Shaq, opinions please?

[homedog]

I have constant arguments with different people about Shaq.

Their side: Shaq is the best basketball player in the NBA.

My side: Shaq is not even a good basketball player. Shaq is an athlete, period. If he could not dunk he could not play in the NBA.

(This is where it gets complicated) But, when I watch him shoot free throws, this is the furthest thing from athletic move that I can imagine. I know what a decent athlete is because I was a decent one myself at one time. I have played with and against the likes of Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders, Hart Lee Dykes, Bo Jackson, Emmitt Smith, Brian Mitchell, Bobby Humphries, Brett Favre, and a whole lot more that most of you have never heard of.

Is Shaq a great basketball player? Is he even a great athlete?

Opinons please!!!!!

 

[homedog]

Come on you Laker's fans.

 

[no all]

shaq is the best b-ball player EVER.
when your 7-1 330 pounds u don't need to be the best athlete:nono: remember his 360 in the allstar game?

 

[SIMON]

EVER ??

Far from it...

Shaq is a hellava player to build a team around.

He has a lot of holes in his game
And his attitude sucks

When Jerry West built the Lakers a few years ago...on their
Championship run. The team was built for three scorers and
the rest role players. Remember they had Glen Rice and he
was that "third option"....now they no longer have it.

They struggled last year in the playoffs with just Kobe and Shaq
This year...they are vulnerable

I would rank him like 9 or 10 of all time..perhaps lower

Remember...it's a team game....
A GREAT player makes shitty players GOOD....

Ask Michael Jordan

Many players to chose from that were way better than Shaq

Shaq's starting to show his age...CHILD

 

[no all]

shaq's #s aint down much
the team around him is just SAD
he is unstoppable.
he could easily score 50-55 points a game, but kobe needs the ball all the time lakers could be winning if they fed shaq the ball more

lakers will be way better next year
kobe might go to the grizz to play for west:shrug:

 

[homedog]

That's it no all. Looking for a different opinion.

So what I am hearing is that his stature (7'1" 330) is what makes him the best basketball player ever???? He is not even close. He is so big that he can muscle the defenders around. There is no question about that. But he can't shoot a jump shot and can't shoot a free throw (Shaq shooting free throws is the most hilarious thing I have ever witnessed in my life). After I watch him shoot a free throw, I say to myself there is no way that guy is a good athlete.

Your point about the 360 in the allstar game points in the other direction. That is why I have my questions and can't decide. But, a good athlete would at least have some form shooting free throws.

 

[homedog]

Hey no all, ever hear of Michael Jordan???

Now that is an athlete AND the best basketball player ever.

 

[no all]

jordan?:shrug:

 

[Valuist]

Shaq may be the best player right now, but he's nowhere the player Jordan was in his prime. I know people's memories are short, but don't compare Shaq to the current Jordan. He's also not the player Chamberlain was in his prime also.

 

[StevieD]

Shaq may not be the best player ever. But he has to be close. His otherwise awful Laker teams have won a few championships due to him. Kobe is good too. But he can't carry a team. It may or not be fair and he may not be the best athlete on the court, but he is one of the best to ever play the game. IMO