Vote on the best defensive center of all time

[tontoz]

Well, when Kareem was asked who his all-time best defensive opponent was, his answer wasn't Olajuwon. It was someone who's not even on the list. So was Wilt's. And their results absolutely justify their choice (I still pick Russell, though, he was probably more versatile with his team defense and multiple position defense and overall more revolutionary).

It is hard to pick a player you never saw, and not many posters here saw Russell. He retired in '69.

[Celtics 1825]

It is hard to pick a player you never saw, and not many posters here saw Russell. He retired in '69.

Plus we don't have a lot of video footage from back then as well

[Psileas]

And yet, it's always an "of all time" matter. How about a "best you've ever seen" title, just for honesty's sake?

[jlip]

And yet, it's always an "of all time" matter. How about a "best you've ever seen" title, just for honesty's sake?

This.

[72-10]

Chamberlain is one of the most athletic people to ever live, far more athletic than Dwight ever was. And Robinson, Olajuwon and Russell were all probably at least as athletic as Howard.

A good point that Wilt might have been. They claim he might have had the highest reach on the backboard of all time. And they were running and gunning back then. Certainly don't buy that Hakeem or D-Rob or any of the other options were as athletic at all, though. Dwight might have had like a 40 inch vertical in his prime and one of the highest reaches on the backboard of all time.

[72-10]

And yet, it's always an "of all time" matter. How about a "best you've ever seen" title, just for honesty's sake?

I suppose so. Do you think Hakeem hacked much relative to the others?

[sdot_thadon]

I can't really speak on Russell and Wilt as i haven't seen enough to conclude. Olajuwon is the only answer for me. Has the best blend of athletic ability and could actually defend guards in space when it happened. That 2nd jump was so quick and the timing he possessed was maybe goat amongst bigs.

[bullettooth]

Peak: Ben Wallace

Overall: Hakeem

[iamgine]

I don't think any of the answer can be wrong except...well Alonzo.

[Odinn]

And yet, it's always an "of all time" matter. How about a "best you've ever seen" title, just for honesty's sake?

There's f'ing D. Howard among names, but not Nate Thurmond...
F'ing joke, that's what this list is.

[Marchesk]

Nate Thurmond is missing from the list. But honestly, most of us have barely seen any footage of him. We have to go off reputation from players and coaches back then. And his reputation was that he was an elite all-time defender. So he should at least be on the list.

[Wiggins23]

Dwight

[Odinn]

Nate Thurmond is missing from the list. But honestly, most of us have barely seen any footage of him. We have to go off reputation from players and coaches back then. And his reputation was that he was an elite all-time defender. So he should at least be on the list.

BTW, I was critical of recency bias. Not Dwight being on the list.

Also, if we were to consider Hakeem as an option, also should recognize Robinson and Ewing, and put them on the list as well. You might pick one or other, they were neck and neck most of the time.

[FireDavidKahn]

I gotta go with Ben. Part of that is bias/saltiness because he wasn't a 1st ballot which is absurd.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Best defensive centers I