Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Television analyst and hall of fame basketball player Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Television analyst and hall of fame basketball player Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Shaquille O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the most dominant players in NBA history. As an impeccable physical specimen, the likes of which the league hadn’t witnessed at the time, O’Neal used his massive frame and uncanny athletic ability at his size to firmly assert himself as one of the best in the business.
Needless to say, as one of the best players in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal is also one of the best centers the league has ever seen. Given how vocal the four-time NBA champion has been about his place in such lists, while even sharing his own now and then, O’Neal recently posted another, seemingly agreeing with his position on it.
In a recent post by Instagram user SOG Basketball, O’Neal was ranked second on a top-10 list of the greatest centers in NBA history. Here is a summary of the rankings:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Shaquille O’Neal
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Bill Russell
5. Nikola Jokic
6. Hakeem Olajuwon
7. Moses Malone
8. David Robinson
9. George Mikan
10. Dwight Howard
Just by looking at the list, it is clear that it spans almost every era of the NBA. To that point, Shaquille O’Neal seemed to agree with the rankings, even sharing the post on his Instagram story.
For the most part, it is easy to see why Shaquille O’Neal would agree with this list. As a comprehensive list that spans generations, the rankings seem quite reasonable and objective.
As brilliant as Shaquille O’Neal was over his 19 years in the NBA, winning four titles and earning 15 All-Star and 14 All-NBA selections among several other accolades, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was arguably more successful.
With six NBA titles to his name, 19 All-Star appearances, 15 All-NBA selections, and as the previous all-time leading scorer in NBA history, Abdul-Jabbar was truly a cut above the rest.
Ranking Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in third and fourth also seems perfectly reasonable. Although Russell is the “winningest” player in NBA history with 11 titles to his name, Chamberlain’s individual brilliance was nearly impossible to overlook. Given how their rivalry effectively shaped the NBA landscape for an entire era, both players could be mentioned interchangeably on any top-10 list.
The mention of Nikola Jokic in fifth place is rather intriguing. As an active player, Jokic still has a lot to accomplish, especially when considering his career has spanned only 11 years. However, the Nuggets‘ superstar has redefined the center position with his virtuoso playmaking and unreal statistical accomplishments over the last few years.
With averages of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds (league-high), and 10.7 assists (league-high) per game last season, Jokic asserted his place as one of the league’s best players. Given what he has accomplished in such a brief period, it is difficult to deny him his place among the greats of the game.
Still, some may argue that Jokic doesn’t necessarily deserve to be named ahead of Hakeem Olajuwon. Considering how impactful Olajuwon was on both ends of the floor, this would be a compelling argument.
Although he was marginally undersized for his position, Hakeem Olajuwon was among the best players of his era. Olajuwon routinely dominated opposing big men with scintillating footwork and phenomenal defensive ability. With two rings to his name along with numerous other accomplishments, including 12 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA selections, 9 All-Defensive selections, two Finals MVPs, and one MVP award, he was elite in every sense.
After Olajuwon, the mention of Moses Malone, David Robinson, and George Mikan (in that order) seems quite justified, especially considering how dominant both Malone and Robinson were as traditional centers. Even though many may debate whether Mikan deserves a spot on this list, as one of the NBA’s first superstars and a true pioneer of the game, it is impossible to overlook Mikan’s legacy and influence.
Finally, the inclusion of Dwight Howard at No. 10 may seem valid to some. Although he is an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA selection, a three-time DPOY, and a Hall of Famer (like every player on the list), Howard doesn’t necessarily receive much love from Shaquille O’Neal. On that note, watching O’Neal share this list without debating Howard’s position on it is quite intriguing.