Houston Rockets: Argument for Hakeem Olajuwon as best center all-time

The Houston Rockets have only won two championships in their 50 year franchise history. At the center of those glory days was Hakeem Olajuwon.

No Houston Rockets fan would argue about the fact that Hakeem Olajuwon is the best player in franchise history. Even at the pace James Harden is scoring, it’s hard to imagine him supplanting Hakeem as the best Rocket of all-time.

Olajuwon was not just an offensive threat. He dominated down low on the defensive side of things. And now that the days of the dominant down low big men have pretty much faded into the distance as everyone opts for the three pointer over a post game (The Memphis Grizzlies perhaps being the only exception), the argument for best center of all-time may remain between the same top five names that are always in that conversation for quite a while.

Normally the top three names in the discussion are undisputed, though their ranking shifts between Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell. Hakeem rounds out the top five sometimes in that four spot, sometimes behind George Mikan who defined the position of center or Shaquille O’Neal.

But here are some reasons to consider Hakeem as the very best center of all-time.