Compare Shaq, Ewing, Robinson and Olajuwon careers
Posted: Tue Jun 8, 2021 7:59 am
Basis of this topic is to find out how much truth there is in players' career value due to team success and how their teammates or to the point, the talent and performance of their teammates, contributed to that success. To illustrate we compare the careers of four alltime great Centers whose careers overlapped very much; Shaq, Ewing, Robinson and Olajuwon.
Main point here is how Shaq ONLY won championships because he had another star teammate., Robinson also but to lesser extent over career. There was nice role players but it's that star teammate that lead to being able to get those championships.
Shaq had Penny at his peak on 1995 and 1996 and got to the finals and ECF, beaten only by Olajuwon and near and of career Drexler, and Jordan's arguably greatest alltime team Bulls. He then had prime Kobe and arguably greatest coach ever Phil Jackson and win three straight championships.He then win one more with young star Wade.
Replace Shaq with each one of the other three Centers and likely they win as much, maybe more.
Robinson, Ewing and Olajuwon were lone stars on their teams most of their careers. The Knicks got a great coach in Riley who knew they didn't have the players too be offensively competent, so he devised a grinding defense style. Olajuwon had mediocre guards and limited bigs next to him and a very good coach in Tomjanovich. Robinson had limited guards, two bit bigs and average at best coaches until Pop and Duncan came. With another real star each one could have beaten Jordan, who had Pippen, two or three good role players and great coach.
Make the appropriate comparison using what means is necessary. Conclusion being; What is the truth of real value of a player's career when everything is really even, if they had the same relative situation?
Main point here is how Shaq ONLY won championships because he had another star teammate., Robinson also but to lesser extent over career. There was nice role players but it's that star teammate that lead to being able to get those championships.
Shaq had Penny at his peak on 1995 and 1996 and got to the finals and ECF, beaten only by Olajuwon and near and of career Drexler, and Jordan's arguably greatest alltime team Bulls. He then had prime Kobe and arguably greatest coach ever Phil Jackson and win three straight championships.He then win one more with young star Wade.
Replace Shaq with each one of the other three Centers and likely they win as much, maybe more.
Robinson, Ewing and Olajuwon were lone stars on their teams most of their careers. The Knicks got a great coach in Riley who knew they didn't have the players too be offensively competent, so he devised a grinding defense style. Olajuwon had mediocre guards and limited bigs next to him and a very good coach in Tomjanovich. Robinson had limited guards, two bit bigs and average at best coaches until Pop and Duncan came. With another real star each one could have beaten Jordan, who had Pippen, two or three good role players and great coach.
Make the appropriate comparison using what means is necessary. Conclusion being; What is the truth of real value of a player's career when everything is really even, if they had the same relative situation?