No Clever Moniker wrote:
This discussion is like trying to firmly argue which side of the coin is better. The game of basketball has significantly evolved, and the crux of this discussion involves many of those players who brought about that evolution. Thus to each point there is a valid counterpoint.
Wilt was the first athletic big man. He brought about the combination of size, speed, quickness, ruggedness and touch. His arrival transcended the big men before him and those since. Jabbar was the next in the evolutionary process and Shaq is probably the end of that line although his lack of touch is perhaps the biggest reason one could state the end of athletic big man as touch has become a premium.
Jabbar was taller than Wilt, had the speed, and his sky-hook was an element of touch that surpassed Wilt. Jabbar was all but unstoppable because he had a shot that at one point couldn't be defended. Not the physical presence of Wilt, or size, but his shot blocking ability gave him the defensive presence that is now a pre-requisite for a big man. It is Jabbar's touch that has made the center evolve to a face the basket position.
Evidently you've never heard of Bill Russell, who I'd posit as better than Jabbar, and having had better results than Wilt.
(especially if he's been brought up, I haven't had the time to read the entire thread)
No Clever Moniker wrote:
The rules of the NBA game have changed, with the 3-point line possibly having the biggest impact in marginalizing the center. The other thing that has marginalized the center is that starting with Bird/Magic, on to Michael, and now James (and this would include Kevin Durant) is that they can not only rebound but push the ball up the court and run up the backside of the center to draw contact and still finish.
As we watch this year's playoffs there are many big men with some of the same physical attributes of Wilt, and there are very few with the touch of Jabbar. Today's bigmen have to defend the perimeter and because of the 3-point line, teams can go with a smaller lineup and trade 3 points for 2, and sacrifice size.
If we were playing fantasy GM we would find ourselves trying to get the James/Durant qualities (size), and then settling on a Jordan/Kobe type player (touch). The 3-point line and zone defense are what make those the choice over getting a 7-foot tall, back to the basket, low post only player.
Sounds like Bill Russell to me. But I could be wrong.