I'd say Shaq. Wilt's number were better because of the era he played in. The average center was like 6'8 white guys. Could you imagine Shaq playing in a league with the centers being like Toni Kukuc & Chris Mullin( with only center skills )? Shaq in his prime would of had a FIELD DAY playing against centers like that!
2007-03-01 14:53:12 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Basketball
It amazes me the garbage people put in their answers. Wilt could shoot and make free throws? Wilt shot 51% for his career from the line, (Shaq is at 53%). Shaq should have done more with his talent? I think a 4 time NBA champ and career 26/12 player is doing pretty well. I know Wilt has better career numbers, but if anyone wants to pretend the athletes Wilt played against are of the same caliber and athleticism as today's players, you shouldn't be allowed to comment here anyway.
I unfortunately didn't get to see Wilt play given I am only 24 years old, however I have seen Shaq play live a number of times and have seen a lot of Wilt footage. Given that Shaq is stronger and has far better footwork around the basket, (you really can't appreciate how quick his feet are for his size until you see him play live), I personally think Shaq would eat Wilt for lunch.
2007-03-01 15:45:52 · answer #1 · answered by jdawg14 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The REAL question is, "Was there ever an NBA center better than Kareem Abdul- Jabbar?"
Between Shaq and Wilt, I'd say Wilt was better at basketball the way Basketball way played back then than Shaq is the way it's played today. Put Wilt in today's game, Shaq would beat him. Put Shaq back in Wilt's day, and Wilt would beat him. As far as competition, did everyone forget about Shaq getting shut down by Hakeem Olajuwon? I wonder if Shaq could have done anything with Bill Russell. That's what Wilt had to contend with, at least for a little while. Then came Abdul- Jabbar...
2007-03-01 16:05:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wilt. And at 7'1" and 275 pounds, I don't think Shaq would have mauled him.
Wilt ran a 49 second 440 yard dash, put the shot over 53 feet and long jumped 22 feet in high school. He single handedly caused two rule changes in basketball: vertical plane of free throws and widening of the lane. (Before then, guys would line up at the free throw line and leap toward the rim and shoot a layup - in Wilt's case a dunk. Also, before Wilt, the lane was only 6 feet wide and looked like a keyhole, thus the "top of the key".) Wilt left Kansas after his junior year, but the NBA at that time only drafted players who had finished college; so... Wilt played point guard for the Harlem Globetrotters for a year.
Wilt has the total package. Shaq only has a low-post game.
2007-03-02 03:58:25 · answer #3 · answered by BillH 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry but Wilt is better. Shaq has the strenght but Wilt is the most agile center. Shaq is like a 40% free throw shooter for his career. And Wilt put on a 100 point game. Beat that Shaq! Even if they give Shaq 1,000 free throws he'll never reach a 100 points.
2007-03-01 15:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by shr3k1982 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who says Shaq has not a clue. With his size and athletic ability, Shaq should have been able to do much more in his career. Sure, he's posted decent numbers, but...
Secondly, Wilt had to play against some fierce comp, not the Kukocs and Mullins you claim.
Wilt is the greatest center in the history of the league by a long shot.
2007-03-01 15:20:55 · answer #5 · answered by William M 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wilt was the better athlete. He played in an era where banging around in the lane was called a foul. Basketball today has evolved into hockey with the net up high. Wilt was able to run the floor both directions and actually averaged more minutes per game than Shaq. Wilt was also able to shoot and MAKE freethrows!!!! Wilt was the better player.
2007-03-01 15:04:41 · answer #6 · answered by tdsmith650 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to say that Wilt "the Stilt" was a better player than Shaq is today. You forget that Wilt played against the likes of Bill Russell(Celtics), Kareem Abdul-Jabar(Bucks), and Willis Reed(Knicks) - centers who make the players Shaq lines up against nowadays look like "pretenders to the throne".
2007-03-02 04:45:17 · answer #7 · answered by dmspartan2000 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say Wilt. O'Neal did'nt have a Russell-type of player during his run compared to Wilt. But maybe i will take Shaq if he won against Olajuwon when they met.
2007-03-02 06:25:11 · answer #8 · answered by schnooks17 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wilt Chamberlain. Even if you think there was less competition, averaging 50 points per game for an entire season is no small feat. Also, he has so many records even though he only played a few seasons. He was also versatile, even though he was a center, he even led the NBA in assists one year!
2007-03-01 15:41:43 · answer #9 · answered by Scott S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shaq
shaq has much more quickness and abilitiy to dunk on opponent's center. wilt can not dunk like shaq. plus, shaq has such a sense of humor (remember the All-Star game)
2007-03-01 15:02:23 · answer #10 · answered by marble_mu251 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋