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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Shaquille O'Neal
Which player? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers · 1947– 53% · #3 in the world
- Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers · 1972– 47% · #4 in the world
What the votes say
Too close to call: the world picks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar over Shaquille O'Neal by just 53% to 47%. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is #3 of the 250 NBA players in the world ranking and Shaquille O'Neal #4; among the 14 of the Los Angeles Lakers, they are #1 and #2.
The case for each
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Six titles and a record six MVPs, with Milwaukee and the Lakers, and the skyhook, the shot nobody could block. The NBA's all-time leading scorer for almost 39 years, until LeBron James passed the record in 2023.
Shaquille O'Neal: The most physically dominant center of the 1990s and 2000s: four titles, three straight as Finals MVP with the Lakers from 2000 to 2002, the 2000 MVP and the fourth with Miami in 2006.
Side by side
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Shaquille O'Neal | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #3 | #4 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Born | 1947 | 1972 |