Shaquille O'Neal: With Another Title in Boston, What's His Place in NBA History?
Shaquille O'Neal is playing in his 19th NBA season, his first as a member of the Boston Celtics. His tenure in the league has arguably been one of the most dominant and has lasted more than most big men his size.
Despite his 38 years of age, the four-time champion continues to get it done, starting for the Celtics in all 35 games played in place of the injured Kendrick Perkins.
The big fella is not only one of the best big men of his era, but arguably one of the better big men to play the game. Join B/R and I as we go through the top 10 big men in NBA history.
No. 10: Nate Thurmond
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One of the more underrated big men of his time, Nate Thurmond comes in at No. 10 on the list.
Thurmond played at a time when Bill Russel and Wilt Chamberlin (who may appear later on the list?) dominated the league. Despite being one of the more overlooked players in NBA history, he is also one of the best to play the game at his position.
The numbers don't lie.
For his career, Thurmond averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds a game. In the 1967-1968 season, he had arguably his best year, posting 20.5 points and a whopping 22 rebounds a game. That same year Chamberlin edged him out with 23.8 rebounds a game, while Russel was nearing the end.
His rebounds per game average is a mark that places him fifth in NBA history. Thurmond played 11 of his 14 seasons as a member of the San Francisco and Golden State Warriors, with his final two seasons being played as a member of Cleveland.
No. 9: Elvin Hayes
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The No. 1 pick of the 1968 NBA draft was anything but a bust. In his 16-year career, Elvin Hayes was a beast on the board, and well deserving of his No. 9 spot on the countdown.
While a member of the Washington Bullets, Hayes helped them win an NBA championship, the only one Washington has ever won (1978).
In his rookie year with the San Diego Rockets, Hayes made a quick start to his career, averaging 28.4 points and 17.4 rebounds a game. He also as the fourth most rebounds in NBA history, with 16,279 for his career. His 12.5 rebounds a contest rank 15th of all time.
Hayes led the league in rebounding two separate seasons and led the league in points per game his rookie season, with the 28.4 points per game mark.
What made Hayes so great was his ability to both rebound and score the ball at ease, as his 27,313 points ranks seventh in the league history. Hayes appeared in 12 All-Star games in his 16 years in the league.
No. 8: George Mikan
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Mr. Basketball comes in at No. 8 on the list, as he was arguably the most dominant center of his era.
George Mikan, a Minneapolis Laker his entire career, was arguably the most dominant big man of his time. His 6'10", 245 pound wide frame was a lot for the average defender at the time to deal with.
Of his seven-year tenure in the league, five years he and the Minneapolis Lakers were champions ('49, '50, '52, '53, '54).
Despite not playing as many years as the average center on this list, his 13.5 rebounds per game stands at 10th of all time. He also led the league in scoring his first three years. His 22.6 points per game ranks 23rd of all time.
Mikan was selected as one of NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.
Photo by NBAE / Getty Images
No. 7: Karl Malone
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When it came to scoring and get it done on the glass, there might have been no better than "the Mailman," Karl Malone.
Malone played 19 years in league, playing every season except his last with the Utah Jazz. His last year he played with the Los Angeles Lakers, where his last run at a championship fell short, losing to the Detroit Pistons 4-1 in 2004.
What made the Mailman such a dominant force was his ability to score as well as rebound. If there was a big man who was capable of getting it done on both ends, Malone was your guy. With the help of arguably the best point-guard in NBA history in John Stockton, the two led the Utah Jazz to countless winning seasons.
Malone scored 36,928 points in his career, second of all time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His average of 25 points a game is a mark that stands at 12th in NBA history, with Kobe Bryant a tad ahead with 25.3 a contest. He is also the only player to score over 2,000 points 11 seasons in a row and is tied with the great Michael Jordan for most season ever scoring 2,000 points (11).
Over his career, Malone also averaged 10.1 rebounds per game and has the sixth most rebounds in league history with 14,968.
Despite falling short in his multiple NBA final appearances, Malone was a winner in the league. A two-time MVP and 14 years as an All-Star in the league, the Mailman knows a thing or two about being a big man in the league.
Malone was also selected as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.
No. 6: Hakeem Olajuwon
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Hakeem "the Dream" was a force to reckon with in the league, coming in at No. 6 on the countdown.
Olajuwon was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year back to back in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was also named the league's MVP.
As far as wins go, Olajuwon was as good as they get, taking Houston to three finals appearances, winning two and receiving MVP honors in both. The one finals appearance that his team lost was against Larry Bird's Celtics in 1986.
On the defensive end, Olajuwon flourished, grabbing rebounds left and right and re-defining the blocked shot. His 13,748 rebounds rank 11th of all time and his impressive 3,830 blocks mark is higher than any player in league history. With 3.09 blocks a game, Olajuwon was also third of all time.
Offensively he was more than efficient as well, chipping in just over 21 points per game for his entire career.
Another NBA 50 Greatest Player, Olajuwon makes a loud appearance at No. 6 on the list.
No. 5: Tim Duncan
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To some this may come as one of the bigger surprises on the countdown, as the fifth spot is awarded to current San Antonio Spurs' power forward: Tim Duncan.
A rare quality in a big man, Duncan does a little bit of everything to help his team win, whether it's blocks, points or rebounds.
Duncan is a 13-time All-Star in his 14-year career, missing out in his second season after missing action in 32 games that year.
He is also a four-time NBA champion, winning in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. He was also a recipient of the NBA's MVP award in back-to-back years, winning in 2002 and 2003, and a three-time recipient of the MVP in the NBA Finals.
Aside from proving himself as a winner in this league, Duncan also has Hall-of-Fame numbers to add to the mix. He ranks 15th of all time in blocks per game (2.27), 21st in rebounds per game (11.5) and has 21,279 points in his career (29th of all time).
Duncan is arguably the best of the best on the defensive end as a big man, as he was selected eight times in his 14 years in the league to the All-NBA Defensive Team.
No. 4: Wilt Chamberlin
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This famous shot from his 100-point performance is one the average basketball fan remembers when they think of Wilt Chamberlain.
A player who can undoubtedly score the ball and arguably rebound better than any other big in basketball history, Chamberlain owns the No. 4 spot on the list.
The ever-so-memorable 100-point game is the most by any player in a single game in basketball history. Kobe Bryant surely gave Chamberlain a scare with his 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in the 2006 season.
Inducted into the Springfield's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, Chamberlain has the most rebounds (23,924) and most rebounds per game (22.9) of all time. His mark of 30.1 points per game is tied with one of the game's greatest in Michael Jordan for the most of all time.
Chamberlain won an NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. He played 14 years in the league and was a four-time MVP, winning the award three straight years from 1965-1968.
There wasn't much this guy couldn't do, as he handily takes the No. 4 spot on the big men countdown.
No. 3: Shaquille O'Neal
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Ironically, to your left you can see O'Neal shooting a free throw, as his percentage from the free-throw line is among the worst in league history.
Despite his horrendous free-throw shooting, the big fellah is well deserving of his No. 3 spot in the rankings.
Known best for his glory days in Orlando and Los Angeles, Shaq is arguably the best of the best when it comes to dominating his position in his respective era. He is listed at 7'1" and 325 pounds, and he has used every inch of that ridiculous frame to dominate his opponent night in and night out.
With 28,587 points for his career and counting, Shaq is currently fifth of all time, nearly 3,000 points shy of Wilt Chamberlain's mark. He also ranks 12th in league history with 13,094 rebounds and seventh of all time with 2,731 blocks. His 58.2 percent shooting from the field over his entire the career is the second best in NBA history.
O'Neal is also a winner in the league, as he is a four-time NBA champion, winning three with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers and one with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. A winner of the NBA MVP Award in 2000 and a three-time NBA Finals MVP, there aren't many big men who can boast as much.
This season he has started all 35 games he has played for the Celtics, helping put up positive minutes for the Celtics. The best team in the east through half the season, Shaq may find himself playing for a fifth title by the end of the 2011 season.
Chamberlain falls behind Shaquille on the countdown, despite edging him out in nearly every statistical category. The difference is that Shaq has the edge in NBA championships and played in an era where it was more difficult to put up the production that a player like Chamberlain was able to produce.
No. 2: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
9 of 10Arguably one of the best players to ever grace the game of basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar should come as no surprise to anyone as the No. 2 player on the countdown.
Abdul-Jabbar played 20 years in the league, playing his first six with the Milwaukee Bucks and his last 14 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Abdul-Jabbar made an impact quickly, with 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per contest as a rookie, which eventually would give him the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in the 1969-1970 season.
His number are jaw-dropping.
As far as scoring goes, Abdul-Jabbar was arguably the best the game has ever seen. His 38,387 points are the most in NBA history, while his 24.6 points per game are 15th of all time.
Defensively he was a presence as well, with the third-most blocks in NBA history (3,189) and third most rebounds of all time with 17,440.
What made this player even better, his winning mentality was arguably even greater than his numbers. How much better was it?
Abdul-Jabbar has won the league's NBA MVP Award six times ('71, '72, '74, '76, '77, '80). He also helped lead the Lakers to five NBA championships, winning one with the Bucks earlier in his career. His five All-NBA Defensive Team selections also further proved his versatility and ability to get it done on both ends of the floor.
Not too shabby, to say the least.
No. 1: Bill Russell
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Eleven championships in 13 seasons. A winner of eight consecutive championships at one point.
Enough said.
With Bill Russell, Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain putting up arguably the best statistics of all time in the front court, Russell gets the nod for the No. 1 spot.
Numbers wise, Russell did it all. A member of the Boston Celtics his entire career, Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game (second of all time) and 21,620 total rebounds (second of all time).Despite not scoring as much as the other big names, his 15.1 points per game was a solid mark that evidently was good enough to get the job done.
Russell was named the NBA MVP on five occasions, winning the award in 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965. Despite not having his blocked shots recorded, Russell was relentless in the paint, contesting countless shots each contest.
He also recorded an incredible 51 rebounds in a game, while also putting up 49 twice in his career.
In 1975, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was also named as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.
The rings speak the loudest in Russell's legacy, as his 11 championships are easily the most by any player in NBA history. Others who have come close are Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning six each.
