Given a choice who would you rather have in your team: Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Olajuwon or Duncan?

Question

Just a follow-up question on the outstanding question posted yesterday. I'm focusing on the Big men now. Imagine if you are a GM owning the first pick of the draft who would you get?
(Assuming all the players are at their prime.)

(I'm doing this because of the lack of quality questions being posted here on the basketball category.)

Wow! this is what i'm looking for. sensible answers from a sensible question. I am really getting bored with the trade this, trade that being posted here. And that is what I would like to demand: More sensible questions!!

D Money, Yes I should have put Shaq as well, it's just that when I typed the question I forgot to include his name in the list. My apologies for that but let's just leave it as is as of the moment.

Comil same explanation as stated above (and this is to certify that I do read your answers carefully). A lot of apologlies for leaving Shaq out.

Dear Tweety,

I wish to defer with the notion you raised that Olajuwon and Duncan were not at par with the others.

Olajuwon in fact palyed against the best centers of his time. Robinson, Shaq, Ewing and bested them all. In fact, He made babies out of Shaq and Robinson (which is so unfortunate because in the 94-95 season he was named league MVP).

Tim Duncan have 4 rings. Okay two if you subtract the two rings he won with David Robinson. But that is already enough since Wilt also have only two NBA championship rings to show for himself. In fact the Lakers weren't able to defeat the Celts until Magic Johnson's time. And that is saying a lot of Wilt who couldn't man-power the Lakers against Bill Russell's Celtics.

I just would like to defend my inclusions of Olajuwon and Duncan. No ofense meant.

As always,

Helterskelter : Confusion

Answer 1

Finally, someone has heard my cry to include Olajuwon in the pickings. Preciate ya. Of the guys listed above Olajuwon is the best defender and offensively he had the best low post moves. I see some of the respondents understand that Russell and Chamberlain did not play against the likes of David Robinson, Jabbar, Ewing, Shaq, Duncan or Olajuwon. I will am willing to bet Russell and Chamberlain would not be averaging 20+ rebounds a game against these guys. As GM I will have to select the guy who dominates on both ends, offensively and defensively and Olajuwon is the best on the list and my second choice would be Jabbar.

Answer 2

Regardless of era...i'd pick Bill Russell. Why? He wasn't a terror on the offensive end but he held his own. Playing D was his forte. Why can't Wilt win over him when Wilt had West and Baylor (that's like having Bird and Jordan in that era and Wilt is Shaq)? The Lakers were the stronger team on paper but games are won on the hardcourt. Wilt dominated Bill offensively but Bill led a team that beat the Lakers collectively. Bill brought out the best in his teammates. They were willing to die for each other on the court. Bill exemplified selflessness. He was the catalyst.

Bill Russell was as effective the first time he came in the league as when the time he hang up his jersey. None can say that...not Kareem, not Wilt, Not Hakeem...let's wait for Duncan.

I have nothing against the other great big men in the list (wouldn't say centers as TD is a PF). This is like asking which team would I want to be in. Wilt and the Lakers? Kareem and the Bucks? Hakeem and the Rockets? Duncan and the Spurs? I'd rather be with Bill and win all those 11 rings with him. That would be sweet! Whew! No one will ever beat this accomplishment in our lifetime.

And I agree, Shaq should be in the hunt for this one.

Answer 3

I would have to take Tim Duncan, I know Bill Russel had a lot more than 4 championships, but the Celtics played in an era where they were one of the few dominant teams. Now-a-days especially in the West there are powerhouse teams like Dallas and Phoenix. Although I dislike the Spurs for their slow, yet effective tempo, Tim Duncan is my choice, he fights for every rebound and plays the game like there is no tomorrow, he is a man of great character and charisma , and has never had any major altercations with officials, besides Joey Crawford. This is big man that should be the face of all big men in the league today. What he has accomplished in San Antonio is remarkable with trading and free agency always on the horizon. He is able to do it with any supporting cast, and has showed it over the past 10 years.

Answer 4

Their is no justification for saying less teams in the 60s equates to less competition; it actually means the teams are tougher. If there are only 8 teams then only the best 100 players are in the league, with near 30 teams you have players starting who would not even be on a roster (its called dilution). Im not saying that modern athletes arent in general surperior, I'm simply pointing out the 9 team league makes the teams better. That being said I take Wilt, athletically better than any other (he benched upwards of 475 lbs, and ran a 4.7 40) At 7' 270 thats incredible. Played a year with the globetrotters and became a great ballhandler. Russ had more titles cause his teams were better; Wilt was the best player, and his style was conducive to winning.

PS you need to include O'Neal in this, I know a lot of people don't like him but he is up there.

Answer 5

I would say it's a toss up between Olajuwon and Jabbar.
Most people who say Wilt or Russell just look at stats and their records. If you watch them play, you can see the difference in talent in the NBA over the past 40 years. Plus they were playing against much weaker competition.
Olajuwon is greatly underrated in these "greatest big men" questions. That guy was phenominal! Arguably the best defensive player in the league for 10 years, and an incredible scorer AND passer. As good as there has ever been in my opinion.
Hard to rule out Jabbar though, simply because he possesed the single most unstoppable weapon in the history of the game..... the sky hook. He basically either made it or missed it, but there wasn't anything you could do to stop it.
As far as Wilt and Russell though, put them against Shaq or Ewing or David Robinson or Zo or Hakeem, and their stats would be much different

Answer 6

The choice is between Wilt, Russell and Jabbar. Olajuwon and Duncan aren't close to being as good as those guys were.

No player was ever able to dominate a game offensively, defensively and reboudning-wise the way Wilt did. And height had nothing to do with it. Wilt was the greatest athlete ever to play in the NBA. He was also the strongest player ever to play the game, as well as the greatest leaper ever to play the game, with a vertical of around 60 inches. He could bench press more at age 59 (465 pounds) than Shaq can do now (450 lbs). And Wilt's bench press was up to 500 lbs when he was playing (and working out with the Terminator).

No one was ever better at taking an opposing center's style of play and using it against them that Russell was. If Olajuwon ever matched up with Russell, it would take Russell all of 3 minutes to solve Olajuwon.

Olajuwon is the NBA's "all time leading shot-blocker" for one reason: blocks were not an official stat during Russell or Wilt's careers, and even Jabbar played 4 or 5 years before the league recognized blocks as an official stat. Olajuwon would have trailed all 3 of those guys, and by a wide margin, if the stat had been kept throughout their careers.

Wilt and Kareem were the most skilled players (on both ends of the court) ever to play the game, but Russell knew how to win better than anyone else. And, if you review his performances in Game 7s of playoff series (as I've posted many times before), it's obvious that he could score whenever he needed to.

I won't post all the game 7 numbers, but you can read about them at "Bill Russell was Mr. Game Seven":

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2453844&type=Columnist&imagesPrint=off

And yes, Russell played with a lot of Hall of Famers, but he MADE Hall of Famers out of a lot of players. He was the ULTIMATE "makes his teammates better" player of all time, and could adapt his game for any situation.

Of course, when Wilt was given the opportunity to play with truly excellent teammates, the result was that the Sixers (67) and Lakers (72) were the two greatest teams of all time.

Russell, Wilt and Kareem are also the smartest players of all time (along with Bird, Magic and Oscar).

Answer 7

I would take either Jabbar or Olajuwon. Russell and Chamberlain, despite their great records, played during the birth of the NBA, where they were half a foot taller than most ppl, and far ahead of their time. also, the NBA was not very popular during Russell's time, so it could be easy to envision certain teams standing out. the Celts were certainly one of them, which certainly accounted for their 11 championships during that era. Jabbar has the scoring record and played 4 like 20 years, while Olajuwon almost single handidly led his team to a championship, leads the league in blocks, and has registered 2 quadruple doubles

Answer 8

Your intro of the three leaves alot to be needed. a million- Kareem: superb college middle ever. Years in Milwaukee have been spectacular for those prepared to analyze a sprint. 7'3 235, very rapid and as long as a telephone poll. in all probability blocked 7 photos a interest for a season. Blocks weren't counted until his 6th 365 days. could desire to score on all of us, yet had a alright-developed all-around interest. profession in 80s went too long and tarnished a mythical profession. 2-Duncan: superb college middle considering the fact that bill Walton. the super Fundemental is a throw-back participant. interest genuinely has no weak point. Arguably the coolest NBA participant of this decade. Spurs have had the diverse superb communities ever consistent with him. an incredible function style for upcoming gamers. 3- Olajuwon: an incredible college prospect who could desire to dunk homestead 12 factors and foul out all interior of 5 minutes. replaced into status there doing God is widely used with what whilst Jimmy Valvano's NC State group stole an NCAA call. Blossomed interior the pros with reliable training. super paintings ethic and organic potential made him good NBA middle of the 80s. in all probability nevertheless has an side on Duncan yet not Kareem. Duncan additionally performs some ability forward. 3 of the best-ever greats at middle.

Answer 9

Dear Helterskelter,

i think my choice would be between Chamberlin and Russell. And it would depend on the other players on my roster. If my team had plenty of scorers i would go with Russell because of his defensive and rebounding prowess.

Everyone knows that defense and rebounding usually results in victories especially in the playoffs.

However, if the team needed another scorer you'd have to go with Chamberlin. He also provides great rebounding and good defense.

Jabbar, Olajuwon and Duncan all do those things as well- but just not as dominately as Russell (he has the rings to back it up) and Chamberlin did.

Nickster

Answer 10

Olajuwon.

Bill and Wilt are top of the crop in their prime, but that was the time when there were only 8(?) teams in the NBA. So their dominance can't really be measured by the lack of real, real great competition.

Tim Duncan and Kareem would present much solid arguments, but then again I'd still go for Hakeem's all-around game.