Was Shaq the greatest rookie ever?

[Majestic Pape]

look at that roster, that Spurs team was wack outside of DRob coming off that back and foot injuries.

Yeah, but a rookie David Robinson led a team to the greatest turnaround in history, I believe.

Tim Duncan had a great rookie year, and his and Shaq's were comparable in my opinion, but David Robinson was a huge part of that season's turnaround for the Spurs. There's no such thing as an "outside of DRob" because Robinson was still so great himself at that point.

I say in the last 25 years or so, David had the best rookie season, and Shaq/Duncan are a tossup for second (I lean towards Shaq but it's really up in the air for me).

 

[dantheman9758]

Shout out to Larry Bird and Elgin Baylor as well, not sure if either of them were mentioned here. Both had impressive rookie stats and "immediate team impact" on previously bottom feeder teams - Baylor lead the Lakers to the Finals his rookie season, and Bird lead his Celtics to the best regular season record in the league his rookie season. I think Wilt takes the cake as most dominant rookie ever, he destroyed the scoring record, rebounding record, and took home the MVP all in his rookie season.

 

[baltimore]

So how, based upon the logic you just put forth, can nikkas speak intelligently on what's the best of all time?

Beyond that while there is definitely a certain value to seeing a nikka play you tryna tell me you can't recognize the greatness of Wilt or Kareem or any of the other greats because you didnt' see thm play? A lot of nikkas on here either didnt' actually see Shaq play as a rookie or weren't old enough to really understand what they were seeing anyway.

true ima unsubscribe this thread i aint fukkin with yall no more..

not that i was trolling.. something about 80's babies calling wilt the best of something all time just disgusts me.. wilt and shaq both were physically dominating the league, gifted enough to do things no one else were doing at the time and some smart ass always wants to bring up wilt like its no discussion look at these giant numbers he put up in the 60s..

everyone agrees the game is way more advanced and talent level is way better scouted and developed in the modern league than in the damn 50's

 

[Carlos Huerta]

true ima unsubscribe this thread i aint fukkin with yall no more..

not that i was trolling.. something about 80's babies calling wilt the best of something all time just disgusts me.. wilt and shaq both were physically dominating the league, gifted enough to do things no one else were doing at the time and some smart ass always wants to bring up wilt like its no discussion look at these giant numbers he put up in the 60s..

everyone agrees the game is way more advanced and talent level is way better scouted and developed in the modern league than in the damn 50's

but Shaq didn't separate himself from the pack like Wilt did.

 

[baltimore]

but Shaq didn't separate himself from the pack like Wilt did.

shut up you old bytch

 

[Jplaya2023]

If Shaq had stayed in shape and played consistent defense he'd be the GOAT and probably have about 4 more rings.....

in what years would he had won another ring?

 

[FTBS]

true ima unsubscribe this thread i aint fukkin with yall no more..

not that i was trolling.. something about 80's babies calling wilt the best of something all time just disgusts me.. wilt and shaq both were physically dominating the league, gifted enough to do things no one else were doing at the time and some smart ass always wants to bring up wilt like its no discussion look at these giant numbers he put up in the 60s..

everyone agrees the game is way more advanced and talent level is way better scouted and developed in the modern league than in the damn 50's

Strawman alert!!!!!!!

The genesis of this discussion was "Was Shaq the greatest rookie ever?". That invites comparison from nikkas from all decades. Don't try to make it seem like it was all about nikkas saying Shaq couldnt' fukk with Wilt when it was really the other way around.

Nobody else at the time was putting up numbers anywhere near Wilt especially as a rookie. Multiple nikkas during Shaq's time were putting up numbers comparable to Shaq even as rookies including a nikka in his draft class.

 

[FTBS]

in what years would he had won another ring?

03 for sure. If he's dedicated there is no way LA trades him. And barring injury I don't see anybody beating a team with those two until he gets .

 

[gluvnast]

this performance ALONE points to him as the greatest. at LEAST over shaq