10 greatest NBA centers

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 08/30/2009 | Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/marty_burns/04/04/center.rankings/index.html

[devere]

“If this was a ranking on the classiest centers..... David Robinson would rank #1, #2 and #3.”

David Robinson was a fine basketball player, but without Tim Duncan he would never have won an NBA championship. I’d give Duncan his place on this list. Perhaps Robinson deserves Ewing’s spot.

And of course William F. Russell should rank first. It’s all about winning!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

My worst guess about an NBA draft was SA taking Robinson first.
I thought he was overrated and if he was that good LA would
steal him before he finished his Military commitment.

I saw Armand Gillian play and I thought he should go number one as he rebounded and scored without plays being run for him.

LOL, I was very wrong.
I don't think Armand did anything as a pro.

[Dr. Sivana]

Not nearly as athletic at many if not most of the current centers.

It was a different game then. Mikan is the reason (according to Wikipedia) that goaltending was made illegal, the foul lane was widened, and the shot clock was introduced. I believe that any man who is creative enough to force rule changes deserves special consideration for creativity and resourcefulness. That's one of the reasons Deacon Jones was so great in football.

[Colonel_Flagg]

That’s correct. Mikan changed the game and made the modern game possible. For him to put up the numbers he did before the shot clock and with the ‘key’ actually shaped like a key, is really something.

[Hootowl99]

“You gotta remember that Hakeem’s Rockets beat Shaq’s Magic 4-0 to win the 1995 NBA Finals...I was thrilled about it ‘cuz Clyde Drexler got his ring!”

That was an amazing playoff series and I'm not the greatest basket ball fan. Hakeem was probably right at his peak versus Shaq being a rugged (and huge) youngster in the league. Hakeem flat out smarted Shaq one-on-one and was a lot better team player to boot.

Clyde the Glide came home to show his stuff big time. He was at the end of his career and gave it everything - Nothing held back.

[Responsibility2nd]

There would be no San Antonio Spurs today without the Admiral.

His selfless move to allow Timmy the lead position saved the Spurs. His willingness to take less salary when he could have jumped ship and earned more saved the Spurs.

Overrated??? Not in a million years.

[ChrisInAR]

I wish the NBA would put the Rockets / Magic Finals series on DVD. Houston had a fantastic playoff run that season.

[Jeff Chandler]

No center before or since had his skill at initiating the fast break.

Did you ever watch Wilt when he was with the Lakers? Coach Sharman let Wilt focus on defense, and when Wilt pulled down a rebound (and he got around 18 per game) he would fire the basketball down court to a speeding West, Goodrich, or Hairston. He actually threw it the way a normal sized person throws a softball, and he threw strikes!

[Route797]

Mikan did have one rival in his college career at DePaul, seven footer Bob Kurland of Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University). Unfortunately, they weren't able to continue their rivalry in the pros, since Kurland opted to take a job with Phillips Petroleum and play for their AAU team. It was truly a different age in basketball.

[Route797]

..... Absolutely agree. Chamberlain had all the stratospheric scoring stats and press coverage, but the basic idea behind basketball is to WIN THE GAME. Russell ultimately had to rent an entire vault to store all his championship rings - 11 titles in 13 seasons. On that basis you MUST go with Russell as No. 1.

One of the great unanswered questions of life is what would Wilt and Russell have done had they switched teams.

[Route797]

Which makes the 1983 NCAA championship of NC State over Houston (featuring Olajuwan and Clyde Drexler) all the more miraculous.

I remember watching NC State being eliminated by UT Chattanooga the previous year. That 1982 NC State team had Chuck Nevitt playing center. In light of the discussion about the merits of George Mikan, I wonder how the likes of Nevitt would have fared in the NBA of the 1950s?

[Senator John Blutarski]

Route797 wrote: “One of the great unanswered questions of life is what would Wilt and Russell have done had they switched teams.”

..... Fair comment. But I can’t help the feeling that the real difference was in their respective approaches to the game. Chamberlain always struck me as a player focused upon individual achievement, while Russell cared for nothing but doing what was necessary for his team to win the game.

Strictly my opinion, of course.