However, even when a player pegged with the potential to provide a revolutionary presence in the paint does come along, they don’t always pan out as the next dominant big man. And even if they do turn out to be All-Star caliber, one wouldn’t be hard pressed to find someone (or many someones) who has a wheelbarrow full of criticism about why they aren’t an alpha dog center.
“He’s got great size and strength, but he doesn’t have a post move to his name!” or “he’s a freak athlete and can put up the points, but where’s the defense and rebounding?” are just a couple of many critiques of today’s potential up-and-coming star centers.
Realistically, there will probably never be a big man (not user-created in NBA 2K) who is universally accepted as an impeccable center. However, I thought it’d be nice to play the always cliche game of “What if ___” and through meshing the games of some of the NBA’s top middle-men of all time create the perfect center.
But what qualities and skills are necessary for a center to be deemed as “perfect.” Naturally, that question falls down to one’s own opinion and perspective of the game. However, there are a few requirements that the potential candidate must embody in order to even be recognized as a top-flight big man.
Next: The Criteria
First off, and I think it goes without saying –– the player needs to be tall. Not, 6-feet-4-inches or even 6-feet-9-inches tall for that matter. He needs to be a freak of nature when it comes to the measuring tape. He doesn’t have to rival Yao Ming or Shawn Bradley, but sizing up at a “respectable” 7-foot flat is a good height to see when constructing an ideal center.
Secondly, he must be relentless on the glass. I know it is probably just as important for him to be big, strong and muscular, but a knack for rebounding the basketball is an imperative mindset and skill for any prospective dominant center.
He doesn’t have to pull down Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell’s godly 20+ rebound per game numbers, but the perfect center isn’t going to be pulling down less than 10 rebounds a night.
The perfect center also carries an arsenal of offensive weapons in the post that would make even the Russian army a little nervous. If your 7-footer only has a couple go-to post moves, he’s going to be scouted and easily shut down. Sure, Hakeem Olajuwon had his famous “Dream Shake” and anyone who knows anything about basketball has heard of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s unstoppable skyhook – but these guys didn’t just have that one move.
Certainly, those moves were quite effective, but that’s because they were packing more heat in their games too. They could come at you with a drop-step dunk or a face-up jumper from 10 feet and be just as effective. Point being, the perfect center has an untapped number of post moves to go along with his “kill button” move and keep his defenders constantly guessing.
He also needs to be a great passer. No, he doesn’t need to have the passing ability of Steve Nash or Chris Paul, but he has to be able to find his teammates when they are open and/or when he’s trapped by defenders. If he’s a stud down low, double and triple teams are going to be an every game occurrence, and he must know how to find his teammates when the defense collapses on him.
Lastly, he needs to have a mindset similar to that of an NFL linebacker. That’s not to say he should want to knock over anyone who comes in his way (although, that might not be such a bad quality either); however, he must want to dominate and want to destroy his defender every time he touches the ball. If he’s physically capable of doing so (which the perfect center would obviously be), all it takes is the mindset.
Shaq and Wilt weren’t dominant centers just because they were massive human beings – their minds told them to dominate. To them, there was no other alternative other than being the most unstoppable force on the hardwood.
The perfect center is also big and strong with quick feet. To utilize post moves in the most effective manner, having a quick pair of feet is crucial. Without that, defenders can easily neutralize a big man’s offensive post game.
Additionally, he doesn’t need to be the Defensive Player of the Year, but any top-notch center must have some defensive ability. It’s his job to protect the basket, and as the last line of defense for penetrating guards, it’s imperative that a team’s center, as the closest player on the court to the basket, is capable of protecting the hoop from opponents looking to put points on the board.
Next: The Concoction for the Perfect Center
Over the course of NBA history, there have been numerous centers to dominate the hardwood in one way or another. However, the position has transformed quite a bit over the years, and with each passing season, the definition of an NBA center continues to experience alterations.
While there have been tons of fantastic centers that have come through the NBA gates, compiling each of their skills into one massive “Perfect NBA Center Library” would be too much (and for the sake of this game, would be less compelling). With that being said, there are four NBA centers, who each possess certain qualities, that if meshed together would undoubtedly create the ultimate center.
1. Dwight Howard:
He may not have a championship ring on any of his fingers, but this 25-year old freak of nature is easily the most advanced athletic specimen to ever play center in the NBA. At 6-feet-11-inches with muscles that could inspire even the most sedentary human being to hit the gym regularly, Howard possesses the physical and athletic gifts that would create an ideal foundation for the perfect center.
His jet pack hops and chiseled body allow him to get to the basket at will (unfortunately, his lack of a dominating mindset and plethora of post moves prevents him from putting up Shaq-like numbers) and crush his defenders en route to the basket.
To go along with his physical gifts, Howard is one of the best post defenders in the game, and his three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards are a complete testament to that. So, add in the physical gifts and defensive talents of Dwight Howard to the perfect NBA center melting pot.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rymbrPq-XxA&feature=related
2. Shaquille O’Neal:
Based on how many times his name has already appeared in this article, you could have probably guessed that an element of Shaq Daddy’s game was going to be a key ingredient in constructing the player that is universally accepted as the perfect center.
Shaq’s size and physical tools are unearthly and probably won’t ever be paralleled by any future NBA player; however, that is not the aspect of his game we’re looking to use (although, the qualities we are using of his are largely related to his massive frame).
Instead, we want his dominant mentality. Even when he was pushing the mid 30’s, Shaq still wanted to crush his post defender at any chance he received. Unlike most players graced with his massive size (7-feet-1-inch), from an early age, Shaq always wanted to dominate down low.
It’s one thing to proclaim yourself as the “Most Dominant Ever” (which he did), but it’s another thing to put up 24 points, 28 rebounds, 15 blocks and shatter a backboard as a rookie. That mind-blowing stat line is just one of many that make the case for Shaq as the most dominant player to ever man the paint.
He took advantage of his inferior opponents and never shied away from other All-Star big men. Whether it was Michael Olowakandi or David Robinson in his prime, Shaquille O’Neal displayed dominance, and when creating the perfect NBA center, that is a vital element to include.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U97OlOFEdgM
Next: Kickin’ it Old School
3. Bill Russell:
Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell was many things. He was an 11-time champion, a five-time MVP award winner and one of the greatest teammates to ever play the game of basketball.
He may not have been the biggest (Basketball-reference.com lists him at 6-foot-9-inches) or the baddest (he’s recorded to weigh a paltry 215 pounds), but he still might have been the best. He didn’t put up a ton of points (his career average is just over 15 a game), but he never needed to, and he knew that.
Russell knew how much he could control a game through his presence on the glass, on the defensive end and as a teammate. He pulled down 22.5 rebounds per game and time after time, always seemed to get the better of his nemesis Wilt Chamberlain.
To those who say Russell wasn’t a good offensive player, you’re wrong. Yes, he might not have the scoring numbers of Shaq, Wilt or David Robinson, but as stated before, he found ways to dominate the game in other ways.
Based on how fantastic of a player he was and how often he was capable of putting up big scoring numbers when it was necessary, Russell could have easily put up over 20 a night. However, that’s not what would have helped lead the Celtics to nine straight NBA championships.
Russell’s passing ability was also phenomenal. He never led the league in assists –– as his stat-hungry foe Chamberlain did during one season, but he was a very effective passer out of the post, seen in his career 4.3 APG average, which would have him as the NBA’s leader for assists among centers for the last five NBA seasons.
Even as a Lakers fan, it’s hard not to appreciate the game of Russell, and respect every single element of it. So, we take from Russell, his dedication to rebounding, passing ability and defensive prowess and add it to the mixture, which currently includes Howard’s physical gifts, Shaq’s dominant mindset and now, the key aspects of Bill Russell’s championship winning game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nrURU9-Mmg&feature=fvst
4. Hakeem Olajuwon:
Personally, I believe Hakeem Olajuwon to be one of the most underrated players of all time. People often forget that he is the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (1993-94). He also won both titles during Michael Jordan’s two year “hiatus” from the NBA between 1993-1995.
Those two seasons were truly the only shot players such as Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Gary Payton had at leading their teams to an NBA championship. It was Olajuwon’s only shot too – but he took advantage of the opportunity and now has two championship rings (and two Finals MVP awards) to show for it.
More importantly, he was one of the first truly versatile big men, that paved the way for guys such as Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber and Dirk Nowitzki to redefine the qualities of a superstar big man.
Hakeem wasn’t your customary big man who was strictly confined to the paint –– his game expanded beyond the key. His versatility is what truly made him great, and that quality, along with his arsenal of post moves is what I covet when creating the perfect NBA center.
Hakeem was the closest thing to the perfect NBA center –– he rebounded and defended very well (11.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG and 3.1 BPG were his career averages, and he is the Rockets all time leader in rebounds, steals and blocks), and offensively, he was a 21.8 PPG scorer over the entire course of his career.
His famous “Dream Shake” move left defenders lost in their tracks, and could be argued as the top go-to post move of all time (after Kareem’s unstoppable sky hook of course).
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDopaqTxiY
So there you have it –– the creation of the perfect NBA center. Dwight Howard’s physical tools paired with Shaq’s dominating mentality; Bill Russell’s rebounding and defensive skill set and Hakeem Olajuwon’s revolutionary versatility.
Although this list does leave out some of the great big men, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or David Robinson –– that is not a slight to their game at all. The players chosen from simply possess certain qualities and skills that when meshed together, create the dream NBA center.
Tall, strong and uber-athletic with a desire to dominate and an untapped arsenal of weapons.