Maybe im the only one who always thought Ewing was slightly better then Robinson
Me too
Robinson being ahead is a product of the gotta have a ring era we live in even tho he needed Duncgawds help
I didn't even know that was an actual opinion.
It has nothing to do with "not having a ring". Everyone know Robinson was better than Ewing long before Robinson won a ring as a Kobe-like role player.
Ewing was the 1st-team all-NBA center ONCE. That's was Robinson's rookie year, in 89/90, when Ewing was a 27-year-old already in his fifth season.
Robinson surplanted him as the 1st-team All-NBA center in 90/91, his second season. Then again in 91/92. Also in 94/95 and 95/96.
If you look at their scoring numbers, they're bascally even. Ewing started playing younger and stretched out his peak to a little older, but the averages are the same and Robinson's 3 best seasons were better than Ewing's three best. But when you look at everything other than scoring....
Robinson's first 7 years, he got at least 12 rebounds/game four times. Ewing only did that once in his entire career.
Robinson's first 7 years, he got at least 2.5 assists/game six times. Ewing only did that two times his entire career.
Robinson's first 7 years, he got at least 3.2 blocks/game every year. Ewing only did that three times in his entire career.
Robinson's first 7 years, he got at least 1.4 steals/game every year. Ewing only did that two times in his entire career.
Robinson's first 7 years, he was 1st-team All-Defense four times. Ewing was NEVER 1st-team All-Defense.
Even if David Robinson retired at age 31 with just those 7 ears under his belt and no titles, he would have been understood as a guy who was better than Ewing. He was a better rebounder, better passer, better defender, and his equal as a scorer.
And even though his career was 3 years shorter, Robinson ended up with more career assists, offensive boards, steals, and blocks than Ewing, with FAR fewer fouls or turnovers and better shooting %. The only thing Ewing had over him for career numbers is defensive boards and points. And on the career averages Robinson has the advantage in literally everything.
Here are the 1st-team centers in Ewing's career:
Kareem
Olajuwon
Olajuwon
Olajuwon
Ewing
Robinson
Robinson
Olajuwon
Olajuwon
Robinson
Robinson
Olajuwon
Shaq
Shaq
Mourning
Shaq
Olajuwon, Robinson, and Shaq were clearly the three dominent centers of the 1990s, even before any of the three had gotten their titles.