To each his own ! You called Shaq a one man wrecking crew and a big bully... I agree 100 % That's what the NBA has become and that's why I can't stand to watch it anymore ! There is no question that Walton was injury prone although there should also be no question that the doctors in Portland gave him painkillers etc in an attempt to get him back on the court in 78 because that was the only chance Portland had. The fact that Portland won in 77 and were 50-10 in 78 until Walton's injury and then after his injury made a quick exit in the first round should tell you how great He was.... When He was healthy He was awesome ... No sense comparing stats for his and Shaq's career because their playing years were all in Shaqs favor. However as someone who saw him play up close, Give me a healthy Walton in his prime anytime. It's just how you look at it. I quess you would also be one who would say that Emmitt Smith was a far better football player then Gayle Sayers because Smith had far more stats ? You can take the stats but in his prime a healthy Gayle Sayers was awesome and fun to watch much like Barry Sanders.
Wow ! James Worthy was such a great all around player ! Obviously He kinda got overlooked a little as He was out starred by Magic Johnson and Jabbar on those fabulous Laker teams. However comparing Worthy and Walton once again is all how you want to see things. Worthy was so fast and agile and of course He lasted far more years than Walton. However in their prime and both healthy, Walton had a far more impact on whether or not his team won or lost. For instance put Worthy on Portland's 77 team and I doubt if Portland would have won over Dr. J, Darryl Dawkins, George McGinnis, World B Free, Doug Collins, Henry Bibby etc. That team was very good ! Too Bad about Len Bias as He had all the potential in the World.
there was another big man that could pass, behind his back, over his head, and between his legs and could shoot free throws and hit threes.arvidous sobonis.he came to the states when he was not in his prime,and still played great.when he played against shack,i garante he didnt bully him around.the people in the states got cheated when they saw him in his later stages.i do agree bill was a great passer and leader,i just wanted to point out another.
i think the announcers in this era have to talk big or run their mouths.stephen a smith is very good at it.shaq should do what nolan richarson did to billy packer after he one his champioship.he got right up in billys face and said talk your shit now.billy backed down like a coward .shaq should go up to bill and ask him to talk now,but we all know it will never happen they will still run their mouths.iam getting back on topic.
I hate listening to Walton, he is always making outlandish comments. It's like he likes to say dumb things just to say dumb things. He got over his speech problem and now he doesn't know when to shut up.
In regards to choosing who is a better player it is very hard to compare players from different era's because both the game and the rules change. Today's player in all sports are bigger and faster. A guy like Wilt didn't play against another big fast 7 footer every night, therefore he should have been able to dominate and he did. They changed the rules because of his dominance. They also changed the rules because of Shaq too.
Knowing more about the players of this era versus some of the older players it's hard not to think Shaq is the best center of all time.
As far as Walton goes he doesn't come to my mind as one of the greatest centers of all time and maybe in his prime he was. His pure numbers statistically don't support that. There are other things that don't show up in the boxscore but I don't think those "little things" move you up that much.
If I had to pick one center to start a team with give me Shaq
In regards to choosing who is a better player it is very hard to compare players from different era's because both the game and the rules change. Today's player in all sports are bigger and faster. A guy like Wilt didn't play against another big fast 7 footer every night, therefore he should have been able to dominate and he did. They changed the rules because of his dominance. They also changed the rules because of Shaq too.
Knowing more about the players of this era versus some of the older players it's hard not to think Shaq is the best center of all time.
As far as Walton goes he doesn't come to my mind as one of the greatest centers of all time and maybe in his prime he was. His pure numbers statistically don't support that. There are other things that don't show up in the boxscore but I don't think those "little things" move you up that much.
If I had to pick one center to start a team with give me Shaq
I thinks common nature for anybody to get a little extra life in their step when you go from a 9-39 team to a 34-16 team. When you play for a winner ... You bring a little more to the table. This isnt the first time we've seen somebody of Shaqs age and accomplishments openly say he wants to be traded to a contender. It happens in the NFL and Baseball all the time. Now Shaq 35 wants to go out a winner too , who can blame him ??
Shaq isn't even 1 of the best 10 centers of all time and Bill Walton is in the top 10!
Pushing people around doesn't make you a great basketball player.
Walton did something that nobody even came close to doing. Stopping Jabbar! And he did over and over again. Nobody played Jabbar as good as Walton and there's NO WAY Shaq could have out played Jabbar! Shaq could have pushed Jabbar around too if the LEAGUE ALLOWED it, besides that Shaq isn't really that good at all!
I agree with Kermit16 %100!!!
Pushing people around doesn't make you a great basketball player.
Walton did something that nobody even came close to doing. Stopping Jabbar! And he did over and over again. Nobody played Jabbar as good as Walton and there's NO WAY Shaq could have out played Jabbar! Shaq could have pushed Jabbar around too if the LEAGUE ALLOWED it, besides that Shaq isn't really that good at all!
I agree with Kermit16 %100!!!
