The majority of basketball fans worldwide consider Shaquille O’Neal to be the greatest big man in the sport’s history. His dominant presence in the paint earned him the nickname ‘The Diesel‘ and played a pivotal role in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive NBA Championships at the turn of the century, winning the Finals MVP award all three times. However, a Lakers legend holds a different opinion and doesn’t believe that O’Neal is the best big man in NBA history. Rather, it is a Houston Rockets legend, someone who Shaq himself ranked above the great Michael Jordan.
The former Lakers star, who boasts an impressive record of winning seven NBA Championships, had the privilege of playing for several championship-winning teams during the 1990s and early 2000s. Having played alongside some of the greatest big men in NBA history, he recently shared his personal choices when it comes to selecting the top centers in the game.
7x NBA champion doesn’t believe Shaquille O’Neal is the best center ever
During a recent interview with SHOWTIME Basketball, Robert Horry, an exceptional figure in NBA history, disclosed an intriguing revelation that might not be received favorably by Shaquille O’Neal, a 4x NBA champion. Horry’s extensive success in winning more than six NBA titles sets him apart as a remarkable athlete in the league.
Robert Horry, who stands among the select few winning titles with three different teams, expressed his opinion on the best big man, stating, “Dream’s (Hakeem Olajuwon) number one by far.” He further explained, “Dream, you know, he’s a really quiet guy. You can’t get him to say much or do much, so we kind of veer away from talking about him. But if you look at his accomplishments, winning the Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in a single season.” Horry, who was a part of the three-peat-winning Lakers team, emphasized that he would choose his former teammate, Olajuwon, who won two NBA Championship titles, over O’Neal. Olajuwon was renowned for his impressive footwork and was widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in basketball history.
Shaq is often regarded as the best center of all time. O’Neal loves being called the best and this take might have stung the 7’1 legend. However, that claim is vehemently disregarded by fans of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to name a few. Horry’s statement might not be well received by the majority of the NBA world.
Hakeem Olajuwon receiving praise from members of the NBA is not a new occurrence. O’Neal himself went out of his way to commend the Rockets icon’s impact on the game.
Shaquille O’Neal’s daring claim about Michael Jordan
Years ago, Shaquille O’Neal made a controversial statement, saying, “Michael Jordan is not better than Hakeem Olajuwon.” This remark was quite intriguing to hear, considering the widely held belief that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Hakeem Olajuwon is often acknowledged as one of the finest centers in NBA history, particularly for leading the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA Championships. However, O’Neal’s opinion that Olajuwon was superior to MJ, who won six championships along with numerous individual accolades, is not widely shared by many.
What are your thoughts on Horry’s take? Who do you think is the best big man of all time? Let us know in the comments below?