RealGM 2025 Greatest Peaks Project #4 — 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon

[70sFan]

Lol, the winning bias is strong. 1994 Hakeem has no advantages over 1993.

I'd say he has no clear advantages, but it is not like 1993 Hakeem has clear advantages over 1994 either. These two seasons are very similar all around.

Just that little detail 1994 being much closer in time to the clearly regressed 1995, than 1993 is. Logically 1993 is just a better player and season.

I personally prefer to look at what actually happened on the basketball court and Hakeem in the finals looked as good as ever, against top tier level defense.

[eminence]

Lol, the winning bias is strong. 1994 Hakeem has no advantages over 1993.

I'd say he has no clear advantages, but it is not like 1993 Hakeem has clear advantages over 1994 either. These two seasons are very similar all around.

Just that little detail 1994 being much closer in time to the clearly regressed 1995, than 1993 is. Logically 1993 is just a better player and season.

Is '95 so clearly worse than '91/'92?

They clearly gave him more offensive primacy under Rudy. Has a rough WOWY sample in '91 (though strong in '92), combines to look okay but not exactly overwhelming (+10 win range). Better two year WOWY sample in '95/'96.

Evidence for years prior to '93 being meaningfully stronger than '95 seems weak to me.

[Top10alltime]

Also, I think I should put my post in the next thread once it starts. I hope I am allowed to do that

Well, we still have Russell and Shaq, Duncan and Wilt and many others as candidates, so I think you're going to have many opportunities.

And Moses, Robinson, Gilmore, Ewing... Even Jokic. Plenty of guys to talk about. Not enough time to do them justice.

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

[tsherkin]

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

Because he was good. And little-discussed. And because he'd be thought of differently had he played the same minutes in the NBA as he did in the ABA, and was still an insane finisher. Because he had a lefty skyhook and a sick afro.

Cuz Reasons (TM), man. Gilmore was good.

[Top10alltime]

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

Because he was good. And little-discussed. And because he'd be thought of differently had he played the same minutes in the NBA as he did in the ABA, and was still an insane finisher. Because he had a lefty skyhook and a sick afro.

Cuz Reasons (TM), man. Gilmore was good.

Yes, but why? I'm looking for reasons + claims, not just claims.

[tsherkin]

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

Because he was good. And little-discussed. And because he'd be thought of differently had he played the same minutes in the NBA as he did in the ABA, and was still an insane finisher. Because he had a lefty skyhook and a sick afro.

Cuz Reasons (TM), man. Gilmore was good.

Yes, but why? I'm looking for reasons + claims, not just claims.

Because he was a good post player and rim defender. Because he led the ABA twice and the NBA four times in FG%. Because he was a quality rebounder. Because he was fun to watch. We're already well past the threshold of "enough to be interested in [player x,]" and even more so for a post-centric guy.

This is heartily elementary stuff.

[trelos6]

[list]Hakeem Olajuwon wins 13 to 6 over Wilt Chamberlain.
Hakeem Olajuwon wins 12 to 8 over Bill Russell.
Hakeem Olajuwon wins 10 to 9 over Shaquille O’Neal
Hakeem Olajuwon wins 11 to 10 over Tim Duncan (

Wow. 10 v 9 and 11 v 10.

Hakeem wins in a very close contest.

[Ol Roy]

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

Because he was good. And little-discussed. And because he'd be thought of differently had he played the same minutes in the NBA as he did in the ABA, and was still an insane finisher. Because he had a lefty skyhook and a sick afro.

Cuz Reasons (TM), man. Gilmore was good.

Yes, but why? I'm looking for reasons + claims, not just claims.

He's #2 all-time in TS Points Added, wedged between Kareem and Wilt.

[70sFan]

Well, we still have Russell and Shaq, Duncan and Wilt and many others as candidates, so I think you're going to have many opportunities.

And Moses, Robinson, Gilmore, Ewing... Even Jokic. Plenty of guys to talk about. Not enough time to do them justice.

Why are you so moved on Artis Gilmore?

I may ask you a reversed question - why can anybody be unmoved on Artis Gilmore?

[ShotCreator]

I'd say he has no clear advantages, but it is not like 1993 Hakeem has clear advantages over 1994 either. These two seasons are very similar all around.

Just that little detail 1994 being much closer in time to the clearly regressed 1995, than 1993 is. Logically 1993 is just a better player and season.

Is '95 so clearly worse than '91/'92?

They clearly gave him more offensive primacy under Rudy. Has a rough WOWY sample in '91 (though strong in '92), combines to look okay but not exactly overwhelming (+10 win range). Better two year WOWY sample in '95/'96.

Evidence for years prior to '93 being meaningfully stronger than '95 seems weak to me.

You just mentioned the coach and the offensive scheme changes that pretty much explain the rapid increase in offensive production.

The reasons for 91 Hakeem and 95 not being as good as 93 or 94 are completely different.

Early 90’s Hakeem and mid-90’s Hakeem are on completely different athleticism and motor levels. The defensive ability is not close.

Realistically Hakeem never had a natural peak. He probably would’ve actually peaked in his late 20’s on both ends wit the right team environment.

[giordunk]

Gonna have to bookmark this thread and catch up. Surprised to see Hakeem at 4.

[One_and_Done]

Hakeem had an inverted peak. He peaked from 93 to 95, which is fairly unusual but not unheard of (e.g. Nash, arguably Lebron, etc, peaked around that age). I don't agree with him quite this high, but it's not wildly off.