RealGM

Both are very skilled big men. AD is more athletic and versatile. An elite defensive player as well like Hakeem.
As a big man, is AD on the level of Olajuwon without looking at the accolades?

No.

Well you’re comparing AD to a top 10 player off all time so no.
I think a lot of people don’t really understand how good Hakeem really was.

Is AD on a trajectory to become a top 10 player ever? Do you believe AD can single-handedly lead a team to multiple titles?

What’s happened to realgm

Short answer: No.

Long answer:

Without accolades, does AD have arguments over Olajuwon?





Lay of the drugs buddy, please

I suspect I watched Hakeem from '91-'97 as much as nearly anyone on the boards. Anthony Davis is the most similar player to Olajuwon that I have seen since Olajuwon in terms of skill and ability on both ends. It's obviously difficult to compare across eras, but the one thing that can be compared across eras is attitude and mindset. Olajuwon had a far higher motor - even past 30, even during Ramadan. Olajuwon thirsted for blocks and steals. He was insatiable on both ends. He demanded the ball down the stretch of games. Not asking him to carry you in a close game simply wasn't an option. It was never considered, because Olajuwon refused to allow that. Olajuwon was as competitive as a player can be. AD has no argument over Olajuwon, in my opinion. Olajuwon (past 30) was a better passer than AD, among the other things listed here. He also, obviously, had far more moves and counter moves with the ball in his hands.

Also, one of the things people forget when they compare young bigs to Olajuwon is that he made the NBA Finals in his second season, beating Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the WCF. That's how impactful he was.

CodeBreaker wrote: AD is more athletic

What? Hakeem is one of the best athletes of all-time. I know most people saw him after 1994 when he wasn't nearly as fast or as physical, but 1980s Olajuwon has an argument for the best athlete in NBA history. He's faster, quicker, stronger and jumped higher and quicker than Davis.

Guy won a championship with a supporting cast of Thorpe, Jet and Horry. Putting Davis in the same sentence as him is frankly insulting considering AD’s playoff resume before this year

AD's physical tools and skillset with Antetokounmpo's motor and mindset would be a much closer comparison to Olajuwon. Even then, you're talking about a player in Olajuwon who had one of the ten best careers and is generally considered one of the ten best peaks. So, it feels like a big reach at this point. If you wanted to compare these three "at age 25" or something, then you might get somewhere. You'd still have to account for Hakeem's all-time motor, energy, and competitiveness against AD, and his higher skill-level versus Giannis, though.

This comparison will get blasted but some of that feels like the benefit of hindsight. Comparing AD to Hakeem at 26, AD fares pretty well statistically, it's just we know Hakeem remained a great, great player for almost another decade and went on 5 years later to lead two title teams.

Just on sheer talent, AD has Top-10 all-time potential. He could easily go on to win a couple more titles in his career with FMVPs and maybe edge Hakeem out on the GOAT list. I wouldn't bet on it, but it's completely plausible. Rather than talent, the question will be robustness and drive. We can only find out whether he has the drive to continue to push himself into his 30s like Hakeem did, but the robustness seems like a no. I could see him being a player with a short prime.

70sFan wrote:

CodeBreaker wrote: AD is more athletic

What? Hakeem is one of the best athletes of all-time. I know most people saw him after 1994 when he wasn't nearly as fast or as physical, but 1980s Olajuwon has an argument for the best athlete in NBA history. He's faster, quicker, stronger and jumped higher and quicker than Davis.

Olajuwon was easily more athletic. Faster, quicker, stronger, and jumped higher and quicker - all true. In addition, according to google, his wingspan was only one inch shorter than AD's (7'5'' vs. 7'6''). Olajuwon had relatively thin shoulders, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if his arms were the same length or longer than AD's. His length was unreal.

If you take away all the accolades, JR Smith has an argument over MJ. So yeah, AD definitely has an argument over Olajuwon too.

scrabbarista wrote:

70sFan wrote:

CodeBreaker wrote: AD is more athletic

What? Hakeem is one of the best athletes of all-time. I know most people saw him after 1994 when he wasn't nearly as fast or as physical, but 1980s Olajuwon has an argument for the best athlete in NBA history. He's faster, quicker, stronger and jumped higher and quicker than Davis.

Olajuwon was easily more athletic. Faster, quicker, stronger, and jumped higher and quicker - all true. In addition, according to google, his wingspan was only one inch shorter than AD's (7'5'' vs. 7'6''). Olajuwon had relatively thin shoulders, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if his arms were the same length or longer than AD's. His length was unreal.

Side note height wise A.Davis is now listed at 6.9 3/4.

rand wrote:This comparison will get blasted but some of that feels like the benefit of hindsight. Comparing AD to Hakeem at 26, AD fairs pretty well statistically, it's just we know Hakeem remained a great, great player for almost another decade and went on 5 years later to lead two title teams.

Just on sheer talent, AD has Top-10 all-time potential. He could easily go on to win a couple more titles in his career with FMVPs and maybe edge Hakeem out on the GOAT list. I wouldn't bet on it, but it's completely plausible. Rather than talent, the question will be robustness and drive. We can only find out whether he has the drive to continue to push himself into his 30s like Hakeem did, but the robustness seems like a no. I could easily see him being a player with a short prime.

This is mostly fair. That's why I highlighted their character and mindset in my first post: it just doesn't seem realistic to assume Davis can reach the heights Olajuwon reached, given the perceived gap in their "drive and robustness," as you put it.

J-Wolves wrote:

scrabbarista wrote:

70sFan wrote:
What? Hakeem is one of the best athletes of all-time. I know most people saw him after 1994 when he wasn't nearly as fast or as physical, but 1980s Olajuwon has an argument for the best athlete in NBA history. He's faster, quicker, stronger and jumped higher and quicker than Davis.

Olajuwon was easily more athletic. Faster, quicker, stronger, and jumped higher and quicker - all true. In addition, according to google, his wingspan was only one inch shorter than AD's (7'5'' vs. 7'6''). Olajuwon had relatively thin shoulders, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if his arms were the same length or longer than AD's. His length was unreal.

Side note height wise A.Davis is now listed at 6.9 3/4.

If that's accurate, then he's the same height as Olajuwon. AD looks taller to me, but I can accept that they might be the same height.

America, this is why you shouldnt take drugs every day.

so this is all because of one year with lebron, is it.

scrabbarista wrote:

J-Wolves wrote:

scrabbarista wrote:
Olajuwon was easily more athletic. Faster, quicker, stronger, and jumped higher and quicker - all true. In addition, according to google, his wingspan was only one inch shorter than AD's (7'5'' vs. 7'6''). Olajuwon had relatively thin shoulders, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if his arms were the same length or longer than AD's. His length was unreal.

Side note height wise A.Davis is now listed at 6.9 3/4.

If that's accurate, then he's the same height as Olajuwon. AD looks taller to me, but I can accept that they might be the same height.

I thought Hakeem is about 1" taller than AD