centers

[rollie mass]

Over the weekend went back and watched tapes of  Russelll vs Chamberlain era.What really stood out was what athletes these two were and Chamberlain even more so but even way back then the Celtics team dominated in winning titles.Wilt had a season he averaged 50 points.

The ideal center of today has to be able to play defense and not just be a rim protector.With the amount of switching, BBIQ and lateral movement have become a valued necessity.
Offensively in today's game a center has to be able to hit the three's,handle the ball,pass well and set good screens.
Gone are the days of "kid your a center.no outside shots or putting the ball on the floor .Your not a guard your too tall,if you shoot from outside you will be benched" REBOUND be physical on boards.
Embid and Davis are in a class of there own but so is"All Star Al" with his 42% from three,his ball handling, passing,screen setting to a roll just sublime on top of that he is a defensive quarterback.
Theis was just coming into his own last season and although a tweener had the lateral with elite wingspan to be very effective.His three point shooting was also coming on at end of season.

Robert William's is one of those special athletes that fits the bill of a modern center.His elite wingspan and standing jump reach is 12 feet, tested at P3 and even better his lateral ability as tested again by P3. It just shouldn't be for his size and enables him to keep up with the quickest guards..He was forced last season to play a power forward was under coached in college but what potential and he loves defense.
Getting Robert Williams at 20 yrs old and at the 27th spot,The Celtics can give him a young coach and collection of young coming stars ,kyrie  and"All Star Al" and teammates that should allow him to become a force without the pressure of being an early draft choice and going to a weak team.
Watching Wilt Chamberlain so dominant and even matched with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor still lose to Boston in playoffs year after year and listening to Wilt referencing years later to Celtics  as the team,the team,the team was better.

How Chamberlain isn't ranked the best basketball player ever from his crazy rebounding stats even led the league in assists,averaged 50 points a game one season and scored 100.His strength is legendary and he was fast and agile when he was young.His era was basketball at its most physical and the refs  allowed opponents to batter Wilt.
Because i was so young and Celtics centric i edited out Chamberlain. So to watch a long professionally put together documentary on Wilt and Russell was an awesome experience.

[Celtics17]

I agree that Wilt should be considered the best player of all time. It's not only that the Celtics won so many titles but also that the media portrayed Wilt the villain. At any rate though, I would like to see what would happen if a young Wilt, Russ, Kareem or even Shaq came in to the league today. I still think they would play their same roles simply because they played them so well.

[EthanHarris]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

[Csfan1984]

I read yhis and thought, "Wait we havent done a position all time ranking thread this off season?"

Someone get on it 

[gouki88]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

Ewing is forgotten I think because of his 0 rings. That really hurts his case when compared to guys like Wilt, Bill, Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq and Robinson.

But I agree with the OP. I think Wilt is the best player of all time. One of the most physically freakish people to ever exist. Imagining him playing today would be hilarious.

[greece66]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

Obv a great player but would you rank him together with Russell, Chamberlain, O'Neal, Jabbar and Olajuwon?

I'm interested in your reasoning.

[Celtics4ever]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

Great player in college, very good player in pros.   Changed his game too much and became a jump shooter in pros.

Obv a great player but would you rank him together with Russell, Chamberlain, O'Neal, Jabbar and Olajuwon?

I rate him well below all those guys and possibly below David Robinson, Moses Malone, George Mikan, Dave Cowens, because all those guys won rings and did very well in their eras.  Cowens and Malone were much better rebounders. 

Did Ewing even dominate his era?  No.

[moiso]

If the goal is to actually win a game or series nobody in their right mind would choose Wilt in an alltime draft.

[hwangjini_1]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

Ewing is forgotten I think because of his 0 rings. That really hurts his case when compared to guys like Wilt, Bill, Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq and Robinson.

But I agree with the OP. I think Wilt is the best player of all time. One of the most physically freakish people to ever exist. Imagining him playing today would be hilarious.

and if his ankles had not been made of peanut butter, i would put bill walton on this list.

[moiso]

Don't forget Patrick Ewing of the Knicks. He is one of the best centers in the history of the NBA (in my opinion at least).

Ewing is forgotten I think because of his 0 rings. That really hurts his case when compared to guys like Wilt, Bill, Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq and Robinson.

But I agree with the OP. I think Wilt is the best player of all time. One of the most physically freakish people to ever exist. Imagining him playing today would be hilarious.

and if his ankles had not been made of peanut butter, i would put bill walton on this list.

I think his feet were made of jelly.

[Bobshot]

Wilt was the most dominating player I've ever seen. He was a freakish athlete for his time. A 7-2 guy who could do it all. Offense and defense. Russell was strictly a defensive player. Most of his offense was putbacks. He was a 50% free throw shooter. Averaged 16.7 ppg lifetime. He was the defensive force on a loaded offensive team. His job was to keep Wilt around 30 ppg, which he did. The result is the Celtics beat Philly and later LA most of the time. One exception was Philly that year in the 60s when Philly won about 70 games. Nobody could beat them.

Wilt, I say was the most dominating. Russell you have to say was Mr Defense of all time. Sure, there were other great bigs, but these two were the tops at what they did.  No Russ, no Celtics championships during that era. He was Mr MVP. I guess that's why they named the trophy after him.

As for trying to compare these guys with Jordan or Kobe or Bird and the rest, I say you can't. Apples and oranges. You can talk about the greatest forwards and the greatest guards--and leave it at that.

[nickagneta]

Wilt was such a freak athlete. He could have easily medaled in three different track and field events in the Olympics if he wanted to. I don't think we will ever see a 7'1" player with Wilt's athleticism ever again.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Wilt was the most dominating player I've ever seen. He was a freakish athlete for his time. A 7-2 guy who could do it all. Offense and defense. Russell was strictly a defensive player. Most of his offense was putbacks. He was a 50% free throw shooter. Averaged 16.7 ppg lifetime. He was the defensive force on a loaded offensive team. His job was to keep Wilt around 30 ppg, which he did. The result is the Celtics beat Philly and later LA most of the time. One exception was Philly that year in the 60s when Philly won about 70 games. Nobody could beat them.

Wilt, I say was the most dominating. Russell you have to say was Mr Defense of all time. Sure, there were other great bigs, but these two were the tops at what they did.  No Russ, no Celtics championships during that era. He was Mr MVP. I guess that's why they named the trophy after him.

As for trying to compare these guys with Jordan or Kobe or Bird and the rest, I say you can't. Apples and oranges. You can talk about the greatest forwards and the greatest guards--and leave it at that.

I wasn't around to see either one play, so I'm genuinely curious: Was Wilt's offensive game much more developed than Russell's? I'm guessing he didn't have an outside shot, but did he have much of a post game? I'm thinking that putbacks must've been a huge part of his repertoire, as well, given how much bigger he was than everyone else. (Side note: Wilt's career FT% was only 51.1.)

[billysan]

For best fit in today's game I would take Olajuwan hands down.

Russell a close second.

[Androslav]

Wilt was one of a kind, but 50 years ago is 50 years ago.
Different era, about 50% fewer teams, about 80% less competition and some 30 rule changes.

I would take Hakeem without hesitation. He had no weaknesses and could coexist with anyone. Even with a true 5 beside him, today in the small ball era.

Nowadays AD is 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th best big man playing.
He is today Wilt in my eyes. Too long, too fast or skilled for any matchup.
After him, Horford and Embiid can discuss who is 5th.