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Where does Ewing rank among the great centers?

by Terry Brown

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2003 NBA Free Agent Sneak Peek

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Fee Fie Foe Fum.

The Age of the Center is just about done.

Hakeem Olajuwon has already announced his retirement. Patrick Ewing's comes today at noon, Alonzo Mourning tomorrow, David Robinson the season after that and then there was Shaq to go along with 6-foot-9 guards, 7-foot small forwards and a 7-foot-5 center who shoots threes with no MSG added.

Seven-foot Dirk Nowitzki hit 139 three-pointers last season at 39 percent. Seven-foot Kevin Garnett had more points, rebounds, blocks and steals than anyone else on his team while averaging 5.2 assists per game.

But back when seven feet really meant something, backs to the basket and headbands all around, an NBA center won 20 of the first 28 MVP titles. But in the 19 years since, only three have.

Those three were Olajuwon, Robinson and Shaq.

Not necessarily in that order.

In fact, if we take the 10 best consecutive years of their careers, not one of these latter-day centers even comes close to the Daddy.

Shaq (93-02): 27.6 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.6 bpg

Dream (87-96): 24.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 3.68 bpg

Admiral (90-99): 24.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.39 bpg

Ewing (88-97):P 21.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.58 bpg

Zo (93-02): 20.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.03 bpg

Career numbers don't change the order much, either.

Shaq (10 seasons): 27.6 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.6 bpg

Dream (18 seasons): 21.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.09 bpg

Admiral (13 seasons): 21.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.08 bpg

Ewing (17 seasons): 21 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.45 bpg

Zo (10 seasons): 20.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.03 bpg

Nor do playoff numbers.

Shaq (124 games): 28.2 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg

Dream (145 games): 25.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.2 bpg

Admiral (100 games): 20.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.81 bpg

Ewing (139 games): 20.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.18 bpg

Zo (55 games): 19.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.82 bpg

Rings follow suit . . .

Shaq- 3 Dream- 2 Admiral- 1 Ewing- 0 Zo- 0

As do MVP Awards . . .

Shaq- 1 regular season, 3 Finals

Dream- 1 regular season, 2 Finals

Admiral- 1 regular season

Ewing- 0

Zo -0

Ewing, called by many a teammate and sportswriter the Greatest Knick ever, could very well have been the most consistent of the group. His career averages nearly mirror the numbers from his prime despite the final two seasons of his career in which he played supporting roles with the Sonics and Magic. Robinson, on the other hand, had an entire season marred with injury and a decline in scoring from 21.6 points per game in 1998 to 15.8 in 1999 falling within that 10-year frame.

But the main reason O'Neal's numbers may continue to climb is that his tenure as reigning big man continues with no real rival. Ewing had Olajuwon who had Robinson, each of them meeting at sometime in the playoffs to determine crowns.

And while Shaq has tried to develop some sort of animosity toward the Admiral across headlines and highlights and has lost to Olajuwon in one Finals matchup, there is no foe that stands out, including Mourning, a player drafted the same season and playing the same position. He's faced Rik Smits, Dikembe Mutombo and Todd MacCulloch for rings.

Ewing should have been so lucky.

He lost to Olajuwon and Robinson in NBA Finals and had to contend with Michael Jordan day in and day out of his prime.

Today, tomorrow and into the next, sportswriters from across the country will debate the place of Ewing among giants. An 11-time All Star, Rookie of the Year, member of the original Dream Team and voted one of the 50 Greatest Players Ever.

Yet, aside from all of the individual accolades and statistical achievements that both celebrate and condemn, he will best be remembered most for the company he kept while doing it.

Ewing Will Retire Without a Title

Mike Wise / New York Times

Pat's all folks: Ewing era ends

Fred Kerber / New York Post

In triumph or turmoil, Pat was big-time

Kevin Kernan / New York Post

Ewing's title: A great Knick

Frank Isola / New York Daily News

Lottery's prize had little luck

Mike Lupica / New York Daily News

Peep Show

Soncis: Several sources are saying that Seattle has given restricted free agent Rashard Lewis one week to make his decision or the Sonics will move on without him. Insider has learned that if the athletic swingman goes elsewhere or stalls any longer, the team will move ahead with plans to sign Lee Nailon. The 6-foot-9 Nailon averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Hornets last season and will be entering his third NBA season. Lewis, who has bristled at the hard stance the Sonics have already taken on his free agency, has been eligible since mid-July to sign a new contract and has had discussions with both the Mavericks and Rockets, both teams only able to offer their $4.5M exception, as well as Sonics. "It's in everyone's best interest for a decision to be made soon," Seattle GM Rick Sund said.

Mavericks: Former Dallas forward Popeye Jones is ready and willing to re-join the team that he began his career with even if it means taking a paycut. "With the circumstances and wanting to live here, the interest level is high even if it's just a one-year deal," said Jones, who added he hopes to sign a contract this week. "Sometimes happiness is more important." The 6-foot-8 power forward averaged 7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season for the Wizards.

Cavs: Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been arrested on a DUI charge for erratic driving and failing a field sobriety test last Sunday in Bay Village, Ohio. The maxed out player has averaged 12.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds in an injury-plauged career and will appear in court on Wednesday.

Celtics: Former Celtic point guard Kenny Anderson is telling everyone who will listen that Boston made a big mistake in trading him away. "If I were a betting man, I'd pick the Nets to be runaway winners in the East," said Anderson, who now plays for the Seattle Sonics. "The Nets did things right. They got better, with Dikembe Mutombo and Rodney Rogers and Chris Childs. But the Celtics have sacrificed my position. I'd be shocked if they were as good as they were last season."

Suns: As one of the youngest teams in the NBA, the Suns have shown added interest in hiring Tom Grgurich, currently an assistant with the Bucks whose contract expires next month. Grgurich, who has also worked for the Sonics and Blazers, has built a reputation for developing young talent.

Raptors: Jay Triano could become the first Canadian-born, Canadian-trained coach in the NBA if Lenny Wilkens gets his way and hires the Canadian National team head coach this week. He and longtime assistant [censored] Helm are the final two candidates for the position. Triano led the Canadians to a Silver Medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Ex-Mav Jones wants to return

Jodie Valade / Dallas Morning News

Jones mulls returning to Mavericks

Dwain Price / Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ilgauskas charged with DUI

Staff / Akron Beacon-Journal

Kenny points to Nets

Mitch Lawrence / New York Daily News

Clock is ticking on Lewis' decision

Danny O'Neill / Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Triano might join the Raptors

Doug Smith / Toronto Star

Bucks assistant might join staff

Bob Young / Arizona Republic

[Diesel]

Terry Brown needs to get off Shaq's Jock... His own numbers tell him that Hakeem was better than "The daddy" and if he want more proof, he should add in ASSISTS. However, he doesn't understand the power of the block? Hakeem blocking 3.68 bpg during that ten yr stint is AWESOME! Finally, he needs to understand what each of those Cs had around them. Surely, Shaq has a good sidekick in Kobe and Penny too... BUt Hakeem had NO one his first championship yr and Drexler the second yr when they dismantled a young Shaq and the Magic to the tune of a 4 game sweep.

[jaywalker72]

He may be the second best defensive center ever, after Bill Russell.

His hands were as quick as any center I have seen personally, and his steals and blocks showed his total defensive skill.

David Robinson was a shell of an all-star when playing Hakeem, and if I recall (which may not be correct), it seemed early on that Shaq had his difficulties with the Dream.

[Traceman]

but Dream was a better all around Center in his prime. Dream had the total package while Shaq has only started to play D in the last few years under Phil Jackson. I would LOVE to see what Dream in his prime could do with Shaq now. That would be a great battle. As great as Dream was though, I just don't think ANYBODY could stop the Shaq of right now. He's just too big, strong and athletic. Dream would have given Shaq hell with all those Dream shakes and moves around the basket though. I think both would have averaged double doubles against each other but I think Shaq would have won the battle in the end end.