Sports
Debate on Best Center of the ’90s Reignites with Wallace’s Take
The debate over the best center in the NBA during the 1990s has resurfaced, sparked by comments from former NBA player Rasheed Wallace. In a recent podcast, Wallace weighed in on the rivalry between David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets.
While many fans and analysts favor Olajuwon for his two championships as the primary player in 1994 and 1995, Wallace believes Robinson deserves the title. “Between those two, it was David Robinson,” Wallace stated. “Because of the athleticism, bro. The only thing he didn’t do was shoot the three.”
Robinson faced tough competition in the postseason from Olajuwon, who consistently outperformed him early in the decade. Despite his skills, Robinson didn’t reach the NBA Finals until 1999, when the Spurs were largely led by Tim Duncan. At that time, Robinson’s role had shifted to that of a complementary player.
Wallace’s admiration for Robinson’s skills is evident. “He could put it on the floor, he’d face you up,” Wallace said. “Give you that reverse (Jack) Sikma … Don’t get me wrong, I think Dream was one of the great centers in our league but the athleticism that David Robinson had was a different story.”
Shandel Richardson, the publisher of Back In The Day Hoops on SI, reported this story. He has been covering the NBA since 2010 and has a wealth of experience reporting on various sports.
