While Kevin Durant may be a massive coward on Twitter most of the time, he actually brought up a great question; Which centers from the 90s would be in the MVP conversation if they played in today’s NBA? There’s no doubt that the NBA has evolved; more three pointers, less bruising centers, and a lot more foul calls, but could some of the most dominant centers from the 90’s compete for an MVP or let alone thrive in today’s day and age?
When I read this question, four players immediately came to mind; Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Patrick Ewing. Here’s my argument for those four players winning MVP in today’s NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, a.k.a Shaq Diesel, a.k.a Wilt Chamberneezy is arguably the most dominant player in NBA history. Over his 20 year career, Shaq won 4 NBA Championships, 3 Finals MVPs, 1 MVP, and was named to 15 All Star games; he’s one of the most decorated players to ever walk the planet. While he did bully opposing centers his whole career, the 90’s were a dominant era for him. From 1992 to 1999, the Big Aristotle averaged 27.4 ppg, 12.2 rpg, and 2.6 bpg.
When you compare Shaq’s averages from the 90’s to the back to back MVP seasons that Nikola Jokic just had, they have similar numbers. Between 2020 and 2022, Jokic averaged 26.8 ppg, 12.3 rpg, and 0.8 bpg. We also have to take into consideration how forceful Shaq was against great centers like Hakeem, Mourning, and Smits. I mean he was tea-bagging centers on a Tuesday night like it was no one’s business.
If you ask me if Shaquille O’Neal would win MVP in today’s game, I’d say 110%. No doubt about it Shaq would win an MVP over Jokic or Embiid.
David Robinson
While Shaq would bully you, The Admiral would hit you with a mix of finesse and power. The 7’1 Navy alum took home the MVP trophy in 1995 to go with 10 All Star game appearances and 10 All NBA Defensive Teams; he truly was an anomaly. In the ten year span from 1990 to 1999, Robinson averaged 23.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg, and 3.1 bpg.
Robinson was one of the few players in the 90’s to give Shaq and Hakeem problems on both offense and defense. I think that his game would translate very well to today’s MVP; he is light on his feet and could guard smaller centers like Vucevic while also bearing down on big centers like Ayton. The Admiral would no doubt be an MVP in today’s NBA. NO DOUBT.
Hakeem Olajuwon
There is a legit argument to be made that if you put Hakeem in today’s NBA, he wouldn’t just win an MVP, he’d be the hands down best player year after year. Hakeem the Dream was a finesse God on offense and was every bit as menacing on defense as Shaq. His most dominant years came between 1990 and 1999 when he averaged 23.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.4 bpg, and 1.8 spg. His game was damn near flawless and there weren’t many guys that could check him.
Hakeem’s signature move, the dream shake, was virtually unstoppable in the 90’s and in today’s NBA would be a force for Karl Anthony Towns or Al Horford to guard. I don’t think Hakeem would be only an MVP in today’s NBA; he’d be both an MVP and a DPOY. I mean, he did win an MVP and two DPOYs in the 90’s
Patrick Ewing
Shaq, Robinson, and Hakeem feel like locks to win an MVP in todays NBA, but Ewing is where the gray line begins. Was he a super dominant player in the 90’s, absolutely; but he never won an MVP in the 90’s and over his career was only named to one All NBA First Team. He averaged 23.5 ppg and 10.9 rpg in the 90’s which is similar numbers to those of Robinsons and Olajuwon’s.
While I mentioned that he never won an MVP and only made one All-NBA First Team in the 90’s, I don’t think that should be a penalty against him. I say that because look at who the other three centers are that he had to compete against. If you put Ewing in today’s NBA without Shaq and Hakeem running around, I think there’s a solid chance he’d win an MVP. A solid shot, but not 100%.
The Other Guys
Vlade Divac
While the four bruisers I just went over would have legit shots at winning MVP in todays NBA, what about the other dominant centers that were somewhat overshadowed? Vlade Divac played in the NBA from 1989 to 2005, but between 1990 and 1999, Divac averaged 12.4 ppg and 8.7 rpg. While those numbers don’t scream MVP, Divac would be a fringe All Star (like he was when he played) in today’s NBA.
Rik Smits
The Dunking Dutchman, what a nickname. For that nickname alone, I’d say Smits could win an MVP in today’s NBA, but his numbers wouldn’t support that. In the 90’s for the Pacers, Smits averaged 13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 0.8 bpg. While I personally think Smits was a better player than Divac and had an insane pump fake, I don’t even think he’d be an All Star in today’s MVP.
Dikembe Mutumbo
When I think of what Mutumbo would be in today’s NBA, I don’t think of him as an MVP, but more as a DPOY; a recurring DPOY like Rudy Gobert or Dwight Howard. From 1991 to 1999, Mutumbo averaged 12.8 ppg, 12 rpg, and 3.6 bpg. Mutumbo was a menace in the middle that was named to 10 All-NBA Defensive Teams over his career. An MVP he is not, but a recurring DPOY in today’s game — 100%.
