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Kings Faithful
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He would dominate even in today's NBA. He was just an amazing player.
A
AriesMar27
Guest
yeah... he was amazing but he's no spencer hawes.
NME
Starter
HighTopKicks
Bench
Is he a UFA? Can we trade Martin,JT, Hawes, & Westphal for him? Then he could coach too.
No. He was more like 10 Spencers.
Section 101
All-Star
By the title I thought you were going to say a superstar. 
bajaden
Hall of Famer
When fans say that we're one good player away from contention, I usually figure that they mean this guy or Oscar Robertson.
Where are all the Wilt Jr.s that might have been expected to enter the draft?
Dream a little dream for me...
CruzDude
Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
When fans say that we're one good player away from contention, I usually figure that they mean this guy or Oscar Robertson.
Where are all the Wilt Jr.s that might have been expected to enter the draft?
The future Big-O is our man Evans. Wilt Jr's in this day and age unfortunately have included Priest Lauderdale, Duane Causwell, Haseem Thabeet, etc. A bit harsh I know but there never will be another Wilt. Period.
No, I meant LITERAL Wilt Jr.s. From what Wilt said, I'd have thought there'd be at least 2 or 3 of them showing up in every year's draft.
But maybe someone's got one of his old hair brushes, and we could clone him.
Telemachus
Starter
When fans say that we're one good player away from contention, I usually figure that they mean this guy or Oscar Robertson.
Where are all the Wilt Jr.s that might have been expected to enter the draft?
You would think that there would be more than a few considering ALL the women he claimed to have had sex with.
I doubt it.
Just see the highlights. Nobody really guards him and he seems too slow for the current style of NBA plays.
coolhandluke
Starter
I'm going to assume you're too young to have ever really learned much about Wilt. You doubt if he would be a success in today's game? You're entitled to your opinion but proper decorum and a wish to practice what I preach actually prevents me from making a pretty strong criticism of that opinion...
I'll just repeat the obvious:
Widowmaker2k
Bench
I disagree completely. I don't think he'd be as dominant as he was then, but he'd still be incredible (consider he'd get the benefit of modern sports medicine and conditioning techniques). I don't know where you're getting slow, he wasn't slow. In fact, he was an accomplished track and field athlete before he was a basketball player. Also, he was playing in the same league (which was then much smaller) as Bill Russell, who was one of the best defensive centers in history. So it's not like he faced weak competition (and contrary to popular belief, there were a lot of full sized NBA bigs in those days. To steal from a poster on RealGM from this thread, the starting centers for the 1962 season were as follows:
Walt Bellamy 6'11", 225; Clyde Lovelette 6'9", 234; Walter Dukes 7'0", 220; Wayne Embry 6'8", 240; Jim Krebs 6'8", 230; Darrell Imhoff 6'10", 220; Red Kerr 6'9", 230; Wilt Chamberlian 7'1", 275; Bill Russell 6'9", 215
Those measurements are barefoot, and that puts the average height (without shoes) at roughly 6'10". Add the customary 1 to 2 inches that modern players get, and the competition he faced was as big, if not bigger, than in the modern NBA.
If he played today, he's certainly the best big man in the league, and potentially the best overall player. Take Greg Oden for example: Had he been injury free, he was predicted to be a franchise player at center. Wilt was bigger, stronger, and more athletic (not to mention infinitely better on offense).
And defense. I remember one game where a reporter noticed Wilt having a good night on blocks, so, even though blocks weren't an NBA stat yet, he counted them. Eighteen.
Insomniacal Fan
Starter
Finesse game in a Power body
It is not to downgrade Wilt as a basketball player. I would say he is probably the best and the most dominant player during his time. But I don't believe that he would be kicking-a**es and just as dominant in todays NBA game.
If you have a time machine and abduct Wilt from when he was at peak of his game, Wilt will dominate the Summer League, or probably the Euro League, but not the current NBA games.
And don't use those measurements of centers during his days. It will just show how far NBA centers of today have evolved.
Did you notice the weights of those seemingly toothpick-centers playing around Wilt?
Do you think those malnourished-centers can stop the likes of Howard, Shaq, or even the power forwards ( like our very own JT) of todays NBA?
A
AriesMar27
Guest
they would shut howard down... hell a softy like pau gasol shut howard down. shaq was the man... and in 20 years people like you will be saying the same thing about him. wilt was an amazing player who had offensive skills that howard and thompson wished they could have. more importantly their were much harder fouls back then as well. i dont think that the players today are mentally tough enough to take those hits while only making 50k a year.... or whatever amountt hat they were making back then.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Wilt also played against such players as Jabbar, Willis Reed, and Moses Malone. In the finals against the Bucks, he twice blocked Jabbar's skyhook. He was a track and field man in college as well as being a world class volley ball player. He once broke the wrist of an opposing player that was trying to block one of his dunks. He may not have looked strong to you, but he is recognized as one of the strongest players to ever suit up in the NBA.
Having seen him play in person many times, I can guarrantee you he would be just as dominate today as he was then. He was one of a kind, just as Shaq is one of a kind. Thirty years from now people will be saying the same thing about Jordan and Shaq and LeBron. The current crowd always thinks the now is an improved version of the past. Its true in general terms. But there are exceptions, and Wilt was one of those exceptions.
You're basing all of this merely on a bunch of statistics and video clips, right? Had you ever watched Wilt play, you wouldn't be making these comments. The dude not only HAD game, he had game at a level that would easily translate into today's game.
It's not about weight or "malnourished centers"... It's about a fundamental knowledge of the game of basketball AND a skillset that had to be seen to be believed.
Comparing JT to Wilt? Yeah, right. Wilt would wipe the floor with poor Jason and not even look back. And it would be done with skill and finesse.
It's not just about bulk and muscle mass. It's about knowing the game. And Wilt knew it about as well as anyone to ever wear a jersey.
Maybe you were mistaken on which era you were talking when you mentioned there were " harder fouls " as if it was really the norm during the old days. If you could only be honest to yourself, you would say it is seldom you will see that much hard physical contact on yesterday's basketball ( especially on the clips showed by the OP ) compared to present times - and that was the norm.
And yes. You are right in thinking those malnourished 215 to 240 pounder and undersized-centers of yesterday's basketball will shutdown Howard - the way the 260 pounder 7-ft center softie Pau Gasol does right now.
Are you serious when you said that?
The clips offered by the OP clearly enlighten us how the game and players have evolved through time. I dare you to watch the clips again. Defense in those games were mostly the kind of defense thrown by the Kings last season - very soft, minimally-challenging, lesser physical contact, and also wanting some athleticism. That was the kind of challenge Wilt had played in and dominated.
Honestly, even at his highest peak, I don't think the great Wilt of yesterday will be as dominant in todays NBA where he would be playing against more athletic, more competitive, stronger, and well-built crop of centers.
I respect our elders, but not to the extent that I have to lie.
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Telemachus
Starter
Maybe you were mistaken on which era you were talking when you mentioned there were " harder fouls " as if it was really the norm during the old days. If you could only be honest to yourself, you would say it is seldom you will see that much hard physical contact on yesterday's basketball ( especially on the clips showed by the OP ) compared to present times - and that was the norm.
And yes. You are right for thinking those malnourished 215 to 240 pounder and undersized-centers of yesterday's basketball will shutdown Howard - the way the 260 pounder 7-ft center softie Pau Gasol does right now.
Are you serious when you said that?
The clips offered by the OP clearly enlighten us how the game and players have evolved through time. I dare you to watch the clips again. Defense in those games were mostly the kind of defense thrown by the Kings last season - very soft, minimally-challenging, lesser physical contact, and also wanting some athleticism. That was the kind of challenge Wilt had played in and dominated.
Honestly, even at his highest peak, I don't think the great Wilt of yesterday will be as dominant in todays NBA where he would be playing against more athletic, more competitive, stronger, and well-built crop of centers.
I respect our elders, but not to the extent that I have to lie.
Some other things to take into consideration is how much easier things are for the current players. It was not uncommon for teams to play 3 days in a row back then. They also traveled by commercial flight OR by bus (something you would never see today). Not to mention how they didn't stay in 5 star hotels (or anything even close). Now throw in the fact that the off-season meant working full time in whatever type of work they could find (didn't make enough playing basketball). That means not being able to take the off-season to work on their games and follow a plan given to them by a trainer.
I will also throw out there how I have heard a couple of players who played against Wilt mention how his game was actually more suited for today's game than it was for his own time.
Please stop now. There's still time for you to figure out just how dominant Wilt was. You don't just poop out 100 pt games because everyone else sucks. Fouls really were harder "back in the day", because there was no union, no David Stern protecting his pampered stars.
I am not from that era, but I know enough of the game to understand why everyone else is taking such a strong stand here. I suggest you do the same, and you'll appreciate these conversations a lot more. It isn't just some old fuddy-duddies talking about the single wing formation and how Rockne ruined football with the forward pass.
Maybe you were mistaken on which era you were talking when you mentioned there were " harder fouls " as if it was really the norm during the old days. If you could only be honest to yourself, you would say it is seldom you will see that much hard physical contact on yesterday's basketball ( especially on the clips showed by the OP ) compared to present times - and that was the norm.
And yes. You are right in thinking those malnourished 215 to 240 pounder and undersized-centers of yesterday's basketball will shutdown Howard - the way the 260 pounder 7-ft center softie Pau Gasol does right now.
Are you serious when you said that?
The clips offered by the OP clearly enlighten us how the game and players have evolved through time. I dare you to watch the clips again. Defense in those games were mostly the kind of defense thrown by the Kings last season - very soft, minimally-challenging, lesser physical contact, and also wanting some athleticism. That was the kind of challenge Wilt had played in and dominated.
Honestly, even at his highest peak, I don't think the great Wilt of yesterday will be as dominant in todays NBA where he would be playing against more athletic, more competitive, stronger, and well-built crop of centers.
I respect our elders, but not to the extent that I have to lie.
That comment, in and of itself, is quite possibly the dumbest thing I've seen posted on this board...or any other...in a very long time.
(and please note...I'm referring to the comment and not the poster)
Dare to explain why?
Did you watch those clips, or any other Wilt's game for that matter?
You don't need to state that the comment made is dumb. What is dumb is a comment criticizing another comment without any reason to support her case.
Did you offer any reason why the comment is dumb?
I think I will and I should, especially that no one really refuted my reasons for not believing Wilt will be as dominant ( as he did before ) in this current era of NBA.
Thanks for the advise.
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Dare to explain why?
Did you watch those clips, or any other Wilt's game for that matter?
You don't need to state that the comment made is dumb. What is dumb is a comment criticizing another comment without any reason to support her case.
Did you offer any reason why the comment is dumb?
Much like you cannot teach a goldfish the tango, I see no reason to hope that you'll ever understand about players like Wilt Chamberlain. I didn't need to watch clips; I watched Wilt back in the day IN CONTEXT of whole games.
I'll give you one particular comment where you are exposing your own lack of expertise in the area: Old-time defense was not soft; it was not lacking in athleticism; and it was certainly NOT less contact.
Today's basketball is much softer than what some teams played way back when, especially east coast teams.
If you do not want to accept that your opinion is clearly in the minority (most likely because you're totally and completely wrong), that's your choice. But don't blame any of us who have exposed the flaws in your "arguments" ...
In other news, the moon is not made of green cheese, either.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Dare to explain why?
Did you watch those clips, or any other Wilt's game for that matter?
You don't need to state that the comment made is dumb. What is dumb is a comment criticizing another comment without any reason to support her case.
Did you offer any reason why the comment is dumb?
My friend, I don't have to look at youtube films to come to any decision on Wilt. I saw him play in person. And for you to say that all he played against was 210 pound weaklings is just plain ignorance on your part. Do you think Nate Thurman was a 210 pound weakling? Charlie Share, who I know you never heard of was the center for the St Louis Hawks and he was 6'11" and weighed 270 pounds. He played against Jabbar in the NBA finals. I suspose that Jabbar was a scrub to you. He played against Bill Russell, considered by many the greatest defensive center of all time, except Bill Russell who stated the Wilt was the best defensive center of all time.
I'm sure that Wilt would be in terror of the Collins twins. How about Brad Miller or the 6'8" Ben Wallace. Wilt was 7'2" in his stocking feet. He was stronger and quicker than Yao. Do you think he would have been in awe of Brynum, or Nesterovic. How about Darko Milicic? Think Mutombo with more athleticism and great offensive skills. He was a better shot blocker and rebounder than Mutombo. You went so far as to pick out Howard. Well, he had more offensive skills than Howard. He was bigger than howard, but at least Howard could have played with him. Also Shaq. Look around the league and name me all the great centers that would have dominated Wilt.
Wilt averaged 30 points and 22.9 rebounds for his career. The only person close to him in rebounds was Russell at 22.5 rebounds.
Here are some of the scrubs that Wilt had to play against.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar - HOF -11.2 RPG
Walt Bellamy -HOF- 13.7 RPG
Dan Issel - HOF - 10.9 RPG
Bob Lanier- HOF - 10.1 RPG
Clyde Lovellette - HOF - 9.5 RPG
Bill Russell - HOF - 22.5 RPG
Nate Thurman - HOF - 15.0 RPG
Wes Unseld - HOF - 14.0 RPG
Willis Reed - HOF -12.9 RPG
Other asundry scrubs he played against were
Sam Lacey - 9.7 RPG
Darrall Imhoff - 7.6 RPG
Wayne Embry - 9.1 RPG
Zelmo Beaty - 13.7 RPG
He played against a virtual who's who of centers, most of whom are in the hall of fame. Toward the end of his career, his offensive numbers went down because the Lakers asked him to give up his offense and just defend and rebound. They didn't need his offense with the likes of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West and company on the team. If you had been able to watch the game back then you would realize the it was much more physcial. You could hand check in those days. The rules hadn't been changed to favor the offensive players yet. They often played three days in a row.
Guys like Sam Lacy, Unseld, Thurman, Lanier, Imhoff, Beaty, and Issel made a living beating up on the other teams players. Thurman was a great shotblocker. There are some great players today, and I'm not trying to take anything away from them, but please don't denigrate some of the greats from the past years.
I starting watching NBA basketball around 1957. I had the pleasure of knowing for a brief time in my life Bob Pettit, who I swear McHale patterned his game after. In all my years of watching Pro Ball, I have never seen anyone that could match up with Wilt. I have never seen a big man that athletic, strong, and skilled on both ends of the court. As I said, thirty years from now, guys like you will be saying that Jordan wouldn't be able to play in todays league. Newer isn't always better.
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