If Yao Ming Never Retired Early Due To Injuries, Would He Rank As a Top 5 Centre Ever

**DrunkHorseplayer** · 02-16-16, 01:12 AM

Get serious.

**kidcudi92** · 02-16-16, 01:15 AM

I think NO

**gauchojake** · 02-16-16, 01:23 AM

Center

**hans83** · 02-16-16, 01:41 AM

only in china

**packerd_00** · 02-16-16, 01:45 AM

Two of the best were from Africa,Hakeem and Dikembe.

**frostno98** · 02-16-16, 02:07 AM

Possibly. When was the last time you saw a big over 7 foot make Free throws look routine while still capable of making fade away jump shots. Okay, Dirk Nowitzki would be the exception, but Dirk was a terrible rebounder and defender compared to Yao.

**zizoudane10** · 02-16-16, 04:24 AM

Dominated Lakers 100%, then game 3 came...

**rm18** · 02-16-16, 04:32 AM

He was great maybe even better than guys like Ewing and Mutumbo. but COMMON Shaq, Kareem, Wilt, Hakeem, Robinson light years better.

**Sledge187** · 02-16-16, 04:44 AM

This thread gives me a major boner.

**Ralphie Halves** · 02-16-16, 05:19 AM

Not HOF great, ever. Showed potential, but would never get the stats.

**Ratpack** · 02-16-16, 06:32 AM

no arvydis sabonis would of been one of the best if he came over early from lithuania though

**RockBottom** · 02-16-16, 06:59 AM

Who wants their seven-ft centers shooting fadeaways?

Ewing was miles ahead of Ming. The only reason he was an all-star was the great marketing of the NBA allowing China to stuff the AS ballots.

**Ralphie Halves** · 02-16-16, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Ratpack

no arvydis sabonis would of been one of the best if he came over early from lithuania though

That guy played the game at half the speed of the rest of the NBA, and still had a good career. Seriously, Slo-Mo-nis was a spot-on nickname.

And yeah, Yao was mostly hype. Tallest man I've ever seen. Saw him at NBA All-Star Weekend in Vegas. It was like watching a giraffe walk around.

**jjgold** · 02-16-16, 09:58 AM

no

He was decent though

**Smoke** · 02-16-16, 10:01 AM

Saer stop

**Mannyfan** · 02-16-16, 10:11 AM

Think top 10 if career extended, but no top 5

**Jayvegas420** · 02-16-16, 11:10 AM

Think greatest ever if he stayed healthy.
Putting Jordan in 2nd of all time.

**IBetYou** · 02-16-16, 11:15 AM

Not top 5. He was like Rik Smits; couldn't defend the pick & roll, and couldn't log major mins. On offense he was very perimeter oriented. Top 20.

They have highlight reels of Sabonis in his prime on youtube. Phenomenal.

**POOLSIDE** · 02-16-16, 11:38 AM

If Len Bias didn't do blow, he would be the best player of all time

**marcoloco** · 02-16-16, 11:59 AM

top 5 maybe a stretch only because there are many all time greats. But he for sure would have been great. His lack of durability is what held him back.

**packerd_00** · 02-16-16, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by rm18

He was great maybe even better than guys like Ewing and Mutumbo. but COMMON Shaq, Kareem, Wilt, Hakeem, Robinson light years better.

Better then Mutumbo,don't be ridiculous.

**DOM-Ganador** · 02-16-16, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by POOLSIDE

If Len Bias didn't do blow, he would be the best player of all time

Why you have to go and do that to me POOLIE??????
Saw him play a few times live during the summer.
His career would have been phenomenal as he would have had time to develop under LJB/KMH.
C`s woulda won a few more as well.

The center who would be top 5 with out injuries is Bill Walton, not YAO.

**POOLSIDE** · 02-16-16, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by DOM-Ganador

Why you have to go and do that to me POOLIE??????
Saw him play a few times live during the summer.
His career would have been phenomenal as he would have had time to develop under LJB/KMH.
C`s woulda won a few more as well.

The center who would be top 5 with out injuries is Bill Walton, not YAO.

Ha. You know, I'm just mocking the whole "what if" thing.

Obviously, durability is a major major factor in how valuable you are. If he didn't get injured is the same thing as saying if Iverson was 6'8" instead of 5'8" or if Shaq shot 90% from the free throw line. I mean, if only Greg Oden could have stayed healthy, he'd have been a top center lolol.

We we certainly don't disagree on Walton though.

**The Giant** · 02-16-16, 04:17 PM

Yao Ming was the second greatest NBA Chinese center of all-time just behind Yi Jianlian.

**SBRMAN23** · 02-16-16, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by The Giant

Yao Ming was the second greatest NBA Chinese center of all-time just behind Yi Jianlian.

I was looking for Jeremy Lin but no wrong answer

**The Giant** · 02-16-16, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by SBRMAN23

I was looking for Jeremy Lin but no wrong answer

I have Jeremy Lin ranked as the all-time best Chinese guard.

Sun Yue is in second.

**Seaweed** · 02-16-16, 04:49 PM

Giant knows his ball