Jun 12, 2020 21:44:31 GMT Baker said:

I had Mario Lemieux at #6 and he should have been even higher. Possibly even as high as #3. Being an idiot, I didn't check out his stats until after submitting my list. He lead the league in points 6 times. Won a bunch of awards. Etc. Etc. Though I did think he lead the Penguins to more Stanley Cup wins than 'just' two.

Also, I guess you can consider this an overcorrection of sorts. See, Lemieux had surpassed Gretzky to become THE guy by the time I got into hockey. So I spent at least a good decade thinking Lemieux > Gretzky. 

I just checked out his minor league stats thanks to Shootist . He wasn't kidding. Those are the hockey equivalent of Wilt numbers.

Hockey fans, where would you rank Super Mario all time? #2 behind only Gretzky? #4 behind Wayne, Orr & Gordie? Top 10?

He's a lock for top 5 on my list probably in the 4 or 5 spot.

I was going to share a link to the NHL 100 greatest players that they did for the 100th anniversary of the NHL in 2017. They didn't bother to rank them though. :@

I still have the 1998 list the Hockey News did.

Looks like they agree with me.

I'd have Gretzky at #1, Orr at #2, Lemieux at #3, and Howe at #4.

I'm a "#2 behind only Gretzky", but that's begrudgingly. Want to give him #1 so bad...

There’s a legitimate argument for Lemieux being #1 ahead of even Gretzky. I think Gretzky will always be the greatest by default, but there was some luck on his side that got him there that Super Mario didn’t have.

He got cancer. His back was fucked. He had legal trouble people don’t really talk about. Yet in his prime he was insane. He just lost that ability and stamina to go deep too soon. Big what if in hockey history.

If he never got sick and had a team stacked around him like Gretzky had in Edmonton, Pittsburgh might have won like 10 Cups.

As great as Lemieux was at natural goal scoring, it's Gretzky's playmaking that puts him over the top. There's a reason why they call behind the net "Gretzky's Office."

3. Shaquille O'Neal 

Seasons 

20 

Points Per Game 

23.7 

Rebounds Per Game 

10.9 

Career Accolades 

- 15x NBA All Star 

- 14x All NBA 

- 4x NBA Champion 

- 1x NBA MVP 

- 3 NBA Finals MVP 

- 2x Scoring Champion 

- 3x All Defensive Team 

- Hall of Fame Inductee 

I love Shaq and honestly think he's become a bit underrated because of the fans that might have only caught the later parts of his career that kind of killed his lore and certainly crushed his career statistics. When he was motivated and in shape there was never a more physically gifted and dominant big man in NBA history and dude was completely unstoppable and definition of monster. It's a shame he could never shoot free throws either because he might have went for 35 ppg some seasons.

#3 might be too high in the grand scheme of things and people will argue someone like Russell over him but its a tough comp and Shaq deserves praise. One of the catalysts for me even getting into the NBA.

Hell of a personality too.

Fucking LOVE Shaq.

I think what is going for Shaq is competition in the new era and facing against the better athletes of the 90's/00's vs what Russell and Wilt faced where they were giants among men. Not fair sure but I think it is something to be said about Shaq having near two decades worth of relevance in the game especially as his end career was coming as the 3 ball began to take over.

Think it's Gretzky vs KAJ for the last 2 spots.

Shaq was my #1 for obvious reasons.

A- Hes the best and most dominant Center I ever watched play. The dude was a cheat code. His power was unmatched.

B- As mentioned already, his personality is one of a kind. The dude is awesome. He’s hilarious, a bit insecure but a savage too. The fact he can do comedies and not take himself too seriously in those roles is awesome too. Just don’t ever tell him he wasn’t a better basketball player then you.

C- After Kobe’s death, it started to make me appreciate the Shaq/Kobe story a lot more too. The team work, the rivalry and the reconnection.

As the NBA changes the way it’s played, we probably will never see someone as dominant as Shaq ever again. I still love when Popovich intentionally fouled him as soon as the game started when he was the Heat. The laughing between them was hilarious too. Must watch. Shaq was all confused that he was fouled as soon as the game started and he looks over at the Spurs bench to see Popovich laughing his ass off. Then Shaq laughed too. That’s the kind of dude Shaq is.

I had Shaq at #6. 3 is definitely too high because as much as we don't like to talk about his post Orlando and LA years, those years happened.  He stayed on entirely too long and didn't stay in top shape.

That being said, prime Shaq is one of the most dominant forces in basketball history, only Wilt has a real case to be more dominant. But there is no way he should ranked over Super Mario, who is a legit GOAT candidate in his respective sport.   You can't say the same thing for Shaq.

I also had Shaq at 6, the deeper competition may have hurt his cause with me but he was the most dominant figure in the sport for a decade.

Jun 13, 2020 17:54:53 GMT thereallt said:

I had Shaq at #6. 3 is definitely too high because as much as we don't like to talk about his post Orlando and LA years, those years happened.  He stayed on entirely too long and didn't stay in top shape.

That being said, prime Shaq is one of the most dominant forces in basketball history, only Wilt has a real case to be more dominant. But there is no way he should ranked over Super Mario, who is a legit GOAT candidate in his respective sport.   You can't say the same thing for Shaq.

Well said.

I had Shaq near the bottom of my list and he eventually got cut. I went a little hockey heavy with my list and Shaq lost out basically for the reason LT laid out. I tried to keep my list as GOAT heavy as possibly since we were covering all sports.

Shaq is in my top 15 for sure. But he missed my top 10.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar  

Seasons 

20 

Points Per Game 

24.6 

Rebounds Per Game 

11.2 

Blocks Per Game 

2.6 

Career Accolades 

- 19x All Star 

- 6x NBA MVP

- 15x All NBA 

- 6x NBA Champion 

- 11x All Defensive Team 

- 2x Finals MVP 

- Hall of Fame Inductee 

Kareem is an easy choice and someone IMO who has to be in the goat conversation. He is another one who's career stats dwindle because of his years in the twilight of his career (which he was still good) but overall it doesn't show how dominant he was for most of his career. That's the thing too , people talk about Kareem and the sky hook and his offensive dominance a ton and he had years averaging over 30 points a game so it's fair but the guy was also a great defender and rebounder. Truly the total package at center with the most unstoppable shot in basketball history.

Plus, didn't he fight Bruce Lee and/or Chuck Norris in that one movie? That's also an impressive feat in and of itself.

Kareem was my #2 and I really didn't have to think about it. He is the greatest NBA center of all-time and is no less than top 2 in the NBA GOAT conversation. Nice to see he is getting some love on PW as he is one of the most disrespected GOAT candidates in general.

Only reason he didn't top my list is my #1 has an even better GOAT case in his sport.

Jun 14, 2020 14:30:16 GMT 🤯 said:

Plus, didn't he fight Bruce Lee and/or Chuck Norris in that one movie? That's also an impressive feat in and of itself.

He fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death.

Pretty coincidental to see him on the news recently because his son stabbed his elderly neighbor.

I have to say, I’m happy with the top 3. All worthy and #1 deserves to be #1.

I had Kareem at 2 as well he was so good for so long. I actually equated him to Gordie Howe in hockey even though Howe wasn't a center. Kareem was the long tenured elder statesman who got surpassed by the flashy up an comer, in this case Jordan.

I had Kareem at #3 and Shaq at #4. Both were dominant big men who put up gaudy numbers, won multiple championships with the Lakers, and had enough mainstream appeal to pass the Mom Test.

Jun 16, 2020 0:50:21 GMT Baker said:

I had Kareem at #3 and Shaq at #4. Both were dominant big men who put up gaudy numbers, won multiple championships with the Lakers, and had enough mainstream appeal to pass the Mom Test.

The Mom Test is probably easier to pass than the @ness Test.

Did a hockey player seriously win a countdown!?

Jun 17, 2020 2:39:32 GMT RT said:

Did a hockey player seriously win a countdown!?

Looks like it, and rightly so.

1. Wayne Gretzky 

Would've loved a swerve reveal.

Jun 17, 2020 13:41:00 GMT UT said:

1. Wayne Gretzky 

I see you didn't put any of Gretzky's honors on there.  I guess that's because it would take more than one post to list them off.

Because nothing exists in hockey.

In all seriousness, he is the deserving #1.

Jun 17, 2020 16:05:39 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Jun 17, 2020 13:41:00 GMT UT said:

I see you didn't put any of Gretzky's honors on there.  I guess that's because it would take more than one post to list them off.

I was running short on time.

1) Wayne Gretzky
2) Wilt Chamberlain
3) Shaquille O Neal
4) Kareem Abdul Jabar
5) Mike Webster
6) Mark Messier
7) Patrick Ewing
8) Mario Lemeiux
9) Nick Mangold
10) Kevin Mawae

Pretty good altogether, i put the last 2 in there purely because they were the best 2 centers I ever got to watch first hand ever in the NFL.