What is the difference between having competition that is subpar and being so dominant no one has a chance? I saw him play with the Globe Trotters his first year out of college and watched him as a pro. If we are going to compare athletic abilities to modern people then it's not a fair contest. Wilt did not benefit from modern training, weight lifting, diet, medicine, etc. so was at a huge disadvantage to modern players. If you are going to compare people to their peers, which is the only way I think it is fair to judge people across generations, he had no peer statistically. Russell got under his skin, I must say and I will never take anything away from Russell. Russell was also on a far better team.
He will never get his due. One year his coach said "Wilt we need you to score" so he averaged 50 pts per game. One year with the Lakers he was told the team didn't need his scoring so he led the league in assists. Tell him what to do and he did it. He was so embarrassed by his size he never dunked. And then there's the sexual conquests .........
I will never understand the logic that he didn't have much competition. That's the point, isn't it? I remember many years ago detailing every record he held and I think it took a few people's breaths away. The game was different so rebounding numbers are not comparable across the generations but the fact that he led the league year after year counts for something.
I always thought he was the best until MJ came along. Now we have Lebron. Have people seen Oscar play? Anybody who can average a triple double over a three year span perhaps has sub par competition. Whatcha think?
I even saw Mikan. Not very impressive, honestly. The lanes were 6 ft. wide so he developed his right and left hook shot and was unstoppable. I don't rate him high only because he beat people with his brains. No one thought of doing what he did. He was the first big man.
These discussions can go on for ever but I put Wilt in the top 3 and as to sex, #1.