Your starting five NBA all time.........

[HogBreath]

I believe Wilt played at 275, so while not as big as Shaq, he was still a big guy, by any standard.  I say he'd take Shaq to school with each in their prime.

I'd take all comers with a team of:

C-    Lew Alcindor
PF-   Elvin Hayes
SF-  James Worthy
SG-  Walt Frazier
PG-  Steve Nash

Robert Parrish went head to head with some of the all time greats and pretty much always gave as well as he got.  The Chief could flat play. Put him with Karl Malone, George Gervin, Scottie Pippen & John Stockton...look out!

[alohawg]

C  - Kareem Abdul Jabbar
PF - Scotty Pippen
SF - Magic Johnson
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - Steve Nash

On the bench

Wilt Chamberlain
Charles Barkley
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Darin Williams

[hawgsav1]

Absolutely-- and Shaq loses every single comparison, save weight;  both were 7'1;  Wilt was by far the more refined offensive player, and Russel owned him in every regard.

This 'Shaq is one of the three elite players of all time' stuff is absolute garbage.

I don't think Russell 'owned' Wilt.  Russell knew how to stymie Wilt and prevent Wilt from exploding and to help the Celtics win.  The Celtics owned Chamberlain's teams (and the Celtics were always stacked compared to Chamberlain's teams), but Chamberlain still had a 29 and 29 average against Russell, while Russell had a 14.5 and 23.7 average against Chamberlain.  Granted, holding Wilt to 29 points is an achievement, but the best Russell ever did offensively against Chamberlain was 37 points.  Russell's record against Chamberlain was 85-57, which is pretty good, but not 'ownage' in my opinion.   

[hawgsav1]

That being said, Shaq is a fat slob with a limited offensive game compared to Mr. Wilt.

[Beaverfever]

I love how people say Shaq's offensive game is limited?  Care to elaborate?  No he isn't a jump shooter, but I bet you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the history of the NBA who can score down low with the ease that Shaq could.

[ErieHog]

I love how people say Shaq's offensive game is limited?  Care to elaborate?  No he isn't a jump shooter, but I bet you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the history of the NBA who can score down low with the ease that Shaq could.

No game outside of 7 feet is a start.  An inability to make his own shot, unlike a classic big man like Wilt or Kareem.  A *far* more limited offensive rebounder than the greatest centers of all time; free throw shooting barely merits more than a passing mention.  Oh-- and one of the poorest 'great' big men ever, in terms of working the ball in-out-in again.   Nowhere near the same offensive player in transition, unlike most of the other elite centers being discussed

Down low, I'd take Duncans, Kareem's, Hakeems, McHale's, etc. post moves over Shaq's.   Shaq was phenomenally powerful, and could not be denied at the rim itself, but it really wasn't until he developed the drop step and a serviceable 4 foot 'pitch' shot that he became a more complete post scorer.

[hoggystyle78]

PG - Magic Johnson
SG - Michael Jordan
SF - Larry Bird
PF - Karl Malone
C - Wilt Chamberlain


Second Team
PG - John Stockton
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Lebron James
PF - Kevin McHale
C - Kareem Abdul Jabbar

[hawgsav1]

I love how people say Shaq's offensive game is limited?  Care to elaborate?  No he isn't a jump shooter, but I bet you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the history of the NBA who can score down low with the ease that Shaq could.

You would also be hard pressed to find anyone that dominated in an era where there were very few good big men.  During the most recent Laker 3-peat, I can't think of a center in the league who averaged more than 20 ppg.  The only good centers Shaq really competed against during his prime were an aging Mutumbo and a very young Yao, which isn't really the most competitive of lists.

Hakeem had to compete with David Robinson, an early Shaq, Patrick Ewing, a dominant Dikembe Mutombo, a solid Alonzo Mourning, etc.

Kareem competed against Robert Parish, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave Cowens, (you can even put Elvin Hayes on the list since he often competed at Center anyway), Kevin McHale, and Bill Walton.

Wilt competed against Bill Russell, Kareem, Willis Reed, Jerry Lucas, Dave DeBusschere, and others.

[secfan30]

If I had 5 I could start it would be Pete Maravich, Michael Jordan, Dr J, Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain.

[Junkyard Hog]

G-Magic
G-Jordan
G-Bryant
F-Bird
C-Olajuwan

[hogsndawgs]

C  - Kareem Abdul Jabbar
PF - Scotty Pippen
SF - Magic Johnson
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - Steve Nash

On the bench

Wilt Chamberlain
Charles Barkley
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Darin Williams

That team would get slaughtered at the PF position, how is Pippen gonna D up Karl Malone or Tim Duncan or Moses Malone or Kevin Garnett or Kevin McHale?

[husker71]

I,m not so sure about Parrish and his high ranking.  1st he was surrounded by alot of good players and when dj was on a guard  you did not have to worry about that player getting to the hoop.  I know the same can be said for Russell with KC Jones, but Russell was always considered the 1 or 1A at his position.  With the Chief he was not even in the top five centers during his time.  I give you Ewing,Akeem, Robinson, Jabbbar, Shaq.  One website listed him as one of the most overated of all time, I'm not on that bandwagon but certainly not in top 10 centers  of all time.  PS  any questions about late 60s to late 70s pro (including ABA) and college BB send them my way, I would love to answer or at least give my opinion.

[chillinhoggie]

No game outside of 7 feet is a start.  An inability to make his own shot, unlike a classic big man like Wilt or Kareem.  A *far* more limited offensive rebounder than the greatest centers of all time; free throw shooting barely merits more than a passing mention.  Oh-- and one of the poorest 'great' big men ever, in terms of working the ball in-out-in again.   Nowhere near the same offensive player in transition, unlike most of the other elite centers being discussed

Down low, I'd take Duncans, Kareem's, Hakeems, McHale's, etc. post moves over Shaq's.   Shaq was phenomenally powerful, and could not be denied at the rim itself, but it really wasn't until he developed the drop step and a serviceable 4 foot 'pitch' shot that he became a more complete post scorer.

Shooting better than 50% from the free throw line woulda helped his game too.... No hackashaq.

[dhornjr1]

Russell is a PF at best in these times, imagine a 6'9 maybe even 6'10 215-220 lb Bill Russell trying to stop Shaq down low...

Dennis Rodman was 6-7, 210 lbs and could guard John Stockton or Shaquille O'Neal and shut them down. He would frustrate people to no end with his defense. Russell was that agile and that good a defender as well.

[dhornjr1]

Starters

Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Bill Russell
Wilt Chamberlain

Bench

Oscar Robertson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Bob Cousy
Hakeem Olajuwon
Charles Barkley