Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best big man to ever play in the NBA and here is why:
When you decipher between players in All Time rankings, there really isn't one thing that is the deciding factor (at least not for me). If you just value statistics, then you would go with Wilt Chamberlain.
If you just value winning/accomplishments then you have to go with Bill Russell. If it is all about individual talent, then it would be Hakeem Olajuwon. If it was dominating the paint like no other, then it would be Shaquille O'Neal.
I think that in order to be considered the best, you have to factor in a combination of these things, and really, is there anybody in the history of the sport that has the combination of dominance, talent and accomplishments that Kareem has?
His resume is a thing of legend if you ask me. Just look at what he has accomplished in his basketball career:
Three straight HS titles going 96–6 including a 72 game winning streak.
Three straight NCAA titles and a couple of player of the year awards.
Six time NBA Champ.
Two time Finals MVP.
Six time NBA MVP (finished top five in voting 15 times).
NBA Rookie of the Year.
19 time All Star.
10 time First Team All-NBA.
Five time Second Team All-NBA.
Five time All-Defensive First Team.
Six time All-Defensive Second Team.
NBA's All Time leader in points (38,387).
Third All Time in rebounds (17,440).
Third All Time in blocks (3,189).
35/15/5 player in his prime.
Career Averages of 24.6 ppg 11.2 rbg 3.6 apg 55FG% and 72FT%.
People considered the weakest part of Kareem's game to be his rebounding and defense, yet the man made 11 All Defensive Teams in his career (which is the most out of any player to ever play the game), is the third leading rebounder of All-Time ,and the third leading shot blocker of All-Time despite the fact that blocks weren't kept as an official statistic for the first four seasons of his career.
In fact, if blocks were kept as a stat during the first four seasons of his career, he would actually be the All Time leader in blocked shots with roughly 4,042 blocks.
When you are an All Time great at the area that was considered to be the weakest part of your game, that means you are a legend. He is the most durable player to ever play the game.
Not only did he play for two decades (and was an All Star in every season except for one), but to put into perspective just how much longevity he had, Kareem made All-NBA First Team over Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Patrick Ewing.
Kareem played against players from the '50s as well as players that played into the 2000s. That is just unreal.
The only player to ever win more than Kareem was Bill Russel. The only players that had better statistical numbers than him were Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
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