The game's GREATEST GIANTS eVer!

[beau_boy04]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... estCenters

What do you guys think about this one?

[Drex]

Ewing surprised me a little. But I think it's a nice list. But I couldn't help but wonder who voted for Dwight Howard

[Bruce]

Ewing surprised me a little. But I think it's a nice list. But I couldn't help but wonder who voted for Dwight Howard

i was shocked more about walton going 7 or 8... were are guys like robert parish and spencer haywood?

[1CenT]

If you started a franchise, who would you pick to be on it?
Wilt Chamberlain, Shaq, Russell, Kareem or Hakeem?

Personally I think Wilt is basically like Shaq, probably more athletic, not as fat and powerful. Maybe a mix of Shaq and David Robinson.

I like Hakeem the most, watch his highlights on youtube, gosh...
But he isn't totally overpowering, no matter how many moves you got and how accurate your shot is, it isn't as easy as Shaq/Wilt overpowering guys then making point blank shots.

I think Hakeem is the most talented, great passer, great shooter, got all the tools defensively.

[beau_boy04]

I think I would pick Kareem that sky hook was mortal but my second choice will be Hakeem. He embarrased all the centers he played against.

[---]

I would take Bill Russell. If I started a franchise I would be looking to win, so why not take the best winner of all time?

[Andrew]

I'd have to agree with that top ten though it's always feels like a snub to leave greats like Willis Reed and Wes Unseld off that list. I'm surprised Dwight Howard garnered even a single vote. That's not a knock on him but right now he doesn't belong in that class.

If you started a franchise, who would you pick to be on it?
Wilt Chamberlain, Shaq, Russell, Kareem or Hakeem?

Even though I'd rank Russell ahead of them on all-time lists, I'd probably go with either Kareem or Hakeem. Kareem of course had one of the deadliest weapons in the history of the sport while controlling the paint at the other end, ranking first in career blocked shots until Hakeem (and recently Dikembe) surpassed him, still leaving him with an impressive number of rejections in his 20 year career. He also smoothly transitioned from being the centrepiece of a championship team to being the second or third player in the Showtime Lakers' Big Three while remaining an effective and dangerous player.

Hakeem meanwhile continued the evolution of the centre position possessing range on his jumpshot, great athleticism and impressive ballhandling skills for a player his size, while retaining the staple of big men throughout time: a post-up game, one that included a dazzling array of moves and incredible footwork that made talented defenders look clumsy.

They're also both legit seven footers which would be hard to bypass if I was starting a franchise in today's NBA. Bill Russell did of course play bigger than his 6'9" 225 pound frame would suggest but it would be difficult to go past the combination of size and skill that The Captain and The Dream both had. It's not as though they strangers to success in their careers either.

[Sauru]

i think walton was a bit too high on the list. i agree that he could have been one of the best to ever play, top 3 maybe, but i feel you need to have a full career to be ranked where he is. his rank is mostly based on his potential.


i would take russell if i was starting a team. the guy was the ultimate team player, never demanind to shoot or stuff like that. he was really the original rodman, just ungodly amounts better and without all the gay stuff.