Ranking the Greatest Centers in Minnesota & NBA History

On the fifth and final installment of the "Greatness at the Position" series, host Steve Hartman breaks down the position that has defined generations of basketball: the center. Steve is joined by Andrew Wiener, Director at West Central United AAU, for a deep dive into the evolution of the big man, from old-school rim protectors and footwork masters to modern-day perimeter threats and high-level facilitators. They explore what truly defines elite play at the center position, how positionless basketball is changing roster construction, and how certain traits and characteristics of the position are timeless. Plus, Steve and Andrew debate their ultimate top five rankings of all-time Minnesota high school and the top five NBA centers of all time. They finish the conversation by analyzing current Minnesota Timberwolves big men, rim protection, and player trajectory heading into the upcoming season. Key Topics Covered: AAU & Player Development: Recapping West Central United’s summer run, playing in Las Vegas, and evaluating high school prospects. The Evolution of the Center: Balancing physical size, instinctual shot-blocking, and screen setting with modern skills like outside shooting and passing. Minnesota’s Greatest Big Men: Debating the state’s rich history of legendary centers, from small-town stars to college and NBA standouts. All-Time NBA Centers Debate: Comparing dominant eras, style matchups, efficiency stats, and where current superstars fit in history. Timberwolves Center Outlook: The defensive impact of current frontcourt players and what to expect from Minnesota bigs this season. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the pod with your fellow basketball junkies! #centers #nba #hakeemolajuwon #shaq #kareem #davidrobinson #patrickewing #minnesotabasketball #minnesotagoldengophers #minnesotatimberwolves #mnhoops #splashcitybasketball Listen on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2tGpTAU...) , Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) , Amazon (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/33d...) or YouTube (   / @splashcitybasketballpodcast  ) . Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram (  / splashcitypodcast  ) , TikTok (  / splashcitybballpod  ) , Facebook (  / 61582133618619  ) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/splashcitypo...) .