Does anyone honestly think Wilt would come into today's NBA and average 40+

[Railgun]

Honestly.

[navy]

No.

[ballin33]

Of course not, I do however think 1987 Michael Jordan put on a team like the 76ers would be able to average 40.

[HylianNightmare]

not in this era

[LAZERUSS]

Easily 35+ and on a much better efficiency than what he shot in his own era.

[iamgine]

A useful link so you don't have to scroll too much:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=288191

[Railgun]

All the footage I've seen of Wilt he looks stiff and awkward in the post. He's probably slightly better than Dwight in this era, but he's still an awful freethrow shooter and his defense is questionable.

[Smook A.]

Hell no.

1. The game has changed. Almost every game in the 60s would go past 110 points. The league average for points in 1962 was around 118. That was the AVERAGE. These days, the average is less than 100 points per game. Put simply, the game has slowed down. Players run more plays and take smarter shots.

2. More athletes in today's game. When Wilt was drafted, he was 1 of 2 seven footers in the league. Nowadays, most teams have at least 1 seven footer. Also, the league was a lot less athletic and Wilt was way ahead of his time so no one could guard him. If you drop Shaq or Robinson in the 60s, I'm sure they would have been able to drop 100 as well.

3. Wilt scored 100 in 1962, the same year he averaged 50 points per game. But you know what? He played 48.5 minutes a game (including overtimes) and took almost 40 shots a game. These days, very few players play more than 40 minutes a game and NO ONE takes 40 shots a game on a consistent basis. Wilt wouldn't get the shots or the time to score 100.

Also back in his era, guys would dominate on the boards because of less competition and less taller guys
For example: In 1971/72 the rebounding leaders were...
1) Wilt - 19.2 rpg
2) Wes Unseld - 17.6 rpg
3) Kareem - 16.6 rpg

Today the top 3 rebounders are...
1) DeAndre Jordan - 13.7 rpg
2) Andre Drummond - 13.2 rpg
3) Kevin Love - 12.5 rpg

If Wilt was playing in his prime today, he wouldnt be as good as he was in the 60s, or 70s. I think today he'd be averaging around 24 ppg and 13 rpg

[TheMarkMadsen]

Hell no.

1. The game has changed. Almost every game in the 60s would go past 110 points. The league average for points in 1962 was around 118. That was the AVERAGE. These days, the average is less than 100 points per game. Put simply, the game has slowed down. Players run more plays and take smarter shots.

2. More athletes in today's game. When Wilt was drafted, he was 1 of 2 seven footers in the league. Nowadays, most teams have at least 1 seven footer. Also, the league was a lot less athletic and Wilt was way ahead of his time so no one could guard him. If you drop Shaq or Robinson in the 60s, I'm sure they would have been able to drop 100 as well.

3. Wilt scored 100 in 1962, the same year he averaged 50 points per game. But you know what? He played 48.5 minutes a game (including overtimes) and took almost 40 shots a game. These days, very few players play more than 40 minutes a game and NO ONE takes 40 shots a game on a consistent basis. Wilt wouldn't get the shots or the time to score 100.

Also back in his era, guys would dominate on the boards.
For example: In 1971/72 the rebounding leaders were...
1) Wilt - 19.2 rpg
2) Wes Unseld - 17.6 rpg
3) Kareem - 16.6 rpg

Today the top 3 rebounders are...
1) DeAndre Jordan - 13.7 rpg
2) Andre Drummond - 13.2 rpg
3) Kevin Love - 12.5 rpg

If Wilt was playing in his prime today, he wouldnt be as good as he was in the 60s, or 70s. I think today he'd be averaging around 24 ppg and 13 rpg

You say he wouldn't be as good as he was in his day and then throw out a stat line that would make him the best big in the league easily and a top 5 player

[navy]

You say he wouldn't be as good as he was in his day and then throw out a stat line that would make him the best big in the league easily and a top 5 player
As good as in 50ppg good. Which is absurd.

[Boarder Patrol]

Not a chance.

But Wilt did have supreme athleticism, length, touch around the basket, strength, motor, etc.

I think he'd of been like 24/12 on 55%+

Peak seasons around 26, 27 a game.

[ThePhantomCreep]

Even adjusting for pace, he's no worse than the second best rebounder of all-time behind Rodman. He's a 25/14 player in this era, but no way does he average 40 a game.

[Smook A.]

You say he wouldn't be as good as he was in his day and then throw out a stat line that would make him the best big in the league easily and a top 5 player
Do you know how inflated his stats were back then? He would average 35 and 23 every single game. Wilt also averaged 50 ppg once. Saying he would averaged 24/13 today is nothing compared to his stats in the 60s and 70s.

[Boarder Patrol]

All the footage I've seen of Wilt he looks stiff and awkward in the post. He's probably slightly better than Dwight in this era, but he's still an awful freethrow shooter and his defense is questionable.

Wilt in his later years was one of the best rim protectors in the league.

[toxicxr6]

Most overrated player of all time
He played against mainly scrubs
Today he is 20/10 player at absolute best and I wouldn't be surprised if he was more 15/8

[TheMarkMadsen]

Do you know how inflated his stats were back then? He would average 35 and 23 every single game. Wilt also averaged 50 ppg once. Saying he would averaged 24/13 today is nothing compared to his stats in the 60s and 70s.

but you do believe that he would still be the best in the league and a top player?

he wouldn't be averaging 40-50+ in this era,but he'd still be the best big in the league..

which is basically what he was during his time..

so if he could be the best big in multiple eras.. why we hatin :confusedshrug:

[Rocketswin2013]

25/14/3 61% TS.

No way a guy who plays with his back to the basket scores 40+. Only way I see that is if his FT shooting improved dramatically and he was on a mediocre team.

[LAZERUSS]

Let's reduce Wilt's '62 season FGAs and FTAs down to 2014 levels...

In '62 Wilt averaged 39.5 FGAs per game, and 17.0 FTAs per game, in a league which averaged 108 FGAs and 37 FTAs per game.

How about today's NBA?

83 FGA and 23 FTA per game.

83/108 = .768
.768 x 39.5 = 30.4 FGA per game.

Wilt shot .506 from the field in '62, BUT, you if you are going to reduce Wilt's FGAs to 2014 levels, you HAVE to adjust his eFG% to 2014 levels, as well (go ahead and do the math...if you don't adjust for eFG%'s, then the teams of '62 would average about 87 ppg in 2014, instead of the actual 101.)

So, Wilt's '62 NBA had an eFG% of .426. Today's NBA is at .501.

.501 / .426 = 1.18
1.176 x .506 = .595.

So, a '62 Wilt, playing in 2014, would be shooting an eFG% of .595.

30.4 x .595 = 18.1 FGM in 2014. 18.1 x 2 = 36.2 ppg, just on his FGAs.


His 17 FTAs per game came in a league that averaged 37 FTAs per game.
The current NBA is averaging 23 FTA per game.
23 / 37 = .622

Wilt's 17 FTAs in '62 drop to :

17 x .622 = 10.6 FTA per game.

Wilt shot .613 from the line in '62.

10.6 x .613 = 6.5 FTM in '2014.

36.2 ppg on his FGA and 6.5 ppg on his FTM = 42.7 ppg.


Of course, we could do the SIMPLE MATH, as well.

Wilt's '62 NBA averaged 118.8 ppg.
Today's NBA is averaging 100.9 ppg.

100.9 / 118.8 = .849

50.6 x .849 = 42.97 or 43 ppg in 2014.


Now, would Chamberlain play 48.5 mpg in 2014? Of course not, but he would lead the league. So, let's cut his mpg down to 40 mpg.

40.0 / 48.5 = .825

.825 x 43.0 = 35.5 ppg, and on a .595 eFG%.

BTW, if you reduce Wilt's mpg, his EFFICIENCY would naturally rise. So that .595 might become .610 or higher.

In any case, a '62 Wilt, playing 40 mpg in the 2014 season...

35.5 ppg on a .595 eFG%.

[Marchesk]

For example: In 1971/72 the rebounding leaders were...
1) Wilt - 19.2 rpg
2) Wes Unseld - 17.6 rpg
3) Kareem - 16.6 rpg

Today the top 3 rebounders are...
1) DeAndre Jordan - 13.7 rpg
2) Andre Drummond - 13.2 rpg
3) Kevin Love - 12.5 rpg

If Wilt was playing in his prime today, he wouldnt be as good as he was in the 60s, or 70s. I think today he'd be averaging around 24 ppg and 13 rpg

So Wilt, near the end of his career, was outrebounding HOF bigs, and yet you have him grab less rebounds than Jordan and Drummond in this era? :coleman:

[fpliii]

As good as in 50ppg good. Which is absurd.
Not sure about 40. But if we look at his time on teams when he was asked to score (but not score 50 a night), and had shooters to space the floor (note: TS% numbers are adjusted for 3-for-2 and 2-for-1 FTA situations in penalties):

64-65 (PHI) 30.1ppg on .528 FG%/.547 TS% (35G, 22.3rpg/3.8apg)
64-65 playoffs (PHI) 29.3ppg .530 FG%/.560 TS% (11G, 27.2rpg/4.4apg)
65-66 (PHI) 33.5ppg on .540 FG%/.556 TS% (79G, 22.3rpg/3.8apg)
65-66 playoffs (PHI) 28.0ppg on .509 FG%/.511 TS% (5G, 30.2rpg/3.0apg)
*69-70 (LAL) 32.2ppg on .579 FG%/.574 TS% (9G, 20.6rpg/3.4apg)

*before severe knee injury ending his prime

No clue what he'd do today, but the 40-50 points a game numbers are a bit much IMO. :confusedshrug:

[Smook A.]

So Wilt, near the end of his career, was outrebounding HOF bigs, and yet you have him grab less rebounds than Jordan and Drummond in this era? :coleman:
In 1971/72 he was 36 years old. Do you know how hard it is to grab 20 rpg at the age of 36?? No one has ever done that. Thats why you dont see guys doing that today because these is wayy more competition.

Wilt would grab alot of boards because guys back then weren't as athletic as they are today. Plus, teams didnt have alot of big guys on their team.

[Marchesk]

Also, consider the competition at center nowadays. Everyone agrees that the modern game lacks dominant bigs. This wasn't the case during Wilt's era. He battled multiple HOFers including two GOAT bigs in Russell and Kareem, and then a GOAT defender in Thurmond.

You guys are putting Wilt's numbers at around 25, but who is guarding him in this league? Yeah, he's not getting the same number of shots or minutes, and the game has changed to favor the permiter, but if drop prime Shaq into today's game, anyone going to put him down for less than 30? What about Kareem?

Wilt's peak is at least as good as Kareem and Shaq's, and arguably better.

[TheMarkMadsen]

In 1971/72 he was 36 years old. Do you know how hard it is to grab 20 rpg at the age of 36?? No one has ever done that. Thats why you dont see guys doing that today because these is wayy more competition.

Wilt would grab alot of boards because guys back then weren't as athletic as they are today. Plus, teams didnt have alot of big guys on their team.

:biggums:

look at the two other guys on the list you posted..

are you saying that Deandre Jordan & Andre Drummond are better competition than KAJ and Wes Unseld?

[Smook A.]

but you do believe that he would still be the best in the league and a top player?

he wouldn't be averaging 40-50+ in this era,but he'd still be the best big in the league..

which is basically what he was during his time..

so if he could be the best big in multiple eras.. why we hatin :confusedshrug:
We're just saying that he wouldnt be averaging 30+ ppg and 20+ rpg for the whole season. His numbers today would be reduced, but he would still be one of the best players in the league.

[LAZERUSS]

In 1971/72 he was 36 years old. Do you know how hard it is to grab 20 rpg at the age of 36?? No one has ever done that. Thats why you dont see guys doing that today because these is wayy more competition.

Wilt would grab alot of boards because guys back then weren't as athletic as they are today. Plus, teams didnt have alot of big guys on their team.

In his LAST post-season, and covering 17 playoff games, he averaged 22.5 rpg, and in a post-season NBA that averaged 50.6 rpg per team (today's NBA is currently averaging 42.6 rpg BTW.)

That was the LAST time a player would ever average more than 17.3 rpg in the post-season (Kareem in his 11 playoff games in '77.)

That 22.5 rpg in a post-season that averaged 50.6 rpg, translates to "down" to about 19 rpg in TODAY's NBA. And that was from a 36 year old Chamberlain.

[Marchesk]

Wilt would grab alot of boards because guys back then weren't as athletic as they are today. Plus, teams didnt have alot of big guys on their team.

You're including Kareem. You think a young Kareem isn't going to rape the centers in this league today? Who's going to keep him in check, rreaking Roy Hibbert? Chris Bosh? I know, I know, how about Kendrick Perkins?

Wilt at age 36 outrebounded a young, athletic and very mobile Kareem. There isn't a center in today's game remotely as good as KAJ.

[Railgun]

Lazeruss making shit up again. Big surprise.

[Railgun]

Wilt had little to no fluidity in anything he did. You can't just adjust numbers like that because you have to adjust for modern defenses and actually having worthy defenders.

[LAZERUSS]

Lazeruss making shit up again. Big surprise.

Go ahead and dispute MY calculations with YOUR's.

Mine are simple mathematical formulas that ADJUST for era conditions like FGA, FTA, and eFG%'s (and I even reduced Chamberlain's mpg down to realistic 2014 levels, as well.)

Now, let's see your calculations...

[Railgun]

Go ahead and dispute MY calculations with YOUR's.

Mine are simple mathematical formulas that ADJUST for era conditions like FGA, FTA, and eFG%'s (and I even reduced Chamberlain's mpg down to realistic 2014 levels, as well.)

Now, let's see your calculations...
Read my above post.

[Marchesk]

We're just saying that he wouldnt be averaging 30+ ppg and 20+ rpg for the whole season. His numbers today would be reduced, but he would still be one of the best players in the league.

Why not 30+? What do you think prime Kareem or Shaq averages today?

I'll agree on not getting 20+ rpg. But 16-18 sounds reasonable. Wilt is one of the GOAT rebounders.

[Marchesk]

Wilt had little to no fluidity in anything he did. You can't just adjust numbers like that because you have to adjust for modern defenses and actually having worthy defenders.

He looked pretty fluid in his college days, based on the highlights Cavs compiled.

[Rocketswin2013]

Why not 30+? What do you think prime Kareem or Shaq averages today?

I'll agree on not getting 20+ rpg. But 16-18 sounds reasonable. Wilt is one of the GOAT rebounders.
Well, if refs call Shaq how they call Dwight Howard today, he'd struggle to score 25 a night.

[Smook A.]

Why not 30+? What do you think prime Kareem or Shaq averages today?

I'll agree on not getting 20+ rpg. But 16-18 sounds reasonable. Wilt is one of the GOAT rebounders.
Both prime Kareem and Shaq would probably average more than 30+ ppg and 16+ rpg

We saw what prime Shaq could do in 2000. We all know how much Kareem dominated the NBA in the late 70s and 80s

[LAZERUSS]

Wilt had little to no fluidity in anything he did. You can't just adjust numbers like that because you have to adjust for modern defenses and actually having worthy defenders.


Chamberlain faced Nate Thurmond (and a peak Wilt just annhilated a PEAK Nate BTW) for much of his career.

Now, how about Kareem? A PEAK Kareem faced Thurmond in about 40 career H2H games, and shot...get this... .447 from the field against him. And in those 40 career games, Kareem had a TOTAL of FIVE 30+ point games, with a HIGH game of 34 points. (BTW, a Prime Chamberlain had SIX in 11 H2H games against Nate, which included games of 38 and 45 points.)


A 38-39 year old Kareem battled a 23-24 year old Hakeem in TEN STRAIGHT games, and averaged 33 ppg on...get this... a .621 FG%. Which included THREE games of 40+ (40, 43 and 46 points.) Hell, a 37-41 year old Kareem outscored a 23-26 year old Hakeem in their 23 career H2H's, and outshot him by a .607 to .512 margin.


Oh, and a 38-41 year old Kareem oustcored and just killed Ewing in FG% in their eight career H2H's, one of which came in a game in which KAJ outscored Patrick, 40-9, while outshooting him, 15-22 to 3-17.

Yep...Wilt faced inferior defenders alright...

[Marlo_Stanfield]

People here are so retarded. Wilt constantly face the greatest defensive Centers EVER, like for example Nate thurmornd, who is a better defender than anyone in todays league, and complete wiped them out. on great efficency.
he would either average 30/19/6 or 37/15/4:applause: :applause:
People need to get that we talk about a 7 foot 1 player who was quicker than nearly all guards today( there IS footage that proves that), jumps higher than EVERY big men today( including guys like DeAndre Jordan, again footage proves it) and who is the strongest player in NBA history including prime Shaq( again footage and his opponents and other guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger prove this. Why the fuq would Arnie lie about Wilt being the strongest man he ever met:biggums: :biggums: )
plus he was one of the best passer ever at Center so you couldnt really double him all the time. he had good post moves AND hit the fadeaway and bank shot.
he would DESTROY this era of weak big men.
omagine Wilt vs Bosh:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Chamberlain faced Nate Thurmond (and a peak Wilt just annhilated a PEAK Nate BTW) for much of his career.

Now, how about Kareem? A PEAK Kareem faced Thurmond in about 40 career H2H games, and shot...get this... .447 from the field against him. And in those 40 career games, Kareem had a TOTAL of FIVE 30+ point games, with a HIGH game of 34 points. (BTW, a Prime Chamberlain had SIX in 11 H2H games against Nate, which included games of 38 and 45 points.)


A 38-39 year old Kareem battled a 23-24 year old Hakeem in TEN STRAIGHT games, and averaged 33 ppg on...get this... a .621 FG%. Which included THREE games of 40+ (40, 43 and 46 points.) Hell, a 37-41 year old Kareem outscored a 23-26 year old Hakeem in their 23 career H2H's, and outshot him by a .607 to .512 margin.


Oh, and a 38-41 year old Kareem oustcored and just killed Ewing in FG% in their eight career H2H's, one of which came in a game in which KAJ outscored Patrick, 40-9, while outshooting him, 15-22 to 3-17.

Yep...Wilt faced inferior defenders alright...
everyone that doubts Wilts GOATNess needs to reed this post. it also proves how Wilts era, while not beeing great overall, was probably the best big men era ever.
for him to do what he did in that era was simply insane. he would have 5 rings at least too if he didnt face the greatest most stcked team in sports history every year( where he completely destroyed Russel every single time)

[The-Legend-24]

Fvck no. :roll:

Dude would be ur typical average big man.

Give me Nick Young over Wilt, anyday.

[Marchesk]

Give me Nick Young over Wilt, anyday.

Give me Muggsy Bogues over Lebron any day. What a weak era for little dudes.

[Rose'sACL]

Give me Muggsy Bogues over Lebron any day. What a weak era for little dudes.
i hope you know that the guy you are replying to is a lebron hater. He is pretending to be a lebron fan these days to make them look bad by making idiotic posts. Same for marlo.

[Round Mound]

Easily 35+ and on a much better efficiency than what he shot in his own era.

This

[ILLsmak]

Let's reduce Wilt's '62 season FGAs and FTAs down to 2014 levels...

In '62 Wilt averaged 39.5 FGAs per game, and 17.0 FTAs per game, in a league which averaged 108 FGAs and 37 FTAs per game.

How about today's NBA?

83 FGA and 23 FTA per game.

83/108 = .768
.768 x 39.5 = 30.4 FGA per game.

Wilt shot .506 from the field in '62, BUT, you if you are going to reduce Wilt's FGAs to 2014 levels, you HAVE to adjust his eFG% to 2014 levels, as well (go ahead and do the math...if you don't adjust for eFG%'s, then the teams of '62 would average about 87 ppg in 2014, instead of the actual 101.)

So, Wilt's '62 NBA had an eFG% of .426. Today's NBA is at .501.

.501 / .426 = 1.18
1.176 x .506 = .595.

So, a '62 Wilt, playing in 2014, would be shooting an eFG% of .595.

30.4 x .595 = 18.1 FGM in 2014. 18.1 x 2 = 36.2 ppg, just on his FGAs.


His 17 FTAs per game came in a league that averaged 37 FTAs per game.
The current NBA is averaging 23 FTA per game.
23 / 37 = .622

Wilt's 17 FTAs in '62 drop to :

17 x .622 = 10.6 FTA per game.

Wilt shot .613 from the line in '62.

10.6 x .613 = 6.5 FTM in '2014.

36.2 ppg on his FGA and 6.5 ppg on his FTM = 42.7 ppg.


Of course, we could do the SIMPLE MATH, as well.

Wilt's '62 NBA averaged 118.8 ppg.
Today's NBA is averaging 100.9 ppg.

100.9 / 118.8 = .849

50.6 x .849 = 42.97 or 43 ppg in 2014.


Now, would Chamberlain play 48.5 mpg in 2014? Of course not, but he would lead the league. So, let's cut his mpg down to 40 mpg.

40.0 / 48.5 = .825

.825 x 43.0 = 35.5 ppg, and on a .595 eFG%.

BTW, if you reduce Wilt's mpg, his EFFICIENCY would naturally rise. So that .595 might become .610 or higher.

In any case, a '62 Wilt, playing 40 mpg in the 2014 season...

35.5 ppg on a .595 eFG%.

No team is gonna let someone put up 40 ppg as a big. It's really a hard time for bigs in terms of scoring. I'd be surprised if another big ever scored 30 ppg given the way the rules are now.

-Smak

[BIZARRO]

Wilt is easily, to me, the most underrated player on ISH. Lazeruss and his calculations are not too far off IMO.

If Kevin Love is avg. 26 and 13, I have no trouble saying that the 50ppg Wilt would avg. 35 and 18 today. Maybe more boards actually.

Seriously, look at Wilt even at 50 and how he aged and then go to his prime. Nobody today or ever has been that physically dominant. Guy was a total freak of nature.

I think prime Wilt would hammer Kareem, let alone the garbage big men of today.

And you can add 5-6 blocks to that ppg total.

Wilt's rebounding to me is the single most underrated thing on ISH as well.

Dude was beyond a complete beast. I'll go with Jerry, Oscar, and Russell and alomsot everyone who ever played with/against Wilt over the opinions of most of you, ALL of us who never saw him play.

[CavaliersFTW]

If given his shots, easily. More likely over a long span we'd see less ppg from him than his heyday but on much much greater efficiency, he'd be putting up no less-staggering types of numbers today than he did in his heyday, they'd just be a reflection of how the game is played today vs what it was then. He'd probably shatter every efficiency record he ever put up or set back in his day in this "efficiency" focused era.

And he put up 24ppg on 68.3% in his day, in a league that due to hand-checking and rushed offenses shot much less accurately than it does now, and back when the leagues prior "record" was (his own), at about 54%... let that sink in... that's how much he was capable of raising the bar back then. His peak would likely be even more efficient today.

[LoneyROY7]

Wilt stans are so cute. It's like your grandpa telling you how he used to walk 10 miles every day just to get to school, when in reality, the school was just down the street.

[navy]

Not sure about 40. But if we look at his time on teams when he was asked to score (but not score 50 a night), and had shooters to space the floor (note: TS% numbers are adjusted for 3-for-2 and 2-for-1 FTA situations in penalties):

64-65 (PHI) 30.1ppg on .528 FG%/.547 TS% (35G, 22.3rpg/3.8apg)
64-65 playoffs (PHI) 29.3ppg .530 FG%/.560 TS% (11G, 27.2rpg/4.4apg)
65-66 (PHI) 33.5ppg on .540 FG%/.556 TS% (79G, 22.3rpg/3.8apg)
65-66 playoffs (PHI) 28.0ppg on .509 FG%/.511 TS% (5G, 30.2rpg/3.0apg)
*69-70 (LAL) 32.2ppg on .579 FG%/.574 TS% (9G, 20.6rpg/3.4apg)

*before severe knee injury ending his prime

No clue what he'd do today, but the 40-50 points a game numbers are a bit much IMO. :confusedshrug:


What I can say about Wilt is that he was dominate and was clearly the best player in the NBA bar none. You can say all you want about his choking and Bill Russel's winning, but Wilt was clearly far and away the best player in the world. You have to put an asterisk next to every current scoring or rebounding record.

That being said, I dont think it is unreasonable to believe that Wilt Chamberlain would not be anywhere near as dominate today as he was back then. I dont know of an accurate way to translate his game either. Pace adjustments still seem to be too high for my taste, and it is hard to accurately translate rule changes.


If we are to believe he is as good or better than Shaq then the stats you listed look about right. However the question remains....is he that good?

[toxicxr6]

Let's reduce Wilt's '62 season FGAs and FTAs down to 2014 levels...

In '62 Wilt averaged 39.5 FGAs per game, and 17.0 FTAs per game, in a league which averaged 108 FGAs and 37 FTAs per game.

How about today's NBA?

83 FGA and 23 FTA per game.

83/108 = .768
.768 x 39.5 = 30.4 FGA per game.

Wilt shot .506 from the field in '62, BUT, you if you are going to reduce Wilt's FGAs to 2014 levels, you HAVE to adjust his eFG% to 2014 levels, as well (go ahead and do the math...if you don't adjust for eFG%'s, then the teams of '62 would average about 87 ppg in 2014, instead of the actual 101.)

So, Wilt's '62 NBA had an eFG% of .426. Today's NBA is at .501.

.501 / .426 = 1.18
1.176 x .506 = .595.

So, a '62 Wilt, playing in 2014, would be shooting an eFG% of .595.

30.4 x .595 = 18.1 FGM in 2014. 18.1 x 2 = 36.2 ppg, just on his FGAs.


His 17 FTAs per game came in a league that averaged 37 FTAs per game.
The current NBA is averaging 23 FTA per game.
23 / 37 = .622

Wilt's 17 FTAs in '62 drop to :

17 x .622 = 10.6 FTA per game.

Wilt shot .613 from the line in '62.

10.6 x .613 = 6.5 FTM in '2014.

36.2 ppg on his FGA and 6.5 ppg on his FTM = 42.7 ppg.


Of course, we could do the SIMPLE MATH, as well.

Wilt's '62 NBA averaged 118.8 ppg.
Today's NBA is averaging 100.9 ppg.

100.9 / 118.8 = .849

50.6 x .849 = 42.97 or 43 ppg in 2014.


Now, would Chamberlain play 48.5 mpg in 2014? Of course not, but he would lead the league. So, let's cut his mpg down to 40 mpg.

40.0 / 48.5 = .825

.825 x 43.0 = 35.5 ppg, and on a .595 eFG%.

BTW, if you reduce Wilt's mpg, his EFFICIENCY would naturally rise. So that .595 might become .610 or higher.

In any case, a '62 Wilt, playing 40 mpg in the 2014 season...

35.5 ppg on a .595 eFG%.


I can't believe you wasted your time doing that and anyone will half a brain knows how retarded using calculations are for something like this

Wilt era was like playing the under 16s today... It's not even remotely close to the same competition.. A collage ball team of today may be good enough to win in wilts era... Wilt today = dwight Howard at best that's it

[Deuce Bigalow]

Wilt stans are so cute. It's like your grandpa telling you how he used to walk 10 miles every day just to get to school, when in reality, the school was just down the street.
:lol

[STATUTORY]

Wilt stans are so cute. It's like your grandpa telling you how he used to walk 10 miles every day just to get to school, when in reality, the school was just down the street.

:roll: uphill both ways right :applause:


There's nothing Wilt does better than Javla Mcgee, deandre jordan, tyson chandler, roy hibbert

dont bother quoting stats he put up in the era playing against the brady bunch, to assess players potential cross generation we need to actually judge player based on their attributes and abilities

[Dro]

All the footage I've seen of Wilt he looks stiff and awkward in the post. He's probably slightly better than Dwight in this era, but he's still an awful freethrow shooter and his defense is questionable.
:biggums:

[HomieWeMajor]

If Wilt played in the league today he would be camping on the 3 point line jacking 3's just to prove he could shoot, one of the most insecure guys in sports history. This is the same guy who statpadded his way to being the assist leader just to prove to people he could "pass".

[Dro]

Wilt stans are so cute. It's like your grandpa telling you how he used to walk 10 miles every day just to get to school, when in reality, the school was just down the street.
And yet, none of the children are doing anything to prove them wrong...They are coming with calculations, adjusting for pace, adjusting for today's average, and all the children can say is "Nuh uh!!! Dwight Howard is the ownzors!!!!" "Wilt played against scrubs!!", He never had to face ANYBODY as tough as Kendrick Perkins!!!:rolleyes:

[Dro]

I can't believe you wasted your time doing that and anyone will half a brain knows how retarded using calculations are for something like this

Wilt era was like playing the under 16s today... It's not even remotely close to the same competition.. A collage ball team of today may be good enough to win in wilts era... Wilt today = dwight Howard at best that's it
Like I said, nobody has answers...At least these guys attempt to actually run some tests to see how he might fair...A lot more intelligent than someone speaking on an era that have never seen and never done any real research on (I can tell you haven't just by your comments)and acting like they know what they're talking about...

[STATUTORY]

Like I said, nobody has answers...At least these guys attempt to actually run some tests to see how he might fair...A lot more intelligent than someone speaking on an era that have never seen and never done any real research on (I can tell you haven't just by your comments)and acting like they know what they're talking about...
the answer is simple, its your refusal to accept it that define you as a stan

[Psileas]

Like I said, nobody has answers...At least these guys attempt to actually run some tests to see how he might fair...A lot more intelligent than someone speaking on an era that have never seen and never done any real research on (I can tell you haven't just by your comments)and acting like they know what they're talking about...

:cheers:
Unrealistic as it is, Wilt averaging 40 ppg is a lot closer to the truth than 50+% of the crap I've (kind of) read here.

PS. Now that I'm thinking about it, someone has to come up with a few good "ts;dr" (=too stupid, didn't read) gifs

[sd3035]

He'd average whatever Jelani McCoy averaged

[Draz]

History is overrated to me.

[toxicxr6]

Just did the research...
In the 1960s the average height of player was just under 6 foot 2 inches. Now that's average.. Given there were only 180 players in league and there were a few tall players.. This number is scaled up slightly.. Take away the tall few and maybe the average height is around 6 foot 1 inch in the 60s... Today the average height is closer to 6 foot 8 inches.. With a lot more taller players....
Wilt got to feast on a bunch of 6 foot 1 players trying to guard him.. With his reach he probably had 1.5ft advantage over a majority of the league...
Now tell me how is he not overrated seriously??


In Then 1960s a team averaged around 150 possessions per game.. Now that is around 90-100..

[CavaliersFTW]

Just did the research...
In the 1960s the average height of player was just under 6 foot 2 inches. Now that's average.. Given there were only 180 players in league and there were a few tall players.. This number is scaled up slightly.. Take away the tall few and maybe the average height is around 6 foot 1 inch in the 60s... Today the average height is closer to 6 foot 8 inches.. With a lot more taller players....
Wilt got to feast on a bunch of 6 foot 1 players trying to guard him.. With his reach he probably had 1.5ft advantage over a majority of the league...
Now tell me how is he not overrated seriously??
The average height of players in the 1960's is cited numerous times as 6 feet 6 inches (all based on listed data) as opposed to the modern game of 6 feet 7 inches (all based on the known-to-be-exaggerated listed data). And the increased inch of difference appears to be nothing but an exaggeration on the modern game's part due to marketing, as draftexpress shows the actual average height of modern players is indeed still only about 6 feet 6 inches.

As for your numbers, are you retarded?

[sundizz]

Just did the research...
In the 1960s the average height of player was just under 6 foot 2 inches. Now that's average.. Given there were only 180 players in league and there were a few tall players.. This number is scaled up slightly.. Take away the tall few and maybe the average height is around 6 foot 1 inch in the 60s... Today the average height is closer to 6 foot 8 inches.. With a lot more taller players....
Wilt got to feast on a bunch of 6 foot 1 players trying to guard him.. With his reach he probably had 1.5ft advantage over a majority of the league...
Now tell me how is he not overrated seriously??


In Then 1960s a team averaged around 150 possessions per game.. Now that is around 90-100..


Lol. OP ethered again.

Only "facts" we can establish from Wilt's era that are transferrable is that he was an absolutely historically terrible free throw shooter. He'd get hacked all the time in today's league and not be scoring anywhere near what he did.

There are a few amazingly great players (like Russell, Wilt)...but the rest of the league is so so so so less talented and physically capable.

I think a fair assumption is that for the talent level:

Top 10% of Current Day = Top 10% of 60's
(e.g., Bron, Durant, etc) = (Wilt, Russell, etc)

however

Next 90% of Current Day >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Next 90% of 60's

Anyone thinking otherwise is delusional, or simply doesn't understand how sports work.

[atljonesbro]

Realistically he'd average about 25 ppg. Inflated era with weak competition. When you have 6'5 Elgin Baylor averaging 20 rpg you know the talent pool is awful.

[SHAQisGOAT]

No. Considerably slower pace, different rules and gamestyle.. wouldn't "let him", but he could still definitely average over 30 if he wanted and was given the touches.


In 1971/72 he was 36 years old. Do you know how hard it is to grab 20 rpg at the age of 36?? No one has ever done that. Thats why you dont see guys doing that today because these is wayy more competition.

Wilt would grab alot of boards because guys back then weren't as athletic as they are today. Plus, teams didnt have alot of big guys on their team.

:biggums:

6'8'' Kevin Love, who's not a good athlete by NBA standards, managed to average 15 RPG and you're using this argument? :wtf: :facepalm Great stuff.

7'2'', really athletic Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who's one of the GOAT's, is no match for today's centers :rolleyes: :oldlol:

Of course he wouldn't average 20 RPG, but that's because of pace... He'd still be the best rebounder in the game.

[Rolando]

Knowing Wilt, he would try and succeed in leading the league in 3pointers for one of his seasons.

I can imagine him being at least as dominant as Shaq but with added rebounding, assists, blocks, and rebounds.

[AirFederer]

He'd be top 10 in the league, but no more. Look at the tapes, watch the defence he faced :facepalm

[Psileas]

Just did the research...
In the 1960s the average height of player was just under 6 foot 2 inches. Now that's average.. Given there were only 180 players in league and there were a few tall players.. This number is scaled up slightly.. Take away the tall few and maybe the average height is around 6 foot 1 inch in the 60s... Today the average height is closer to 6 foot 8 inches.. With a lot more taller players....
Wilt got to feast on a bunch of 6 foot 1 players trying to guard him.. With his reach he probably had 1.5ft advantage over a majority of the league...
Now tell me how is he not overrated seriously??


In Then 1960s a team averaged around 150 possessions per game.. Now that is around 90-100..

:oldlol: You haven't done sh*t.
If you had, you'd have known that Wilt's era's players had an average height of 6'8 3/4ths (so, 6'9 basically), average weight of 236 lbs and the average center was 7-1, which is a little above Wilt's height and 3-4 inches above modern centers' height. The average pace was no more than 94.2 (give or take 2).
This research is a proper indicator that Wilt would squash today's trash and he wouldn't even notice the sound.

[julizaver]

Hell no.


2. More athletes in today's game. When Wilt was drafte
Also back in his era, guys would dominate on the boards because of less competition and less taller guys
For example: In 1971/72 the rebounding leaders were...
1) Wilt - 19.2 rpg
2) Wes Unseld - 17.6 rpg
3) Kareem - 16.6 rpg

Today the top 3 rebounders are...
1) DeAndre Jordan - 13.7 rpg
2) Andre Drummond - 13.2 rpg
3) Kevin Love - 12.5 rpg

If Wilt was playing in his prime today, he wouldnt be as good as he was in the 60s, or 70s. I think today he'd be averaging around 24 ppg and 13 rpg

The bolded part I liked the most.
Rebounding is not just athletic ability (higher jumper =more rebounds)it's more about positionig and lateral movements, about instincts and quick reflexes. K.Love is non athletic, but he is probably the best rebounder nowadays. Thats why players like Rodman and Barkley were elite rebounders in theri twilight years.

[Psileas]

He'd be top 10 in the league, but no more. Look at the tapes, watch the defence he faced :facepalm

This includes a player that you claimed he'd be top-3 here: http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331932

against whom (and actually, not at 23, but at 24), a 34+ y.o Wilt averaged 22/19 for a playoff series, while 24 y.o Kareem averaged 25/18.

But, right, an even younger Kareem would be top-3, but Wilt (and prime Wilt) would be top-10 at best.
"We talkin' 'bout logical consistency, dude, consistency...you know, not the argument itself, we talking' 'bout consistency. Consistency". :rolleyes:

[f0und]

imo, wilt is the most athletic big in history. give him today's training methods(medical, techniques, film, etc.) and i could see him do it.

[AlphaWolf24]

And it amazes me at those with an anti-Wilt agenda do everything in their power to diminish what he accomplished. They find a season, in which he averages 45 ppg, leads the league in rebounding, sets a FG% record, leads the league in Win Shares, and sets an all-time PER record...and blame HIM for the team losing 49 games (not to mention the fact that their scoring differential was only 2 ppg)...but say nothing of the cast of clowns that he played with (and who collectively shot .412 from the field).

They slam him for leading the league in assists, despite the fact that his TEAM ran away with the best record in the league.

They try to downplay his scoring by saying that he shot about .525 during his "scoring" years...(with one season in which he averaged 33.5 ppg on .540)...which is about the same as Robinson and Olajuwon shot in their BEST seasons, and in leagues that shot MUCH higher percentages. And, of course, they won't mention Kareem having FG% seasons of .539, .529, .518, and .513.

They NEVER acknowledge that he faced TWELVE HOF centers...and either outplayed, or downright DOMINATED them all. And, when his offensive numbers go down slightly in the post-season, they won't tell you that he faced a HOF center in 112 of his 160 post-season games...or that he obliterated the few centers that he faced in the post-season that were not HOF caliber.


They seldon bring up his defense. AND, they will find a few games in which Russell slightly outplayed him. BUT, they NEVER mention that Wilt held Russell down as well. While Russell routinely played brilliantly in the post-season, even offensively, he seldom matched those post-season numbers against Wilt. In fact, Wilt easily outscored Russell in every post-season series...some by HUGE margins; he outrebounded Russell in every post-season series...some by HUGE margins; and he outshot Russell in virtually every post-season series (that I could find numbers on)...and some by HUGE margins.

They ridicule his stats...despite the fact that he was the ONLY player putting up those monster seasons. Wilt won his scoring titles by as much as nearly 20 ppg. He won his rebounding titles by as much as nearly 5 rpg. He won his FG% titles by as much as .162 (yes... .162 and in another by a .157 margin.)

They attempt to downplay his numbers because of competition...despite the fact that Chamberlain played against TWELVE HOF centers in his career.

And of course...no way he was a great leaper, despite being a high-jump champ...PART-TIME. Or that he was also a LONG-JUMPER. Or that he was aloso a TRIPLE-JUMPER. Or that he was also a sprinter. Or that he was a competitive 440 and 880 participant. They won't acknlowedge eye-witness accounts, by reputable sports figures, of touching the top of the backboard. Or that the NBA banned the dunking of FTs because legend has it that Chamberlain was capable of doing such a feat with a start from inside the top half of the FT circle. They won't bring up the fact that Wilt was dunking on 12 ft rims in college, that were set up by coach...DURING Wilt's college career.

They will tell you he was not capable of 500 lb bench presses, despite the internet being plastered with accounts of 500+...including eye-witness accounts. Or that Howard Cosell proclaimed him as perhaps the strongest man in the world during an Ali-Wilt interview.

Nope...they will tell you that much of what Wilt was credited with was an impossibility...just like scoring 100 pts in a game; or averaging 50 ppg in a season; or grabbing 55 rebounds in a game; or averaging 27 rpg over the course of a season; or having post-seasons of 30 rpg, or post-seasons over 30 rpg against Russell; or snaring 41 rebounds in a post-season game...against Russell; or averaging 40 ppg in his first seven seasons...COMBINED; or shooting .727 in a season (or .683 in another one); or making 35 straight FGAs; or having 55 of the TOTAL of 61 40-30 games in NBA history; or scoring 70+ points, six times, which is two more than everyone else who has ever played...COMBINED; or that he scored 60+ points in a game 32 times...which is two more than virtually every other player who has ever played...COMBINED (MJ and Kobe are next with five BTW); or that he led the league in assists one year; or that he had seasons that were estimated to have been double-digit blocks...per game; or that there is a recorded game in 1969, in which he blocked 23 shots; or that Harvey Pollack had him with 25 blocks in another game; ...or that he holds 130+ NBA records...and in MANY cases, he holds the next mark or marks, as well. Or that MANY of his records will never be approached, much less broken...

yep...that was Wilt. And ONLY Wilt.

Second, the average height of NBA centers back in Wilt's day was 6'10. Wilt towered a mere two inches over the opposition. Darral Imhoff, the center whom he dropped the 100points is 6'10. Bill Russell, the second best rebounder in league history and the center on which he grabbed a record setting 55 rebounds (but the Celtics won the game by 3 points) is also 6'10. You dont see Yao Ming endangering these records even though he has a 4 inch advantage over your average centers today. Height is not the reason for Wilt's domination w/c leads us to number 3 . . .

Third, the main reason as to why Wilt dominated the competition, black and white, short and tall, is because he is a superb physical specimen even with the substandard 60's training methods and nutrition of his time. In fact, Sports Illustrated in 1986 describe him as the finest athletic construction made of flesh and blood. Wilt was a shotput thrower, a champion high jumper, a track star and a triple jumper. He could benchpress 550lbs back in college. The New Jersey Nets back in the 80's were still actively wooing him back out of retirement when Wilt was already going 50 (In an 80's Lakers exhibition crimmage, Wilt at center held a Magic Johnson-lead team scoreless).

Lets compare Shaq and Wilt. Shaquille at 34 years old is in a physically deteriorating state. Wilt meanwhile at the same age, is still athletic enough to block skyhooks from a taller and much younger Kareem Abdul Jabbar, grabbing a career LOW of 18 rebs.(!),and shooting at a ridiculous percentage (iirc, it was 65%, the next year it was 72%) and weighs 300+ lbs. Wilt in his prime was dropping 50 points and 25rebs. Half of those points came from his mid range fadeaway shot . . . . what surprise that Wilt has a perimeter game? Wilt has a more varied shot selection than Shaq and also in his prime, Wilt was dunking free throws from the charity stripe with hardly any running start.

Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, Walt Bellamy, Nate Thurmand, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are not "stiff competition"? They're are all in the hall of fame!!

Plus, Wilt played at a time when there were much fewer teams, so he had to play these guys SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR!.

How many times a year does Shaq have to play Yao? Twice?



I won't take the time to post the many links out there giving Wilt anywhere from a 48+" vertical leap. There have been eye-witness accounts of Wilt touching the top of the backboard (some 13 feet.) There was an eye-witness account of Wilt touching a hospital ceiling in which the sportswriter estimated that his vertical was at least 42". Wilt was KNOWN to have dunked on a 12 ft rim. We could go on for hours....but only a complete IDIOT would credit Wilt with a 24" vertical.

Furthermore, Wilt was a HIGH-JUMP champ at Kansas (6-6 1/2"). He was also a competitive LONG-JUMPER (nearly 23 feet.) AND, he also competed in the TRIPLE-JUMP (as well as the 4x100, the 440, and the 880.) So, even the estimates of 34-35" inches are preposterous. Wilt was CLEARLY capable of well over 40".


I have posted on this topic before, but, who was the fastest NFL player ever? It was Bob Hayes, a LEGITIMATE football player (he is in the HOF...and BTW, he AVERAGED 42 yards per play on his 76 TDs in his career), who ran a 10.0 100 meters (and a 9.1 100 yards.) He was playing over 40 years ago.

A few years ago, SI ran an article on Barry Bonds and his longest HR. Yes, it came at the height of his steroid use, and it was measured at 490 feet. Just google Mickey Mantle. He had MANY HRs over 500 feet...including at least one at 565. Not only that, but some of his HRs were stopped by the tops of walls...and would have been estimated at over 600 feet!

You take guys like Bo Jackson (4.12 40), or Hershel Walker (10.1 100 meters), or Darrell Green (he was clocked at 4.35 in the 40...at age 40), or Deion Sanders (4.18), or OJ Simpson, who was part of the world-record-holding 4x100 relay team)...or Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Frank Howard, JR Richards, Sandy Koufax, ...or Gus Johnson (he was shattering backboards in the 60's), Dr. J, David Thompson, and Connie Hawkins...and so MANY others of previous decades...and give them the same benefits of modern technology, nutrition, medicine, training, etc...and they would be even more remarkable today. AND, that INCLUDES Wilt, who was widely regarded as one of the strongest men in the world, probably the highest leaper of his era, and maybe even the fastest NBA player, ever.

Wilt was faster then them all..



Wilt was probably the most dominant player in history. Shooting free throws was the only thing he wasn't good at. Think about how many points he would have scored had he shot better from the stripe.

The league today is so watered-down, and there really aren't many "true centers" playing today. Wilt would have his way with anybody. Would he score 100? Probably not, but he would get lots of points, rebounds, and blocks. You can bet on that!

http://i30.tinypic.com/18g7f5.jpg








just missing Jlauber a bit....

[fpliii]

What I can say about Wilt is that he was dominate and was clearly the best player in the NBA bar none. You can say all you want about his choking and Bill Russel's winning, but Wilt was clearly far and away the best player in the world. You have to put an asterisk next to every current scoring or rebounding record.

That being said, I dont think it is unreasonable to believe that Wilt Chamberlain would not be anywhere near as dominate today as he was back then. I dont know of an accurate way to translate his game either. Pace adjustments still seem to be too high for my taste, and it is hard to accurately translate rule changes.


If we are to believe he is as good or better than Shaq then the stats you listed look about right. However the question remains....is he that good?
I think the rebounds are a bit high, but he'd lead the league in those and blocks. His assists would go up since scorekeepers are more lenient.

Truth be told, I think from the big 4 offensive centers (Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem, Wilt) you're gonna get the same numbers today. Anything in the high 20s-low 30s is in play, with outlier series possible in the playoffs.

I don't think the numbers are as important here. What's more interesting to me is what kind of team you'd surround these guys with, and what you'd want them to do. All the great bigs could take on a few roles, but which would be optimal if you want to content?

[CavaliersFTW]

I think the rebounds are a bit high, but he'd lead the league in those and blocks. His assists would go up since scorekeepers are more lenient.

Truth be told, I think from the big 4 offensive centers (Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem, Wilt) you're gonna get the same numbers today. Anything in the high 20s-low 30s is in play, with outlier series possible in the playoffs.

I don't think the numbers are as important here. What's more interesting to me is what kind of team you'd surround these guys with, and what you'd want them to do. All the great bigs could take on a few roles, but which would be optimal if you want to content?
Hakeem is not the same class of scorer as Wilt, Shaq, or Kareem - look at his numbers. He's overrated from Youtube videos because he had lots of moves. He's closer to Willis Reed in production than he is to a Kareem or Wilt. Shaq was even a better scorer than Hakeem was and they played at the same time and this is in spite of Shaq being vastly inferior from the free throw line.

[Marchesk]

Realistically he'd average about 25 ppg. Inflated era with weak competition. When you have 6'5 Elgin Baylor averaging 20 rpg you know the talent pool is awful.

So what, Charles Barkley led the league with 14.6 when he was 23. Is that any different (with pace adjustments)?

[fpliii]

Hakeem is not the same class of scorer as Wilt, Shaq, or Kareem - look at his numbers. He's overrated from Youtube videos because he had lots of moves. He's closer to Willis Reed in production than he is to a Kareem or Wilt. Shaq was even a better scorer than Hakeem was and they played at the same time and this is in spite of Shaq being vastly inferior from the free throw line.
You could be right, I might just overrate him a little because I started watching right when his peak began (92-93), so some might be nostalgia. Truth be told, I'm still trying to learn more/understand the low post game, so I probably shouldn't comment on the pecking order until I have a better grasp.

[Dro]

So what, Charles Barkley led the league with 14.6 when he was 23. Is that any different (with pace adjustments)?
Don't even waste your time bro...

[Demitri98]

Not 40+, but I do think he'd crush any competition at the center position these days. Who competes with him? Dwight? Hibbert? Noah? Oden? jk
No one comes close.

[CavaliersFTW]

You could be right, I might just overrate him a little because I started watching right when his peak began (92-93), so some might be nostalgia. Truth be told, I'm still trying to learn more/understand the low post game, so I probably shouldn't comment on the pecking order until I have a better grasp.
Well to be fair to him he's definitely at or near the top of the most versatile scoring big men of all time, versatility is good for something in it's own right, and he was not a liability at the line like Shaq or Wilt so he's got that too. But peak output, even if you try to fiddle around for adjustments of some sort he just did not do what Wilt, Shaq, or Kareem did from what I analyze. He did turn it up in the playoffs though, but a players career regular season scoring output IMO isn't just a footnote when evaluating how good a scorer any given player was.

[Dro]

Not 40+, but I do think he'd crush any competition at the center position these days. Who competes with him? Dwight? Hibbert? Noah? Oden? jk
No one comes close.
Nope, and add Marc Gasol, Cousins, Tyson Chandler, whoever into the mix...They're not stopping Wilt...