Welcome to this edition of Writers’ Block. Writers’ Block is a weekly article where the many different writers for Sports Unbiased are asked questions about different sports-related topics.
This week’s topic is Top-5 Centers in NBA history. This week’s writers taking part are JR Williams, Sammie Wright , Rich Stowe and the two newest writers to Sports Unbiased, Kureen Paige and Kimani Gregoire.
What makes a great center? Is it defense? Is it offense? Is it simply the “fear factor?” Each person has their own preferences for what makes a great player, especially when it comes to deciding the greatest of all-time at a certain position.
One of the newest writers to the Sports Unbiased family, Kureen Paige, sums it up pretty well. He says:
Let me start of by saying there have been some truly great centers in NBA history. Ranking them top to bottom, one through five is not an easy task. I have a rule that if you are one of the greatest to ever play your position or sport, you have to do something that leaves a mark on the game. As you will see in my list of greats, they all more or less changed the way basketball was played.
I think we can all agree with Kureen in that regard. To be considered the best, you need to not only play the best on the court, but you need to completely impact not only the game itself but the history of the game and how it’s played after you are done.
With that in mind, let’s see who the writers picked for their Top-5 Centers of All-Time. At the end, you will have a chance to vote for who you believe is the top center of all-timel. Feel free to comment as well and tell us what you agree or disagree with and to list your top-5 as well.
4 Comments
Guest
January 4, 2019 at 4:06 pmMoses Malone should be on this list. He was a mentor to Hakeem.
Tim Duncan is PF not a center. All around great centers,
Chamberlain and Shaq great. However, something about Bill, Kareem-Abdul and
Hakeem’s whole game was airtight and they changed the nba.
Yomi Diran
August 23, 2014 at 12:17 amExcuse me Mr Stowe, I beg to differ on your silly ranking work here !!! Hakeem is atleast the 3rd best center here. He was better than Russell and Shaq. The only key thing Shaq AND Russell had over Hakeem is the number of titles
but
the same goes for Wilt. They both have more titles than Wilt too, who has only 2 titles. So where is the objective fairness in your choices Stowe ?? I think your rankings are very subjective.
My rankings here are;
1. Wilt
2. Kareem
3. Hakeem
4. Shaq
5. Russell
Please re-do your ranking Mr. Stowe for any ounce of reflective and objective justification and accuracy !! The fans are even screaming bloody Mary, just look at your vote tallies up there !!
Guest
August 23, 2014 at 12:16 amExcuse me Mr Stowe, I beg to differ on your silly ranking work here !!! Hakeem is atleast the 3rd best center here. He was better than Russell and Shaq. The only key thing Shaq AND Russell had over Hakeem is the number of titles
but
the same goes for Wilt. They both have more titles than Wilt too, who has only 2 titles. So where is the objective fairness in your choices Speedman ?? I think your rankings are very subjective.
My rankings here are;
1. Wilt
2. Kareem
3. Hakeem
4. Shaq
5. Russell
Please re-do your ranking Mr. Stowe for any ounce of reflective and objective justification and accuracy !! The fans are even screaming bloody Mary, just look at your vote tallies up there !!
Branislav Lamač
July 2, 2013 at 2:47 pmHereby I reveal my top 5 of centers to ever play the game:
1. Hakeem Olajuwon – Smooth shot from mid-range,under the basket,simply unstoppable on offense,twice won DPOY