List of players over 7 foot, 230 pounds in Wilt's time

[WillC]

Lots of humans are simply mediocre to bad at estimating sizes and values they don't see every day. The human brain is just not wired to perceive such things with accuracy. I've met people who think that Mt Everest is 8,848 km's high. People who think Pluto is as far away as stars. People who have seen 7-footers and called them 8-footers. People who think humans co-existed with dinosaurs some thousands of years ago (newsflash: The Flintstones did not exist). And yes, people who perceive Wilt's talent as Bynum's talent, because the black and white color of many of his films and the reduced athletic capabilities of some of his opponents are too much for them to handle. So, they see Wilt taking fade-away shots while raising way above the basket at the same time and still think that modern centers would swat such shots away, although most of the times all these centers are not even able to block penetrating guards that shoot just next to their noses (and this has been the case for the last 50 years or so, so don't take this as a slight against this era's centers). Similarly, they see someone like Nate Thurmond or Willis Reed being listed at like 220-225 lbs and think this was his real weight, although it's painfully obvious they were bulker/heavier than that. I'm only talking about non-pure haters here.
Of course, the OP is a troll and a hater (and this thread is a troll thread), but overall I have no reason to believe his reasoning goes beyond this level.

Excellent analogies. And, of course, you're right; kids can't comprehend that the human species has not evolved all that much in the last 50 years. Wilt would still boss the NBA if he played today, in the same way that Jordan would still be the best player alive if he played in 2040, and in the same way that LeBron would be one of the best players alive no matter what era he played in.

What do these players have in common? They are/were all physical marvels who were also blessed with tremendous ability and talent. They would thrive in any era.

If there was a fantasy draft of all the current and former NBA superstars based purely on height, athleticism and talent at the age of twenty, who would be drafted above whom?

This tongue-in-cheek article sums it up nicely: http://basketballjournalist.blogspot...asy-draft.html

[Pointguard]

Here is a list of the players who played in Wilt's NBA who were 6-11 or taller...

Ray Felix 6-11 65
Chuck Share 6-11
Walter Dukes 7-0
Swede Halbrook 7-3
Walt Bellamy 6-11
Nate Thurmond 6-11
Reggie Harding 7-0
Mel Counts 7-0
Walt Wesley 6-11
Hank Finkel 7-0
Craig Spitzer 7-0
Craig Raymond 6-11
Otto Moore 6-11
Rich Niemann 7-0
Tom Boerwinkle 7-0 265
Dave Newmark 7-0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7-2
Greg Fillmore 7-1 240
George Johnson 6-11 245
Bob Lanier 6-11 250
Elmore Smith 7-0 250
Tom Payne 7-2 240
Vic Bartolome 7-0 230
Jim McDaniels 6-11
William Smith 7-0
George Johnson 6-11 (yes another G. Johnson)
LaRue Martin 6-11

Artis Gilmore 7-2 240 (yes, Wilt faced Gilmore in the 71-72 ABA-NBA All Star game, and more than held his own against him.)

I listed the 6-11+ players because, as was already mentioned previously, players were generally measured in bare-feet in the 60's and 70's. So, the reality was, most all of the above would be listed at 7-0+ feet today. Granted, some of the above were scrubs, and some only played briefly. BTW, there a TON of players who were 6-10, as well.

Furthermore, there were players in the 60's and 70's who were taller than their listed height. Bill Russell was listed at 6-10 in college, and only 6-9 in the pros. However, even he admitted he was 6-10. That, along with his 7-4 wingspan, and world-class leaping ability gave him the ability to reach heights that few ever have.

And, the opposite has been true in the last 30 years. There was no way Hakeem was even close to 7-0. 6-10 was probably being generous. Ben Wallace himself would tell you he was 6-7, and not his listed 6-9. Dwight Howard and Kevin Love are NOT 6-11, and are probably actually closer to 6-9. Ralph Sampson was never 7-4, and in fact, Mark Eaton, who was a legitimate 7-4 claimed that Sampson was no more than 7-2 (and Sampson had very short arms BTW.) And I have seen a photograph with Shaq, Wilt, and Ewing, and there was no way Ewing was 7-0. Duncan is no taller than 6-11.

Artis Gilmore's listed weight of 240 is a complete joke. He was nearly 300 lbs later in his career. Bob Lanier is listed at 250, but was playing at around 265. PHILA posted an article in which the 6-9 Luke Jackson came to camp at 272 lbs. In fact, you could probably easily add 20+ lbs to nearly every player who has ever played in the NBA.

Great Post.

Gilmore looked bigger to me than Wilt in that Allstar game. He was a big cat. Robert Parrish said Gilmore was the strongest guy he ever played against. Parrish played against Shaq. He said this when the conversation was about Shaq. So yeah, the listings are null and void.

[WillC]

But Pointguard, you do realise that players in the 1960s and 1970s had no athleticism and would get pushed around by today's centers? Right?!

Oh, ok, maybe not. Here are some pictures of Artis Gilmore to perhaps prove otherwise.







Sure, these guys are probably an average height of 5'10", but it still suggests Gilmore was a lot more than 7'2". Again, I assume his listed height was without shoes. He'd be listed as 7'3" or 7'4" in today's NBA.

[DJ Leon Smith]

As if Wilt would be able to compete with the athletic black guys who led the league in rebounds and blocked shots last season.

Lock thread Jeff.

[Pointguard]

But Pointguard, you do realise that players in the 1960s and 1970s had no athleticism and would get pushed around by today's centers? Right?!

WillC, while I seen limited footage of these guys I couldn't imagine if one of these centers today pushed Dave Cowens, Willis Reed, Nate Thurmond, Debushere, Lanier, Wilt, Russell or Unseld with the refs allowing them to bang. They loved full contact - even against bigger guys. Chandler and DH would be the exceptions: they don't go out of their way to do it, but they got some warrior in them.

[WillC]

WillC, while I seen limited footage of these guys I couldn't imagine if one of these centers today pushed Dave Cowens, Willis Reed, Nate Thurmond, Debushere, Lanier, Wilt, Russell or Unseld with the refs allowing them to bang. They loved full contact - even against bigger guys. Chandler and DH would be the exceptions: they don't go out of their way to do it, but they got some warrior in them.

I agree 100% (just to be clear, I was being sarcastic in my previous post - the centers of the 1960/70s were a lot tougher and arguably more athletic than many of today's stiffs).

You chose some good examples. Cowens had arguably the most psychotic attitude in NBA history. He was a real warrior. Obviously Reed, Unseld and Lanier are other excellent examples that people sometimes forget about.

[Deuce Bigalow]

I agree 100% (just to be clear, I was being sarcastic in my previous post - the centers of the 1960/70s were a lot tougher and arguably more athletic than many of today's stiffs).

You chose some good examples. Cowens had arguably the most psychotic attitude in NBA history. He was a real warrior. Obviously Reed, Unseld and Lanier are other excellent examples that people sometimes forget about.

Please please enough with the tall tales

[WillC]

Please please enough with the tall tales

Back under your bridge, troll. Don't emerge again until you've done your homework.

[PTB Fan]

Excellent analogies. And, of course, you're right; kids can't comprehend that the human species has not evolved all that much in the last 50 years. Wilt would still boss the NBA if he played today, in the same way that Jordan would still be the best player alive if he played in 2040, and in the same way that LeBron would be one of the best players alive no matter what era he played in.

What do these players have in common? They are/were all physical marvels who were also blessed with tremendous ability and talent. They would thrive in any era.

If there was a fantasy draft of all the current and former NBA superstars based purely on height, athleticism and talent at the age of twenty, who would be drafted above whom?

This tongue-in-cheek article sums it up nicely: http://basketballjournalist.blogspot...asy-draft.html

I checked the blog, nice writing you have there. I'm doing some writing on the blogs, even though i'm not older than 18. I like to write up stuffs about the league history and try to learn the history of the game.

From what i've seen, excellent work. I like that Dr J article. You could make a case for Elgin, who's overlooked as a superstar as well.

And btw, i completely agree with the post.

[Deuce Bigalow]

someone post the article/quote with the "to prevent freak activity"

I always get a good chuckle out of that

[Deuce Bigalow]

and also the "dunks the ball so hard that it crushes the opponents toes"

[WillC]

I checked the blog, nice writing you have there. I'm doing some writing on the blogs, even though i'm not older than 18. I like to write up stuffs about the league history and try to learn the history of the game.

From what i've seen, excellent work. I like that Dr J article. You could make a case for Elgin, who's overlooked as a superstar as well.

And btw, i completely agree with the post.

Thanks. I wish I had more time for my blog. One of my articles was published in MVP magazine this month, which is the fourth time I've had an article published.

[bwink23]

someone post the article/quote with the "to prevent freak activity"

I always get a good chuckle out of that

Children, what are you gonna do....

[millwad]

Here is a list of the players who played in Wilt's NBA who were 6-11 or taller...

Ray Felix 6-11 65 - Not in his prime
Chuck Share 6-11 - Crap and only played 1 crappy season after Wilt's arrival
Walter Dukes 7-0 - Not anything special at all
Swede Halbrook 7-3 - Garbage and only played for 2 years
Walt Bellamy 6-11 - Baller obviously
Nate Thurmond 6-11 - Baller
Reggie Harding 7-0 - Garbage
Mel Counts 7-0 - Garbage
Walt Wesley 6-11 - Mediocre at best
Hank Finkel 7-0 - Garbage
Craig Spitzer 7-0 - Haha, he played 10 NBA games..
Craig Raymond 6-11 - Played 27 NBA games..
Otto Moore 6-11 - Mediocre at best
Rich Niemann 7-0 - Played 40 NBA games..
Tom Boerwinkle 7-0 265 - Mediocre at best
Dave Newmark 7-0 - Scrub
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7-2 - GOAT center
Greg Fillmore 7-1 240 - Scrub and played 49 games..
George Johnson 6-11 245 - Scrub and played 69 NBA games
Bob Lanier 6-11 250 - Baller, obviously but barely faced Wilt
Elmore Smith 7-0 250 - Mediocre
Tom Payne 7-2 240 - Played 29 NBA games..
Vic Bartolome 7-0 230 - Played 38 games..
Jim McDaniels 6-11 - Mediocre
William Smith 7-0 - played 30 NBA games..
George Johnson 6-11 - Scrub
LaRue Martin 6-11 - Biggest bust of all time..

Fixed, at least this time you didn't mention players who never faced Wilt like the last time when you mentioned ABA-players and college players etc., haha..

Still, Wilt in his stats prime barely faced anyone tall and skilled..

Wilt in his 50 point per game season only faced Walter Dukes and Swede who were 7'0 or taller if I recall correctly which is very interesting. NBA with a total amount of three players who were 7'0 or taller..

[bwink23]

Fixed, at least this time you didn't mention players who never faced Wilt like the last time when you mentioned ABA-players and college players etc., haha..

Still, Wilt in his stats prime barely faced anyone tall and skilled..

You are in no place to judge these players....your own mom probably wasn't even born yet....