Top 50: Dwight Howard, no. 6

@Enigmatic – I see what you’re saying, but he is overrating Hakeem. I would not dismiss Russell so easily either

does anyone happen to know the highest comment total ever for slamonline? just wondering

@Megatron – a lot more than this. Over a thousand, I think, back in the old days pre-Enigmatic.

@Otero – Man you agree with me down to the punch. I agree with your top 7 all-time completely and I been stressing that whole time. I got Oscar at #8 and 9-10 is a toss up for West/Doc/Baylor/Shaq/Dunca/Hakeem. We also agree completely on the top 10 for right now. Bron/Kobe/Dwight is 1-3. Wade/Durant/Rose is 4-6, but I have no problem putting Dirk in that group too. My 8-10 is CP3/Melo/Deron. Funny because you hate the Lakers, but their one of my two favorite teams and CP3 is my 2nd favorite player. Thanks for adding some knowledge to the discussion.

@Jukai – Solid top 20. Top 14-20 is highly debatable. Is that the order?

“the pre-Enigmatic days” must have been in the 50s, right? Old-a** nuckka (where’s the nerve when you need him)

@Enigmatic – I think Dwight is comparable to Hakeem on defense, but Hakeem still wins out because of his footwork, quickness, and superior speed. I said earlier that big men get held back today because the league wants the perimeter players to be dominant, but there is no doubt in my mind that Dwight could hang with the centers of 90s.

Maniac: It is in my order, but it’s a rough order and I’d switch ‘em around given the debate. I didn’t put much thought into it. As a matter of fact, I feel like I put Karl Malone too high but only because Enigmatic said something about him being as good as Duncan and I felt bad.

LOL @ JTaylor!
Man, I been been commenting on here since like early ’09.
Jukai and nbk been here since Greg Oden’s son (Bill Russell) was playing.
@Jukai – no wonder Myles will come in here, make a point and then be ghost whenever someone tries to argue with him.

Wow, ZOGS.
Way to put race into it.
P*ssy.

Jukai, you’re looking for criticism? Well…here’s some; why do you have Wilt above Hakeem? I understand that he was a beast and all but his playoff numbers are subpar when compared to his RS numbers unlike Hakeem who stepped up his RS ppg avg by 4pts?

Anybody agree that SLAM will put Wade at #5? They love KD and Rose will start getting the same treatment. Plus, they give Kobe a lot of props so probably expect him to have a great comeback season. Bron will definitely be #1.

Enigmatic, ignore him, he’s a wimp behind his keyboard, just don’t even bother.
Look up SLAMOnline top 50 Gilbert Arenas 17 and just read the comment section. It’s gold. Trust me.

so can i comment on here again or what?

Wow, this just shocked the hell out of me.

JTaylor: Chamberlain’s playoff numbers always went down because he had to play the defensive juggernaut known as the Celtics in the playoffs for the majority of it. The Celtics had the personnel to shut everyone down…
That being said, Chamberlain was better than Hakeem at most parts of the game… offensively, they’re closer than numbers are to be believed, but Chamberlain still has the edge due to insane athleticism. Defense, Hakeem because of his ability to anchor defense off the ball with his blocks and steals… but Chamberlain was still a killer isolation wise, and he got his blocks to boot.
Chamberlain was just way better with rebounds and assists.
They have the same number of championships.
I think you’ve overrating Olajuwon a bit. He was a great two-way player but wasn’t the best of passers, didn’t have a killer instinct until sometime later, and had some attitude problems the beginning of his career (but he was such a ridiculously nice, solemn guy in the end that people have absolutely forgotten that he was a bit of a jerk!).
Hakeem is criminally underrated but I would not put him on par with Chamberlain.

“You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it’s me, I’m a little fu*ked up maybe, but I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to f*cking amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? “

@Jukai – Hakeem is underrated when people forget to mention him when talking about the greatest centers. That’s it. He is overrated when people like JTaylor make silly claims like putting him on the level of or over guys like Wilt.

Jukai, fair enough but your last paragraph apart from being Hakeem being a terrible passer (I wouldn’t say terrible, just unwilling at times) are the exact same things people said about Wilt.

JTaylor: Can’t even argue. Didn’t even think of that till I re-read it. It is the same thing people say about Wilt.

Yeah, I don’t like to anoint people of anything while they are still in the productive part of their career – what happens if Koe gets swept from the first or second round of the playoffs for the next 4 years and then retires? Would you still feel comfortable with that fact, 5 straight exits, via sweep from the playoffs, for a top 5 player ever? Idk, maybe that’s the wrong way to look at it, but I think it depends how Kobe closes his career that will make the difference between top 12 and top 8 (imo) all-time. What he’s done/hasn’t done as a leader makes the difference too me.

@SLAM isn’t slick. They only make these misguided rankings to generate crazy extra hits via discussion. It’s brilliant and healthy for good basketball discussion. Now you guys need to put me on your team I just got my advertising degree.

can’t wait to see where they’re gonna fit marvin williams!

@nbk – If my math is correct, Kobe came in the league in 96; in 2010 (his 14th year) he won a title. So uhh how is that a little different?

lol @Galagu
@nbk Yeah i feel you all the way on that. Shaq probably stayed about hour later than he should have. Luckily he makes up for that with his outstanding early career when alot of good bigs are feeling their way out in the league. Kobe is set ..you aint hear? West not letting his boy go out like that. He’s been a good seed.
@Maniac I here you bro. In time that list will likely change anyway.