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-------------------- November 17, 2004 by Tyson Wirth Top Ten Oldies but Goodies
continued 1 – Finally, we arrive at the best career that any of today’s players can boast! The man in the middle for all those Lakers championships. The other half of the Kobe tag team, now separated. The most dominant force in basketball. With apologies to Mark Madsen, the man-beast being referred to is Shaquille O’Neal. Both in physical appearance and play, Shaq is a man amongst children. Every single game he takes more abuse than Ralph Nader at the Democratic National Convention, yet he still overruns opponents with an amazing mixture of brute strength and astonishing skill. If one could imagine taking a left tackle from professional football, adding eight inches to him, giving him the footwork of a halfback, the hands of a receiver, and the leadership skills of a quarterback… that’d at least be a start at describing the athletic prowess of the self-proclaimed Big Aristotle. In 30,500 NBA minutes, a relatively small amount of time for members of this list, O’Neal has gathered almost 22,000 points, 9,800 rebounds, 2,100 blocks, and 2,300 assists. He’s also recorded a 61 point game (March of ’03 vs. the Clippers), and a 28 board, 15 block game (November of ’93 vs. New Jersey). The Big Diesel has shot a Playstation-like .577% from the field for his career, good enough for third all time, and actually much better than his abysmal .538% free throw percentage. Those statistics do not include his nearly two seasons worth (158) of playoff games during which he recorded three consecutive NBA championships and Finals MVP awards. The evidence of Shaq’s dominance is perhaps the only thing more overwhelming than having to guard the big man; he’s been a Rookie of the Year, he’s been an Olympic Gold Medalist, he’s been a league MVP, he’s been a nine time All-Star, he’s been a four time All NBA First Team selection, he’s tenth all time in blocks per game, he’s fourth all time in points per game (three guys named Jordan, Chamberlain, and Baylor are ahead of him)… the list would make good filibuster material, to say the least. What underscores the excellence of Shaq’s career even more is the fact that he’s accomplished all he has while being almost perpetually injured. The wear and tear of chugging 325 to 350 pounds up and down the court every night takes a huge toll. That, along with the effects of a daily beating from opponents who openly use a defense entitled “Hack-A-Shaq,” is what O’Neal has had to overcome to become the most feared force in the game. Throughout it all, O’Neal remains the best quote in professional sports and the surest route to a championship. In Shaq’s unforgettable film, Kazaam, the big man plays a genie who grants three wishes to the kid who discovers him. Here are three wishes that basketball fans everywhere would appreciate. One, that Shaq never does another movie ever, ever, again. Man, were they awful. Two, that the most dominant force in sports stays healthy and motivated enough to play another twelve seasons. Three, that when Shaquille O’Neal’s retirement finally does come, there’s someone out there just half as much fun to watch dominate the league. Overtime… Toughest Cuts: Derrick Coleman, Vlade Divac, Eddie Jones, Jamal Mashburn, Glenn Robinson, Steve Smith, Latrell Spreewell (was it a choke job not to get him on the list?), Rod Strickland, Nick Van Exel. What could have been: Vin Baker, Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Antonio McDyess, Alonzo Mourning. One or two more years: Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant (how can this be the kid’s ninth year already?!), Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace. ------------------- Reach Tyson Wirth @ tyson-wirth@uiowa.edu Next: Played out Philly act Previous: Basketball Power-Dribbling Drills Back to articles main © 2001-2005 H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m, All rights reserved Terms of service Privacy policy Contact |
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