Where would you rank Wilt on your all time list if had won the title in 1968 69 70

[coastalmarker99]

Many point out the losses in 1968, 69, and 70. as chokes for Wilt I only blame him for the 1969 finals that's was such a choke and it really hurt his legacy like LeBron's 2011 finals. While it is true Chamberlain could have done more, it is uncertain how much more another player would have done in his place. Chamberlain was nursing an assortment of injuries to his right leg in the 1968 East Finals that he "couldn't turn around to shoot" according to team statistician Harvey Pollack. In the deciding game of the 1969 Finals, he left after hurting his right knee in the middle of a fourth-quarter rally but still demanded to go back in. In 1970 he went against doctor's orders after major knee surgery and returned early in time for the postseason, even though another break may have ended his career.

In all three cases, all I saw was someone who just wanted to play and win despite risking greater injury to himself. Chamberlain averaged 17.7 points, 28.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and shot .636 from the field across those three Game 7 losses while his teammates collectively shot averages of .343, .360, and .418.

If Wilt had won those game 7's he would have now a finals record of 5 and 2 rather then the 2, and 4 finals record that he ended up with Wilt also would have 3 finals MVP's if it had existed from 1967 as he would have won the finals MVP in 1970 coming off a significant knee injury and in 1972 he won it as well. Would you put Wilt in your top 5 with 5 rings and 3 finals MVP's along with 4 MVP's

These 3 games 7's losses really hurt Wilt's legacy and all-time ranking because he should have at least got 1 out of the 3 titles that he lost

[coastalmarker99]

Also, Wilt's would likely have the reputation of a winner and being clutch in the playoffs. Those 3 losses are the biggest black mark on any top 10 great besides LeBron's 2011 final series. and they significantly changed the view of Wilt and his legacy now with winning those titles. Wilt's biggest career flaws are wiped away and it is likely with wins in those 3 years that the debate between he and Russell is over. The narrative would have forever been that once Wilt got good talent around him, he got the better of Russell. Wilt more than likely would be seen as the only serious pre-Jordan GOAT candidate

[jstern]

Wilt threads are rare these days.

Wilt is currently number 3 in the average ish rankings. I guess that it would put him number 2 behind Jordan and ahead of Kareem.

Did you have an old account named jlauber by any chance?

The average ish list from a few years ago before Lebron made it to the top ten went something like

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
3. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Bill Russell
5. Magic Johnson
6. Shaquile O'Neil
7. Larry Bird (Though around the mid 2000s the average list had him ahead of Magic.)
8. Tim Duncan
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
10. Kobe Bryant

I'm forgetting someone.

Isaiah Thomas might had been on that list, but Jordan prevented him from 3peating.

[Soundwave]

Assuming he's the defacto best player for those three years ... I'd have him no.2.

[coastalmarker99]

Well he was the best player in 1968 and 1970 through jerry west was the best player in the 1969 finals and if they won the title that year he still would have been the finals MVP so Wilt would have 4 rings as the best player on his teams. And another ring as the second fiddle in 1969 his resume would be fantastic all the records Wilt Owns and now he has 5 rings plus 4 MVP's and four finals MVP's if the award had existed before 1969. I think the only player who could be argued to better than Wilt, in that case, would be Jordan and maybe LeBron through Wilt would have more rings than LeBron the same amount of MVP's and more finals MVPs plus better stats than both.

[SouBeachTalents]

Wilt lost 4 Game 7's to Boston by 9 points COMBINED, that shit is crazy

[coastalmarker99]

Wilt lost 4 Game 7's to Boston by 9 points COMBINED, that shit is crazy

Wilt was more than likely the unluckiest top ten player ever in 1962 in that game 7 vs the Celtics his second-best player took 22 shots and could only hit 4 and they lost by two points. In 1965 Wilt dominated Russell in that game 7 he shot I think 85 per cent and scored 30 and scored his team's last ten points they lost by one with Hondo stealing the ball. In 1968 almost everyone on that sixer's team is injured and hurt including Wilt and they barely lose in a Game 7 by 4 points with Wilt's teammates shooting 33 per cent for that game 7. In the 1969 finals, Wilt finally shows up in that nightmare of series for him in game 7 and has 20 points and 29 rebounds on 88 per cent while holding Russell to three points on 29 per cent shooting only for Wilt to get hurt and then when he asks to come back in his coach tells him to piss off and they lose by two. In 1970 Wilt suffers a career-threatening injury and then nobody shows up besides Wilt in that game 7 and they get blown out. it's strange to think that if those 9 points went Wilt's way that we would have a totally different view of him as a player and his legacy and reputation would totally flip on its head.

[Axe]

#3