Whenever debates arise about the greatest center in NBA history, names such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Hakeem Olajuwon are almost always mentioned. In many cases, that exclusive group also features LA Lakers icon Shaquille O'Neal.
At the height of his powers in the early 2000s, Shaq was widely viewed as one of the most dominant forces the NBA had ever seen. The Lakers controlled the league during their three-peat from 2000 through 2002, and O'Neal's overwhelming presence in the paint was a major reason for that success.
With four NBA titles, three Finals MVP awards, a regular-season MVP, 15 All-Star appearances, and 14 All-NBA selections—including eight First Team honours—O'Neal's resume stacks up against virtually any center in league history. He has never been one to downplay his accomplishments either, frequently reminding fans and fellow players about his four championship rings. Charles Barkley knows that better than most.
Considering both his peak dominance and career achievements, O'Neal has a strong argument for being regarded as the greatest center ever. Yet, when asked about the distinction, he pointed to another basketball legend.
Shaquille O'Neal's Pick For Greatest NBA Center
Despite often highlighting his own accomplishments and status as the most dominant big man ever, O'Neal has consistently shown respect for the stars who paved the way. In fact, he once identified a Boston Celtics legend as the greatest center the sport has ever seen.
During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Shaq immediately gave that honour to the late Bill Russell.
“Bill Russell… give it up to the greatest big man to ever play the game.”
Shaquille O Neal Suns
That praise stands in sharp contrast to the way he talks about Rudy Gobert or Dwight Howard in recent years. Even so, it demonstrates the tremendous admiration Shaq has for one of the most celebrated players in Celtics history.
Russell, who died in July 2022, attended O'Neal's Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2016. Shaq took the opportunity to acknowledge the unmatched impact Russell had on basketball and recognise him as one of the game's foundational superstars.
O'Neal also shared a personal story, revealing that Russell offered him important advice the first time they met—guidance that remained with him throughout his life. As one of the presenters at Shaq's induction, Russell clearly left a lasting impression. He was also the man who encouraged Shaq to end his feud with Kobe Bryant in 2006 after the difficult break-up of their Lakers partnership.
Bill Russell's Legendary NBA Career
Bill Russell
There is little debate regarding Russell's status as the greatest winner in NBA history. Serving as the centrepiece of the Celtics dynasty, he guided Boston to an incredible 11 championships across 13 seasons, including an astonishing streak of eight consecutive titles from 1959 through 1966. No player has matched that accomplishment.
The phrase "records are made to be broken" is often repeated in sports. Russell's collection of 11 championship rings, however, appears likely to remain untouched.
On the individual side, Russell captured five league MVP awards. Although he earned 11 All-NBA selections during his career, only three were First Team honours. Many of those top-team selections instead went to his legendary rival, Wilt Chamberlain.
While Chamberlain accumulated more eye-popping individual numbers, Russell consistently secured the prize that mattered most at the end of the season. That contrast may help explain why he did not include Russell among his 10 greatest players ever.
Bill Russell
Unlike Shaq, Russell was never known primarily for scoring. He never averaged 20 points per game in a season and finished his career shooting 44.0 percent from the field.
His true value came on the defensive side of the court. Standing 6-foot-10 and weighing roughly 215 pounds, Russell relied on his athleticism, anticipation, and versatility to overwhelm opponents. He was an elite rim protector who could also switch across multiple positions when necessary.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with LeBron James and Michael Jordan with an NBA-themed background Related
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Named the NBA Legend Better Than Michael Jordan and LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers icon made a huge claim about this Hall of Famer.
The NBA did not officially track defensive categories such as blocks and steals until the 1973-74 season, several years after Russell retired. Even without those statistics on record, he still owns the highest defensive win share total in league history at 133.62. Tim Duncan ranks second with 106.34.
Russell and O'Neal never had the opportunity to face each other in competition. Still, basketball fans can only imagine how fascinating it would have been to watch The Diesel battle one of the greatest defenders ever—and, in Shaq's view, the greatest center in NBA history.