Better Center In Their PRIME: Shaquille O'Neal vs Hakeem Olajuwan

[#1hiphopjunki3]

Apples and Oranges in terms of style. Orlando Shaq was more comparable to Hakeem in terms of his footwork, agility and overall athleticism, but LA Shaq more brute force overpowering everybody in his path. Shaq was the more reliable scorer in terms of getting easy buckets, but I give Hakeem the edge cause of his superior defense and reliability at the FT line.

Couldn't have said it better!

Not to slight Shaq either because he was a monster but I'm taking Olajuwon

 

[playmaker88]

Tough but i always felt Hakeem was betterover all .. toss up really though

 

[king hassan]

The Dream had a gang of moves and he had a nice 12-15 foot jumper

 

[CapitalB]

cant go wrong wit either pick..

but Shaq in his prime was nothin to fuck wit..

PERIOD!!

when Hakeem got him Shaq was still learnin..

 

[Shizlansky]

cant go wrong wit either pick..

but Shaq in his prime was nothin to fuck wit..

PERIOD!!

when Hakeem got him Shaq was still learnin..

He still gave Dream that work.

 

[dallas' 4 eva]

The fact that Shaq is losing right now is fucking depressing. You IC niggas first pick Iverson >>>> Wade which is at least a debate, but bruh Dream >>> Shaq?!?!! Fucking nonsense this revisionist Dream history needs to stop, he wasn't even considered the best center in the league most of his career as good as he was.

 

[DOPEdweebz]

The fact that Shaq is losing right now is fucking depressing. You IC niggas first pick Iverson >>>> Wade which is at least a debate, but bruh Dream >>> Shaq?!?!! Fucking nonsense this revisionist Dream history needs to stop, he wasn't even considered the best center in the league most of his career as good as he was.

Niggas probably remmeber Shaq being owned by Hakeem having something to do with it

 

[king hassan]

The fact that Shaq is losing right now is fucking depressing. You IC niggas first pick Iverson >>>> Wade which is at least a debate, but bruh Dream >>> Shaq?!?!! Fucking nonsense this revisionist Dream history needs to stop, he wasn't even considered the best center in the league most of his career as good as he was.

The center position was deep bruh, he was an elite one tho.

 

[Shizlansky]

The fact that Shaq is losing right now is fucking depressing. You IC niggas first pick Iverson >>>> Wade which is at least a debate, but bruh Dream >>> Shaq?!?!! Fucking nonsense this revisionist Dream history needs to stop, he wasn't even considered the best center in the league most of his career as good as he was.

Niggas probably remmeber Shaq being owned by Hakeem having something to do with it

Shaq dominated Dream as a pup. He didn't even get to fully see Shaq in his prime.

 

[dalyricalbandit]

Real talk nobody was stopping prime shaq he was making legends look childish

 

[caddo man]

I am a huge Shaq fan. Greatest Center ever. Fuck you and any argument you may come up with. I aint debating shit.

 

[PanchoYoSancho]

The fact that Shaq is losing right now is fucking depressing. You IC niggas first pick Iverson >>>> Wade which is at least a debate, but bruh Dream >>> Shaq?!?!! Fucking nonsense this revisionist Dream history needs to stop, he wasn't even considered the best center in the league most of his career as good as he was.

Niggas probably remmeber Shaq being owned by Hakeem having something to do with it

Shaq dominated Dream as a pup. He didn't even get to fully see Shaq in his prime.

lmao @ dominated. Some people love to rewrite history to their liking. Shaq never came close to dominating Hakeem until Shaq was in his prime and Hakeem was on the tail end of his career and on his way out of the league. That's the only reason those head-to-head numbers are in favor of Shaq.

 

[The Lonious Monk]

How close to their primes were they when they played in the Finals because Hakeem gave Shaq that work then.

 

[PanchoYoSancho]

How close to their primes were they when they played in the Finals because Hakeem gave Shaq that work then.

Shaq reached his prime in L.A., but it's funny how people like to dismiss what Hakeem did to Shaq back then cause he was still young. Shaq even lead the league in scoring the year the Magic went to the Finals. Shaq was putting up almost identical numbers in L.A. as he was in Orlando, but people love to overlook that.

Shaq as a Magic: 27.2--12.5--2.4--2.8--0.8

Shaq as a Laker: 27.0--11.8--3.1--2.5--0.6

Where exactly was the drop off? Having Phil and Kobe was the difference moreso than anything.

 

[caddo man]

How close to their primes were they when they played in the Finals because Hakeem gave Shaq that work then.

Shaq reached his prime in L.A., but it's funny how people like to dismiss what Hakeem did to Shaq back then cause he was still young. Shaq even lead the league in scoring the year the Magic went to the Finals. Shaq was putting up almost identical numbers in L.A. as he was in Orlando, but people love to overlook that.

Shaq as a Magic: 27.2--12.5--2.4--2.8--0.8

Shaq as a Laker: 27.0--11.8--3.1--2.5--0.6

Where exactly was the drop off? Having Phil and Kobe was the difference moreso than anything.

So you saying Shaq was at his prime as soon as he stepped in the building? Cool

 

[PanchoYoSancho]

How close to their primes were they when they played in the Finals because Hakeem gave Shaq that work then.

Shaq reached his prime in L.A., but it's funny how people like to dismiss what Hakeem did to Shaq back then cause he was still young. Shaq even lead the league in scoring the year the Magic went to the Finals. Shaq was putting up almost identical numbers in L.A. as he was in Orlando, but people love to overlook that.

Shaq as a Magic: 27.2--12.5--2.4--2.8--0.8

Shaq as a Laker: 27.0--11.8--3.1--2.5--0.6

Where exactly was the drop off? Having Phil and Kobe was the difference moreso than anything.

So you saying Shaq was at his prime as soon as he stepped in the building? Cool

Basicaly. His rookie year he was averaging 23.4/13.9. His second year 29.3/13.2. How many players in the history of the game could say they were top 3 in the league in only their 2nd year? Shaq was that.

 

[DaBull]

2000-2001 Shaq would destroy Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem and anyone else in their prime head to head. Even Tim Duncan and David Robinson together didn't know what to do with him

Spurs swept the Lakers in 1999 and Duncan was injured in 2000, it wasn't until Kobe became Kobe for them to get by the Spurs in the playoffs, Spurs had nobody that could guard Kobe but Duncan/Old Robinson usually contained Shaq to an extent

^^^ facts !!

cats love to act like Shaq biggest criticism wasn't him not showing up in the biggest moments ..check them stats of " PRIME shaq " in 2000 game 7 vs Portland .

also in 2001 when the lakers was 15-1 in playoffs ...Kobe DOMINATED the Spurs .

Hakeem played with literal role players ...and an old Clyde

 

[Shizlansky]

2000-2001 Shaq would destroy Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem and anyone else in their prime head to head. Even Tim Duncan and David Robinson together didn't know what to do with him

Spurs swept the Lakers in 1999 and Duncan was injured in 2000, it wasn't until Kobe became Kobe for them to get by the Spurs in the playoffs, Spurs had nobody that could guard Kobe but Duncan/Old Robinson usually contained Shaq to an extent

^^^ facts !!

cats love to act like Shaq biggest criticism wasn't him not showing up in the biggest moments ..check them stats of " PRIME shaq " in 2000 game 7 vs Portland .

also in 2001 when the lakers was 15-1 in playoffs ...Kobe DOMINATED the Spurs .

Hakeem played with literal role players ...and an old Clyde

Why you bringing up Kobe like he didn't fold like lawn chair against the Pistons.

Shaq is 4 time champion

3 time finals MVP

Been to finals with 3 different teams.

And showed out every finals.

That's why he's the greatest big man.

 

[Inglewood_B]

2000-2001 Shaq would destroy Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem and anyone else in their prime head to head. Even Tim Duncan and David Robinson together didn't know what to do with him

Spurs swept the Lakers in 1999 and Duncan was injured in 2000, it wasn't until Kobe became Kobe for them to get by the Spurs in the playoffs, Spurs had nobody that could guard Kobe but Duncan/Old Robinson usually contained Shaq to an extent

^^^ facts !!

cats love to act like Shaq biggest criticism wasn't him not showing up in the biggest moments ..check them stats of " PRIME shaq " in 2000 game 7 vs Portland .

also in 2001 when the lakers was 15-1 in playoffs ...Kobe DOMINATED the Spurs .

Hakeem played with literal role players ...and an old Clyde

Why you bringing up Kobe like he didn't fold like lawn chair against the Pistons.

Shaq is 4 time champion

3 time finals MVP

Been to finals with 3 different teams.

And showed out every finals.

That's why he's the greatest big man.

fuck the bolded but yeah I hate how Kobe fans gotta act like what Shaq was doin didn't happen, and vice versa, for them to be great.

Kobe my favorite player all time, but we really gotta act like sayin Shaq in his prime was greater than any big man ever, is somehow a diss to Kobe?

I loved both those niggas NH.

 

[DaBull]

why is Prime Shaq only the 3 peat years? that's kind of convenient

in 2003 as O/P mentioned, lost to spurs (Duncan/old robinson)

Hakeem gave him work in the finals, but he was young.....so is prime only when he was winning chips? that sound like new rules.

it dont matter , not trying to derail thread, Prime shaq was bigger than everyone and left alot to be desired. He never won rebounding title despite being the biggest, strongest, most dominant force in the post.

Hakeem was much more skilled and won with much less