There are a lot of arguments about the greatest NBA player ever.

[UK HEMINGWAY]

Wilt was insane. My favorite stat of his. He led the league in assists as a center.
Jordan is the most complete player. Offense , defense, shooting and winning.
Kareem and Russell are out because they were surrounded by so much talent, Jordan only had Pippen and we saw what he was like when Mike wasn't around, very average player.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

My top 10
1. Lebron
2. Jordan
3. Kareem
4. Magic
5. Shaq
6. Bird
7. Kobe
8. Duncan
9. Wilt
10. One of Russell or Hakeem

You must be 12.

 

[bluejohnson]

MJ and there is no argument. Anyone that has LeBron? Pleaae turn in your fan card lol

 

[rupp876]

The Paul Bunyon stories...never ceases to amaze me.

The NFL bench record is Stephen Paea who did 225lbs 49x. He is 6'1, 300lbs...this calculated out to a max of roughly 590.

There is no way that Wilt benched 500 pounds. His arms were too freaking long. Arnold Schwarzenegger's max was 500 😂

Just because you are ignorant of something does not make it a tall tale. Look up interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about working out with Wilt. He said he was significantly stronger than any of the body builders. He witnessed many of these things you consider myth. Wilt was also undefeated in his shot put career. He won the Big Eight high jump 3 years in a row. He also won the triple jump. He ran a 49 second 440 and the 880 in under 2 minutes. His conditioning was exceptional. He averaged over 48 minutes a game for an entire NBA Season. He also averaged over 50 points and 25 boards that year. All of this is pretty easy to verify.

 

[rupp876]

MJ and there is no argument. Anyone that has LeBron? Pleaae turn in your fan card lol

Jordan scored over 50 an impressive 31 times in his career, good for 2nd all time. Wilt did it 40 times in one season.

 

[Tsass_27]

You must be 12.

You’re really not gonna like it in about a year or two when kd and Steph are in it 🥴

 

[wentzel25]

His first season back he played 7 games before the playoffs. They then lost to the Magic in ECF iirc.

That was after he sat out for almost 2 full seasons. This was the repeat season for the Rockets.

The Rockets won vs Knicks in 94 and Magic in 95.

Jordan's first season back they started their second 3peat.

You made me go and look it up. He played the last 17 regular season games. Also, yeah he sat out by being a professional athlete in a different sport, it's not like he was on the couch.
The Bulls just got beat. Again, this is why the "he'd have won 8 in a row" argument is so silly to me, and frankly annoys me, people just want to hand him extra rings he didn't earn.

 

[STL_Cat]

You made me go and look it up. He played the last 17 regular season games. Also, yeah he sat out by being a professional athlete in a different sport, it's not like he was on the couch.
The Bulls just got beat. Again, this is why the "he'd have won 8 in a row" argument is so silly to me, and frankly annoys me, people just want to hand him extra rings he didn't earn.

I'm comfortable with the 6x Finals MVP stat standing on it's own

GOAT

 

[jwphelps]

Most discussions center around Jordan, Lebron and Kobe but I am curious why there is no love for Wilt Chamberlain? I was just looking at his stats and in the history of the NBA there has been 74 times that a player scored 60+ points in a game. Of those 74 times Chamberlain did it 32 of them. As a comparison Kobe had 6, Jordan 5, Elgin Baylor and James Hardin 4 and Lebron James 1.

He not only was a scoring machine but holds countless rebounding records that will never be broken. He once rebounded 55 in a game. He average 25+ for the season on 3 different occasions. He also led the league in rebounding 11 seasons which is the record. They didn't keep blocked shot stats for his entire career but the 112 games he played in, once they started keeping the stats, he average 8.8 blocks per game. Keep in mind this was near the end of his career. As a comparison the NBA all time leader is Mark Eaton at 3.5 per game. Due to the limited number of games and blocks Chamberlain isn't in the list.

The dude was unstoppable and yet nobody talks about him. Just scroll through his records in the link below and look at the ones he still holds and some will never be broken. Is it just because of his size advantage that people discount what he was able to do?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Wilt_Chamberlain#NBA_rebounding_records

Good question, if you look at what he did I am not sure anybody will replicate that. Maybe because he left the game when he still had plenty in the tank?????

 

[USMC Cat]

That is utter foolishness if you're serious.

The NBA was a different “world” in the 60s and 70s, with the Los Angeles Lakers’ legend Jerry West talking to “NBA on TNT” host Ernie Johnson about the time he was playing.

West revealed that players were doing other jobs, after the end of the season, due to the low wages in the NBA. As a result, “no one trained year-round then,” West noted.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

The NBA was a different “world” in the 60s and 70s, with the Los Angeles Lakers’ legend Jerry West talking to “NBA on TNT” host Ernie Johnson about the time he was playing.

West revealed that players were doing other jobs, after the end of the season, due to the low wages in the NBA. As a result, “no one trained year-round then,” West noted.

Nope same thing in baseball as well. Dad got called up to the Cardinals but turned it down because of pay

 

[ruppcat]

Ok, I am not sure what your point is.

No, Jordan didn't beat Bird/McHale/Parrish/Johnson/Ainge, so on...he did drop 63 on them which according to you doesn't matter.

He did however beat a slew of the Top 50 players all time in route to winning 6 titles and 6 finals MVPs.

I don't have to argue his credentials they are pretty clear.

Point is it doesn't really matter how much you score if you lose.

Again, not saying I don't like MJ.

 

[ruppcat]

Nope same thing in baseball as well. Dad got called up to the Cardinals but turned it down because of pay

Wish those wages would return to those ranges for all pro sports.

Might make players appreciate the hard working folks in this country.

 

[Ben101er]

Jordan scored over 50 an impressive 31 times in his career, good for 2nd all time. Wilt did it 40 times in one season.

Wilt scored over 50 pts 118 times. He had 55 rebounds in one game, and almost 24,000 for his career. Rod Thorn said there was a fight during a game, and Wilt reached down to pick up a team mate. Thorn said he picked him up with one hand, like he was a feather, and the guy was 6'8" and weighed 220.

 

[wentzel25]

I'm comfortable with the 6x Finals MVP stat standing on it's own

GOAT

It's that same weird logic that losing before you get to the Finals makes you better than making it there then losing.

 

[Ben101er]

It's that same weird logic that losing before you get to the Finals makes you better than making it there then losing.

Agree. Just because another player wasn't surrounded by a good team to get him to the finals doesn't make one player better than another.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Ya those guys back then are just not as athletic.

You know evolution.

Just think in the year 1800 man was walking on all 4s.

 

[warrior-cat]

For me? Magic Johnson hands down because, he could play every position and did very well in all of them.

 

[turkeywildturkey]

Most discussions center around Jordan, Lebron and Kobe but I am curious why there is no love for Wilt Chamberlain? I was just looking at his stats and in the history of the NBA there has been 74 times that a player scored 60+ points in a game. Of those 74 times Chamberlain did it 32 of them. As a comparison Kobe had 6, Jordan 5, Elgin Baylor and James Hardin 4 and Lebron James 1.

He not only was a scoring machine but holds countless rebounding records that will never be broken. He once rebounded 55 in a game. He average 25+ for the season on 3 different occasions. He also led the league in rebounding 11 seasons which is the record. They didn't keep blocked shot stats for his entire career but the 112 games he played in, once they started keeping the stats, he average 8.8 blocks per game. Keep in mind this was near the end of his career. As a comparison the NBA all time leader is Mark Eaton at 3.5 per game. Due to the limited number of games and blocks Chamberlain isn't in the list.

The dude was unstoppable and yet nobody talks about him. Just scroll through his records in the link below and look at the ones he still holds and some will never be broken. Is it just because of his size advantage that people discount what he was able to do?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Wilt_Chamberlain#NBA_rebounding_records

Wilt Chamberlain.

 

[bigbluedon]

Most discussions center around Jordan, Lebron and Kobe but I am curious why there is no love for Wilt Chamberlain? I was just looking at his stats and in the history of the NBA there has been 74 times that a player scored 60+ points in a game. Of those 74 times Chamberlain did it 32 of them. As a comparison Kobe had 6, Jordan 5, Elgin Baylor and James Hardin 4 and Lebron James 1.

He not only was a scoring machine but holds countless rebounding records that will never be broken. He once rebounded 55 in a game. He average 25+ for the season on 3 different occasions. He also led the league in rebounding 11 seasons which is the record. They didn't keep blocked shot stats for his entire career but the 112 games he played in, once they started keeping the stats, he average 8.8 blocks per game. Keep in mind this was near the end of his career. As a comparison the NBA all time leader is Mark Eaton at 3.5 per game. Due to the limited number of games and blocks Chamberlain isn't in the list.

The dude was unstoppable and yet nobody talks about him. Just scroll through his records in the link below and look at the ones he still holds and some will never be broken. Is it just because of his size advantage that people discount what he was able to do?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Wilt_Chamberlain#NBA_rebounding_records

Let me correct you Creed. Nobody that was born mid 1980’s and after talk about him. They only see those players like Jordan and Shaq etc and think no one could top them. I watched Wilt play a lot and he is in my top 3 as the greatest. You will get no argument from me on Wilt.

 

[bigbluedon]

It is Jordan for God's sake and it isn't even an argument.

Lol.

 

[bigbluedon]

I can tell you never saw Wilt play either. If Shaq would have played in Wilt's time he would have fouled out every game in less than a half. The superstars were not proptected like they are today. This started with Jordan, it was and is still today about how much money they can bring in than about the actual game of basketball.

Bingo. Nailed it. How many times you ever see a ref call a walk on Jordan or call him for fending off with his off hand driving/ shooting? Answer: never. Wilt was the best and it’s not that close.

 

[topps coach]

The Paul Bunyon stories...never ceases to amaze me.

The NFL bench record is Stephen Paea who did 225lbs 49x. He is 6'1, 300lbs...this calculated out to a max of roughly 590.

There is no way that Wilt benched 500 pounds. His arms were too freaking long. Arnold Schwarzenegger's max was 500 😂

Arnold had publically admitted that Wilt was stronger than and the other body builders that he worked out with

 

[topps coach]

I have seen most of the great NBA players in person since the 60s.
No question in my mind Wilt was/is the greatest NBA player to ever play the game.
It wasn’t just his height or mobility but his off the chart strength.
Wilt was interviewed once and he was ask about MJ. He said first time MJ drove the lane and sticking his tongue out and taking 3 or 4 steps to get to the basket he would clothesline him. He said I would reach down and pick him up and simply say “you every do the shit again and next time I’ll kill you “

Wilt once told MJ that little man they changed the rules to help you but they changed the rules to stop me

 

[JonathanW]

Size and era.

When people start trying to compare cross era/style of play, I think most believe his numbers wouldn’t have been nowhere near that.

For example, put AD or Giannis or even Embid (hate the guy) in that era and they are freak anomalies as well and likely have exaggerated stat lines compared to what they typically post today

I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. Think about other improvements in training and skills since then, put Wilt in the current era and maybe he learns how to make FTs, maybe he is even more of an athletic freak, who knows.

I think the real reason is that fair or not, to some degree even though it is a team sport players are assessed by how many championships they won. Same for other sports.

 

[rupp876]

Wilt was insane. My favorite stat of his. He led the league in assists as a center.
Jordan is the most complete player. Offense , defense, shooting and winning.
Kareem and Russell are out because they were surrounded by so much talent, Jordan only had Pippen and we saw what he was like when Mike wasn't around, very average player.

That take on Pippen is absurd.

 

[UK HEMINGWAY]

That take on Pippen is absurd.

I think Pippin is a stud. But below average shooter. Made zero clutch shots in his career. Not a leader at all.

 

[ACTSEAN]

Wilt was the greatest athlete to ever walk the earth

And enter Bo Jackson

 

[RunninRichie]

And enter Bo Jackson

nope. Wilt is better, Bo is 2nd.

 

[ACTSEAN]

nope. Wilt is better, Bo is 2nd.

That’s hard to argue, crossing eras and sports is tough thing to do. But Like Wilt could help he was just bigger than people. He shouldn’t get dinged because of that

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

I take it that none of you guys clicked on the video I posted above to show the athleticism of Russell who is never talked about being the athlete like Chamberlain was.

If Russell could do what he did in that video and it was nonchalant and Wilt was highly praised for what he could do.... don't ya think that Wilt was legit?

He was also over 7'1 barefoot not in shoes. He also had no neck and if he had a long neck like Kareem he prob would be like 7'4. As rookie he weighed 250 but ended up being over 300lbs.
Theirs pics of him and Shaq standing side by side and Wilt was bigger than Shaq.
Everyone knows as you age you start to shrink when you get older because of compression

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

That’s hard to argue, crossing eras and sports is tough thing to do. But Like Wilt could help he was just bigger than people. He shouldn’t get dinged because of that

Wilt played many sports

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Watch this.

 

[ironhorse_]

Any GOAT discussion begins and ends with Wilt Chamberlain.

 

[DWDwildcat47]

Wilt couldn't beat a great Bill Russell and the magical Celtics.

Wilt never had the surrounding cast that Russell had, switch teams between them and and the number of championships are reversed

 

[DWDwildcat47]

Wilt, stronger than Shaq? Come on now.

You had to see it to believe it

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Just because you are ignorant of something does not make it a tall tale. Look up interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about working out with Wilt. He said he was significantly stronger than any of the body builders. He witnessed many of these things you consider myth. Wilt was also undefeated in his shot put career. He won the Big Eight high jump 3 years in a row. He also won the triple jump. He ran a 49 second 440 and the 880 in under 2 minutes. His conditioning was exceptional. He averaged over 48 minutes a game for an entire NBA Season. He also averaged over 50 points and 25 boards that year. All of this is pretty easy to verify.

There is little doubt Wilt was the greatest athlete to ever play pro basketball, his numbers in many categories will never be duplicated. The guy was playing pro volleyball in his late 50’s. Had he played in the era of high tech media he would be more famous than Bade Ruth. The only two athletes that are in the same conversation to me , are Jim Thorpe and Jim Brown.

 

[lakercat]

He might not be GOAT yet, but Steph Curry needs to be in the conversation; what he has been doing for the last six weeks is unheard of, and is not likely to be replicated. It's MJ for now, but Steph is probably top five, and moving quickly.

 

[king of cali]

Wilt never had the surrounding cast that Russell had, switch teams between them and and the number of championships are reversed

That is false. It is a myth that Wilt played with bums and Russell only played with All Stars. Go look it up. They both played with nearly the same amount of HOFers and All Stars. Russell didn’t have some huge advantage. The difference was in how the approached the game. Russell only cared about making his team better. Wilt cared about putting himself in the best possible light. That’s why he lost over and over despite the gargantuan numbers.