Friday, May 1, 2009

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CLASSIC CENTERS GONE?


Last week Dikembe Mutombo announced his retirement ending his 18 year career as one of the best all-time shot blockers (Mutombo is 2nd in career blocks). This annoncement officially is an end of an era to me. What has happened to the true classic center? The 7 footer who would block shots, play down low with his back to the basket and took pride in intimidation. The Chamberlain's, the Olajuwon's, the Ewings and the Mournings. Mutombo represents the last of a breed of true "old school" centers (except for Shaq, who should retire). I will miss Mutombo's finger wave, his love of the block shot and his passion for the game. He made opposing teams think twice about driving to the hoop and would say "don't bring that weak stuff in here". The modern 7'0 center is not a shot blocker and is not intimidating. How can you be intimidating if you are out at the 3 point line most of the game? Mutombo is in fact the last 7 footer to make the NBA's All-Defensive team and lead the league in blocks. Dikembe Mutombo represents everything good about the past and brings an era of the "True" center to an end.

Top 5 True NBA Centers

1) Wilt Chamberlain
2) Hakeem Olajuwon
3) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4) Shaquille O'Neill
5) Patrick Ewing

Link:
Short History of the Center

2 comments:

  1. Where have the centers gone? 2 words...DWIGHT HOWARD

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  2. Not a true center. True centers back in the day were over 7 feet. Howard I believe is 6'11 but he is as close as we get these days. He is pretty darn good, he just needs to keep his mouth shut about his coach.

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