be admired not hated on..

Answer 10

shaq