Shaq no longer in Dwayne Wade’s Fave 5

Shaquille O’Neal was traded to Phoenix Wednesday.   Unfortunately for Suns fans, they are getting a shadow of the man who won championships in LA and Miami.  You see, the fall from grace for a center generally happens all of a sudden.  Whereas most all-star caliber guards and forwards remain somewhat effective until they retire (Jordan, Miller, Malone, Stockton, Barkley), centers seem to become much more inefficient as they pile on miles.  So as Shaq puts on the purple and orange of Phoenix for most likely his final stop in a great career, he joins a list of great centers that traveled to final resting places as their skills diminished.

Wilt Chamberlain- San Diego Conquistadors

After sleeping with ever women in Los Angeles, Wilt traveled south to conquer San Diego.  In 1973 he was set to be the Player/ Coach for the San Diego Conquistadors of the ABA but was sued by the Lakers and was only allowed to coach.  Despite a 37-47 record in his only season as coach, Wilt was still able to pull more chicks then Ron Burgandy.

Artis Gilmore- Boston Celtic 87-88

A-Train, the Gentle Giant was an 11 time all-star and the face of the Chicago Bulls long before 23 was hoisting up shots.  So why did head to Boston to back up Robert Parish in 87-88?  My guess is he was chasing the NBA championship he never got.

Patrick Ewing- Seattle Supersonics/ Orlando Magic

Feeling that he still had a twenty or thirty more gallons of sweat to pour out in the NBA, Patrick Ewing decided to not retire as a Knick after back to back injury plagued seasons with New York.  Instead he was traded and we watched him lumber up and down the court with knees he’d been icing since the 80’s averaging 9-7 with Seattle and then 6-4 with Orlando in his final season.  When you’re coming off the bench with Don Reid, Monty Williams and Jud Buechler….it’s time to go.

Hakeem Olajuwon- Toronto Raptors

In 2001, The Dream Shake was only worth a couple of draft picks to the Rockets who shipped him off to Toronto.  His 7 points and 6 rebounds in Toronto were career lows and he retired the next year.

Robert Parrish – Chicago Bulls

(Eating Up Eric Montrose)

Once he left the Garden for Charlotte and then Chicago the Chief’s skills were sucked out of him.  However, at this point in his career he was 120 years old.  With sharp elbows and a desire to frown, Parish was still able to give Montrose a little “how’s your father” as seen in the YouTube link.

Bill Walton – Boston Celtics

Wave that towel Bill, wave that towel.

Dikembe Mutombo – Rockets

He doesn’t play big minutes anymore, he doesn’t block a lot of shots anymore, and he never was much of a scorer.  But damnit, as long as his elbows are sharp and he sounds like the Cookie Monster, the league is a better place with Dikembe in it.

Violent J

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