Shaquille O’Neal might have been among the big men that defined the NBA and even after glory, he remains humble and wishes to pay homage to the greats.
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As the NBA approaches an era where the role of the ‘Big Men’ has broken through traditional confines, it’s prudent to remember the men who paved the way for the new generations.
The NBA was brought to the spotlight thanks to the consistent effort of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon, all of whom are big men.
The athletes mentioned above were pivotal in setting the foundation for the Centers of the 1990s and its subsequent future stars. The Centers during the formative years of the NBA have often not displayed the respect they deserve for their roles in transcending the future of the game.
Especially in the all-time rankings of these players. With recency bias gaining more recognition, observers prefer the flashy and dazzling styles of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, etc.
However, fellow center and former NBA MVP Shaquille O’Neal, has bestowed respect upon these trailblazers, the respect that they truly deserve.
Shaquille O’Neal ranks himself!
Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant force to be reckoned with during his prime years ranging between the late 1990s to the Mid 2000s. The four-time NBA champion averaged 27 points per game between the 1995/1996 season and the 2003/2004 season.
In addition, he accumulated a staggering 6,686 rebounds between the 1995-96 and 2003-04 seasons. Distinction.
Despite these breathtaking numbers, O’Neal has not once cited himself as the greatest Center of all time. Instead, he gives that honor to the players that laid the groundwork for him.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rGyR3w4Y_KI
O’Neal once made an appearance on the Dan Patrick show and was asked where he ranks himself in their all-time list. Shaq refused to partake in the hypothetical scenario and rather stated his greatest centers.
Diesel responded:
“I gotta go, Bill Russell, number one, Kareem two, probably Wilt three, Hakeem four, and probably me five. So I would say Top five. But my thing coming up is that you know they mention all these great names before me. I always said to myself If I can get my name mentioned with those guys, I think I’ve done something in this league.”
Quite a modest statement from someone who used to smother and terrorize his opponents. But perhaps the 50-year-old’s reasoning must be given paramount importance as well, as the accomplishments of his superiors were far more influential to the game as well as their franchise.
And not to diminish Shaq’s own influence, the Big Man’s dominance is still unrivaled. And we respect his humility. In fact, we think he can be ranked as the greatest center of all time.
Is Shaq the greatest Center of all time?
While a great many players will have multiple arguments bordering championships, MVPs, influence, and impact, as to why they should be ranked higher than the American in any rankings list, O’Neal was a force unlike any other.
To put it into perspective, his 2000 NBA Finals averages were 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in 6 games. He did this all while missing over 50% of his free throws. In lieu, had he worked on his free throws, he would have relatively easily averaged over 45+ points each game.
The fact remains that rankings are merely a metric for the media and supporters to push their narratives. But someone who has watched these games will know precisely how significant they are to the future and success of the NBA.
