48.5 minutes per game during a season in which he played 80 games. He averaged 50 points and half that number in rebounds. But he did not win the championship that year so obviously he was not the GOAT, derp! /fanswhoseonlyarguementtoaplayerslevelofplayistheirteamsuccessinthepostseason
Don't bother. The "success is all that indicates value" people start as well-meaning haters and end up being trolls. Just toss them some meat to enjoy every now and then and don't worry about it.
What about his level of competition? If Wilt started his career in 2005 instead of 1959, what would his stats look like? I'd guess no where near what he put up back then.
i wonder what the average height during the 60s was? wilt played against scrubs, i think if you put hakeem in that era he would have destroyed some records too
I think instead of debating the greatest players of all time, you should really debate the greatest players in the modern era (1980-onwards). With the 3-point line and the athleticism of players, among other factors, the game has changed so much. It is impossible to compare Wilt to players today and say he is the greatest of all time because of the stats he put up against the level of competition at that time. Give him his credit, but lets not mix basketball from 1950 with basketball in 2011...its just so different.
The 2005 Wilt would have the advantage of better coaching, better training and better competition to hone his skills. I suspect that a 2005 Wilt would wipe the floor with the 1960 version. We have no idea how great (or not) Wilt would be if he grew up today instead of yesteryear. Wilt was a very special athlete, so I am guessing that he might do very well.
Wilt was a legit 7'1", 275 lb, beast of an athlete who was a track and field star in college. He played at the same time as Walt Bellamy and Nate Thurmond, who were both 6'11", and would probably be listed at 7'0" in todays NBA. There were less teams, so the talent was less spread out, and almost every team's center was in the 6'9"-6'11" range. Wilt's raw stats would go down a bit because of the slower paced game and higher level of athlete, but I imagine he still would have been at least as good as David Robinson in today's NBA.
When comparing players from different eras, don't forget what happens off the court/field. Players today are multi-millionaire celebrities with the world at their at feet. Back then segregation still existed during Wilt's early years and who knows what his pay was relevant to the standard of living back then. (Maybe someone here does.)
Don't give a crap bout Wilt or Bill Russell because they were playing against non-athletic scrubs. Hakeem own both of those stupid old timers easily. Hakeem is the best center all time!
