Russell Declared Top Center

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Shaq may very well be the best center of all time. Imagine if he was surrounded
by the 21st Century's version of Russell's surrounding cast.
 How many championships would he win a row?

Russell edges Chamberlain as top center 
By DAVID NIELSEN - Scripps Howard News
October 16, 2003 
Who is the best center in the NBA today? That's easy - Shaquille O'Neal. 
	
Who is the best center in NBA history? That's hard. So hard, in fact, that when Scripps Howard asked a select group of 12 basketball insiders, including 10 Hall of Famers, they almost couldn't reach a consensus. 
But in the end, Bill Russell edged Wilt Chamberlain, just as he usually did when Russell's Boston Celtics faced Chamberlain in the playoffs. 
Russell received 31 points, with three points awarded for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third. Chamberlain tallied 30 points and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, was third with 17. 
The voters who preferred Russell pointed to his 11 championships in 13 seasons. 
"All he did was win," said Red Auerbach, who coached Russell to nine of his championships. "A lot of times they talk about a center, they talk about the offensive aspect of the game. Russell did it on the other end, the rebounding, the blocked shots and the running the court. 
Added Hall of Fame center Bob Lanier: "Russ is probably the most indomitable spirit ever in our game, because he just had the will to make his team be the best it could be for such a long period of time." 
The Chamberlain supporters pointed to his staggering numbers, including one game with 100 points and lifetime averages of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game. 
"Just as far as the dominance, the numbers, the stats, the overwhelming impact on the game, very few have ever impacted a sport like Chamberlain did for basketball," said Pat Williams, senior vice president for the Orlando Magic. 
"Wilt was the most powerful presence ever in our game," added Lanier. 
But Chamberlain only won two titles in his 14-year career, losing three times to Russell's Celtics in the NBA Finals. That was the deciding factor for many. 
"Bill Russell - he won," said Donnie Walsh, president of the Indiana Pacers. "He's got more rings than fingers." 
Abdul-Jabbar won six titles in his illustrious 20-year career, one with Milwaukee and five with the Los Angeles Lakers. The voters uniformly praised Abdul-Jabbar for his legendary sky hook. 
"He had the one shot that you just, wow, you couldn't stop," said Lanier. 
"If there was a machine that measured overall talent at a position, Kareem probably would win hands down," said Bob Cousy, Hall of Fame guard. 
Added Auerbach: "Jabbar was the greatest offensive force in that position that I ever saw. Anytime you're in trouble. Anytime you needed a basket you just tried to isolate him and throw it to Jabbar and he'd get that nice soft jump hook and he has two points." 
Other centers receiving votes included former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon, O'Neal, and former San Francisco/Golden State Warrior Nate Thurmond. 
The Voters: 
Red Auerbach, former Boston Celtics coach, Hall of Famer 
Rick Barry, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Dave Bing, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Bob Cousy, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Bob Lanier, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Pete Newell, former college/Olympic coach, Hall of Famer 
Willis Reed, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Dolph Schayes, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Nate Thurmond, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Donnie Walsh, Indiana Pacers president 
Bill Walton, former NBA star, Hall of Famer 
Pat Williams, Orlando Magic senior vice president 
(E-mail David Nielsen at nielsend(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)