Is Shaq the strongest in the NBA, history?

[Kabookalu]

No...hell no!

Not even close.

Artis Gilmore, Calvin Natt, Michael Cage, Karl Malone, Nate Thurmond, Wes Unseld, Wayne Embry, Wilt, and many more who played in the ABA I have to go look at their names.

Guys back in the day were country strong, not weight lifting or strong because they are big strong... there is a big difference. Many players were naturally strong back then and knew how to use their strength.

Even guys like Tom Boerwinkle of the Bulls. Bob Lanier. Zelmo Beatty. Jeff Ruland. Shaq might not have been the strongest Laker. George Mikan was strong too.

Paul Silas. Tree Rollins, Darryl Dawkings, George McGinnis, Dave Cowens, James Donaldson, Elvin Hayes. Marvin Webster, Swen Nater. Greg Kite. Aryvadas Sabonis. Loads of guys. In his era perhaps but not of all time imo.

No I've seen stronger players. Don't confuse being bigger or even taller at times with being stronger.

I agree that players back then had better farmboy strength, but I wouldn't count Shaq as a mindless weight room maniac. He's just naturally a monster. And seriously George Mikan? C'mon, that makes it very difficult to give your post any credence.

[Kabookalu]

People keep forgetting for Shaq to carry those weight and move around like he does, his skeleton and base MUST be superb. I doubt Wilt can carry those weight 350lbs+ and move like he does. It's impossible! Shaq is a one unique basketball speciman. He just on another level by himself as far as basketball power goes.

Wilt when he was lugging around 300 pounds was still plenty athletic, and that was when his knees were shot too. He's probably the only player in NBA history to have blocked the sky hook and he did that already past his athletic prime.

[djay]

People keep forgetting for Shaq to carry those weight and move around like he does, his skeleton and base MUST be superb. I doubt Wilt can carry those weight 350lbs+ and move like he does. It's impossible! Shaq is a one unique basketball speciman. He just on another level by himself as far as basketball power goes.

Wilt when he was lugging around 300 pounds was still plenty athletic, and that was when his knees were shot too. He's probably the only player in NBA history to have blocked the sky hook and he did that already past his athletic prime.

The more people talk about his legendary feat and skill, it doesn't match with what I saw on video. I'm sorry but I have to laugh. It's like he played in slow moment but taller and stronger than his thinner frame NBA peers. He didn't exactly bully the way Shaq did. That's the truth. Shaq is an animal on the low block.

Please, don't bring this **** about Wilt powerful dominance over Shaq that that ain't true and it only demeaning Wilt's game. The young kids can watch Wilt highlight on Youtube, you know. Thanks god for video highlight, otherwise I would have believe Wilt legendary game.

[Kironte]

Wilt easy.

Wilt was a legit strong player. I think you need to go back and look again.Wilt was stronger and he did not play with anyone who was as strong. He would throw Shaq around like a paper doll in his prime...but he had a soft heart.

Guys are not built as tough as they were back in the 70's who did not have all this modern technology and sophisticated equipment like today. They ate, got their rest and worked out.

[djay]

This is what happen when players try to bang with Shaq on the low block instead of flopping like Divas.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GofeqRfHAS4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGlBEVPghh4[/youtube]

[Kabookalu]

The more people talk about his legendary feat and skill, it doesn't match with what I saw on video. I'm sorry but I have to laugh. It's like he played in slow moment but taller and stronger than his thinner frame NBA peers. He didn't exactly bully the way Shaq did. That's the truth. Shaq is an animal on the low block.

Please, don't bring this **** about Wilt powerful dominance over Shaq that that ain't true and it only demeaning Wilt's game. The young kids can watch Wilt highlight on Youtube, you know. Thanks god for video highlight, otherwise I would have believe Wilt legendary game.

What's funnier is your short term memory loss; I said I thought Shaq was stronger, but you thinking Wilt couldn't hold his jockstrap is ignorant and ridiculous that just shows your age. The videos you watched were when he was a fadeaway jumpshooting idiot because he cared about what the media said about him, but in his Lakers days he was utterly dominant defensively; some argue that during the period he played for the Lakers he was the best defensive center ever. No doubt he would have been able to guard Shaq.

[rickrolled]

Darvin Ham ?? First time i've heard about him tbh, looked him up on Wikipedia, he retired in 08. So he has lost most of his strength and conditioning, let him guard Prime Shaq TODAY and see WHOs stronger Shaq or Dwight.

And since Dwight looks like a dwarf compared to Prime Shaq since he is barely 6,10, his most power is centered lower about the same height as Darvin dude.

Shaq is the strongest of all time.

DJ Mbenga knows martial arts so hes probably 2nd in pure strength.

[KembaWalker]

Shaq. Dwight isn't even close tbh. He has the arms but his twig legs hold him back from that level.

[djay]

The more people talk about his legendary feat and skill, it doesn't match with what I saw on video. I'm sorry but I have to laugh. It's like he played in slow moment but taller and stronger than his thinner frame NBA peers. He didn't exactly bully the way Shaq did. That's the truth. Shaq is an animal on the low block.

Please, don't bring this **** about Wilt powerful dominance over Shaq that that ain't true and it only demeaning Wilt's game. The young kids can watch Wilt highlight on Youtube, you know. Thanks god for video highlight, otherwise I would have believe Wilt legendary game.

What's funnier is your short term memory loss; I said I thought Shaq was stronger, but you thinking Wilt couldn't hold his jockstrap is ignorant and ridiculous that just shows your age. The videos you watched were when he was a fadeaway jumpshooting idiot because he cared about what the media said about him, but in his Lakers days he was utterly dominant defensively; some argue that during the period he played for the Lakers he was the best defensive center ever. No doubt he would have been able to guard Shaq.

C'com man.. Wilt frame is very thin. His Lakers frame is bigger but compare to Shaq? LOL That still a little light to bang with Shaq in the low block. If Shaq were to play in Wilt era, let just say a lot of those guys would be in the hospital.

[bledredwine]

C'com man.. Wilt frame is very thin. His Lakers frame is bigger but compare to Shaq? LOL That still a little light to bang with Shaq in the low block. If Shaq were to play in Wilt era, let just say a lot of those guys would be in the hospital.

Dude, frame doesn't have that much to do with strength.

I'm a thin guy, and because I chose not to eat a lot and still worked out, I'm now able to squat 410 pounds (whatever lbs 170 KG +bar is) 9-10 X.

Most players work out for size, so the 8-12 rep range + eating a lot.

Wilt was ALL lean muscle man, that's straight up strength. Look at him lifting Arnold and what not. Dude was insanely strong. Besides, we all saw Barkley lift and slam Shaq.

Back then, people didn't have all of the internet, technology and convenience.... so they were very active. Those players were STRONG. We have yet to see someone in today's league as strong as Thurmond, let alone Wilt.

Thurmond/Wilt = all hard muscle. Shaq = a lot of soft muscle and fat. No way is Shaq as strong. Those guys were vascular as hell.

[waya]

C'com man.. Wilt frame is very thin. His Lakers frame is bigger but compare to Shaq? LOL That still a little light to bang with Shaq in the low block. If Shaq were to play in Wilt era, let just say a lot of those guys would be in the hospital.

Dude, frame doesn't have that much to do with strength.

I'm a thin guy, and because I chose not to eat a lot and still worked out, I'm now able to squat 410 pounds (whatever lbs 170 KG +bar is) 9-10 X.

Most players work out for size, so the 8-12 rep range + eating a lot.

Wilt was ALL lean muscle man, that's straight up strength. Look at him lifting Arnold and what not. Dude was insanely strong. Besides, we all saw Barkley lift and slam Shaq.

Back then, people didn't have all of the internet, technology and convenience.... so they were very active. Those players were STRONG. We have yet to see someone in today's league as strong as Thurmond, let alone Wilt.

Thurmond/Wilt = all hard muscle. Shaq = a lot of soft muscle and fat. No way is Shaq as strong. Those guys were vascular as hell.

By "lift and slam" do you mean "push off balance, and fall to the floor together while about 8 people are grabbing onto either of them"?

And in those Conan pictures, Arnold's also being lifted by another 7 foot tall behemoth along with Wilt

[D.Brasco]

This is a great mix of wilt in his later laker years and you can tell he was pretty dominant.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i8mlFGwmO4[/youtube]


As for shaq and wilt's body-types people need to stop confusing shaq's higher body fat % for being automatically more muscular than wilt when that was not the case at all. Wilt was very muscular but he likely kept his bodyfat% quite low.




Here's a contemporary of wilt nate thurmond another one of the "sticks" wilt faced in his time.

[Sc0pe92]

I agree with OP when it comes down to actually power in the post shaq all day. You can have all the fancy muscles in the world and bench the most but when is comes down to using them in game shaq takes the crown.

[Yuri Vaultin]

C'com man.. Wilt frame is very thin. His Lakers frame is bigger but compare to Shaq? LOL That still a little light to bang with Shaq in the low block. If Shaq were to play in Wilt era, let just say a lot of those guys would be in the hospital.

By your logic Michael Sweetney would have destroyed Wilt...

[C-izMe]

Shaq definetly. 7-1 barefoot, 325+ in his prime, 37 inch vertical, 12"6" (highest recorded) max reach. He was built to dunk over people.

I think the Wilt people keep confusing "workout strength" for game strength. Wilt couldn't literally score 95% of his points within 9 feet of the basket (like Shaq did).

Wilt is a distant second though.

[Tave]

This is what happen when players try to bang with Shaq on the low block instead of flopping like Divas.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GofeqRfHAS4[/youtube]

Chris Dudley: a true NBA Goliath.

Why is Shaq humping him and what's with the flagrant foul after the play was over? FWIW I remember watching that play in real time and while I acknowledge Shaq's accomplishments that's the moment I stopped rooting for him to win anything. What a weirdo.

[Tave]

Shaq definetly. 7-1 barefoot, 325+ in his prime, 37 inch vertical, 12"6" (highest recorded) max reach. He was built to dunk over people.

I think the Wilt people keep confusing "workout strength" for game strength. Wilt couldn't literally score 95% of his points within 9 feet of the basket (like Shaq did).

Wilt is a distant second though.

That's exactly what Wilt did.

[Brenice]

Shaq definetly. 7-1 barefoot, 325+ in his prime, 37 inch vertical, 12"6" (highest recorded) max reach. He was built to dunk over people.

I think the Wilt people keep confusing "workout strength" for game strength. Wilt couldn't literally score 95% of his points within 9 feet of the basket (like Shaq did).

Wilt is a distant second though.

Wilt let his "critics" change the way he played. What do you think Wilt did, shoot 3's for those records? Some of the things Wilt did, Shaq certainly could not. Wilt certainly scored 95% of his points within 5ft. Him shooting finger rolls and fadeaways were a result of him showing the critics what he could do. I prefer going up strong like Shaq is known for, but Wilt could do that too, not as powerful as Shaq, but with more strength, length, and athleticism, not just brute force.

[druggas]

Only a few of us on this board have seen Wilt play, and there isn't a ton of video on youtube, so poster's views will be skewed. So I would like to address some of the points here.

First, I just love the statement that Wilt played against "white stiffs" and Shaq didn't. Well if you count Bill Russel and Kareem as stiffs, you just might be a redneck.

Next, Wilt is overrated. Really? Check out the records he holds and then get back to me.

Shaq is the strongest because he dunked on everybody! Really? Shaq dunked because of two things. !. Shaq couldn't shoot, and 2. the refs let Shaq charge his way to the basket.

Now, who are these top centers that Shaq played against? Vlade? Old centers like Hakeem or Robinson?

What rule changes did the NBA institute because of Shaq? They changed a lot of them to curtail Wilt. And to add to this, since MJ led the league, the NBA has changed more rules to give players even more advantages on offense.

Now that we've cleared a few things up, let's transport Shaq back to when Wilt played. Would he dominate? Probably would. But without working on his offensive game, the refs wouldn't let him run over people back then. And that dunk he pulled on Chris Dudley would have dire consequences in Wilt's era. They had enforcers back then and you didn't want to show up your opponent.

Finally, about strength. If Arnold works out with Wilt and proclaims that Wilt is super strong, who are we to debate this? Arnold was there we weren't. But he didn't work out with Shaq so he only can comment on Wilt.

[Tave]

From what I understand another factor that influenced Wilt's style of play included his fear that he would seriously injure opposing players if he played too aggressive. According to him and everyone he played against, he was a kind-hearted guy and very aware of his physical dominance. He also refused to retaliate when other players became frustrated and played him overly physical because he didn't want to give the refs an excuse to toss him and take himself out of the game. There are a couple stories from vets out there of Wilt altering his shot to a lay up or taking a travel when someone tried to block a dunk attempt because he didn't want to break their wrists.

This was back in the days when NBA salaries didn't really support a lavish lifestyle; however, Wilt was compensated well above his peers, even compared to other superstars. I think he was probably conscious of the fact a lot of those guys depended on every paycheck and he didn't want to contribute to anyone else's financial hardships when the game was so good to him.

And I think part of it was simply him relishing the challenge of, like someone said, proving that he could dominate the game through skill and finesse just as easily as he could through brute force.


Shaq really bought into to the whole superman/diesel persona. While Wilt was obviously very proud of his physical talents, he didn't want to "cheat" by leaning on them. That might not be the best word for it but it's close enough. Maybe "boring" would be a better way to describe it.

The guy was just an amazing athlete in every way imaginable. He probably could have won an Olympic gold as a decathlete if he decided to pursue track instead of basketball. That takes a lot more than just "workout strength" as another poster put it.


I don't think Wilt was some superhuman who would toss Shaq around like a ragdoll. Shaq is a freak of nature in his own right and knew how to use his mass to his best advantage. I think a Wilt-Shaq matchup would be very enjoyable to watch. And I think Wilt would love to go at a guy whom he felt like he didn't have to treat with kid gloves.