The NBA has seen many legendary centers over the years. In the modern game as well, we have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and many more. The centers usually are the most dominant players on the court for a team. They usually make space to defend and speed the game according to the situations. The center practically does everything in the game of basketball. One such center who literally did everything was Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaq was a menace in his playing days. There is no better way to put this. A 100% fit Shaquille O’Neal was unstoppable. He could win games single-handedly where he always had talented players around. That only meant that it was going to be even more difficult to control the big man. Shaq was dominant, physical and aggressive on the court. His passion and love for the game has always been immense and his signature, iconic, insulting dunks were a feature of his superior game play.

Shaq is one of the greatest centers the NBA has ever seen. But was he the greatest? Many would argue that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the greatest as he famously still holds the record for most points in the history of the NBA.

Also read: Shaq gets compared Tim Duncan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Although for one NBA veteran, neither Shaq nor Kareem was the best center. Instead, he picked the Rockets legend.

Tim Legler chooses Hakeem Olajuwon over Shaquille O’Neal

NBA veteran Tim Legler who played in the NBA for 10 years and 6 teams, recently featured on The Old Man and Three podcast. He admitted that his favorite center of the 90s was Hakeem Olajuwon.

“Hakeem Olajuwon. His feet were so light you know, he was one of those guys and I always would say this when I’d watched Deion Sanders play football. His feet don’t make any noise when he runs, that was Olajuwon. — He was probably legitimately six nine but he was by far in a way the most ridiculous rim protector I ever played against and I played against all the guys you just mentioned.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Shaq vs Hakeem height comparison.

“Because olajuwon would bait you into thinking he wasn’t interested in your drive. Like you literally would head down the lane, the right side, the right slot, he’d be on the left block and at one point I’m pretty sure he was reading a book. I could definitely get this up there right now and he would just at the last second just jump and flick it. It was always a flick and a run out. — I was watching great post defenders, just have no chance.” Tim Legler said.

Hakeem, for Tim, was the best. He said that whenever there is a debate somewhere to pick a draft and see who gets the better team, he would always want Hakeem. He said if the other person had the choice of every other center that ever played and he is stuck with Olajuwon, he’ll be okay in that game. Tim said he was always going to be perfectly fine playing that game and then drafting the other four positions. But Hakeem Olajuwon would always be a constant.