If you swap Wilt Chamberlain for Kareem on Wilt's teams how successful would he be

[coastalmarker99]

What happens? More rings then Wilt was able to get fewer rings, Would Kareem beat the Celtics throughout the '60s or would be he denied like Wilt was.
How do you think would Kareem do on those early 60's Warriors teams and early 70's laker teams.
Does Kareem get more MVPs than Wilt was able to get?
Does Kareem still become viewed as a top 3 player ever without Magic? and Oscar.
How do you think Kareem would do against Bill Russell and Nate Thurmond.
How would the media view Kareem in the '60s I think he would be viewed as a villain with his personality to the media being a big factor in him being hated by fans in that time.

[coastalmarker99]

I can see Kareem's sour personality resulting in him clashing with teammates and coaches. Also, his links with the Nation of Islam would have made him the most hated player in the NBA by the fans and media. it is well known that Kareem was not nice to fans and media for most of his career. Kareem would likely have achieved his success with the Lakers. West is a great teammate and a point guard that Kareem needed like oscar and magic and West would play the sidekick role for him as he did for Wilt and the backcourt of West and Gail would have greatly helped Kareem along with the coaching of Bill Sharman.

[LAL]

I agree

[coastalmarker99]

I agree

Kareem in the '60s would have been the most Controversial player ever for one he liked to fight unlike Wilt and took cheap shots on many players. Kareem was a massive jerk to fans and media throughout his career Fans would have felt offended, and the media would have gone nuts on him as he was a jerk to them and also a part of the Nation of Islam which was viewed unfavourably by society at the time. Kareem would have also not held himself back as Wilt did if he had to put up with the nonstop brutal fouling that Wilt had to endure Kareem would have lost his cool so fast. Kareem would have tried to fight many players as a result which would have hurt his reputation

I can see the matchups with Russell becoming more physical than when Wilt played Russell. if Russell hard fouled Kareem, as he did with Wilt, Kareem would have got up and belted Russell. Kareem was also feared by his teammates and did not have good relationships with them before Magic came and with the racial era of the 60's I can see Kareem becoming even more mean and bitter and more of a loner. as a result of this, the team chemistry would have suffered the only coach I can see getting through to Kareem is Bill Sharman with his kind personality and Maybe Alex through I am not sure how Kareem would take it being challenged by Alex and maybe Breda Kolff.

[coastalmarker99]

Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic.

[coastalmarker99]

With the Warriors I can't see Kareem winning a ring with them Kareem would have had to do so much on both ends for his teams to even stand a chance vs the Celtics that were at the peak of their powers from 1959 to 1965. After 1960 the Warriors supporting cast around Kareem would have been declining and getting worse Kareem would have been asked by his coaches to play upwards to 46 minutes a night. He would have to rebound and play defence and score efficiently like a mad man as Wilt did. Kareem would go off vs the Celtics like he did with the lakers in the mid 70's but it won't be enough as the Celtics were so deep and stacked with 7 to 8 hall of famers on their teams with a legendary coach in red as well.

[Horatio33]

What is the point of arguing with someone who has already made their mind up. You're like a sophisticated version of the Jordan/Kobe/LeBron trolls.

[Roundball_Rock]

Probably about the same for the years Wilt actually played. The difference would be Kareem could give you 17 dominant seasons while Wilt had 14. Kareem would also give you an 18th legitimate all-star season on top of the MVP caliber seasons.