“I elevated it to a new plane!”-Shaquille O’Neal thinks he was better than….
The center position in the NBA is one that has produced many greats over the years, leading to intense discussions about who is the best. Every period has its outstanding big men, and we could construct a plethora of lists despite the fact that the league’s current evolution has diminished their significance and worth.
Basketball has always been centered around height and centers, from George Mikan to Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and eventually to the present players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić. Maybe the emphasis on the three-point shooting lowered their relevance, but nonetheless, you need to have that inside presence.
Many of these outstanding center players were part of the legendary Lakers franchise. It makes for difficult discussions regarding who was the best big man in the history of the NBA because the team with the most titles has always wanted to have him on the squad.
Shaq frequently expresses his admiration for the large men who came before him, but being the self-assured person that he is, he will always rank himself very highly. Shaq frequently claimed that Bill Russell was superior to him, but O’Neal believes he is superior to players who are on a comparable level, including as Wilt, Kareem, and Hakeem.
On a recent episode of the Big Podcast, Shaq shared a short comment in which he shared how he took it a step farther than Wilt and Kareem:
It is difficult to argue against that, though, particularly in light of Shaquille’s extreme dominance in his younger and prime years. Many fans would concur with that idea, but the numbers and a deeper analysis are necessary.
