(© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Jim McIlvaine played in the NBA during the 1990s when the association was still a big man’s league.

Although the Chicago Bulls were the dominant team during Jim’s time, there was an abundance of talented centers at that time.

Guys like Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Rik Smits, and Rony Seikaly were all there when the Washington Bullets drafted McIlvaine 32nd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft out of Marquette.

Although all the names mentioned challenged the shot-blocking specialist during his NBA career, McIlvaine said Olajuwon was the toughest to guard.

“I always felt Hakeem was the hardest guy because he was such an incredible defender, an excellent shot blocker, had great timing, a strong rebounder, and offensively, he probably had the most complete post-game of anybody in the league at that time.

They listed him at seven feet, but he was probably 6’9″-ish.” he said.

There was nothing Hakeem couldn’t do

According to McIlvaine, Olajuwon could turn either left or right with his back to the basket, making it very difficult to time him.

When he attacked the rack, Jim said that Hakeem could shoot comfortably with both left and right hands, so it was almost impossible to stop him.

If teams send the double team, “The Dream” is also an excellent post passer, so he would still make defenses play.

When opposing teams send a taller player like McIlvaine to guard him, he would pull that defender out from the shaded lane and up all the way to the three-point arc, where he would beat them off the dribble going to the basket.

This offensive versatility is what he says made Olajuwon stand out.

“Shaq was probably the most dominant, but he didn’t have the bag of tricks that Hakeem had. And the same would be true for any of those other players.

Patrick Ewing, more of a finesse post player and very hard to guard, but Hakeem was….there was nothing that that guy couldn’t do,” he added.

Horry agreed with McIlvaine’s comparison

McIlvaine differentiated Olajuwon and O’Neal the same way seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry compared the two all-time great centers.

Horry, who played with both Hakeem and Shaquille during his NBA career, said in 2021 that Olajuwon simply possessed more skill than Shaq.

“Hakeem was better. Shaq was more dominant, but Hakeem was better.

I think Dream had more talent. Shaq had handles, but Dream had a little bit better handles. Dream could shoot free throws, and we all know about Shaq’s free throws.

He had a fadeaway. Shaq was just brute strength, just dunk on you and get out of the way,” he said.

Most remember Olajuwon for the “Dream Shake” and his incredible footwork. But the Nigerian was more than those.

He was perhaps the most complete big man ever and the most skilled center to play the game.

The stamp of approval from one of the known shot-blockers during his era only validates those claims.