Shaq’s Case for being the Greatest Center of All-Time

Shaq’s on court dominance unarguably places him on the top five all-time centers list, accompanied by the likes of Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem, and Olajuwon (Moses Malone, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, George Mikan and Artis Gilmore are a few that deserve consideration.) I would place Shaq 4^th on this list behind Russell, Chamberlain, and Kareem with Olajuwon and Malone close behind. Shaq’s ranks:

• 5^th all time in regular season points
• 12^th all time in regular season rebounds
• 7^th all time in regular season blocks
• 1^st all time in regular season FG%
• 4^th all time in postseason points
• 3^rd all time in postseason rebounds
• 3^rd all time in postseason blocks
• 5^th all time in postseason FG%

On only two occasions does Shaq NOT rank in the top 5 in the above categories. His ranking of 7^th on the all time regular season block list is behind only 4 other competitors, which I listed above. The only instance where he does not rank in the top 5, when in comparison to the other centers which I have listed above, is in the category of regular season rebounds, which he ranks 7^th overall in. Shaq is tied for 5^th in regular season MVP awards with 1, and 3^rd in championships with 4, when in comparison to the above players. When speaking simply in terms of career statistics and awards, Shaq repeatedly ranks in the top 5 among the all-time great centers, which makes his placement in the top 5 as close to factual as can be. The argument for him being the 4^th best center of all time then rests upon whether or not he is statistically superior to both Olajuwon and Malone, as I listed them as the 5^th and 6^th best centers, respectively. Shaq ranks higher than each of them in post and regular season points, post and regular season FG%, and postseason rebounds. He also ranks above Malone in regular season and postseason blocks. That means that Shaq ranks above both Olajuwon and Malone in 5 of the 8 categories listed above, not to mention the fact that he has more championships than both of them combined. Shaq’s statistical dominance solidifies his spot as the 4^th greatest center of all time when taking into consideration each competitor’s production during their respective eras. The next order of business is determining Shaq’s positioning on that list if every individual played during the same, standardized time period. Now, clearly this is impossible to conceive as there has been a noticeable evolution in nearly every aspect of the game when looking at the NBA in twenty year segments. Changes that have occurred during this time period include changes in areas such as rules and regulations, equipment and apparel, athleticism, average player size, knowledge and IQ, and the list goes on. It is safe to assume that there has been a clear development and improvement in the collective ability of the players from one era to another. This opinion can be clearly seen and supported through the simple task of watching highlights or games of players from the 60s and comparing them to that of players today. Through this type of reasoning, I would argue that Shaq’s dominance throughout his career trumps that of Wilt, Russell, and Kareem during their respective time periods. Shaq’s massive frame alone would ensure his supremacy over the likes of Wilt, Russell, and Kareem in a head to head matchup. When ranking the top 5 centers of all time using this formula, I would argue that Shaq is the greatest and most dominate player to ever grace the hardwood.

(All information from Basketball-Reference.com)