Best center of all-time, peak-wise

[Quotatious]

Who is the best center of all-time, in terms of peak?

Discuss and vote in the poll.

[ardee]

Not even a debate in my mind. When you are top 5 in points, tops in rebounding, top 3 in assists, tops in field goal percentage, and probably top 2 in blocks, and your team wins 68 games and the title, I see little reason to pick anyone else. He literally did everything at an elite level and it led to massive team success.

[Quotatious]

My pick is Hakeem, because he had the fewest amount of weaknesses in his skill-set, physically and mentally. Consistently raised his game in the playoffs, and proved to be amazing in head-to-head matchups with other all-time great centers at the biggest stage under pressure.

Let's put it this way - if I had to pick any of those guys, give them an equal supporting cast, and know that I would have to face 9 teams led by all those other centers, I think Hakeem would have the best results.

[ardee]

My pick is Hakeem, because he had the fewest amount of weaknesses in his skill-set, physically and mentally. Consistently raised his game in the playoffs, and proved to be amazing in head-to-head matchups with other all-time great centers at the biggest stage under pressure.

Let's put it this way - if I had to pick any of those guys, give them an equal supporting cast, and know that I would have to face 9 teams led by all those other centers, I think Hakeem would have the best results.

What could Hakeem do that Wilt couldn't do? Wilt's post game wasn't as fancy as Hakeem's but he got the job done, and had a beautiful, Nowitzki-esque fadeaway jumper with better range than anything anyone on this list could do.

Also, he had the point-center factor.

[KobesScarf]

I will take Wilt 67 as the most dominant season in the history of team sports

[KobesScarf]

Not even a debate in my mind. When you are top 5 in points, tops in rebounding, top 3 in assists, tops in field goal percentage, and probably top 2 in blocks, and your team wins 68 games and the title, I see little reason to pick anyone else. He literally did everything at an elite level and it led to massive team success.

And break the Celtics 9 year win streak. Obviously can't be confirmed but he supposedly averaged a quadruple double against the Royals too

[70sFan]

Wilt Chamberlain

It's extremely close and you can take alomst any player in this poll but I believe Wilt in 1967 approached level unbeatable by any player in NBA history. He did things nobody before or since. Like making over 30 FG attempts in a row. Like averaging triple double at C position for two straight playoffs series.

[Quotatious]

My pick is Hakeem, because he had the fewest amount of weaknesses in his skill-set, physically and mentally. Consistently raised his game in the playoffs, and proved to be amazing in head-to-head matchups with other all-time great centers at the biggest stage under pressure.

Let's put it this way - if I had to pick any of those guys, give them an equal supporting cast, and know that I would have to face 9 teams led by all those other centers, I think Hakeem would have the best results.

What could Hakeem do that Wilt couldn't do? Wilt's post game wasn't as fancy as Hakeem's but he got the job done, and had a beautiful, Nowitzki-esque fadeaway jumper with better range than anything anyone on this list could do.

Also, he had the point-center factor.

Wilt's fadeaway was very overrated and not close to Hakeem's. There's a reason why his field goal percentage skyrocketed when his volume went down - as a volume scorer, he had to rely a lot on that fadeaway, and likely shot a low percentage. He was probably an extremely efficient finisher at rim, in his volume scoring years (much like Shaq) but not a particularly good shooter beyond 10 feet. The reason why I think so, is that he was a bad FT shooter compared to Hakeem, that's why it's unlikely his percentage on mid-range shots would be good. There's a very strong correlation between free throw percentage and overall shooting ability.

Hakeem had clearly the best fadeaway of any center in NBA history, I don't think it's even debatable.

[TheGOATRises007]

I've still got Shaq.

Maybe the fact that I saw him dominate live leans me towards him more, but he was unstoppable.

I really don't think he could be guarded 1vs1 in the paint.

Although I did recently watch some of the 95 NBA Finals between the Magic and Rockets and was hugely impressed by Hakeem. More-so than before. He's brilliant aesthetically. I think him and Jordan had a certain grace to their game and it looked effortless in a more visually pleasing way than Shaq/Lebron.

So he'd be my 2nd choice. But for now, I'll still go Shaq.

[KobesScarf]

There's a reason why his field goal percentage skyrocketed when his volume went down - as a volume scorer, he had to rely a lot on that fadeaway, and likely shot a low percentage.

Sorry but this might be the most ridiculous post you have ever made.

In 61 Wilt broke the record for FG% taking over 30 shots a game(Wilts only player to ever do so) he broke the FG% record again in 63 taking even more shots

[70sFan]

My pick is Hakeem, because he had the fewest amount of weaknesses in his skill-set, physically and mentally. Consistently raised his game in the playoffs, and proved to be amazing in head-to-head matchups with other all-time great centers at the biggest stage under pressure.

Let's put it this way - if I had to pick any of those guys, give them an equal supporting cast, and know that I would have to face 9 teams led by all those other centers, I think Hakeem would have the best results.

What could Hakeem do that Wilt couldn't do? Wilt's post game wasn't as fancy as Hakeem's but he got the job done, and had a beautiful, Nowitzki-esque fadeaway jumper with better range than anything anyone on this list could do.

Also, he had the point-center factor.

Wilt's fadeaway was very overrated and not close to Hakeem's. There's a reason why his field goal percentage skyrocketed when his volume went down - as a volume scorer, he had to rely a lot on that fadeaway, and likely shot a low percentage. He was probably an extremely efficient finisher at rim, in his volume scoring years (much like Shaq) but not a particularly good shooter beyond 10 feet. The reason why I think so, is that he was a bad FT shooter compared to Hakeem, that's why it's unlikely his percentage on mid-range shots would be good. There's a very strong correlation between free throw percentage and overall shooting ability.

Hakeem had clearly the best fadeaway of any center in NBA history, I don't think it's even debatable.

That's a very strong statement. I don't think Hakeem has clearly better fadeaway than McAdoo for example. Or Willis Reed. Hell, Moses Malone and Patrick Ewing played against him and had arguably better turnarounds.

I agree that Hakeem fadeaway has more range but I don't know why everyone tells that Wilt must have had poor fadeaway. How many games we do we have from his prime? From limited 1964 finals footage we've seen him shooting many fadeaways with ease.

[Quotatious]

There's a reason why his field goal percentage skyrocketed when his volume went down - as a volume scorer, he had to rely a lot on that fadeaway, and likely shot a low percentage.

Sorry but this might be the most ridiculous post you have ever made.

In 61 Wilt broke the record for FG% taking over 30 shots a game(Wilts only player to ever do so) he broke the FG% record again in 63 taking even more shots

And? He shot a percentage that is right in the same category as Hakeem, and below Shaq, but Olajuwon and O'Neal were more likely to sustain that in the playoffs, where Chamberlain dropped off a bit most years. Yes, I know that Wilt played many of those games against Russell, but what Olajuwon did against Robinson (a near GOAT level defender, also) in 1995, was something unmatched by any other center, offensively, against a defender of that magnitude. 35.3 ppg on 56% from the field, without having his production inflated by pace (both the Rockets and Spurs averaged below 100 ppg in that series, while the matchups of the Celtics and Wilt's Warriors or Sixers, ended up in 110-120 range for both teams, most of the time).

Even in 1967 (when he had a ton of help on offense), Wilt's field goal percentage in the playoffs dropped by more than 10% compared to regular season, his FT% also declined (it was embarrassingly low, at below 39%).

Any of the elite modern centers would've set the FG% record in Wilt's place, too. Guys like peak Shaq, Hakeem, D-Rob, Ewing, Moses, definitely would've done it, no question about it. Per 100 possessions all of them peaked right in the same category as early 60s Wilt. There's a reason why Wilt couldn't win a title as a volume scorer (the reason is that his scoring was usually worse in the playoffs).

[70sFan]

Wilt vs Celtics in 1965
Kareem vs Blazers in 1977
Shaq vs Sixers in 2001
Moses vs Lakers 1983

All are comparable at individual level to Hakeem vs Spurs.

[Quotatious]

Wilt vs Celtics in 1965
Kareem vs Blazers in 1977
Shaq vs Sixers in 2001
Moses vs Lakers 1983

All are comparable at individual level to Hakeem vs Spurs.

Wilt averaged 5 less points (in a higher scoring series than '95 HOU vs SAS) on worse efficiency (they shot about the same FG%, but Olajuwon shot almost 81% on free throws, Chamberlain only just below 58%).

Kareem is certainly comparable, but for what it's worth, his team got swept, Hakeem's team won the series.

Shaq averaged 2 less points, shot only marginally better from the field (just a bit over 1% edge), about 30% worse from the free throw line, and his own team was much more talented than the opposing team (while the Rockets and Spurs were evenly-matched talent-wise, and the Spurs had HCA, won 15 more games in RS).

Moses is way below in terms of volume and efficiency (both from the field and foul line), and '83 Kareem was definitely not as good defensively as '95 D-Rob.

All things considered, Hakeem's series was clearly the most impressive among those five. I think it's one of the top 3-5 playoff series of all-time, at any position (along with LeBron against the Warriors in 2016, Jordan against the Cavs in 1989, Dr J against the Nets in 1976 - those are four of the most impressive, off the top of my head).

[SkyHookFTW]

In terms of one best season, the only two I can consider are Wilt and Shaq. They have the greatest center peaks of all time. Call it 1 and 1A if you wish. I'll take Wilt's by a hair. He knocked the greatest basketball dynasty ever out of the playoffs in 1967.

[70sFan]

Wilt TS% is more impressive in 1965 than Hakeem in 1995. The gap is very small, Wilt played against better (defensive and overall) team than Hakeem, too.

I don't know how can you say that Hakeem series is clearly more impressive.

[KobesScarf]

There's a reason why his field goal percentage skyrocketed when his volume went down - as a volume scorer, he had to rely a lot on that fadeaway, and likely shot a low percentage.

Sorry but this might be the most ridiculous post you have ever made.

In 61 Wilt broke the record for FG% taking over 30 shots a game(Wilts only player to ever do so) he broke the FG% record again in 63 taking even more shots

And? He shot a percentage that is right in the same category as Hakeem, and below Shaq, but Olajuwon and O'Neal were more likely to sustain that in the playoffs, where Chamberlain dropped off a bit most years. Yes, I know that Wilt played many of those games against Russell, but what Olajuwon did against Robinson (a near GOAT level defender, also) in 1995, was something unmatched by any other center, offensively, against a defender of that magnitude. 35.3 ppg on 56% from the field, without having his production inflated by pace (both the Rockets and Spurs averaged below 100 ppg in that series, while the matchups of the Celtics and Wilt's Warriors or Sixers, ended up in 110-120 range for both teams, most of the time).

Even in 1967 (when he had a ton of help on offense), Wilt's field goal percentage in the playoffs dropped by more than 10% compared to regular season, his FT% also declined (it was embarrassingly low, at below 39%).

Any of the elite modern centers would've set the FG% record in Wilt's place, too. Guys like peak Shaq, Hakeem, D-Rob, Ewing, Moses, definitely would've done it, no question about it. Per 100 possessions all of them peaked right in the same category as early 60s Wilt. There's a reason why Wilt couldn't win a title as a volume scorer (the reason is that his scoring was usually worse in the playoffs).

His so called low % was the best ever. Also the comparison of Wilt in the playoffs to himself in RS is sillywhen what he was doing in the RS were all records that no other player had ever even come close to. It's like saying LeBron couldn't win titles when he wasn't putting up triple doubles every game

[Jaivl]

Shaq (2000, 2001 -your favorite-).

[FuShengTHEGreat]

What could Hakeem do that Wilt couldn't do? .

Lead a team to a title as a volume scoring first option offensively. Shoot his FTs well. And lead his teams to victories vs opponents teams that were = or superior in talent

[FuShengTHEGreat]

Wilt vs Celtics in 1965
Kareem vs Blazers in 1977
Shaq vs Sixers in 2001
Moses vs Lakers 1983

All are comparable at individual level to Hakeem vs Spurs.

Russell was mostly a defence first C more content to win a war of attrition than seriously challenge Wilt h2h. David Robinson was his teams best offensive and defensive player that challenged Hakeem at both ends.

Kareem indeed. Although it was more valuable to Portland for Walton to not get caught up in the h2h game by trying to match Kareem.

Shaq vs Mutombo.....I'm just not as impressed by that series as others are. Deke was just a defence first C that stood under the rim. Very limited offence. He never stood a chance. When David Robinsons Spurs swept his Nuggets in 95 he was made a total non factor. He was 34 too going against someone much younger than him. I think Hakeem or Kareem would've abused him h2h just the same.

Moses indeed outplayed Kareem in 83 when although being a All Star was 36 years old.

The gap between Hakeem n David h2h was miniscule headed into that series over the course of their careers h2h. Nobody could've forcasted the series going that way. That's what made it the GOAT individual playoff series to me.