houston rockets vs. suns 1995 kiss of death

houston rocketsvs suns game 7 kiss of death

[@garyschneider8700]

In case someone doesn't know why Mario showed out after the shot. In the 94 playoffs the Rockets knocked the Suns out in route to their first NBA Title. Fast forward one year and the Rockets and Suns were tied at 3 games a piece. Game 7 was in Phoenix. Leading up to this game Charles Barkley was running his mouth and said there was no way the Rockets could beat the Suns in a game 7 in Phoenix. He guaranteed to anyone who would listen the Suns would win, they didn't. The Rockets felt disrespected and this one shot by Mario the Rockets made the statement that you will respect us. They went on to destroy San Antonio and Orlando to win back to back championships.

[@kevbeenballin9]

Thanks for commenting this, I didn't know about this and I do.

[@kevbeenballin9]

and I do now*

[@speterbilt]

Gary Schneider yeah and then the next year they got rid of 5 players to get big mouth Barkley. i quit watching basketball for a many a year after that. this pissed me off so bad. i have started watching again now.

[@OldSchoolCurt]

speterbilt dumbest trade ever! Got rid of champions for a slow fat Barkley!

[@fpsfreak4079]

Gary Schneider damn imagine if barkely didnt talk smack.suns would have won a title.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

KJ scores 46 points, goes 21-22 from the FT line...only miss leads to dagger 3. Cold world, no Snuggie.

[@Livent8]

Watching this game live was one of the most memorable experience for me as a rockets fan , i was so excited I pulled a muscle.

[@cmurphy0707]

From the Clutch City documentary Kenny Smith: I saw the double team coming I know that they wanted me to try to make a crosscourt pass I said "Make a short pass, get it to Robert." Robert Horry: Mario was wide open in the corner, and I passed the ball and the ball started sailing and I'm like "Oh crap!" After Mario made the shot. Mario Elie: As soon as I hit the shot, I just looked at the Suns bench stared them down *blows kiss* and just blew 'em the Kiss of Death. Kenny Smith: Goodnight sweetheart, go home. Kiss of Death. You guys really need to see the rest of that documentary because it is amazing.

[@treyneal8837]

I have that documentary on vhs It was a red vhs taps called Clutch City!

[@dominicene3647]

I'm so happy and blessed to witness that moment. Nba basketball was really entertaining back then.

[@realaustinh19]

The Suns blew a 3-1 lead

[@wuliwei6939]

They blew a 2:0 lead a year ago

[@realaustinh19]

@Kahzu The Chomo sure did

[@tehsamjones]

I still love nba today but this really was the golden age.

[@waytoocozy]

Kim Martin the 70s and 80s was complete ass dude. Less competition and super fast paced league with trash defense. Sure, it was physical but the defense was really ass. 90-04 was the vest years ever. 05-15 is the second best ever. That's a fact.

[@waytoocozy]

Kim Martin I know my ball, I know the 90s and today is far, far more advanced.

[@Tripster60]

+Slightly Biased Kevin Durant Fan 00-2012 is the second best. 2013-2015 has sucked

[@thomasharlovic7470]

+Slightly Biased Kevin Durant Fan No way the modern day (meaning 05-15) is better than the 80's. You go on about no defense in the 80's, when you claim that the worst defensive period EVER is better. No one plays D anymore, the league's been pussified.

[@reving19]

"Was that the stake through the heart?" Yes, it was! I will never forget watching this as it happened. It is one of The Greatest Moments in Houston Sports History.

[@jessemartinez4407]

Greatest shot in rockets history

[@TravelinBand747]

I'll never forget this. We had the radio on and I was so nervous I couldn't watch the last few plays. I went and listened to Gene Peterson describing it. He and Jim Foley went ballistic when he made the shot. Probably one of the greatest, most nail-biting games I've ever seen. Later that summer when the Rockets won the championship, my fam and I were in Alamosa, Colorado on vacation and I remember watching from our room at a Holiday Inn.

[@88IRVIN88]

Thanks for uploading this. I remember watching this when I was 13 and getting sick to my stomach at the thought of Houston losing this game. I went out to the street and shot hoops for the 3rd quarter because I couldn't take it. This series and that playoff run was unreal!

[@slowmo338]

I remember watching this game. Unbelievable. I was so scared of KJ. He just scored at will. We had no answer for him. Good times. Thanks for the back to back hardware.

[@gc3k]

20 years later ariza does the same thing

[@JeriDro]

+gothatway09 hey which ariza shot are yall talkin about

[@of1for1]

not even close David, the kiss of death was epic. it was 2 years in the making and one of the most memorable playoff moments in history

[@rocketman6323]

PJ Tucker is the New Mario Elie.

[@walterlv01]

One of the ballsiest shots in all of basketball history. Shot clock off, catches the ball with 10 seconds left and releases. I don't care how wide open he was, guys miss wide open shots from the wing all the time. If he misses that, there are 4 Phoenix players to get the board, they call timeout and have a full 7 seconds with their high-powered offense to win the game and the series. And everyone talks about what an ill-advised shot it was to take. No guts, no glory.

[@nicklozano01]

you're dumb

[@guilhermebranco8572]

he wasnt that open, a defender was running to defend him I guess adrenaline helped him on that one, if he were even more open he could have missed

[@mrwong7574]

holynotch12 hater

[@huntand]

AMAZING that Kevin Johnson was 21-21 from the line in the game before he missed the last one!!

[@OldSchoolCurt]

huntand he was so cocky that Game and then choked in the end

[@markgaston4416]

He and Majerle disappeared down the stretch of big Suns playoff games time after time. Johnson was a very talented “get you there” and not an “over the top” type of player. Majerle hit a lot of ancillary threes throughout his career, too. And it’s a shame because he used to take it to the rack like Paul Westphal.

[@jlobiafra]

Oh great memories. I remember having to put my dog to sleep that morning. The rockets winning sure cheered me up. And to those who say the rockets only won because Jordan was playing baseball, who cares?? Their were thirty something other nba teams that could of won but didn't. Tell me Ewing Malone Stockton Barkley Miller plus many others would take a title while Jordan was out.

[@andymiro1]

What was Danny Ainge doing. Leaving his man and double teaming in the backcourt and then not getting back to your man.

[@dg8011]

One of the best moments in my life !!!!

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Danny Ainge is the only lost Sun on defense. He looked so lost after his weak trap @3:51 there is Ainge chasing the ball around mid court when his assignment already is in the left corner lonesome and trigger happy

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

BALLS. Big ol', championship winning, balls. To take that shot with Hakeem in the pivot...that Rockets run was just insane.

[@Philgob]

Barkley did such a huge violation on that second free throw

[@SpaceTed]

I'm a HUGE Rockets fan, and I can't remember if it was this year or the year before, but there this one drive that KJ had where he dunked on Olajuwon and I was like, "HOLY SHIT!" One of the most impressive dunks I ever saw. God I miss those old days of the NBA.

[@josehinojosa9752]

That was game 4 of the 94 semifinals. Rockets won the game 107-96 to tie the series up 2-2 after dropping the first two at home.

[@roo7227]

Just to correct Greg Gumbel, the Rockets did in fact fall behind 3-1 in 95, but in 94, the Rockets won games 3 and 4 in Phoenix, tying the series at 2 games apiece..

[@MrSlik25]

2 Olympic Gold Medals, 1 NCAA National Championship, 69 points in The Boston Garden in a playoff game, 6x Finals MVP, 3x All Star Game MVP, Retired after a threepeat...unretired and threepeated again....Very high odds that he would have won 8 consecutive titles. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever live.

[@BratIvan88]

Mario Elie's Kiss of Death

[@jaxsonfugate9353]

Kim Martin Nice, but I'm putting Isiah's 25 pt quarter, Gar Heard's turnaround in the greatest game ever played (Boston/Phoenix Gm 5 1976 Finals), Havlicek's steal, and pretty much anything Robert Horry (GW vs Sac, GW vs Detroit, GW vs Portland) over Elie's Kiss of Death. And what about Miller busting Jordan's ass in 1998 or Jordan's GW over Craig Ehlo in 1989? Your list clearly was made quickly lol

[@mikemcclellan591]

that rockets team is my all time favorite...never say die

[@joekiddlouischama]

@markmissestexas In that six-game series, Olajuwon scored at least 39 points four times and over 40 points three times, averaging a staggering 35.3 points on an equally staggering .560 field goal percentage (93-166). Olajuwon also averaged 12.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists (by a center, no less), 4.2 blocked shots, and even 1.3 steals, and again, he was matched up against league MVP David Robinson. One could argue that that series at least equaled anything that Jordan ever accomplished.

[@warlordbison]

Your arguments are air tight, rational, and factually convincing Joe Kidd. Fantastically written and very well said. I already know what's going to happen here, and I still watch it like I was in 5th grade.

[@dabroly5195]

Mario Elies sister is my teacher.

[@MrSlik25]

Jordan is the greatest to ever live. Simple as that....Kareem had two of the top ten all time to lead him to rings...The Big O and Magic...Jordan was the man in all 6 rings.

[@realradiodevil]

Well put sir. It's never occurred to me how Elie got open.

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap This is why I listed the stats for his first 12 seasons.. I've always felt that was a good standard of assessing a player's career through their prime.. Jabbar stacks up extremely well, considering he only trails by 4 PPG, scoring, has clear advantages in rebounds and blocks, while Jordan has the edge in steals and assists.. But both did very well in the other's strength categories.. Jordan was an good rebounder for a 2 guard, and Jabbar was a very good passer, for a 5..

[@edmon91]

Sir Charles Barkley made me laugh, I remember he wants to retire too after Magic, Bird and Jordan successively retired from 1991-1993, thinking he's in the elite club of these greats, then Barkley wants a championship with Phoenix, but Olajuwon won it first, Barkley gave one last shot and 1995 was his best chance to win a title, and Houston defeated the Suns again here in 7 games, just like last year.

[@MrTommy0326]

Mario Ellie hit a big shot for H Town! Big memories for Houston.

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap Actually, Kareem was the Lakers leading scorer and rebounder in the Finals (25.7 PPG and 9 RPG), and he was 2nd in assists (5.2 APG).. At age 38!..

[@MrSlik25]

MJ = 5x MVP,10x Scoring champion, 6 Finals appearences, 6 rings, 2 Threepeats, Never went past game 6 in the finals,10 time All NBA First Team, 9 time All Defensive First Team, 30.1 ppg career avg., 33.4 ppg playoff avg., 14 time All Star, 6,672 rebounds, 5,633 assists, 2,514 steals, 893 blocks, 32,292 points, 3rd year in The NBA avg. 37.1 ppg, 4th year 35.0 ppg, Averaged over 30 ppg 8 different seasons...7 in a row, Three times led the league in scoring and steals in the same season

[@ShengYu1995]

pippen averaged 9 points in his first season....14 in his next...he wasnt nba ready when he first came in...it took a couple of years for him to develop into a star

[@maxeypad]

Ah man good times. Clutch City!

[@maxeypad]

Kim Martin You got that right!

[@maxeypad]

Kim Martin I agree, right now is definitely not the Golden Age of the NBA.

[@ShengYu1995]

lol...after you made this comment...i re-watched this video...very good point. for a guy that won multiple championships and have championship experience....he basically cost the suns to win in 1995...

[@kurti4432]

CLUTCH CITY 2.0!!

[@joangutierrez1777]

Kim Martin im late but dude why do i see you in every comment saying stuff like this & comparing ? First of all why are you comparing a Center to a pg/sg ?

[@kimmy1984]

I was in the nail salon when this game was on I was screaming so loud for the Rockets the owner banned me from the shop during the playoffs. LOL!!! She told me I made her blood pressure go up. I had to wait until after the Rockets won the championship to get my nails done. LOL!!!

[@MrVSaxAndCrew]

A huge defensive breakdown by Danny Ainge on that Mario Elie "kiss of death" 3 pointer. Ainge leaves his man (Elie) for a double team on half court, which effectively breaks own their defense. Then, when ball swings around to Elie for the 3, you see Ainge just jog back on defense while hoping the center (who was guarding Hakeem) came out to help. Thats why this was the very last game Ainge ever played in the NBA. Also, karma here, for what he did to Elie in gm 5 (search Ainge vs Elie)

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap Babe Ruth won 94 games as an American League pitcher.. He changed the way the game is played.. He is the greatest hitter of all time, without question, and his feats are, indeed, Ruthian.. There are many guys who have done what Jordan did, including Chamberlain, Jabbar, West, and Russell..

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap The 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers did indeed win the NBA Finals, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar turned 38 in April, 1985..

[@mt883]

lmao. elie was more open than Paxson was in '93. The suns were HORRIBLE in these situations.

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Buster Posey Ainge fucked this one up. Or simply poor communication from all Suns on d because you have to know where you are after double teams but Ainge gets stuck.

[@DJMAL013]

sadly, we never got a chance to see Hakeem and MJ with their best teams playing against each other even though they are literally from the same basketball generation. It's actually rather odd that they never had memorable clashes.

[@selerim]

Micheal Jordan is one of a kind, he led his chicago bulls into 6 championship finals a ratio of 6-6, not even Kobe Bryant nor Lebron James have done that they already lost in the NBA finals before, please don't compare these guys to Micheal Jordan

[@realradiodevil]

Such a good time to be a Houstonian.

[@ChandlerPol]

@samtheman7975 ... yes. Miami featured two of the league's five best players and maybe three of the top twenty, but the parts didn't fit as smoothly and consistently as in Dallas.

[@Elcocotero]

nice shot but man, you should leave more than 7 seconds on the clock with the game tied. Also strange defense by phoenix with the full court pressure, which predictably led to a 4-3 situation.

[@OldSchoolCurt]

Kevin Johnson was so cocky during the game and made 21 straight free throws then misses crucial free throw! His mother was being loud and cocky and then towards the end she all quiet! Clutch city baby!

[@alec9tap]

In 1998 i remember the Jazz beating the Bulls twice in the reg.season and being a lil scared going into that 98 finals series esp. bc Utah had homecourt... What happens you might ask? Jordan and the Bulls take a 3-1 series lead and eventually win it all in 6... So like i've said before regular season means little esp. between two inter-conference teams... Give the Bulls a seven game series in the finals and history shows We WIN!!!!!!!!! 6-0!!!!!!!

[@EWang-yn5sy]

I don't know why Charles always gets this. John Paxson, Mario Ellie, John Stockton...

[@HouTown1]

Oh yeah, I remember this series and this game well. This is the Rockets-Suns play-off series in which "the Mouth" Charles Barkley said, (after the Suns went up 3-1) "We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good". Well, the Rockets shuttered that business while enroute to their "back to back" NBA Championship. Where's your ring Chuck?

[@thebestmoviecritic8131]

I wish we pulled off something like that in the series vs the Blazers. We should have. Still, we are Clutch City!

[@mrskinszszs]

we did, but then were countered by the blazers at the buzzer. incredible.

[@mrskinszszs]

Kim Martin yes i know the nba isn't the same anymore. personally, i think the 90s were the golden age; the 80s were the silver age in my book. mj came into his own in the 90s, the bad boy pistons, the rockets winning back to back, reggie vs spike lee (vs. michael jordan), hakeem beating david robinson after he won the mvp award... so many classic moments.

[@wiley666]

Did any other Rockets fans want to just punch Walton this entire playoffs? Dude would not shut up about how great the other teams were.

[@n1cky23]

i can't believe people are mentioning bill walton in the same breath as hakeem olajuwon

[@pjmcray101]

The Kiss of Death would have gotten Elie a Tech in the NBA today. My have times changed

[@roo7227]

BTW, Hakeem Olajuwon is the only player in league history to be top 10 in both rebounds and steals, and he did it 10 straight seasons, but you don't see me overrating the guy, do you?..

[@RT2Dext]

The suns kick their ass in both 94 and 95 playoffs but were unable to finish them off , such a shame to suns history . this 2 rings should have be theirs

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 One of the greatest defenders, one of the greatest offensive players and the best scorer of all time plus the best pressure-clutch performer ever=GOAT MICHAEL JORDAN

[@DirtyFaceCapon3]

Suns should have won back to back in '94 & '95 They had the most talented team in the league both years. They already had 3 allstar players in Barkley,KJ,and Dan Majerle ...Went out and added AC Green,Danny Manning,and Wayman Tisdale to that core.All of those player were above average,Manning even allstar level.Elliot Perry was a great 6th man.Maybe the best in the league at that time.Wesley Person was a great young sharp shooter.Overall,they had more talent that Houston, but not enough heart

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 But it doesn't change the fact that Jordan is universally recognized as the best by everyone, the basketball hall of fame itself

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 Btw Jordan changed the game too... Bryant,McGrady,T-Mac,Wade etc. the shooting guard position became a staple of every teams' plans to dominate the league... Before Jordan the game was played inside-out and centers were prized possessions,Since Jordan not the case

[@pcorf]

Gave the Suns a kiss of death. Ended his career playing for the Suns in 2001.

[@BryanX64]

@ngv80 So was Hakeem he was a talented scorer. He was a 2x back to back finals MVP and Walton just once. Oh, and Hakeem had no other All stars on his team in '94 and still won 58 games. also 6x all nba first team, and 5x all defensive 1st team. Walton was those only one apiece.

[@tretrioeciii]

Even Walton doesn't think he is in the same league as Olajuwon.

[@therealmcnulty]

Hakeem is the greatest center in NBA history.

[@KidDunker312]

Considering the Lakers are 16 time NBA championships and the rockets are 2 timers, It doesn't bother me that much.

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 No it was not a weak era... it was arguably the best era alongside the 80's.... 80's,90's NBA is the golden era for the league... Both decades were littered with talent and very strong teams, which is why the nba has stumbled since 98,99 because as fans we have already seen the best the game had to offer... The 80's had the Celtics,Lakers,Pistons,Sixers etc. The 90's had the CHI,NY,HOU,IND,SEA,UTAH,POR,MIA,SA,CLE etc. 90's teams sometimes get overlooked because of CHICAGO

[@KWCline91]

Top 5 centers 1. Hakeem Olajuwon 2. Bill Russell 3. Wilt Chamberlain 4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5. Shaq

[@joekiddlouischama]

@markmissestexas Now, I'm not trying to diminish Jordan (if forced to choose a greatest player ever, I'd likely go with him) and I'm not a Rockets' fan. But to suggest that Olajuwon wasn't in the same "galaxy" as Jordan or to just count rings in a team sport is ridiculous. By that logic, Bill Russell was nearly twice the player that Michael Jordan happened to be.

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap Jordan did not change anything.. He simply dominated a weak era (like I've said, many times).. The game is still about creating easy buckets, by exploiting front line match ups, slashing to the hole, and efficient fast break offense, created by superior rebounding, and good outlet passes.. And, of course, taking care of the ball.. If you do those things, you're gonna create more possession opportunities, which almost always means winning the game..

[@prepballfan]

You are 100% correct!

[@roo7227]

He was a great defender, no doubt, but he hardly changed the game with his defense.. Jabbar could shut down the pain at critical times, turning the opposing team into jump shooters, and I know Jordan never fouled out the opponents entire front line, like Jabbar did, many times.. There's a reason he went to 10 finals series, in 20 seasons, cause what he brought to the game was brutal domination.. In the abstract, too..

[@roo7227]

Well, of course the Rockets made the right choice.. They got one of the best players in the history of the game, the best defender in the history of the game, and he went on to lead his franchise to 2 NBA titles.. There's no guarantee the Rockets win anything with Jordan.. The Rockets made an excellent choice, as did the Bulls.. It was the Trail Blazers who chose poorly..

[@rittmer96]

Who else watching this during game 7 2018??

[@christianregala9025]

Wow great memories but just noticed...is that a backcourt violation by Horry?

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 Yeah when he played alongside Magic,but in the 70's when the league was up for grabs for any star to take over,no one stepped up including Kareem... And the reason scoring was down in the late 90's was because defenses were tougher... the early 90's were just as high-flying as the 80's if you can't remember correctly...

[@alec9tap]

@alec9tap Which makes those Bulls teams even more spectacular

[@philagon]

@MrVSaxAndCrew Ainge also blew the assignment on Paxson's title winning shot with the bulls in 93. Now I really cant stand him now that you've pointed this out.

[@KingOfKingz819]

I wanted to see the end of the game lol

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 Especially considering Jordan had played five years less than Kareem and still surpassed many of the more telling stats of one's career like postseason records and season avg's.... Jordan is the true scoring champion...and every record kareem does have, Jordan's still on his heels

[@alec9tap]

Here I will start it: 1.Russell 2.Wilt 3.Kareem 4.Hakeem 5.Moses 6.Shaq 7.Ewing 8.Reed 9.Robinson My two faves are Ewing and Hakeem but they just played in the wrong era... They would've collected more rings had ______ not played in the 90's, And i left out Mikan bc i don't know enough about him except for being the nba's first star

[@KidDunker312]

Not while he was winning rings. He went up against the 86 Celtics and got crushed. Only in the 90s when all the great teams cleared out and he had Scottie Pippen did he start winning championships.

[@alec9tap]

And before you say they had better competition, the team with the most is a team from the East, The Knicks who played in 10 such series...90's=Great basketball and era,but Jordan just above and beyond any other player in History, and the Bulls the Greatest team in history right behind the 60's Celtics

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap Babe Ruth hit .342, lifetime, with a .474 OBP, had a career slugging % of .690.. He topped .700 slugging % in 9 times in his 22 seasons, and exceeded 350 total bases 9 times, as well.. He has 1356 extra base hits, 714 HRs, and let's not forget his OPS, which is 1.164, and is still the best in MLB history.. And Ruth had less than 700 total ABs in his first 5 seasons, because he was primarily a pitcher!.. He is the greatest hitter of all time, period..

[@MrSlik25]

Did i not mention 9 time "ALL DEFENSIVE 1ST TEAM" or "THREE TIMES LED LEAGUE IN SCORING AND STEALS IN THE SAME SEASON" Thats alot of defense for ya buddy. 893 blocks as a 2 guard is nice too.

[@JoelChavez6121]

The Rockets could not get past the Sonics because they ran so many illegal defense plays that gave them an edge. Granted, the Sonic had strong defense regardless. They were also a matchup nightmare as they had Perkins playing Dream, which made it hard for him to cover the paint as effectively. Sonics also had 3 All-Stars vs. just Olajuwon and there's only so much a guy can do when the defense is allowed to cheat just to stop him.

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 And the reason he did not allow others on his team to be mvp is because he had to be their mvp, had to be their leader unlike Jabbar or magic who could lean on other greats on their team to bail them out when they didn't bring their A-game

[@theodc8702]

That was a safety shot, they were tied. I mean it wasn't like they were running after the score. But, with all that said, what a shot. And what a poor defense, choke time sir Charles

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 So, point is they both changed the way the game is played

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 90's NBA West:Spurs,Rockets,Sonics,Jazz,Suns,early-90s Blazers,Lakers 90's NBA East:Bulls,Knicks,late-90s Heat,Pacers,Hawks,early-90's Cavs,Charlotte,Orlando Magic.... Alot of Great teams,alot of good teams,great rivalries,the best combination of players.... The 90's were the Golden Age of Professional Basketball and Michael Jordan dominated

[@happyrash]

I think the double was the planned in the timeout. at that point you dont make a half-court trap without the team knowing it. and it almost worked, one second more and the rockets would have turned over because of the 9-seconds in the backcourt. had barkley pressured harder he might have forced this or a turnover. but yes afterwards ainge watched the ball and not the play.

[@FuShengAlex]

Jordan looked like one every time Hakeem batted his ass around. lol.

[@kimmy1984]

Gumble was wrong in his commentary the Suns were up 2-0 in 94 not 3-1. Either way they got beat once again by The Rockets and this win was sweeter.

[@roo7227]

@alec9tap Now you're in the right ballpark.. Yes, I agree, he's an incredible clutch player.. Certainly one of the best, if not the best..

[@alec9tap]

@roo7227 Yes you did, dried was in the wrong tense...

[@alec9tap]

@alec9tap And i forgot to mention he's also the greatest clutch performer ever...

[@ChandlerPol]

@TheKapei22 I'm not sure that any one center in NBA history constituted the greatest, but the argument for Olajuwon is about as strong as that for anyone else. Russell won the most championships and was probably the best defender, but he lacked the offensive game of the others. Frankly, Olajuwon might have been the best two-way center ever because I think that he committed to defense more consistently than Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, and especially O'Neal over the course of their careers.