Boiled down

[LAZERUSS]

In 1980, Bill Russell was named the best NBA player on the NBA's 35th anniversary team.

In 2000, Michael Jordan was named ESPY's athlete of the 20th century.

And I am relatively certain that the voters did not see Wilt (nor Russell) ever play a game. Why? Because it was the Basketball Writers of America who voted Russell as the best player on the 35th anniversary team. Which is strange, since it was the WRITERS who voted Wilt ahead of Russell seven times in all-NBA selections in their 10 years together, and when the two were actually playing.


And by 2000, probably even a considerably less ever saw Chamberlain's absolute domination of his peers.

[Deuce Bigalow]

And I am relatively certain that the voters did not see Wilt (nor Russell) ever play a game. Why? Because it was the Basketball Writers of America who voted Russell as the best player on the 35th anniversary team. Which is strange, since it was the WRITERS who voted Wilt ahead of Russell seven times in all-NBA selections in their 10 years together, and when the two were actually playing.


And by 2000, probably even a considerably less ever saw Chamberlain's absolute domination of his peers.

It was done in 1980, sorry. They voted for Russell who came to the NBA BEFORE Wilt. YOU NEVER SAW WILT PLAY IN THE 60S. Wilt wasn't even the best player of his era, Russell was as evident by him being named the greatest player in '80 when both his and Wilt's careers were over. I can post more facts of Jordan being the #1 ATHLETE forget NBA player of the last century.

[Deuce Bigalow]

The following players are more dominant PLAYOFF performers than Wilt:

MJ
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Shaq
Duncan
Hakeem
Lebron
West
Baylor
Pettit
Mikan

[LAZERUSS]

It was done in 1980, sorry. They voted for Russell who came to the NBA BEFORE Wilt. YOU NEVER SAW WILT PLAY IN THE 60S. Wilt wasn't even the best player of his era, Russell was as evident by him being named the greatest player in '80 when both his and Wilt's careers were over. I can post more facts of Jordan being the #1 ATHLETE forget NBA player of the last century.

Yes I did see MANY of the Russell-Wilt H2H's, and I never came away ever thinking that Russell had outplayed Wilt. And again, Russell was voted that award in 1980. And yet the WRITERS who actually witnessed Russell and Chamberlain clearly voted Wilt as the best player of his era. Not even close.

As for best ATHLETE? You have to be kidding. Wilt was a MULTI-TRACK star at KU, and even won a conference high-jump championship. There were many at the time that claimed that Chamberlain was the strongest man alive, as well. He played against Olympic and world-class volleyball players, and more than held his own. He was offered a LEGITIMATE contract to play for the Chiefs in the mid-60's by none other than Hank Stram (after he witnessed a 27 year old Wilt, at 290 lbs, outrace his fastest running back in a 40 yard sprint.) And, Chamberlain was TWICE offered LEGITIMATE contracts to fight Ali (and even none other than Cus D'Amato felt he could train Wilt enough to win those fights.) And after retirement, none other than a world-class body-builder, Arnold Schwartzenenegger, was absolutely stunned by the weight Chamberlain was throwing around in the gym.

How about MJ? He was offered a minor league baseball contract, and flopped in the sport.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Yes I did see MANY of the Russell-Wilt H2H's, and I never came away ever thinking that Russell had outplayed Wilt. And again, Russell was voted that award in 1980. And yet the WRITERS who actually witnessed Russell and Chamberlain clearly voted Wilt as the best player of his era. Not even close.

As for best ATHLETE? You have to be kidding. Wilt was a MULTI-TRACK star at KU, and even won a conference high-jump championship. There were many at the time that claimed that Chamberlain was the strongest man alive, as well. He played against Olympic and world-class volleyball players, and more than held his own. He was offered a LEGITIMATE contract to play for the Chiefs in the mid-60's by none other than Hank Stram (after he witnessed a 27 year old Wilt, at 290 lbs, outrace his fastest running back in a 40 yard sprint.) And, Chamberlain was TWICE offered LEGITIMATE contracts to fight Ali (and even none other than Cus D'Amato felt he could train Wilt enough to win those fights.) And after retirement, none other than a world-class body-builder, Arnold Schwartzenenegger, was absolutely stunned by the weight Chamberlain was throwing around in the gym.

How about MJ? He was offered a minor league baseball contract, and flopped in the sport.

Athlete as in your own sport. MJ was more dominant in his sport than any athlete in theirs. Again, Wilt wasn't even voted GOAT IN HIS OWN ERA. All-NBA teams are REGULAR SEASON AWARDS. Russell is an 11-time champion. Russell's PPG, RPG, APG, FT% went up in the Playoffs for his career.

[LAZERUSS]

The following players are more dominant PLAYOFF performers than Wilt:

MJ
Russell
Magic
Bird
Kareem
Kobe
Shaq
Duncan
Hakeem
Lebron
West
Baylor
Pettit
Mikan

Sorry, but NO, NONE of them sniffed Wilt's post-season dominance. I already gave you the numbers. And again, you rank post-season series, in which MJ often lost in three games, or Hakeem often lost in the first round, or Bird, who often lost with HCA, or West who never won a ring until Chamberlain carried him to one in'72, or Shaq who was swept six times, and nearly eight, or Baylor who never even won a ring, or Russell who was thoroughly outplayed Wilt in EVERY post-season H2H series...all ahead of Chamberlain???

Your criteria is pure garbage my friend.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Sorry, but NO, NONE of them sniffed Wilt's post-season dominance. I already gave you the numbers. And again, you rank post-season series, in which MJ often lost in three games, or Hakeem often lost in the first round, or Bird, who often lost with HCA, or West who never won a ring until Chamberlain carried him to one in'72, or Shaq who was swept six times, and nearly eight, or Baylor who never even won a ring, or Russell who was thoroughly outplayed Wilt in EVERY post-season H2H series...all ahead of Chamberlain???

Your criteria is pure garbage my friend.

This is garbage. West couldn't win a title until Wilt carried him? 1969 Finals - West 37.9 PPG, Wilt 11.7 PPG. West averaged 30.5 PPG for his Finals career and that's including his past his prime Finals in '72 and '73. Baylor never won a ring? He went to 7 Finals and led the playoffs in scoring 4 years which is 3 more times than Wilt. Baylor also averaged over 40 PPG for a Finals series in '62. MJ has basically every scoring record in the playoffs. Russell won 11 rings and been to 12 Finals in 13 years.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Baylor for example...

33/14/3 in the '60 playoffs
38/17/5 in the '61 playoffs
39/18/4 in the '62 playoffs
33/14/5 in the '63 playoffs

These led to FINALS APPEARANCES too.

[Deuce Bigalow]

HIGHEST FINALS SERIES PPG

Michael Jordan, 1993 Finals - 41.0
Rick Barry, 1967 Finals - 40.8
Elgin Baylor, 1962 Finals - 40.6
Shaquille O'Neal, 2000 Finals - 38.0
Jerry West, 1969 Finals - 37.9
Shaquille O'Neal, 2002 Finals - 36.3
Michael Jordan, 1992 Finals - 35.8
Allen Iverson, 2001 Finals - 35.6
Dwyane Wade, 2006 Finals - 34.7
Jerry West, 1966 Finals - 33.9
Elgin Baylor, 1963 Finals - 33.8
Jerry West, 1965 Finals - 33.8
Michael Jordan, 1998 Finals - 33.5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1980 Finals - 33.4
Shaquille O'Neal, 2001 Finals - 33.0
Hakeem Olajuwon, 1995 Finals - 32.8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1974 Finals - 32.6
Kobe Bryant, 2009 Finals - 32.4
Michael Jordan, 1997 Finals - 32.3
George Mikan, 1950 Finals - 32.2
Jerry West, 1968 Finals - 31.3
Jerry West, 1970 Finals - 31.3
Michael Jordan, 1991 Finals - 31.2
Jerry West, 1962 Finals - 31.1
Kevin Durant, 2012 Finals - 30.6
Julius Erving, 1977 Finals - 30.3
Bob Pettit, 1957 Finals - 30.1

Where's Wilt?

[ImKobe]

HIGHEST FINALS SERIES PPG

Where's Wilt?

ether

[Keno]

Kobe: 5

the tired old shit bag Duncan: 4

tee, hee.

the "tired old shit bag" is at least healthy and currently playing.

[moe94]

HIGHEST FINALS SERIES PPG

Where's Wilt?

[LAZERUSS]

HIGHEST FINALS SERIES PPG

Where's Wilt?

and

Baylor for example...

33/14/3 in the '60 playoffs
38/17/5 in the '61 playoffs
39/18/4 in the '62 playoffs
33/14/5 in the '63 playoffs

These led to FINALS APPEARANCES too.

I'll tell you where Wilt was. His team was losing to the same team that Baylor and West was in those seasons...the Celtics. The only difference being, that Wilt's teams lost to them in the EDF's, instead of the Finals (except in '63 when his teammates were so putrid that Wilt with a 45-23-.528 season couldn't get them into the playoffs.)

Guess what happened in '64 in the WEST? It was Wilt single-handedly carrying his Warriors to the FINALS (where were West and Baylor in '64) and then losing in the Finals to Russell's Celtics and their eight HOFers.

And West and Baylor were TWO great players, and neither won any more rings from '60 to '66 than Chamberlain did, and yet they were losing to Boston just as often. And all Wilt did against Russell and the Celtics from '60 thru '66, was to put up playoff series of 30-26 .500; 34-26 .468; 29-28 .517; 30-31 .555; and 28-30 .509...all against RUSSELL and his swarming teammates.

And, had Wilt's teams scored a total of three more points in '62 and '65, and it would have been Chamberlain in the FINALS and against the Lakers centers whom Russell just killed in the those years. Think about this, in '62 Russell put up a Finals against LA of 23-27 .543, which included a game seven of 30-40. In that same regular season, Chamberlain faced the Lakers nine times, and AVERAGED 52 ppg against them on a .500 FG%. Included were THREE games of 60+, and even a 78-43 game. Clearly, had Wilt's team made it to the Finals in '62, and Wilt would probably own every major Finals scoring record.

And in '65, Wilt took a 40-40 team to a game seven, one point loss, against the 62-18 Celtics, with a monster 30 ppg, 31 rpg, .555 FG% series. And he hedl Russell to a 16 ppg, 25 rpg, and .447 FG% series in the process. How did Russell do against the Lakers in the Finals that season? He averaged 18 ppg, 25 rpg, and shot... get thois ... .702 from the field. Oh, and with Baylor injured, the Celtics crushed West's Lakers, 4-1. West, without Baylor, did far worse than Chamberlain, who basically had to fight the Celts by himself.

And you could carry that to '66, as well. Against the Lakers in the Finals, Russell put up a 24-24 .538 series. However, against Wilt in the EDF's, Russell put up a 14-26 .451 series. If Russell could nearly double his scoring, and on a far greater efficiency against the Lakers, then just imagine what Chamberlain would have been pouring in against them.

And then how about '67? Where were West and Baylor that post-season? They were wiped out by the Warriors in the first round. Oh, and how did Chamberlain's Sixers do against the eight-time defending Celtics? they annihilated them behind a Chamberlain who put up a 22-32-10 .556 series. And then Chamberlain wiped the floor with Thurmond in the Finals, en route to a 4-2 series win. Wilt did what West and Baylor, combined, could not do in any post-season series against Boston.

And idiots here claim that Wilt's play "declined" in his post-seasons. In Wilt's "scoring" seasons, from 60-66, he went to the playoffs six times (and missing them in one year in which he put up a 45 ppg .528 season.) In those 52 playoff games, he faced RUSSELL and Boston in 30 of them. From '60 thru '64, he played in four playoff series against non-Boston teams. In those four series, he averaged 37 ppg, 37 ppg, 39 ppg, and 39 ppg. And again, had he played in the WEST for the majority of his "scoring" seasons, he likely would have scored much more, and played in more playoff series and games. For example, in his '64 post-season, in the only series he played in before the Finals, he waxed the Hawks in a seven game series with a 39-23 .559 FG% series. BTW, the Hawks, player-for-player, 2-6, were considerably better than Wilt's teammates.

While the "Wilt-bashers" love to point out his ppg drop in the post-season, they will never acknowledge that Wilt battled the greatest defensive center, and the greatest dynasty in NBA history, in EIGHT series. I have posted the numbers before, but you can look them up yourself, but, MJ scored considerably less, and shot considerably worse in his FOUR playoff series against the "Bad Boys" (and in the last one, the Pistons were already in a major decline.) Same with Shaq in his FIVE series against the Spurs from '99 thru '05. WAY BELOW his normal seasonal averages. And how about a peak KAJ in his FIVE playoff series against Thurmond and Wilt from '71 thru '73? He averaged nearly SEVEN ppg less than his regular season average in that span, and how about this... he shot .563 against the NBA during the regular season in those three seasons...and against Nate and Wilt in those five series, combined... .450!