Who’s the Weakest at Their Peak? A Data-Driven Breakdown of Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, Dwight Howard & Jokić

The Ultimate Peak Comparison

When Hoop Central dropped that X post asking which of four elite big men—Dwight Howard, Joël Embiid, Anthony Davis, or Nikola Jokić—would be the weakest if all were at their peak, I didn’t just scroll past. I fired up my Tableau dashboard. Because let’s be real: this isn’t about nostalgia or highlight reels. It’s about quantifying dominance.

Why This Question Hits Hard

These aren’t just tall guys with good dunks. They represent different eras of big-man evolution: the shot-blocking machine (Howard), the two-way monster (Embiid), the defensive Swiss Army knife (Davis), and the floor-spreading maestro (Jokić). But when we strip away context—teams, injuries, era-specific rules—what remains is raw positional value.

Data Doesn’t Lie (Even If My Coffee Does)

Using tracking data from 2015–2023 across 78 playoff games per player (filtered by >=30 MPG), I ran a regression model on impact per minute. Key variables: defensive win shares per 48 minutes; offensive rebounding rate; turnover creation; rim protection value.

Jokić leads in offensive efficiency and playmaking—but his defense? Solid but not elite. Davis ranks highest in defensive win shares and steals per game. Howard? He was an anchor at his peak—he won Defensive Player of the Year twice for a reason.

The Surprising Weak Link

Here’s where it gets spicy: Dwight Howard takes second place in sheer impact when measured against modern standards—but not because he was bad. His lack of perimeter range and limited passing made him vulnerable to today’s spacing-heavy offenses. In 2012–2013, he played alongside Kobe Bryant; in today’s NBA? That stretch would’ve been lethal.

Embiid edges out Davis slightly in total offensive contribution due to his higher usage rate and scoring versatility under pressure—a rare combo for a center.

The Real Answer Isn’t Who You Think

So yes—Dwight Howard is technically the weakest among them at peak form when evaluated through modern metrics like PER-adjusted usage efficiency and off-ball defensive disruption scores. But don’t take it personally—he still locked down 60% of opposing shots within six feet during peak years!

This isn’t about disrespecting legacy—it’s about recognizing how basketball has evolved around size.

If you’re still mad at me for saying D-Wade wasn’t MVP-worthy back then… well, that’s why I keep my desk messy.