Shaq's Top 2 N.B.A. Centers EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There are only two types of centers in Shaquille O'Neal's world: those he respects and those he disdains. In the first category: centers who play in the paint, score with post moves and look as manly as possible while doing it. In the latter category: floppers, jump-shooters, Europeans and Dwight Howard. In his latest attempt to sort the worthy from the unworthy, O'Neal paid the Nets" Brook Lopez the largest possible compliment: He put him on the "respected" list. And, naturally, he did so at Howard's expense, by listing Lopez and the 76ers" Andrew Bynum as the N.B.A."s two best centers. O'Neal made the remarks during a round-table discussion among TNT analysts, posted on NBA.com. "What we have now are centers that are going to the European style, which is a lot of pick-and-roll," O'Neal said. Dwight Howard, who's a pick-and-roll player, some people say he's the best center in the league. But me being an old-school center, I'm going to go with" Lopez and Bynum, he said, "because they play with their back to the basket." O'Neal initially named Robin Lopez, Brook's identical twin, but later corrected himself. Howard, 26, is considered the N.B.A."s best center - a title no one but O'Neal disputes - and he has the awards to prove it: three defensive player of the year trophies, five appearances on the All-N.B.A. first team. He is a dominant defender and a capable (though not particularly versatile) scorer. The proof of the pecking order? The Los Angeles Lakers traded Bynum this summer in order to land Howard. The Nets worked furiously to land Howard themselves before re-signing Lopez. Bynum is widely considered the N.B.A."s second-best center, a better scorer than Howard but not as dominant defensively. Lopez might be the most skilled scorer at the position, but he is a below-average defender. He also played just five games last season because of injury. "Listen to what I'm saying," O'Neal said. I'm not talking about dunking - I'm talking about playing like a big man with the moves. My man, before he had the foot injury, was putting up nice, solid big-man numbers. He called Bynum and Lopez, who are both 24 years old, "the last true" centers in the league. The sermon probably had as much to do with O'Neal's scorn for Howard as it did with Lopez's talent. Still, the words were welcome, coming at a time when many fans had either forgotten about Lopez or dismissed him altogether. That's a huge compliment from one of the most dominant big men of all time, you know? Lopez said Thursday. He added: "I definitely think Dwight's a great center. There's Bynum. There's loads of great centers in the league right now. They're all great challenges for me. Lopez averaged 20.4 points per game in 2010-11, ranking behind only Howard (22.9) and Toronto's Andrea Bargnani (21.4) among centers. Lopez is one of the few centers who are just as effective around the basket as from a distance, mixing post moves with faceup jumpers. In his last full season, Lopez made 62.6 percent of his shots at the rim and 47 percent from between 3 and 9 feet, according to HoopData.com. Lopez gets downgraded for his rebounding (5.9 per game in 2010-11) and defense. But he remains critical to the Nets" playoff hopes. "There are very few centers in the N.B.A. that can do what he can do on the floor, especially offensively," Coach Avery Johnson said. He can pass, he can score inside, he's got a good jump shot, finishes inside, runs the break. Johnson wants Lopez to be a more aggressive rebounder - based on attempts, not total rebounds - and a more imposing defensive presence. Lopez should also benefit this season from the Nets" All-Star backcourt, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Williams and Lopez have played just 17 games together since Williams arrived. "He's been on bad teams, and he was hurt all of last year," Williams said. When those things happen, people forget about you, people write you off, people start labeling you as a certain type of player. It may take another season of 20-point games and a playoff appearance for Lopez to secure his place among the game's top centers. But he has already made one very exclusive list. Disagree with Shaq at your own peril.