Was Russell the first ever Point Center in basketball history?

[Dr.J4ever]

In response to a mailbag question on whether Joakim Noah is the first ever point center in NBA history, Grantland's Bill Simmons answers this :

"(And really, Bill Russell was the first point center

[oarabbus]

5apg back in that era :bowdown:

[WillC]

5apg back in that era :bowdown:

Wilt Chamberlain averaged 8.6apg in 1967-68. He had the most assists in the league (despite being a center), most rebounds in the league, and third most points in the league.

The guy was unreal. His dominance in the 1967 playoffs was something to behold.

[TheReal Kendall]

Are we talking about bringing the ball up the court and running plays or just strictly getting assists?

[fpliii]

Are we talking about bringing the ball up the court and running plays or just strictly getting assists?
Russell did a bit of both, great ball-handling big.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Yea, going by that definition, most likely.

Who would ask that question though? Again, by that definition, there have been plenty before Noah.

[Psileas]

[QUOTE=Dr.J4ever]In response to a mailbag question on whether Joakim Noah is the first ever point center in NBA history, Grantland's Bill Simmons answers this :

"(And really, Bill Russell was the first point center

[LAZERUSS]

Not much to argue against this in general.
I guess, though, per Simmons, Russell's competition is out of his top-57. It was so, after all, when it came to Wilt and since Simmons ranks Wilt below Russell, Russell's competition must rank even below Wilt's...

Of course, the only time Simmons mentions Wilt and assists, he bashes Chamberlain for being "selfish" when Wilt set out to lead the league in assists in '68. BTW, he failed to mention that this "selfish" Wilt, while leading in the league in assists,...was also leading his TEAM to the BEST RECORD in the LEAGUE.

[Dr.J4ever]

Yea, going by that definition, most likely.

Who would ask that question though? Again, by that definition, there have been plenty before Noah.
I guess what Simmons meant was that Russell was the MAIN guy running and orchestrating the offense. There were other centers who passed well like Walton, Wilt, kareem, Sabonis, but maybe they weren't the main guy running the offense. They had real PG help, but in Russell's case, he seems to be saying(Simmons) Russell was it. He not only made the assist passes, but more importantly, the passes that led to assists which PGs have to do all the time.

[HurricaneKid]

Trusting Simmons to be objective when it comes to a conversation about a Laker vs a Celtic is pretty dumb.

He is an unabashed Celtic homer. Of COURSE he is going to sing the praises of them all.

[Dr.J4ever]

Trusting Simmons to be objective when it comes to a conversation about a Laker vs a Celtic is pretty dumb.

He is an unabashed Celtic homer. Of COURSE he is going to sing the praises of them all.
I disagree. Most of his opinions are pretty well thought out. Everyone who watches sports has some kind of a bias somewhere. The key is knowing how to justify your biases. If you can't, then you're just a homer.

[Lebron23]

Yes.

[Psileas]

Let's not forget Mo Stokes. He could play C and by just his 3rd season was the #3 rebounder and #3 passer in the NBA, averaging just 0.7 apg less than NBA leader, Bob Cousy. :wtf:
One of the very biggest what ifs ever.

[bizil]

When u think about it, I DON'T THINK there has ever really been a TRUE point center long term. A guy that brings up the rock calls the sets kind of consistently. Or even a center who it gets off the glass, pushes it down the court, and and creates for his teammates. At the PF spot, u had KG BRINGING up the rock and calling the sets sometimes. Or he would get it off the glass and create for his teammates in the open court. Giannis of course does this now. Draymond does some of that. Back in the day, Barkley would do some of those things. ALL of these guys ACTUALLY had point power forward type of elements. KG, Giannis, and Draymond played more in that capacity that Chuck. BUT Chuck HAD that type of skillset. And frankly was THE SUPERSTAR PF to start pushing the 4 spot into that type of skillset.

At the PF spot, u had more guys doing that type of thing. When it comes to TRUE CENTERS, I'm not sure there has even been a point center. And IF THERE WAS, it's because guys FROM OTHER POSITIONS move to center at times. Like a Magic, KG, Bron, Draymond, Giannis, etc. Just because u get A LOT OF ASSISTS for a forward or center position, that doesn't mean u are a point forward or point center. Guys got called that BECAUSE they combined some of the duties of a point guard WITH the duties of their small or power forward position. Russ was never that type of player. He just happened to be a great PASSING center.

[light]

Of course, the only time Simmons mentions Wilt and assists, he bashes Chamberlain for being "selfish" when Wilt set out to lead the league in assists in '68. BTW, he failed to mention that this "selfish" Wilt, while leading in the league in assists,...was also leading his TEAM to the BEST RECORD in the LEAGUE.

Just play and don't worry about your stats. I think that's the point guys like Simmons are trying to make.

It's unrealistic, though. Some stars play that way but it's very rare. Bill Bradley is in the hall of fame for playing that way. Andre Igoudala might make it to the hall for being like that later in his career. No stats hall of famers.

[light]

A challenger emerges:

https://s7.gifyu.com/images/vlade.png

I don't know why someone would think Divac would be the first point-center and not someone from the 60's. Maybe the writer was too young to know.