Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Individual Records That Will Never Be Broken

By Matthew Hallett

SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1984: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets blocks the shot of Jeff Ruland #43 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Olajuwon played for the Rockets from 1984-2002. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1984: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets blocks the shot of Jeff Ruland #43 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Olajuwon played for the Rockets from 1984-2002. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Hakeem Olajuwon — 3,830 Blocks

Olajuwon is the best center that I have seen play, ever. I was not around to see Bill Russell and Chamberlain, but what I saw from Olajuwon was nothing short of amazing.  Tenth all-time in points, 13th all-time in rebounds and eighth all-time in steals are pretty special rankings.

However, Olajuwon was the best shot blocker in NBA history, finishing 541 blocks ahead of Dikembe Mutumbo.

Hassan Whiteside (2.9 blocks per game) is almost at Olajuwon’s level (3.1), but he will not play any where near as many games as Olajuwon. Serge Ibaka (2.5) and Anthony Davis (2.4) are almost a block a game behind Olajuwon and have no chance of catching him.

The only active player in the top 10 for blocks is Tim Duncan, who is fifth with 3,021 blocks–still 809 behind Olajuwon. Duncan only had 79 blocks this season. At that pace Duncan has to stay in the league another 10  years and I can’t see that happening.

I will watch the efforts of Latvian rookie Kristaps Porzingis with interest as he has shown great potential with two games of seven blocks and two games of six blocks last year, but I still cannot see anyone passing Olajuwon.

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