Wilt Chamberlain vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | The Rivalry of NBA Gods

[coastalmarker99]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbGXDaU27YM

[coastalmarker99]

I have always thought that Wilt is better than Kareem as he was the better player in all areas of the game besides free-throw shooting.



And that if the two had matched up against each other when Wilt was younger and in his prime that Wilt would have obliterated Kareem on the boards and performance-wise just as Moses did in the 1983 finals.

[fourkicks44]

Waaaay too many commercials on the YouTube channel.

Stoped watching 2 minutes in.

[baudkarma]

Get Firefox, install ******* Pro. No ads.

Ohhh. Censored. Let me just stay this then. If you search, you will find browser ****** that will block ads.

[coastalmarker99]

Wilt was very rarely outplayed by an opposing center in the playoffs. IMHO, though, he was only statistically outplayed by a prime Kareem in the 71-72 WCF's, but, by virtually every account of those that witnessed that series, he outplayed Abdul-Jabbar.




As for the 71-72 WCF's Wilt held Kareem, who had shot .57.4 against the NBA during the regular season, to a .45.7 FG%. Furthermore, over the course of the last four pivotal games of that series, he had reduced Kareem to a .41.4 FG% and he was 35 with bad knees think about that. An old 35 year old Wilt was shutting down Kareem and sending the skyhook back multiple times throughout the series.

The two also battled in the 70-71 WCF's, and here again, a prime Kareem, and a 34-year-old Wilt, only a year removed from major knee surgery, were a statistical wash. BTW, Chamberlain held Kareem to FG%'s of .48.1 and .45.7 in those two series, in seasons in which Kareem shot .57.7 and .57.4. And he outrebounded Kareem in both, as well.



This is one reason I’m lower on Kareem than most (still easily top 6). I just can’t buy the GOAT talk. To twice, in one sequence, reject the most unstoppable shot in the history of the game as a post-injury older player vs the young buck at full extension really drives home a point for me.

I have head to head prime Wilt vs KAJ as going to Wilt. I cannot draw any other conclusion based on that clip. Singular, yes. But clear. The skyhook wasn’t beyond an old Wilt’s reach. And for me, that’s a dealbreaker. Wilt > KAJ at peak. My eyes demand it. I’m open to other evidence though that people want to give to me.

[Thenameless]

Wilt was very rarely outplayed by an opposing center in the playoffs. IMHO, though, he was only statistically outplayed by a prime Kareem in the 71-72 WCF's, but, by virtually every account of those that witnessed that series, he outplayed Abdul-Jabbar.




As for the 71-72 WCF's Wilt held Kareem, who had shot .57.4 against the NBA during the regular season, to a .45.7 FG%. Furthermore, over the course of the last four pivotal games of that series, he had reduced Kareem to a .41.4 FG% and he was 35 with bad knees think about that. An old 35 year old Wilt was shutting down Kareem and sending the skyhook back multiple times throughout the series.

The two also battled in the 70-71 WCF's, and here again, a prime Kareem, and a 34-year-old Wilt, only a year removed from major knee surgery, were a statistical wash. BTW, Chamberlain held Kareem to FG%'s of .48.1 and .45.7 in those two series, in seasons in which Kareem shot .57.7 and .57.4. And he outrebounded Kareem in both, as well.



This is one reason I’m lower on Kareem than most (still easily top 6). I just can’t buy the GOAT talk. To twice, in one sequence, reject the most unstoppable shot in the history of the game as a post-injury older player vs the young buck at full extension really drives home a point for me.

I have head to head prime Wilt vs KAJ as going to Wilt. I cannot draw any other conclusion based on that clip. Singular, yes. But clear. The skyhook wasn’t beyond an old Wilt’s reach. And for me, that’s a dealbreaker. Wilt > KAJ at peak. My eyes demand it. I’m open to other evidence though that people want to give to me.

Everything you said is correct. Wilt is better than Kareem.

[coastalmarker99]

Everything you said is correct. Wilt is better than Kareem.











I really found this stat very interesting between Wilt and Kareem

First 10 seasons for each player:

Kareem's teams in POs: 9-7 in series, 44-34 in games 1 champ, 2 total Finals

Wilt's teams in POs: 10-8, 51-47 1 champ, 3 Finals

You have to think if it was not for Magic being drafted by the Lakers in 1979 we would no doubt have a different view of Kareem's legacy as a player.

[csh19792001]

Wilt was very rarely outplayed by an opposing center in the playoffs. IMHO, though, he was only statistically outplayed by a prime Kareem in the 71-72 WCF's, but, by virtually every account of those that witnessed that series, he outplayed Abdul-Jabbar.




As for the 71-72 WCF's Wilt held Kareem, who had shot .57.4 against the NBA during the regular season, to a .45.7 FG%. Furthermore, over the course of the last four pivotal games of that series, he had reduced Kareem to a .41.4 FG% and he was 35 with bad knees think about that. An old 35 year old Wilt was shutting down Kareem and sending the skyhook back multiple times throughout the series.

The two also battled in the 70-71 WCF's, and here again, a prime Kareem, and a 34-year-old Wilt, only a year removed from major knee surgery, were a statistical wash. BTW, Chamberlain held Kareem to FG%'s of .48.1 and .45.7 in those two series, in seasons in which Kareem shot .57.7 and .57.4. And he outrebounded Kareem in both, as well.



This is one reason I’m lower on Kareem than most (still easily top 6). I just can’t buy the GOAT talk. To twice, in one sequence, reject the most unstoppable shot in the history of the game as a post-injury older player vs the young buck at full extension really drives home a point for me.

I have head to head prime Wilt vs KAJ as going to Wilt. I cannot draw any other conclusion based on that clip. Singular, yes. But clear. The skyhook wasn’t beyond an old Wilt’s reach. And for me, that’s a dealbreaker. Wilt > KAJ at peak. My eyes demand it. I’m open to other evidence though that people want to give to me.

Excellent post!!!

People think Kareem "owned' Wilt head to head without failing to realize that 1) Wilt was old, post reconstructive knee surgery, and Kareem was super young and 2) Wilt was only shooting 10 times a game by 1970-1973. Down from 32 per game 1960-1966.

Wilt would BURY Kareem head to head in each of their respective primes. He was much bigger, much faster, much more adroit and agile, much more durable, and was better at everything (as you noted) except free throws.

Consider this: Moses Malone and Kareem faced off 41 times, including the playoffs. Moses totally shut down Jabbar, especially with his total domination of Kareem in the playoffs, when he went 28.1/17.9 to Kareem's 24.9/11.4.

Malone's Rockets and Sixers went 6-1 against Jabaar's Lakers in their careers, in the playoffs.

https://stathead.com/basketball/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&player_id1=abdulka01&player_id2=malonmo01

Now, you have to ask...what could Moses Malone do better, skill wise, than Wilt Chamberlain? A: Nothing, as far as I know...(besides make free throws).

[csh19792001]

Wilt was very rarely outplayed by an opposing center in the playoffs.

From Reddit. Perfectly on point:

Wilt chamberlain defensive impact in the playoffs is severely underrated.
Wilt's post-season FG% allowed vs centers

59-60:

Kerr regular season FG% against the league: .39.2 Kerr against Wilt in the playoffs: .29.4

Dierking regular season FG%: .36.5 Dierking vs Wilt in the post-season: .33.3

Russell regular season: .46.7 Russell vs. Wilt in the post-season: .44.6

60-61:

Kerr regular season: .39.7 Kerr vs Wilt: .32.1

Halbrook regular season: .33.5 Halbrook vs Wilt: .38.7

61-62:

Kerr regular season: .44.3 Kerr vs. Wilt: .37.6

Russell regular season: .45.7 Russell vs Wilt: .39.9

63-64:

Beaty regular season: .44.4 Beaty vs. Wilt: .52.0

Russell regular season: .43.3 Russell vs. Wilt: .38.6

64-65:

Embry regular season: .45.6 Embry vs Wilt .43.8

Russell regular season: .43.8 Russell vs. Wilt 44.6

65-66:

Russell regular season: .41.5 Russell vs. Wilt: .42.4

66-67:

Dierking regular season: .39.9 Dierking vs Wilt: .42.7

Russell regular season: .45.4 Russell vs. Wilt: .35.8

Thurmond regular season: .43.7 Thurmond vs. Wilt: .34.3

67-68:

Bellamy regular season: .54.1 Bellamy vs. Wilt: .42.1

Russell regular season: .42.5 Russell vs. Wilt: .44.0

68-69:

Thurmond regular season: .41.0 Thurmond vs Wilt: .39.2

Beaty regular season: .47.0 Beaty vs. Wilt: .38.3

Russell regular season: .43.3 Russell vs. Wilt: .39.7

69-70:

Walk regular season: .47.0 Walk vs Wilt: .39.5

Fox regular season: .52.4 Fox vs Wilt: .36.2

Bellamy regular season: .52.3 Bellamy vs Wilt: .45.6

Reed regular season: .50.7 Reed vs Wilt: .48.3

70-71:

Boerwinkle regular season: .48.5 Boerwinkle vs Wilt: .46.3

Fox regular season: .45.8 Fox vs Wilt: .43.4

Kareem regular season: .57.7 Kareem vs Wilt: .48.1

71-72:

Ray regular season: .49.9 Ray vs Wilt: .52.9

Kareem regular season: .57.4 Kareem vs Wilt: .45.7

Lucas regular season: .51.2 Lucas vs Wilt: .50.0

72-73:

Awtry regular season: .48.0 Awtry vs Wilt: .54.2

Thurmond regular season: .44.6 Thurmond vs Wilt: .37.3

Reed regular season: .47.4 Reed vs Wilt: .49.3

During Wilt's last 7 seasons after his scoring seasons, he would lead all players in playoff defensive win shares 5 out of 7 times during his non-scoring title seasons.

And if blocks were tracked for Wilt he would also more than likely have the most blocks ever in the playoffs. In 81 known playoff games of recorded block shots. Wilt blocked a total of 590 shots, as a result, Wilt averaged 7.3 blocks per game in the playoffs. Tim Duncan has the most at 568 blocks and he played 251 playoffs games to Wilt's 160 and Wilt in less than 170 games at 81 games has more blocks then Tim Duncan. it's possible that Wilt might have gotten a 1000 blocks in the playoffs which is just ridiculous to think about.

[coastalmarker99]

From Reddit. Perfectly on point:

Wilt chamberlain defensive impact in the playoffs is severely underrated.
Wilt's post-season FG% allowed vs centers

59-60:

Kerr regular season FG% against the league: .39.2 Kerr against Wilt in the playoffs: .29.4

Dierking regular season FG%: .36.5 Dierking vs Wilt in the post-season: .33.3

Russell regular season: .46.7 Russell vs. Wilt in the post-season: .44.6

60-61:

Kerr regular season: .39.7 Kerr vs Wilt: .32.1

Halbrook regular season: .33.5 Halbrook vs Wilt: .38.7

61-62:

Kerr regular season: .44.3 Kerr vs. Wilt: .37.6

Russell regular season: .45.7 Russell vs Wilt: .39.9

63-64:

Beaty regular season: .44.4 Beaty vs. Wilt: .52.0

Russell regular season: .43.3 Russell vs. Wilt: .38.6

64-65:

Embry regular season: .45.6 Embry vs Wilt .43.8

Russell regular season: .43.8 Russell vs. Wilt 44.6

65-66:

Russell regular season: .41.5 Russell vs. Wilt: .42.4

66-67:

Dierking regular season: .39.9 Dierking vs Wilt: .42.7

Russell regular season: .45.4 Russell vs. Wilt: .35.8

Thurmond regular season: .43.7 Thurmond vs. Wilt: .34.3

67-68:

Bellamy regular season: .54.1 Bellamy vs. Wilt: .42.1

Russell regular season: .42.5 Russell vs. Wilt: .44.0

68-69:

Thurmond regular season: .41.0 Thurmond vs Wilt: .39.2

Beaty regular season: .47.0 Beaty vs. Wilt: .38.3

Russell regular season: .43.3 Russell vs. Wilt: .39.7

69-70:

Walk regular season: .47.0 Walk vs Wilt: .39.5

Fox regular season: .52.4 Fox vs Wilt: .36.2

Bellamy regular season: .52.3 Bellamy vs Wilt: .45.6

Reed regular season: .50.7 Reed vs Wilt: .48.3

70-71:

Boerwinkle regular season: .48.5 Boerwinkle vs Wilt: .46.3

Fox regular season: .45.8 Fox vs Wilt: .43.4

Kareem regular season: .57.7 Kareem vs Wilt: .48.1

71-72:

Ray regular season: .49.9 Ray vs Wilt: .52.9

Kareem regular season: .57.4 Kareem vs Wilt: .45.7

Lucas regular season: .51.2 Lucas vs Wilt: .50.0

72-73:

Awtry regular season: .48.0 Awtry vs Wilt: .54.2

Thurmond regular season: .44.6 Thurmond vs Wilt: .37.3

Reed regular season: .47.4 Reed vs Wilt: .49.3

During Wilt's last 7 seasons after his scoring seasons, he would lead all players in playoff defensive win shares 5 out of 7 times during his non-scoring title seasons.

And if blocks were tracked for Wilt he would also more than likely have the most blocks ever in the playoffs. In 81 known playoff games of recorded block shots. Wilt blocked a total of 590 shots, as a result, Wilt averaged 7.3 blocks per game in the playoffs. Tim Duncan has the most at 568 blocks and he played 251 playoffs games to Wilt's 160 and Wilt in less than 170 games at 81 games has more blocks then Tim Duncan. it's possible that Wilt might have gotten a 1000 blocks in the playoffs which is just ridiculous to think about.





Wilt was primarily used as a rebounding and defensive monster in the playoffs by his teams and it is a shame that people only focus on his 22.5 points per game average in the playoffs. Not knowing that Wilt averaged 34 points a game in the playoffs with the Warriors from 1960 to 1964 before he then cut back his scoring to focus on other areas from 1967 to 1973.

[coastalmarker99]

Excellent post!!!

People think Kareem "owned' Wilt head to head without failing to realize that 1) Wilt was old, post reconstructive knee surgery, and Kareem was super young and 2) Wilt was only shooting 10 times a game by 1970-1973. Down from 32 per game 1960-1966.

Wilt would BURY Kareem head to head in each of their respective primes. He was much bigger, much faster, much more adroit and agile, much more durable, and was better at everything (as you noted) except free throws.

Consider this: Moses Malone and Kareem faced off 41 times, including the playoffs. Moses totally shut down Jabbar, especially with his total domination of Kareem in the playoffs, when he went 28.1/17.9 to Kareem's 24.9/11.4.

Malone's Rockets and Sixers went 6-1 against Jabaar's Lakers in their careers, in the playoffs.

https://stathead.com/basketball/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&player_id1=abdulka01&player_id2=malonmo01

Now, you have to ask...what could Moses Malone do better, skill wise, than Wilt Chamberlain? A: Nothing, as far as I know...(besides make free throws).

Had Wilt been so inclined, he could have scored far more for his career. Instead, he continued to do whatever his coaches asked of him. In his first seven seasons, he averaged 39.4 PPG...combined. In the last game of his Last "scoring" season, in the 65-66 game five of the ECF's, he put up a 46-34 game against Russell so he could still put up monster scoring numbers in the playoffs if he wanted to.

However, his new coach in the 66-67 season Alex Hannum the only coach to defeat the Celtics dynasty at that point in time asked Wilt to facilitate on the offensive end. The result was that Wilt's scoring dropped from 33.5 ppg down to 24.1 ppg. From the 66-67 season thru the 68-69 season, Wilt averaged 24.1 ppg, 24.3 ppg, and 20.5 ppg. Was it because he could no longer score?

Well, after Rick Barry led the NBA in scoring in the 66-67 season, he "thanked" Wilt for "letting him" win the scoring title. Furthermore, Wilt had the HIGH games in the 66-67 (58 point game), 67-68 (52, 53, 53, and 68), and 68-69 seasons (60 and 66.)

And, when he wanted to score in those seasons, he did. For instance, near the end of the '67-68 season, he wanted to show the Lakers, who were interested in him, that he could still score. He put up a 53 point game. The Lakers did trade for him, but his new coach, Butch Van Breda Kolf, wanted Wilt to defer to West and Baylor in the Laker offence. Wilt complied. However, when SI ran an article claiming that Wilt could no longer score, he erupted for a 60 point game the very next day. And, he followed that up with a 66 point game (on 29-35 shooting) a few days later.

Continuing, when the Lakers fired Van Breda Kolf, following his incompetent decision to keep Wilt on the bench in game seven of the Finals, they brought in Joe Mullaney before the 69-70 season.

Mullaney immediately went to Wilt and asked him to be the focal point of the offence. Wilt responded by averaging 32.2 ppg over the course of the first nine games (with games of 33, 35, 37, 38, 42 and 43 points.) Unfortunately, Chamberlain suffered a devastating knee injury in that ninth game (33 points on 13-13 shooting BTW.) And, while he came back way ahead of even the most optimistic medical opinion, he was nowhere near 100%, and in fact, it affected his lateral mobility to the point that he was never quite the same offensively after that.

Having said that, though a heavily injured Wilt in the playoffs that year would average 22.1 points and 22.2 rebounds on 54 percent shooting over 18 playoff games before his Lakers eventually lost in seven games to the New York Knicks.

In any case, had Chamberlain wanted to stat pad his scoring numbers past 1966 he would have easily have put the career ppg average out of sight for Jordan and everyone else in both the regular season and playoffs.

[csh19792001]

Wilt was primarily used as a rebounding and defensive monster in the playoffs by his teams and it is a shame that people only focus on his 22.5 points per game average on the playoffs not knowing that Wilt averaged 34 points a game in the playoffs with the Warriors from 1960 to 1964 before he then cut back his scoring to focus on other areas from 1967 to 1973.

Very true.

Thank Alex Hannum.

Wilt destroys Kareem so, so badly. Here's a good one for you.

Hannum said to the media on 12/15/67: (paraphrasing) "Wilt can't score like he did; he doesn't have the moves he once had."

Wilt got TRULY pissed off and here are his next three games.....just to prove a point. 12/16-12/20.

Points: 68, 47, 53
Rebounds: 34, 26, 38
FG%: .793

Imagine Kareem being able to do that, on a whim, just to prove a point?

"As I grew up, Wilt the Stilt was the player. Just the things he was able to do. I guess one year they told him he couldn't make as much money as he wanted because he couldn't pass the ball, so he went out and led the league in assists. Watching Wilt, you always kind of got the idea he was just playing with people. That he was on cruise control and still 10 times better than anybody else that was playing at that time."

– Denver Nuggets Coach Dan Issel.

Nobody is close to Wilt Chamberlain in NBA History. Athleticism, greatness, and value.

[csh19792001]

Had Wilt been so inclined, he could have scored far more for his career. Instead, he continued to do whatever his coaches asked of him. In his first seven seasons, he averaged 39.4 PPG...combined. In the last game of his Last "scoring" season, in the 65-66 game five of the ECF's, he put up a 46-34 game against Russell so he could still put up monster scoring numbers in the playoffs if he wanted to.

However, his new coach in the 66-67 season Alex Hannum the only coach to defeat the Celtics dynasty at that point in time asked Wilt to facilitate on the offensive end. The result was that Wilt's scoring dropped from 33.5 ppg down to 24.1 ppg. From the 66-67 season thru the 68-69 season, Wilt averaged 24.1 ppg, 24.3 ppg, and 20.5 ppg. Was it because he could no longer score?

Well, after Rick Barry led the NBA in scoring in the 66-67 season, he "thanked" Wilt for "letting him" win the scoring title. Furthermore, Wilt had the HIGH games in the 66-67 (58 point game), 67-68 (52, 53, 53, and 68), and 68-69 seasons (60 and 66.)

And, when he wanted to score in those seasons, he did. For instance, near the end of the '67-68 season, he wanted to show the Lakers, who were interested in him, that he could still score. He put up a 53 point game. The Lakers did trade for him, but his new coach, Butch Van Breda Kolf, wanted Wilt to defer to West and Baylor in the Laker offence. Wilt complied. However, when SI ran an article claiming that Wilt could no longer score, he erupted for a 60 point game the very next day. And, he followed that up with a 66 point game (on 29-35 shooting) a few days later.

Continuing, when the Lakers fired Van Breda Kolf, following his incompetent decision to keep Wilt on the bench in game seven of the Finals, they brought in Joe Mullaney before the 69-70 season.

Mullaney immediately went to Wilt and asked him to be the focal point of the offence. Wilt responded by averaging 32.2 ppg over the course of the first nine games (with games of 33, 35, 37, 38, 42 and 43 points.) Unfortunately, Chamberlain suffered a devastating knee injury in that ninth game (33 points on 13-13 shooting BTW.) And, while he came back way ahead of even the most optimistic medical opinion, he was nowhere near 100%, and in fact, it affected his lateral mobility to the point that he was never quite the same offensively after that.

Having said that, though a heavily injured Wilt in the playoffs that year would average 22.1 points and 22.2 rebounds on 54 percent shooting over 18 playoff games before his Lakers eventually lost in seven games to the New York Knicks.

In any case, had Chamberlain wanted to stat pad his scoring numbers past 1966 he would have easily have put the career ppg average out of sight for Jordan and everyone else in both the regular season and playoffs.

Outstanding, nuanced, sophisticated work here!!

I'm brand new here so I can't start threads (or, really, do anything else except "reply"). I'm thinking we should start a Wilt Chamberlain Appreciation Thread. If one doesn't already exist.

[coastalmarker99]

Very true.

Thank Alex Hannum.

Wilt destroys Kareem so, so badly. Here's a good one for you.

Hannum said to the media on 12/15/67: (paraphrasing) "Wilt can't score like he did; he doesn't have the moves he once had."

Wilt got TRULY pissed off and here are his next three games.....just to prove a point. 12/16-12/20.

Points: 68, 47, 53
Rebounds: 34, 26, 38
FG%: .793

Imagine Kareem being able to do that, on a whim, just to prove a point?

"As I grew up, Wilt the Stilt was the player. Just the things he was able to do. I guess one year they told him he couldn't make as much money as he wanted because he couldn't pass the ball, so he went out and led the league in assists. Watching Wilt, you always kind of got the idea he was just playing with people. That he was on cruise control and still 10 times better than anybody else that was playing at that time."

– Denver Nuggets Coach Dan Issel.

Nobody is close to Wilt Chamberlain in NBA History. Athleticism, greatness, and value.




Wilt's greatness and value is seen in the fact that he succeeded as 1) the most dominant scorer ever with the Warriors 2) a facilitator with the 76ers 3) the Russell role of dominant defense/rebounding with the Lakers. No one else in the top 10 all-time can say that they excelled at playing multiple roles throughout their careers as Wilt did.

[csh19792001]

Wilt's greatness and value is seen in the fact that he succeeded as 1) the most dominant scorer ever with the Warriors 2) a facilitator with the 76ers 3) the Russell role of dominant defense/rebounding with the Lakers. No one else in the top 10 all-time can say that they excelled at playing multiple roles throughout their careers as Wilt did.

Has anyone else ever led two different teams to the all time NBA Wins Record?

That is so off the hook, I can't believe it. Almost as impressive as being told to "just stop scoring" at 30, totally overhauling his game, and becoming easily the most valuable defensive/passing center, perhaps, ever.

Points Scored: 1960-1966
Wilt: 21,346
Baylor: 14,238

Assists By A Center: 1967-1973
Wilt: 2,793
Thurmond: 1,551

Offensive Win Shares: 1960-1966
Wilt: 91.3
Oscar: 84.6
West: 59.9

Defensive Win Shares: 1967-1973
Wilt 43.9
Havlicek: 29.2
Thurmond: 35.9

"There are two record books; one for Wilt, and one for everyone else."

-Bill Russell

[csh19792001]

Wilt's greatness and value is seen in the fact that he succeeded as 1) the most dominant scorer ever with the Warriors 2) a facilitator with the 76ers 3) the Russell role of dominant defense/rebounding with the Lakers. No one else in the top 10 all-time can say that they excelled at playing multiple roles throughout their careers as Wilt did.

Here's something else to strongly consider. There were an average of 10 teams in the NBA during Wilt's career. Jordan? 29. We've seen directly what expansion does to baseball records and statistics. I'm positive the same is true of the NBA.

And something else nobody considers: The Celtics had a .715 winning percentage from 1960-1969. In a 10 team league. They had almost all the best players. That's a given, though. What isn't talked about is Chamberlain played, by far, the most games against the Celtics (146) during that entire period. And, what's more, his line was a staggering 29.0/28.1/4.8 during those games. That's while playing 143 games against Bill Russell, who was the #7 high jumper in the world and the best defensive big man in NBA History by a massive margin.

Wilt is also known by most here and elsewhere as a loser. He always choked, everyone says. If that's true, how/why did he average 27.0/24.4/4.7 in 9 Game 7s in his career? Nobody else in history has overall numbers like that in Game 7s.

[coastalmarker99]

Here's something else to strongly consider. There were an average of 10 teams in the NBA during Wilt's career. Jordan? 29. We've seen directly what expansion does to baseball records and statistics. I'm positive the same is true of the NBA.

And something else nobody considers: The Celtics had a .715 winning percentage from 1960-1969. In a 10 team league. They had almost all the best players. That's a given, though. What isn't talked about is Chamberlain played, by far, the most games against the Celtics (146) during that entire period. And, what's more, his line was a staggering 29.0/28.1/4.8 during those games. That's while playing 143 games against Bill Russell, who was the #7 high jumper in the world and the best defensive big man in NBA History by a massive margin.

Wilt is also known by most here and elsewhere as a loser. He always choked, everyone says. If that's true, how/why did he average 27.0/24.4/4.7 in 9 Game 7s in his career? Nobody else in history has overall numbers like that in Game 7s.

Wilt lost 4 game 7s to the stacked Celtics by a combined margin of 9 points. That's about 2 points on average. And Wilt dominated Russell in those game sevens Wilt's total combined average across these four-game sevens was 21.3 ppg and 28.5 RPG and 4 APG on A staggering .65.2 field goal percentage. Also, These are Wilt's teammates shooting percentages in the four years that he lost to the Celtics in seven games.


62 Playoffs. Teammates collectively shoot .35.4 from the field. Lose in game seven of EDF's.

'65 Playoffs. Teammates collectively shoot .41.3 from the field. Lose in game seven of EDF's.

'68 Playoffs. Teammates collectively shoot .41.6 from the field. Lose in game seven of EDF's.

'69 Playoffs. Teammates collectively shoot .42.1 from the field. Lose game seven of Finals.



Also, Russell's fans claim that Celtics 7-1 PO record shows Russ dominated and is better than Wilt as a player.

Wilt fans say he dominated Russell individually but that Russ’s teammates outplayed Wilt’s. This comment 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.



So, therefore, we see that even with worst teams compared to Russell's teams Wilt was only 10 points away from having a 5 3 PO record against Russell.

[zeerghit]

great video, thanks for it