Wilt Chamberlain one on one interview with Bob Costas 1991

[coastalmarker99]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTRp95laybE

Promoting his autobiography A view from Above Chamberlain discussed his career and claims of having bedded 20,000 women on the publicity tour prior to the airing of this episode. Significantly, this interview was recorded just days before Magic Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis, and the discussion of Wilt's promiscuity was edited out.

[coastalmarker99]

Some fact-checking Costas is wrong when he says there were years when Wilt averaged 35 points per game but shot 38% from the free-throw line. In the first half of Wilt's career, when he was averaging that 35ppg, he never shot less than 46.4% and he otherwise shot over 50%. It wasn't until the second half of Wilt's career that he became a real all-time bad free throw shooter, and this is when he shot 38% in a season (1967-68), a year in which he won MVP. 2) Wilt gives Russell too much credit on his scoring. Russell's career ave is 15.1ppg.

[Roundball_Rock]

Does anyone have his career playoff numbers against Russell versus against every other defender?

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

This is a great interview.

The one with Roy Firestone in the late 80s and Ahmad Rashad in '99 (w/ Bill Russell) were great too. Always believed that Wilt was overrated but do think he was a good guy. A low key comedian too lol.

What would Wilt average if he was AT LEAST 70% from the line?

[coastalmarker99]

Does anyone have his career playoff numbers against Russell versus against every other defender?

They played against each other in 8 playoff years: 49 games. Those same years, Wilt played 46 playoff games against other teams/centers. The results Wilt's P/G vs. others in PO in 8 years was 26.5 Wilt's P/G vs. Russell in PO in 8 years was 25.7

So Russell held Wilt to 0.8 fewer P/G

Rebounds: 24.6 (vs. others) vs. 28.4 (vs. Russ) Wilt had 3.8 MORE rebounds vs. Russ than vs.others

TS%: . 529 vs. .518 Russell held him to 1% lower shooting

Russell vs. Others & vs. Wilt in PO in 8 years Russell P/G: 16.5 (vs. others) 14.9 (vs. Wilt) Wilt held Russell to 1.6 fewer P/G

Russell R/G: 23.8 (vs. Others) vs. 24.7 (vs. Wilt) Russell had 0.9 more rebounds

Russell TS%: .508 (vs. others) vs .456 Russell had 5% lower shooting efficiency vs. Wilt

Wilt also averaged more FTA/FGA against Russ than against other centers in the PO: .52 vs .60

Russell averaged fewer FTA/FGA against Wilt: .56 vs .37

Wilt averaged 2.5 fouls per game against Russ and 2.5 vs. others. Russell averaged 3.3 PF/G vs. others and 4.1 vs. Wilt.

Overall, Wilt vs. Russell as % of Wilt vs. others: P/G 97% Rb/G 114% A/G 84% FG% 94% FT% 114% TS% 98% FTA/FGA 115% PF/G 101%

Except for assists--which are dependent on teammates making their shots--Wilt's numbers were basically the same against Russ Russ vs. Wilt as % Russ vs. others P/G 90% Rb/G 104% A/G 98% FG% 90% FT% 99% FTA/FGA67% TS% 90% PF/G 124%

Except for rebounds, Russell's numbers were worse in every category

Thus, Wilt held down Russell more than Russ held down Wilt in the PO in those 8 years.

[Roundball_Rock]

They played against each other in 8 playoff years: 49 games. Those same years, Wilt played 46 playoff games against other teams/centers. The results Wilt's P/G vs. others in PO in 8 years was 26.5 Wilt's P/G vs. Russell in PO in 8 years was 25.7

So Russell held Wilt to 0.8 fewer P/G

Rebounds: 24.6 (vs. others) vs. 28.4 (vs. Russ) Wilt had 3.8 MORE rebounds vs. Russ than vs.others

TS%: . 529 vs. .518 Russell held him to 1% lower shooting

Russell vs. Others & vs. Wilt in PO in 8 years Russell P/G: 16.5 (vs. others) 14.9 (vs. Wilt) Wilt held Russell to 1.6 fewer P/G

Russell R/G: 23.8 (vs. Others) vs. 24.7 (vs. Wilt) Russell had 0.9 more rebounds

Russell TS%: .508 (vs. others) vs .456 Russell had 5% lower shooting efficiency vs. Wilt

Wilt also averaged more FTA/FGA against Russ than against other centers in the PO: .52 vs .60

Russell averaged fewer FTA/FGA against Wilt: .56 vs .37

Wilt averaged 2.5 fouls per game against Russ and 2.5 vs. others. Russell averaged 3.3 PF/G vs. others and 4.1 vs. Wilt.

Overall, Wilt vs. Russell as % of Wilt vs. others: P/G 97% Rb/G 114% A/G 84% FG% 94% FT% 114% TS% 98% FTA/FGA 115% PF/G 101%

Except for assists--which are dependent on teammates making their shots--Wilt's numbers were basically the same against Russ Russ vs. Wilt as % Russ vs. others P/G 90% Rb/G 104% A/G 98% FG% 90% FT% 99% FTA/FGA67% TS% 90% PF/G 124%

Except for rebounds, Russell's numbers were worse in every category

Thus, Wilt held down Russell more than Russ held down Wilt in the PO in those 8 years.

Great info, will save this post! :cheers:

[coastalmarker99]

This is a great interview.

The one with Roy Firestone in the late 80s and Ahmad Rashad in '99 (w/ Bill Russell) were great too. Always believed that Wilt was overrated but do think he was a good guy. A low key comedian too lol.

What would Wilt average if he was AT LEAST 70% from the line?

new PPg per year

1960 from 37.6 to 39.2

1961 38.4 to 41.0

1962 50.4 to 51.9

1963 44.8 to 46.3

1964 36.9 to 39.0

1965 34.7 to 37.6

1966 33.5 to 35.8

1967 24.1 to 26.9

1968 24.3 to 27.9

1969 20.5 to 23.2

1970 27.3 to 30.7

1971 20.7 to 22.0

1972 14.8 to 16.6

1973 13.2 to 14.3

career scoring average changes from 30.1 to 32.2


total points for career changes from 31,419 to 33,667 this would make them fourth on the all-time scoring he is now seventh

playoffs scoring average changes from 22.5 to 24.9

his first six playoff runs he would have averaged 35 points a game.

Therefore If Wilt shot 70 percent from the foul line Wilt would now have 3, 40 Ppg seasons along with 7, 35 Ppg seasons and 12, 20 Ppg seasons. Wilt would also be fourth on the all-time scoring list and would also be the all-time Ppg game leader beating Micheal Jordan by two points.

In the playoffs, Wilt's scoring average would also rise from 22.5 Ppg to 24.9 Ppg

Wilt's Ppg in the finals would also go up from 18.6 Ppg to 21.7 Ppg

Wilt would have also averaged 35 Ppg in his first six playoff runs previously 32.8 Ppg

And in 1964 in his first finals run Wilt would have averaged 37.3 Ppg instead of 34.7 Ppg

[coastalmarker99]

Great info, will save this post! :cheers:

here is another thing Russ fans claim that Celtics 7-1 PO record shows Russ dominated and is better than Wilt as a player.

Wilt fans say he dominated Russ individually but that Russ’s teammates outplayed Wilt’s. This thread looks at the actual record, series by series and game by game.

I examined all 49 PO games. I tracked data in four categories: TS%, Pts, Reb, Ast.

The overall data showed this: PTS: Wilt: 43-6 (Wilt had more points than BR in 43 games vs. 6 games for Russ.) REB: Wilt: 32-18 (1 tie) AST: BR: 27-15 (7 ties) TS%: Wilt: 32-17

I figured out Russ/Wilt’s teammates’ data by subtracting Russ/Wilt’s stats from team stats.

PTS: BR's teammates: 40-9 (BR teammates had more points than Wilt's in 40 of those games, vs. 9 for Wilt's mates.) REB: BR teammates, 33-15 (1 tie) AST: BR teammates: 28-16-5 TS%: BR teammates, 26-23

Celtics were 29-20 against Wilt's teams in the playoffs, and four game 7's against him by total combined margin of 9 points think about that if 10 points goes Wilt's way then he has 6 rings and Russell now has 7 rings.

[coastalmarker99]

When Writing about a 1973 playoff series between the Lakers and Bulls, Wilt Chamberlain admired Chicago's hustle and tenacity so much that during the 4th quarter of Game 7 he actually hoped his own team would lose.

Jerry Sloan is a major reason Wilt felt that way. RIP to an NBA icon

[coastalmarker99]

Great info, will save this post! :cheers:

also Over 49 PO games:
Wilt was BETTER than Russ:
Play TS% R/G A/G P/G
WC: .51.8 28.0 4.1 25.7
BR: .45.6 24.7 4.9 14.9

But Russ' mates were EVEN BETTER than Wilt's, which is why Celtics won 29 of 49:

TS% R/G A/G P/G
.46.1 39.2 17.6 95.9
.44.8 35.4 16.2 82.8

[coastalmarker99]

Great info, will save this post! :cheers:

Also Wilt's FG% and his teammates FG% in first 5 PO series against the Celtics:

Year WC team Mates
1960 .50.0 .37.5
1962 .46.8 .35.4
1964 .51.7 .34.8
1965 .55.5 .38.2
1966 .50.9 .35.2

Gee, I wonder why Wilt took so many of his team's shots during this part of his career.

Also as well
Overall FG% in 49 PO games:
.50.8 Wilt
.38.7 Wilt's team mates

.41.7 Russell
.40.6 Russ' teammates

Also, Russ' mates were much better FT shooters in the 49 PO games:
.77.3 Russ' mates
.72.8 Wilt's

Bill Russell's teammates shot better from the line because Bill Russell a known poor foul shooter gave them tips and encouragement to improve their percentage/s.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

new PPg per year

1960 from 37.6 to 39.2

1961 38.4 to 41.0

1962 50.4 to 51.9

1963 44.8 to 46.3

1964 36.9 to 39.0

1965 34.7 to 37.6

1966 33.5 to 35.8

1967 24.1 to 26.9

1968 24.3 to 27.9

1969 20.5 to 23.2

1970 27.3 to 30.7

1971 20.7 to 22.0

1972 14.8 to 16.6

1973 13.2 to 14.3

career scoring average changes from 30.1 to 32.2


total points for career changes from 31,419 to 33,667 this would make them fourth on the all-time scoring he is now seventh

playoffs scoring average changes from 22.5 to 24.9

his first six playoff runs he would have averaged 35 points a game.

Therefore If Wilt shot 70 percent from the foul line Wilt would now have 3, 40 Ppg seasons along with 7, 35 Ppg seasons and 12, 20 Ppg seasons. Wilt would also be fourth on the all-time scoring list and would also be the all-time Ppg game leader beating Micheal Jordan by two points.

In the playoffs, Wilt's scoring average would also rise from 22.5 Ppg to 24.9 Ppg

Wilt's Ppg in the finals would also go up from 18.6 Ppg to 21.7 Ppg

Wilt would have also averaged 35 Ppg in his first six playoff runs previously 32.8 Ppg

And in 1964 in his first finals run Wilt would have averaged 37.3 Ppg instead of 34.7 Ppg

Very informative. Thank you for doing this.

If those freethrows weren't so bad, I think Wilt gets more respect. The underhanded stuff really got out of a hand. With Barry at least we knew he could shoot from the perimeter (why did he shoot underhanded freethrows anyway?)

[coastalmarker99]

Very informative. Thank you for doing this.

If those free throws weren't so bad, I think Wilt gets more respect. The underhanded stuff really got out of a hand. With Barry at least we knew he could shoot from the perimeter (why did he shoot underhanded free throws anyway?)

Wilt could hit free throws in practices and beat West and Goodrich at free-throw shooting games in practice and horse but when it came to the game he was a mess it made Wilt very upset he thought his free throw woes were as a result of him getting in his own head. Watching Wilt at the foul line he looks like he rather would be anywhere else than there.

If Wilt had swallowed his pride and shot underhanded free throws and increased his free throw percentage to even 75 per cent or 80 percent he would have 5 more rings and more records and more crazy stat lines. I don't think you could make an argument for another player being better then Wilt if he had shot 80 to 85 percent from the foul line for his career his Ts and efficiency would have been off the charts and he would have more rings more 70 point games 50 point games and 60 point games.