Rick Barry's quote on Wilt Chamberlain

[Deuce Bigalow]

"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games. He knows he is going to lose and be blamed for the loss, so he dreads it, and you can see it in his eyes; and anyone who has ever played with him will agree with me, regardless of whether they would admit it publicly. When it comes down to the closing minutes of a tough game, an important game, he doesn't want the ball, he doesn't want any part of the pressure. It is at these times that greatness is determined and Wilt doesn't have it. There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors."

- Rick Barry

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA77&lpg=PA78&ots=ZfYflu-GJq&focus=viewport&dq=%22When+it+comes+down+to+the+closing+minutes+of +a+tough+game,+an+important+game,+he+doesn%27t+wan t+the+ball,+he+doesn%27t+want+any+part+of+the+pres sure.%22&output=html_text

[dunksby]

Inb4 Jlauber

YESSSS!!!!

[LAZERUSS]

"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games. He knows he is going to lose and be blamed for the loss, so he dreads it, and you can see it in his eyes; and anyone who has ever played with him will agree with me, regardless of whether they would admit it publicly. When it comes down to the closing minutes of a tough game, an important game, he doesn't want the ball, he doesn't want any part of the pressure. It is at these times that greatness is determined and Wilt doesn't have it. There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors."

- Rick Barry

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA77&lpg=PA78&ots=ZfYflu-GJq&focus=viewport&dq=%22When+it+comes+down+to+the+closing+minutes+of +a+tough+game,+an+important+game,+he+doesn%27t+wan t+the+ball,+he+doesn%27t+want+any+part+of+the+pres sure.%22&output=html_text

Hmmm...interesting...here was Barry's take just a few months ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo


If you could have ONE player to start a team with , who would you take?

"Without question...Wilt Chamberlain."

[Deuce Bigalow]

Hmmm...interesting...here was Barry's take just a few months ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo


If you could have ONE player to start a team with , who would you take?

"Without question...Wilt Chamberlain."
I'll take his honest opinion at the time Wilt was actually playing. Notice how he said "I'll say what most players feel". This is how most people thought of Wilt when he was actually playing at the time.

[sd3035]

"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games. He knows he is going to lose and be blamed for the loss, so he dreads it, and you can see it in his eyes; and anyone who has ever played with him will agree with me, regardless of whether they would admit it publicly. When it comes down to the closing minutes of a tough game, an important game, he doesn't want the ball, he doesn't want any part of the pressure. It is at these times that greatness is determined and Wilt doesn't have it. There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors."

- Rick Barry

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA77&lpg=PA78&ots=ZfYflu-GJq&focus=viewport&dq=%22When+it+comes+down+to+the+closing+minutes+of +a+tough+game,+an+important+game,+he+doesn%27t+wan t+the+ball,+he+doesn%27t+want+any+part+of+the+pres sure.%22&output=html_text

I think everyone already knows this but it's fun sometimes to keep the Wilt myth alive

[LAZERUSS]

I'll take his honest opinion at the time Wilt was actually playing. Notice how he said "I'll say what most players feel". This is how most people thought of Wilt when he was actually playing at the time.


First of all, we don't even know WHEN he made that claim. Obviously it was BEFORE Chamberlain just CRUSHED his Warriors in the '67 Finals, en route to a world championship.

Furthermore, we also don't have the CONTEXT, either.

BUT, in his video conversation above...we DO.

And CLEARLY he thinks Wilt was the greatest basketball player of all-time.

Nice try though Deuce.

Made a fool out of yourself again...

and I'm sure it won't be the last time, either.

[Pointguard]

Hmmm...interesting...here was Barry's take just a few months ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo


If you could have ONE player to start a team with , who would you take?

"Without question...Wilt Chamberlain."
:lol

When OP doesn't do his homework... . This has to be the quickest OP reversal going.

[Deuce Bigalow]

"There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors"

http://media.giphy.com/media/fDzM81OYrNjJC/200.gif

[LAZERUSS]

:lol

When OP doesn't do his homework... . This has to be the quickest OP reversal going.

Not only that but Barry PRAISES Chamberlain for a FULL FOUR MINUTES in that video.

Incidently, that "quote" that Deuce used, came from, guess who...none other than Bill Simmons' book. Which of course means it was probably a flat out lie, and taken completely out of context. And once again, we have no idea WHEN he said it, either.

[CavaliersFTW]

Hmmm...interesting...here was Barry's take just a few months ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo


If you could have ONE player to start a team with , who would you take?

"Without question...Wilt Chamberlain."
/thread

http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/images/ether.jpg

[LAZERUSS]

"There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors"

http://media.giphy.com/media/fDzM81OYrNjJC/200.gif


Once again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo

Wow! A complete change.

[Deuce Bigalow]

:lol

When OP doesn't do his homework... . This has to be the quickest OP reversal going.
I already knew he said this....in 2013. We all read what his honest opinion was during a relevant time.

[sd3035]

Wilt is a poor man's Tyson Chandler in today's game

[LAZERUSS]

And before Deuce brings up other quotes...

how about this one from his own boy, Jerry West, and in 1999...

http://www.nba.com/history/wilt_appreciation.html



"He was the most unbelievable center to ever play the game in terms of domination and intimidation. There's no one that's ever played the game better than Wilt Chamberlain. This was a man for all ages."

[Jameerthefear]

Damn. I don't like Jlauber but Deuce is taking L's here. Needs to turn this around quick.

[Deuce Bigalow]

And before Deuce brings up other quotes...

how about this one from his own boy, Jerry West, and in 1999...

http://www.nba.com/history/wilt_appreciation.html
Dude, the guy died, they aint gonna say any bad shit about him anymore.

Anyways what West actually thought at the time.

"I don't want to rap Wilt because I believe only Russell was better, and I really respect what Wilt did. But I have to say he wouldn't adjust to you, you had to adjust to him."

[Deuce Bigalow]

"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games."

http://media.giphy.com/media/fDzM81OYrNjJC/200.gif

[LAZERUSS]

"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games."

http://media.giphy.com/media/fDzM81OYrNjJC/200.gif


BTW, Deuce, you still haven't provided any of us WHEN Barry supposedly made this claim (which, again, came from SIMMONS' book...)

[fpliii]

BTW, Deuce, you still haven't provided any of us WHEN Barry supposedly made this claim (which, again, came from SIMMONS' book...)
From this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Basketball-Gypsy-Barry-Story/dp/0131674455

which was published in Jan, 1972.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Wilt Chamberlain is the GOAT of basketball till lebron takes his place. deal with it

[Deuce Bigalow]

From this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Basketball-Gypsy-Barry-Story/dp/0131674455

which was published in Jan, 1972.
http://media.giphy.com/media/fDzM81OYrNjJC/200.gif

[Deuce Bigalow]

"He turns his own team into a congress of butlers whose principle function is to get the ball into him under a basket. Their skills atrophy, their desires wane. Crack players like Willie Naulls get on the Warriors and they start dropping notes out of the window or in bottles they cast adrift. They contain one word, 'help'".

- "Legendary" L.A. Times columnist Jim Murray

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=wilt+would+turn+teammates+to+butlers&source=bl&ots=ZfYflvZCJo&sig=Ok3I8dnM40Skwkp55LpVFHGiGoI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FrZBU_yFA-GSyQGEl4CACw&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA

So much ether in Simmon's book :applause:

[Marlo_Stanfield]

"He turns his own team into a congress of butlers whose principle function is to get the ball into him under a basket. Their skills atrophy, their desires wane. Crack players like Willie Naulls get on the Warriors and they start dropping notes out of the window or in bottles they cast adrift. They contain one word, 'help'".

- "Legendary" L.A. Times columnist Jim Murray

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=wilt+would+turn+teammates+to+butlers&source=bl&ots=ZfYflvZCJo&sig=Ok3I8dnM40Skwkp55LpVFHGiGoI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FrZBU_yFA-GSyQGEl4CACw&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA

So much ether in Simmon's book :applause:
you are really REALLY pathetic.
its almost as if your mom was one of Wilts thousands of lovemaids:coleman:

[CavaliersFTW]

"He turns his own team into a congress of butlers whose principle function is to get the ball into him under a basket. Their skills atrophy, their desires wane. Crack players like Willie Naulls get on the Warriors and they start dropping notes out of the window or in bottles they cast adrift. They contain one word, 'help'".

- "Legendary" L.A. Times columnist Jim Murray

http://books.google.com/books?id=2zRCU-RakZ0C&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=wilt+would+turn+teammates+to+butlers&source=bl&ots=ZfYflvZCJo&sig=Ok3I8dnM40Skwkp55LpVFHGiGoI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FrZBU_yFA-GSyQGEl4CACw&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA

So much ether in Simmon's book :applause:
So a journalist cherry picked a quote from another journalist? When journalists have nothing to write they fabricate controversies. Skip Bayless has called Kobe Bryant "The Fat Mamba" in recent years, he's one of ESPN's biggest name NBA Journalists... do you agree with him too? :facepalm :lol

[ImKobe]

From this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Basketball-Gypsy-Barry-Story/dp/0131674455

which was published in Jan, 1972.

Ether.

Any quote post-Wilt's death is useless.

I respect Wilt for helping the Lakers win one of our 16 championships, but he gets overrated a lot for putting up empty stats on teams that never won anything. For all the points he scored & all the rebounds he grabbed, he only managed to win 2 titles in his career, one of which, was because he went up against a Knicks squad, who missed their best player (Willis Reed). Knicks destroyed the Lakers a year later with Reed back.

Winning > stats

[CavaliersFTW]

Ether.

Any quote post-Wilt's death is useless.

I respect Wilt for helping the Lakers win one of our 16 championships, but he gets overrated a lot for putting up empty stats on teams that never won anything. For all the points he scored & all the rebounds he grabbed, he only managed to win 2 titles in his career, one of which, was because he went up against a Knicks squad, who missed their best player (Willis Reed). Knicks destroyed the Lakers a year later with Reed back.

Winning > stats
Guess the year Barry was filmed saying this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo

:cletus:

[SpecialQue]

Guess the year Barry was filmed saying this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo

:cletus:

Clearly that was last week.

[ImKobe]

Guess the year Barry was filmed saying this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo

:cletus:

Sounds like when he initially called Wilt a loser he meant it more during that time & afterwards he tried making up for it by saying he's the most talented/skilled Center, which obviously is not true because he couldn't even shoot a damn free throw when it mattered the most.

Tell me, what did Wilt do better than Kareem, Shaq, Duncan or Hakeem?

[CavaliersFTW]

Sounds like when he initially called Wilt a loser meant it more during that time & afterwards he tried making up for it by saying he's the most talented/skilled Center, which obviously is not true because he couldn't even shoot a damn free throw when it mattered the most.

Tell me, what did Wilt do better than Kareem, Shaq, Duncan or Hakeem?
Score, Rebound, Pass, Block shots. Nothing much just the basics.

[SpecialQue]

Sounds like when he initially called Wilt a loser he meant it more during that time & afterwards he tried making up for it by saying he's the most talented/skilled Center, which obviously is not true because he couldn't even shoot a damn free throw when it mattered the most.

Tell me, what did Wilt do better than Kareem, Shaq, Duncan or Hakeem?

You're going to talk shit about Wilt's freethrows while praising Shaq? :biggums:

[Deuce Bigalow]

Score, Rebound, Pass, Block shots. Nothing much just the basics.
Russell, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem, and Mikan are clearly better postseason performers. Don't make me bring in more ether to this thread brah.

[CavaliersFTW]

Russell, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem, and Mikan are clearly better postseason performers. Don't make me bring in more ether to this thread brah.
Enough ether was given to you to in this thread to kill 10 men, when you tried to cherry pick a quote that Rick Barry later took back, I think you should disappear for a week or two and think about life before you walk yourself into another trap brought about by ignorance. What you are doing is preventable.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Enough ether was given to you to in this thread to kill 10 men, when you tried to cherry pick a quote that Rick Barry later took back, I think you should disappear for a week or two and think about life before you walk yourself into another trap brought about by ignorance. What you are doing is preventable.
Dude, you going to ignore what Rick and most people thought about Wilt back then when he was still relevant is one thing, but to act like you ignoring the facts is ethering me is a little crazy.

[bdreason]

You can be a dominant player and still not be great in the clutch. LeBron is a dominant player, but has also shrank in key moments.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Ether.

Any quote post-Wilt's death is useless.

I respect Wilt for helping the Lakers win one of our 16 championships, but he gets overrated a lot for putting up empty stats on teams that never won anything. For all the points he scored & all the rebounds he grabbed, he only managed to win 2 titles in his career, one of which, was because he went up against a Knicks squad, who missed their best player (Willis Reed). Knicks destroyed the Lakers a year later with Reed back.

Winning > stats
Let us proceed.

[CavaliersFTW]

Let us proceed.

Guess the year Barry was filmed saying this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTt_TxoFVo

:cletus:
Yes let us.

[CavaliersFTW]

OP:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hLfnzV9Oe1Q/UcqHb9DhuMI/AAAAAAAAEbg/1sbA-CDLqsI/s400/Stooges%2520gif.gif

[Deuce Bigalow]

Yes let us.
"I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser...He is terrible in big games. He knows he is going to lose and be blamed for the loss, so he dreads it, and you can see it in his eyes; and anyone who has ever played with him will agree with me, regardless of whether they would admit it publicly. When it comes down to the closing minutes of a tough game, an important game, he doesn't want the ball, he doesn't want any part of the pressure. It is at these times that greatness is determined and Wilt doesn't have it. There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West...these are clutch competitors."

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8z2jl0fNA1qgp2ya.jpg

[SHABBA]

It's crazy people actually think Wilt is relevant.

[Rasheed1]

Enough ether was given to you to in this thread to kill 10 men, when you tried to cherry pick a quote that Rick Barry later took back, I think you should disappear for a week or two and think about life before you walk yourself into another trap brought about by ignorance. What you are doing is preventable.

Damn :lol

[tpols]

Is there any crunchtime data on wilt?

[Deuce Bigalow]

Is there any crunchtime data on wilt?
We have this:

"No one has any clutch stories on Chamberlain. If they existed, I'd pass them along."

- Bill Simmons

[CavaliersFTW]

We have this:

"No one has any clutch stories on Chamberlain. If they existed, I'd pass them along."

- Bill Simmons
listen carefully

http://youtu.be/2eNdapKU494?t=33m35s

RIP Deuce :(

[SexSymbol]

It's funny how these wilt stans keep taking L's and still have no shame and show up to these threads over and over again.
It's just that nobody gives a shit about you, and especially not a person who has been dead for what now? 20 years?
We all know the games has advanced in every way and athletes are way better physically and skill-wise.
Stop making fools out of yourselves, I'm just saying it for your own good, in no way am I trying to insult you.

[Deuce Bigalow]

listen carefully

http://youtu.be/2eNdapKU494?t=33m35s

RIP Deuce :(
Damn he made his freethrows :eek:

[La Frescobaldi]

Damn he made his freethrows :eek:
can you find anybody that says he missed em at the end of games really? Not if the win was on the line.
For example, in the 'Havlicek stole the ball' game, he scored the last 8 points including 2 clutch FTs.... Chamberlain 8, Celtics 0. Then Bill Russell choked.... then Hal Greer choked....
That said, Chamberlain was famous for dancing away to avoid fouls at the end of games, which got to be yet another rule change, have to foul the player with the ball at the end of games. The dude was as bad as Shaq at the charity stripe.

The interesting thing at the time though, was this. Rick Barry was in the ABA when he wrote that op quote. He regretted it bad when he thought he was going back to the NBA and would have to face the wrath. Everybody talked about that back in the day, how Rick Barry was talking garbage from a safe distance!!

Meanwhile Barry talks about it on another day:
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Rick-Barry-Bulls-Not-Best-Ever-2978203.php

[LAZERUSS]

Barry's initial quote was based solely on stupidity. Chamberlain had nuked his Warriors in Barry's LAST season in the NBA ('67.) He would then take FOUR more teams to the Finals, winning yet another one in '72, when Barry wrote his book. Barry came back in '73, and guess what? After his Warriors shocked Kareem's 60-22 and heavily-favored Bucks, in a series in which Kareem puked all over the floor...Chamberlain shelled Thurmond, completely shut down the entire Warrior offense, and led HIS 60-22 team to a 4-1 series blowout win. In game three, in OAKLAND, Chamberlain led LA to a 126-70 obliteration of Barry's Warriors.

Chamberlain was the game's greatest WINNER from '67 thru '72 BTW...in every facet of WINNING.

[LAZERUSS]

This...


"Nobody seems to appreciate what an incredible player Wilt was," Russell said at 1997 All-Star Game when the league named and honored its 50 greatest players. "He was the best player of all time because he dominated the floor like nobody else ever could. To be that big and that athletic was special."

Kareem on Wilt...


"Chamberlain played the game the same way Russell did, except he scored so much more. But his teams had to get more points from him. He'd score 45 points and his teams would still lose."[

More Kareem...


"Wilt had to fight people's dissatisfaction that his teams didn't win. There he was, this great dominating player, and his teams didn't win championships. Well, Wilt wasn't playing for the right team. As an individual, he was in a class by himself, but his teammates--they were OK, but not the supporting cast Russell had."[

And still more Kareem...


"You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh, by the way in 1967 and 68, Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in an open letter to Scottie Pippen after Scottie Pippen referred to Michael Jordan and Lebron James as the greatest scorer and greatest player, respectively



Larry Bird...

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188550


When the topic of all-time greatest player was once raised, none other than the legendary Larry Bird didn't hesitate.


"Open up the record book and it will be obvious who the greatest is," he said.

[jongib369]

I'll take his honest opinion at the time Wilt was actually playing. Notice how he said "I'll say what most players feel". This is how most people thought of Wilt when he was actually playing at the time.
So you're going to take opinions that were formed with ESPN like logic more seriously?

[jongib369]

This...



Kareem on Wilt...



More Kareem...



And still more Kareem...




Larry Bird...

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188550

:roll:

:applause:

[Psileas]

So you're going to take opinions that were formed with ESPN like logic more seriously?

And obviously, Bigalow and the rest of the "trollpany" had formed their opinions way back as well, when Wilt was playing, so these opinions have to "count". :lol

[pudman13]

I'm reading Barry's book now, and it's absolutely priceless. Talk about a candid guy who spares nobody's feelings! I'm not entirely sure what motivated the Wilt comments, but they sure sound like his honest feelings at the time. I'm not going to suggest that he was correct, just that it was clearly something he wrote from the heart, for whatever reason (and, yes, Barry does seem like a guy who would carry a grudge.)

A few other tidbits that I find fascinating:

He claims that Dick Van Arsdale was the best defensive forward when he was in the NBA. He also mentioned that while Van Arsdale was something of a bruiser, he didn't play as physical (or dirty) as Dave DeBusschere, Gus Johnson, Bill Bridges or Tom Hawkins.

His heaviest praises fall squarely on two players: Nate Thurmond and Jerry West.

My absolute favorite quote from the book, about Lew Alcindor: "Like Chamberlain, he seems to have mental problems, but he's capable."

The book includes small sections written by people close to Barry. The bit by his wife about what it was like when they were first dating is utterly hilarious, like every cliched 50s love story ever. Apparently if Rick hadn't fixed his teeth she never would have married him.

Oh, if only there was video footage of Barry and Thurmond's Warriors in 1966-1967. I'm sure that team was a wonder to behold. That team also had two of the most brutal players in NBA history, Al Attles and Tom Meschery (the latter of which could easily qualify for the all-ugly team thread that was going around earlier this week.)

[jayfan]

The interesting thing at the time though, was this. Rick Barry was in the ABA when he wrote that op quote. He regretted it bad when he thought he was going back to the NBA and would have to face the wrath. Everybody talked about that back in the day, how Rick Barry was talking garbage from a safe distance!!


This helps OP's position more than hurts it.

You feel free to speak your mind once you leave. You have to measure what you say once you come back.



.

[La Frescobaldi]

This helps OP's position more than hurts it.

You feel free to speak your mind once you leave. You have to measure what you say once you come back.



.
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Elucidate.

[pudman13]

Oh, and there's more! Barry says this, when discussing players who whine to the refs: "Did you ever see Wilt come away from a scramble shaking his hand? You'd think it was made of glass. He'll, he could squeeze a grapefruit into a cherry with one of those mitts of his, but let him get a tap on it and you'd think amputation was necessary. I think he cries, but his beard hides the tears." Wow.