Most skilled big man: KAJ, Olajuwon, Duncan?

[CIN-C-STAR]

[Roddy B for 3]

Hakeems impact stats had him as an average starter. Duncan's had allstar level impact. Not really close at all.

That means we should throw out those impact stats lol

Did you watch them? Duncan was still a top tier defender. Hakeem...maybe we should throw them out because he didn't look like a starter to be honest. Though that was some time ago....I'm ok with accepting my memory might not be optimal on what happened in 2002.

Duncan was an unbelievable athlete, for his size, even more so. But he was so "fundomental" even whem he lost much of his speed, vertical, etc. he was still incredible.

Duncan was incredible. Maybe better than LBJ.

I haven't watched much of Hakeem but look at how people who did talk about him, how he won and was an all-star many times. He was obviously incredible.

Both easy 1st Ballot HOF guys imo. Although I only watched Duncan.

[CIN-C-STAR]

[dhsilv2]

That means we should throw out those impact stats lol

Did you watch them? Duncan was still a top tier defender. Hakeem...maybe we should throw them out because he didn't look like a starter to be honest. Though that was some time ago....I'm ok with accepting my memory might not be optimal on what happened in 2002.

Duncan was an unbelievable athlete, for his size, even more so. But he was so "fundomental" even whem he lost much of his speed, vertical, etc. he was still incredible.

Duncan was incredible. Maybe better than LBJ.

I haven't watched much of Hakeem but look at how people who did talk about him, how he won and was an all-star many times. He was obviously incredible.

Both easy 1st Ballot HOF guys imo. Although I only watched Duncan.

You ever wanted why some guys look so fluid and mobile on the floor while others, even crazy athletes don't? There's more to being athletic than strength, sprinting, and jumping high. Do you think D Howard would beat Kobe (both peak) in say Ninja Warrior? No training just they go at it.

I don't think Howard would stand a chance. Kobe was just more mobile, agile, light on his feet...all athletic traits that get ignored sometimes. On that same thought why it that Kobe trained with Hakeem and got better while Howard got nothing out of it? Because hakeem's skills require someone to have his athletic ability and Kobe had it, Howard didn't.

There's more to be an athlete than sprinting, jumping and strength. It's the same reason that Vince Carter gets overrated as an athlete when he was well below nba average in lateral mobility and quickness, which is why he wasn't a strong on ball defender.

[CIN-C-STAR]

Gun to my head, I would probably say Kareem most athletic, Hakeem most skilled, and Duncan highest BBIQ, but you can easily make a case for Duncan.
He was an elite passer, whether outlet passes or from the high post. He also had a great post footwork to score 1-on-1, but also a solid mid-range game. Hell, he could even hit 3s when he wanted -- something the other two definitely didn't do -- and hit a last-possession 3 to force overtime against the 7SOL Suns in the playoffs, a game the Spurs eventually won.
So, yeah, no wrong answers here as all were incredibly skilled, but Duncan might have had the best all around skilled game when you consider passing and shooting from range, even if he wasn't as skilled as the others in most traditional aspect of a center's offensive game, scoring from the low block.

[Roddy B for 3]

Did you watch them? Duncan was still a top tier defender. Hakeem...maybe we should throw them out because he didn't look like a starter to be honest. Though that was some time ago....I'm ok with accepting my memory might not be optimal on what happened in 2002.

Duncan was an unbelievable athlete, for his size, even more so. But he was so "fundomental" even whem he lost much of his speed, vertical, etc. he was still incredible.

Duncan was incredible. Maybe better than LBJ.

I haven't watched much of Hakeem but look at how people who did talk about him, how he won and was an all-star many times. He was obviously incredible.

Both easy 1st Ballot HOF guys imo. Although I only watched Duncan.

You ever wanted why some guys look so fluid and mobile on the floor while others, even crazy athletes don't? There's more to being athletic than strength, sprinting, and jumping high. Do you think D Howard would beat Kobe (both peak) in say Ninja Warrior? No training just they go at it.

I don't think Howard would stand a chance. Kobe was just more mobile, agile, light on his feet...all athletic traits that get ignored sometimes. On that same thought why it that Kobe trained with Hakeem and got better while Howard got nothing out of it? Because hakeem's skills require someone to have his athletic ability and Kobe had it, Howard didn't.

There's more to be an athlete than sprinting, jumping and strength. It's the same reason that Vince Carter gets overrated as an athlete when he was well below nba average in lateral mobility and quickness, which is why he wasn't a strong on ball defender.

Lateral agility requires different muscle usage than dunking. VC obviously loves to dunk and doesn't care as much about the muscles it takes to be an elite defender than the muscles it takes to dunk.

Kobe probably got more out of working with Hakeem than Dwight because Kobe was a guy who studied and Dwight was a guy who just, did. You know what I mean? Kobe was more studious of the game.

I would agree young Kobe was more athletic than peak Dwight. I think peak Dwight was a better athlete than Kobe from 2012 on for sure.

But some students at my high school didn't really listen to the teacher even if they sat in the front row (many times I using myself) while others listened intensely took detailed notes and got more out of the same class than I did.

I think Kobe got more from working with Hakeem than Dwight probably because Kobe is a better student.

I'm not saying this to dismiss Dwight's skills.

I have KAJ as the most skilled of the three because all three could have used a Sky Hook like KAJ but didn't. The sky Hook is what made KAJ arguably the GOAT. The singular skill is soooooo valuable in the NBA. A supremely efficient shot you can take on extremely high volume. And if you can't take the shot because of a size disadvantage or because of a double team or whatever you have to be skilled enough to pass out of it at a high efficiency. That's the biggest skill in basketball, putting the ball through the hoop more times than the other team.

Hakeem might get more recognition from people who value his defense much higher than they value KAJ defense.

I think a top 5 offense player ever who was an all-time great defender his first 10 years is more skilled than a top 50(or better) all time great offensive player who is also probably a top 20 defensive player of all time.

I'd probably say Duncan is better offensively and idk who was better defensively between Duncan and Hakeem.

[dhsilv2]

Duncan was an unbelievable athlete, for his size, even more so. But he was so "fundomental" even whem he lost much of his speed, vertical, etc. he was still incredible.

Duncan was incredible. Maybe better than LBJ.

I haven't watched much of Hakeem but look at how people who did talk about him, how he won and was an all-star many times. He was obviously incredible.

Both easy 1st Ballot HOF guys imo. Although I only watched Duncan.

You ever wanted why some guys look so fluid and mobile on the floor while others, even crazy athletes don't? There's more to being athletic than strength, sprinting, and jumping high. Do you think D Howard would beat Kobe (both peak) in say Ninja Warrior? No training just they go at it.

I don't think Howard would stand a chance. Kobe was just more mobile, agile, light on his feet...all athletic traits that get ignored sometimes. On that same thought why it that Kobe trained with Hakeem and got better while Howard got nothing out of it? Because hakeem's skills require someone to have his athletic ability and Kobe had it, Howard didn't.

There's more to be an athlete than sprinting, jumping and strength. It's the same reason that Vince Carter gets overrated as an athlete when he was well below nba average in lateral mobility and quickness, which is why he wasn't a strong on ball defender.

Lateral agility requires different muscle usage than dunking. VC obviously loves to dunk and doesn't care as much about the muscles it takes to be an elite defender than the muscles it takes to dunk.

Kobe probably got more out of working with Hakeem than Dwight because Kobe was a guy who studied and Dwight was a guy who just, did. You know what I mean? Kobe was more studious of the game.

I would agree young Kobe was more athletic than peak Dwight. I think peak Dwight was a better athlete than Kobe from 2012 on for sure.

But some students at my high school didn't really listen to the teacher even if they sat in the front row (many times I using myself) while others listened intensely took detailed notes and got more out of the same class than I did.

I think Kobe got more from working with Hakeem than Dwight probably because Kobe is a better student.

I'm not saying this to dismiss Dwight's skills.

I have KAJ as the most skilled of the three because all three could have used a Sky Hook like KAJ but didn't. The sky Hook is what made KAJ arguably the GOAT. The singular skill is soooooo valuable in the NBA. A supremely efficient shot you can take on extremely high volume. And if you can't take the shot because of a size disadvantage or because of a double team or whatever you have to be skilled enough to pass out of it at a high efficiency. That's the biggest skill in basketball, putting the ball through the hoop more times than the other team.

Hakeem might get more recognition from people who value his defense much higher than they value KAJ defense.

I think a top 5 offense player ever who was an all-time great defender his first 10 years is more skilled than a top 50(or better) all time great offensive player who is also probably a top 20 defensive player of all time.

I'd probably say Duncan is better offensively and idk who was better defensively between Duncan and Hakeem.

I think it's crazy to think vince didn't care about defense. You can see these traits showing up with kids man. You can train and absolutely make up some of this, but at the end of the day the elite guys have things they're just better at. Horward isn't coordinated enough to get the benefits from hakeem. There's no amount of training that's going to fix that. Kobe, he had it all.

[contestedlayups]

Well considering that Abdul-Jabbar had a move that nobody in the entirety of his career could stop, and no one has replicated since, or even tried to replicate, it's KAJ by a mile. But everyone here is going to point to Olajuwon's footwork as being "more skilled".

Watch on YouTube

lol.

Watch on YouTube

[rasta_marley]

I honestly cant choose and didnt vote. I mean I have no idea out of those 3 that's a tough one lol.

[21 TD]

Hakeem is the Kobe of bigs, where his sexy moves overshadow everything else about him and give him unearned bumps against his contemporaries.
FTR, like Kobe, he is around top 10 All time. No insult intended.

That and hid mid 90s peak is fetishized beyond belief, whereas young/peak Duncan is somehow mostly forgotten and the myth of Pop has consumed a lot of his should be credit.

The perception is Olajuwon was a better scorer, but advanced stats indicate they were actually similar.

I'm obviously biased, but I'd go Duncan. He was the most fluid, nimble, complete center I've seen.

[Bolts]

No Wilt equals failed poll.

[NPZ]

Superkwame. The Lakers' dedicated channel replays crap that they haven't refreshed since 2014 and they have different panel shows w/ old Showtime players discussing topics a la Open Court and there are Dwight disses peppered throughout said shows. Worthy commented about Dwight not even deserving to be MENTIONED! in a discussion of most talented Cs as Kareem/Byron/Coop laugh. That gets played over and over during the offseason. Dwight has reparations to make good on, but I know he probably won't.

[LKN]

This has to be Kareem. Hakeem is more flashy, but Kareem more effective

[Joerezz7]

btw, i dont think either of these three are the most skilled big men. off the top of my head, Jokic is probably the most skilled.

Olajuwon would embarrass Jokic.

Again...most skilled does not mean better. Olajuwon would embarrass Jokic in what way?

Jokic is not even a fraction of the athlete Hakeem is and is still one of the best players in the league. Jokic is one of the best passers in the league, and probably the best passing center the NBA ever seen - Hakeem was not a good passer for most of his career. Jokic's shooting range is much better. Jokic is not as good in the paint in Olajuwon, but the way he scores is more heavily reliant on skill than Olajuwon's methods (floaters, runners, baby hooks he uses in much higher volume than Hakeem and with less lift). Jokic gets rebounds off of reads and boxing out. He is an elite screener. Elite pick and pop. Elite high post hub. He can run the fast break while dribbling full court. He can outlet pass....

Jokic isn't even a bad defender, he is actually stereotyped to be one because of how awful of an athlete he is. That's how skilled he is, that people think the guy is one of the worst defenders in the league because of how goofy he moves when statistically speaking he is nowhere near that.

So again, what do you mean he would "embarrass" Jokic? I'm sorry, there is like no argument that Olajuwon is a more skilled player than Jokic (I seriously cannot think of one) - unless you think that because Olajuwon is one of the GOATs and Jokic is not that means he is automatically more skilled?


No offense to posters here, but saying Hakeem is the most skilled big of all time is almost like saying he isn't an elite athlete. People here correlate goodness with player attributes too much. Hakeem is a skilled, high IQ player with elite athleticism, this doesn't mean that he has goat skill, goat, iq, and goat athleticism.

Jokic is not more skilled than Pau Gasol in his prime

[Capn'O]

I honestly cant choose and didnt vote. I mean I have no idea out of those 3 that's a tough one lol.

Me neither. How would you even say with such confidence. All three were just so insanely good and had different skill points of strength.

[chuck_wagon44]

Easy answer: Hakeem.