Who is the better Laker when it comes to Wilt vs Lebron?

[coastalmarker99]

Wilt as a Laker:

1972 NBA Champion

1972 Finals MVP

4x All-star

4 Finals Appearances in 5 years

4 Rebounding Titles

3x FG% Leader

1 All NBA second team

2 NBA All-Defensive First Team


Lebron as a Laker

2020 NBA Champion

2020 Finals MVP

1 assist title

4x all-star

1 scoring title if he wants it.

1 All NBA first team

1 All NBA second team

1 All NBA third team

[coastalmarker99]

I would give the slightest edge to Wilt in this debate because of his impact on the Laker's success from 1969 to 1973.

Average # of Wins for LAL in the 5 years preceding Wilt: 45

Average # of Wins for LAL in the 5 years with Wilt: 56

The third-worst record LAL had with Wilt (55-27) was better than the best record LAL had without Wilt in the 5 years prior (52-30).

In the 5 years with Wilt, the Lakers made the Finals 4x in 5 years and won once.


Two of their Finals losses were G7 losses.

In the 5 years without Wilt, the Lakers made the Finals 3x in 5 years and didn’t win once.

Only one of their Finals losses was a G7 loss.



But I would say Lebron easily has the best individual season out of the two due to how great his 2019-2020 season was.

[SouBeachTalents]

I’d say Wilt for a couple of reasons

1. Durability. I know Wilt missed most of the ‘70 season, but besides that he played in all 82 games in 4 of his 5 L.A. seasons, while LeBron’s missed 20-25 games in 3 of his 4 years.

2. They each have one title, but the Lakers had a lot more success in their non title seasons with Wilt than they’ve had with LeBron. Granted, it helps that West was regularly healthy while AD has missed a ton of games, but they won several more playoff series, went to the Finals in 4 out of 5 seasons, and in ‘72 won 69 games and set the all time winning streak record.

[coastalmarker99]

I’d say Wilt for a couple of reasons

1. Durability. I know Wilt missed most of the ‘70 season, but besides that he played in all 82 games in 4 of his 5 L.A. seasons, while LeBron’s missed 20-25 games in 3 of his 4 years.

2. They each have one title, but the Lakers had a lot more success in their non title seasons with Wilt than they’ve had with LeBron. Granted, it helps that West was regularly healthy while AD has missed a ton of games, but they won several more playoff series, went to the Finals in 4 out of 5 seasons, and in ‘72 won 69 games and set the all time winning streak record.

In a hypothetical scenario in which Lebron replaces Wilt on his Laker teams from 1969 to 1973.


And likewise, for Wilt from 2019 to 2022, I wonder how both players would do.


I think Lebron wins 3 titles with Wilt's Laker teams in 1969 1970,1972

And I think Wilt wins one title with Lebron's Laker teams in 2020.

Wilt and AD would be a nasty duo, especially on defence.


Same for Lebron and West who would be a perfect fit for each other on offence.

[FKAri]

In a hypothetical scenario in which Lebron replaces Wilt on his Laker teams from 1969 to 1973.


And likewise, for Wilt from 2019 to 2022, I wonder how both players would do.


I think Lebron wins 3 titles with Wilt's Laker teams in 1969 1970,1972

And I think Wilt wins one title with Lebron's Laker teams in 2020.

Wilt and AD would be a nasty duo, especially on defence.


Same for Lebron and West who would be a perfect fit for each other on offence.

Two bigs would be a disaster in the modern NBA. They would get blitzed on both sides of the ball. You trade one of them for equivalent value on the wings.