Shaquille O'Neal is one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. He's consistently considered a top-ten player of all-time, and one of the best five centers in NBA history. Shaq has also added to his basketball legacy with his post-career exploits as a broadcaster/personality on TNT's Inside the NBA.
O'Neal, while hilarious and personable, is also a knowledgeable basketball fan, especially about the history of the league he knows so well. He often comments on the best players currently or of different eras, and his rankings are usually pretty good. Occasionally he'll say something outlandish, but he's never afraid to go against the status quo.
Recently, O'Neal gave us his personal top ten centers of all-time list in an unprompted Instagram post. With the list, Shaq showed reverence to legends of the game but also reminded fans of his own position near the top.
10 George Mikan
George Mikan Lakers
Shaq uses his tenth spot to show love to the NBA's original superstar center, George Mikan. Perhaps best-known nowadays for his drill "The Mikan Drill", which teaches young basketball players to make layups from either side of the backboard, Mikan was also a tremendous player in his day.
Mikan only played seven seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers, debuting in 1948-49, but he made those years count. He was a four-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA First Team member, averaging 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds for his career. Mikan won five titles in his first six seasons before retiring at just age 31.
O'Neal deserves credit for including a player who began his career 77 years ago, but Mikan certainly earned his spot.
9 Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
At ninth, O'Neal chose Knicks' legend Patrick Ewing. Ewing, who is one of the best players to never win a title, competed with O'Neal in the later stages of his prime in the 90s. However, they never played against one another in the playoffs.
Ewing averaged 21.0 points and 9.8 rebounds for his 17-year career. He also posted 2.4 blocks per game (11th all-time), and is one of the most underrated defenders and rim protectors of all-time. Ewing was a force of nature at seven-foot, 240 pounds, who could move like a guard and had the touch of a modern-day big.
He could shoot the jumper, post up, and crash the offensive glass effectively, yielding him 11 All-Stars and seven All-NBA honors. Ewing also had one of the better college careers ever at Georgetown, winning the 1984 National Championship.
8 Moses Malone
Moses Malone of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket
At number eight, Shaq took the man who is most famous for being an all-time great rebounder, Moses Malone. Malone, whose 12.3 rebounds per game rank 15th all-time, was also a phenomenal scorer and defender during his time in the 1970s and 80s. He averaged 20.3 points and 1.3 blocks for his career, and leads NBA History in OREB per game.
Malone compiled quite impressive accolades in his 21-year career, earning 13 All-Star games, eight All-NBA teams, two All-Defensive squads, and three league MVPs ('79, '82, '83). He was easily a top-five player in the league from around 1978 to 1988.
Moses also contributed to the 1983 76ers championship, which they've yet to repeat to this day. He earned the Finals MVP, despite being on a team with Julius Erving.
7 Nikola Jokic
Jokic brothers
At seventh, O'Neal gives a nod to the only current player on this list, Nikola Jokic. Jokic, whose claim to fame is that he could be the greatest offensive engine of all-time, is coming off a season in which he averaged a near 30-point triple-double. Despite somehow losing out to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP voting, Jokic has won three league MVPs ('21, '22, '24).
Yes, Jokic's counting stats are impressive (26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.0 assists on 66.3% true shooting since 2020-21), but it's his demeanor and clutch ability that makes him so great. Firstly, he's the arguably the greatest passer of all-time. He makes his teammates better at such a high rate that it's impossible to call anyone else the best player in the world right now.
He's also the best playoff performer we have in the league today, actually going up a level in the postseason.
6 David Robinson
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At fifth, Shaq chose one of the more underrated centers ever, David Robinson. "The Admiral" is often forgotten to history because he only played a big role in one of the Spurs' five championships and was replaced by a better Tim Duncan, but he was also an extremely dominant player.
Robinson was a 10-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, an eight-time All-Defense, the 1992 DPOY, and won the 1995 league MVP. He placed top-six in MVP voting from his rookie year until his seventh NBA season before petering off to just All-Star status for the back half of his career.
David averaged 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks (fourth all-time) for his career. He made his money on defense as arguably the best defensive center of his era, though the next selection on this list will have something to say about that. He played his entire career with the Spurs, and was the ultimate Spur.
Robinson deserves credit for laying the foundation of the Spurs' dynasty we know today.
5 Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
At five, Shaq gave the other extremely underrated center from the 1980s and 90s, Hakeem Olajuwon. Let's face it, there were a ton of players who played in the league with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson who didn't get their proper shine with those guys around.
However, luckily for Olajuwon, he was able to win back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 1994 and 1995, when Jordan left for baseball. He also lost to Larry Bird's 1986 Celtics in the NBA Finals, who are one of the greatest teams of all-time.
Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game (third all-time). He earned 12 All-Stars and 12 All-NBA honors, was a nine-time All-Defense, two-time DPOY, and won the 1994 MVP. With that said, Olajuwon's accomplishments don't compare to how great of a player he actually was.
Many more people should consider Hakeem for their center position on all-time starting lineups and similar lists. He had a game fit for the modern sport, with his defensive versatility and ability to guard all types of players. "Dream" rightfully earned his place on Shaq's ranking.
4 Bill Russell
Bill Russell
Next comes Bill Russell, the greatest winner in league history. Russell is perhaps the most well-respected former player ever, as he was the perfect ambassador for the game long after he retired. Bill also dealt with so many social and off-court issues as a player in the 50s and 60s, none of it his own doing.
Russell was an 11-time champion (most ever), five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, and averaged 22.5 rebounds a game (second all-time). He's still known as arguably the greatest defender in NBA History.
Shaq shows deference to Russell for his on and off-court accomplishments by placing him fourth, but chose an interesting spot for the player above him.
3 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Lakers
O'Neal picked Wilt Chamberlain over Russell, which is interesting considering what Shaq clearly values in a player. He always cites championships and winning as the top markers of greatness, constantly reminding fans and Charles Barkley that he has four rings. However, he also definitely cares about sheer physical dominance, which is why he chose Chamberlain over Bill Russell.
Although Wilt only won two titles in his career to Russell's 11 and only beat Bill's Celtics once (1967 championship run), he was by far the more dominant player, whether statistically or eye-test wise. Wilt was a seven-foot-one, 275-pound center who could move like Giannis Antetokounmpo, making him the perfect player for the modern game (not that Shaq cares about that).
What makes Shaq prefer Wilt was that he averaged 30.1 points (second all-time) and 22.9 rebounds for his career (first all-time). He owns records for single-game points (100), single-season scoring (50.4) and rebounding (27.2). Simply put, there will never be another guy who owns the record books in the way Wilt did.
2 Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers hold NBA Finals trophys
Shaq, in his usual fashion, never shies away from giving himself props, placing at number two on his ranking. This also shows tremendous respect for the guy who earned his first spot.
Regardless of whether you think O'Neal is cocky for this ranking, he certainly earned this spot. Shaq is a 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA member, three-time All-Defense member, and won the 2000 league MVP. However, what makes O'Neal the second-best center of all-time was his stretch of physical and statistical dominance from 1994 to 2003.
To be more specific, O'Neal averaged 35.9 points and 15.2 rebounds in the NBA Finals from 2000 to 2002, securing three Finals MVPs on a squad featuring a young Kobe Bryant. It's still the most dominant stretch of play in the modern era, and could never be replicated.
1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Lew Alcindor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
What is there to say about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? The man with a basketball life so great that even Shaq cannot dare place himself above him, Jabbar sits comfortably at first on this list. Kareem, who is the third forgotten member of the GOAT debate, has had the best total career in the sport.
Kareem earned 19 All-Star games, 15 All-NBA teams, and 11 All-Defensive selections in his illustrious 20-year career. He won six titles and six league MVP awards (first all-time), as well as two Finals MVPs. Jabbar also won three high school titles and three college national championships, giving him the best start-to-finish resume of any player ever.
Jabbar, who retired in first place in all-time scoring, a mark that held for 39 years until LeBron James broke it, is more accomplished than anyone. He also helped author the Showtime Lakers, a great dynasty that saved the NBA from a disastrous 1970s decade.