Is Shaq the strongest in the NBA, history?

[tsherkin]

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.

Well said; this is basically what I feel about the situation. Wilt would do better in the modern era, I think, especially with the right coach and certainly he'd be free to go 100% against someone like Shaq, which would be cool to see.

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[jwise44]

Guys guys guys we are all overlooking the super human himself...KEVIN MARTIN!!

Willing to bet he could bench press 100 lbs!!!


Also on a real note bench press is a very weak measure of basketball strength. Not saying having a stong chest wouldnt help, but Squat and dead lift would be a better measure.

And lmao at the guy trying to downplay wilts superhumanish strength

[Mamba Venom]

Did you hear the story where Wilt was passing Arnold Schwarzenegger back and forth with Andre the Giant. He was playing w/ Arnold.

[Hoops Addict]

For pure mass and banging BIG Shack may be strongest.

Karl Malone was incredibly strong and could bang with Shaq.

Antoine Carr....when he was young in Atlanta, was beefy and loved to bang.

[ndnow]

I've met both Shaq and Howard and it's not even close. Shaq is just a monster and I don't think there will ever be another like him. Howard is actually a lot smaller than I had imagined.

[sanity]

Strongest by position would be more interesting. You could consider guys like Desmond Mason, Tony Allen, Artest, even Ben Wallace

[Promezclan]

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.

. LOL at going to the gym being strength. I don't care if you can 'squat' twice as much as Big Baby - he wouldn't even notice you are there on a basketball court.

[Brenice]

I wonder what Shaq would be like if he worked out like Wilt.

[ndnow]

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.

. LOL at going to the gym being strength. I don't care if you can 'squat' twice as much as Big Baby - he wouldn't even notice you are there on a basketball court.

This doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Promezclan]

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.

. LOL at going to the gym being strength. I don't care if you can 'squat' twice as much as Big Baby - he wouldn't even notice you are there on a basketball court.

This doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

1) The stylized, mono-directional strength of weight-lifting doesn't translate that directly to the complexity of power in the real world.
2) Size and bulk are actually hugely important for force and positioning on a basketball court.

[jwise44]

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.

. LOL at going to the gym being strength. I don't care if you can 'squat' twice as much as Big Baby - he wouldn't even notice you are there on a basketball court.

Hahahaha wtf? Stupidest thing I've ever read

Ask a professional post player if having stronger legs doesn't help

[Frank Mulely]

wes unseld rates a mention.

[Kilroy]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... e-nba.html

Kermit Washington: "The strongest man in the NBA" at the time... Wilt had just retired though, so maybe there's a big 'Since Wilt' in there somewhere or maybe he was even stronger than Wilt... IDK.

Not sure I'd place them over Shaq though... Weight training was just not as advanced then.

[LakerLegend]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLDXw5lC-LM[/youtube]

I'm sure there are many with an argument in the weight room, but in terms of "basketball" strength? No argument. Shaq would just physically dominate the biggest strongest guys. These stories you hear about Wilt dunking with a guy hanging off his arm, you actually SAW that with Shaq.

[Chronz]

Dwight vs Shaq physically? LMFAO

Unless the conversation is about quickness he doesnt stand a chance. 7"1+ of 300+lbs = no contest.

I understand bulk does not equal weight, thats why the answer I give is Wilt based on the stories Ive heard, but if Dwight could handle Shaq 1 on 1 in the post he wouldn't need double teams. The Cavs got Shaq with the intention of playing Dwight 1 on 1. Meanwhile the Magic were throwing double teams to help Dwight against Shaq. Not that its a bad strat, Shaq was at the point where double teams rendered him a passer, but it says alot about your strength and ability to defend the post 1 ON 1 when your teams gameplan is to send alot of help your way.

Dwight vs SHAQ LMFAO

[ndnow]

The mere fact that Shaq is lunging 300 pounds ish just while he walks is scary.

[jaypo]

It depends on what you consider strong. Ben Wallace could curl more than any human should be able to curl. Wilt supposedly could bench 500 lbs. Those feats demonstrate more "strength" than Shaq. But I'd put money on the fact that Shaq was more powerful than both. For example, have you seen anyone bully Shaq in the post? He's faced players bigger and stronger (Yao, Ben Wallace, Sabas). Yet, nobody has been able to do to him what he did to them. He could keep Dwight from backing him down easily while past his physical prime.

I'm about 6'0" 190 lbs, can curl 85% of my bodyweight, and can bench more than most NBA players can. But could I keep an NBA player that outweighs me by 80lbs from backing me down? Probably not! Point being, I am functionally strong for what I train for- strength and martial arts. My legs can kick through a wall, but I don't have a huge verticle leap anymore. Both exercises require insane leg strength. But different kinds. Same in this argument. Player A may be able to squat 600 lbs, but player B may be able to jump higher and use his leg strength to translate to better ability to back down a defender.

[Mamba Venom]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzIu7o5NH1k[/youtube]

[Kabookalu]

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.

He was 300 pounds in his Lakers days, I don't know how hard that is to comprehend. If he "looks" thin, even though if you just saw his pictures he was packing a lot of muscle, it's because he was very tall. And like a poster said before me, you must think Eddy Curry and Michael Sweetney are up there with the strongest players ever.

[FlipTSO]

Yes, no question.