“The stark difference between [Harden and Wilt] is that Wilt, when he was scoring, was more like a black hole, and Harden is just running everything.” Although I still don’t like comparing eras the advanced analytics, metrics and analysis these days are able to uncover what we previously couldn’t understand in looking at raw numbers (box scores) which is further proof that James is by far and away the leader in the clubhouse for MVP and just all around "we haven't seen this before awe". The more I understand about the season Harden is having the more I’m thinking this likely won’t be replicated again unless it’s by James himself.
That was a very cool read, durvasa. Thanks! I was lucky enough to see a few of Wilt's games on the black and white TV's of the day. Tubes! At least we always had a good TV. My father would tinker with them for fun when he could drag himself away from the university. Wilt? I think his teammates tended to be more than a bit in awe of him. It's a cliche, but he was almost like a man among boys. The Celtics usually managed to poke a hole in the illusion, though. Wilt would be a huge star in today's league, in my opinion.
What is amazing to me is hearing the idiots on First Take claim that if Michael Jordan or Kobe shot as much as Harden they would have had much greater season's in 87 and 06 repetitively than they did. It only takes about 5 seconds to look up that 87 Jordan and 06 Kobe took about 3 more shots per game than 18 Harden. If Harden took as many shots as Jordan did in 87, he'd be averaging 41.9 points a game! (nearly 5 point more per game than Jordan did!) Harden is scoring more points on fewer shots than any top scorer in history by a huge margin, but the so called "experts" can't even be bothered to get off their lazy asses and look up the stats!
Nobody was or is greater than Wilt. He was the most dominant player to ever play the game at his position. Not many giants are agile, coordinated, and supernaturally strong at the same time.
Okay here are the Top 10 Seasons in NBA history (other than 2018 / 19 Harden who is currently 7th all time) and what Harden would be projected to score per game if he took the same number of shots as the leader in that season (Harden currently is average 1.508 points per FGA): 1962 Chamb. 39.49 FGA 50.36 PPG 1962 Harden 39.49 FGA 59.55 PPG (+9.19) 1963 Chamb. 34.63 FGA 44.83 PPG 1963 Harden 34.63 FGA 52.22 PPG (+7.39) 1961 Chamb. 31.1 FGA 38.39 PPG 1961 Harden 31.1 FGA 46.90 PPG (+8.51) 1960 Chamb. 32.1 FGA 37.60 PPG 1960 Harden 32.1 FGA 48.41 PPG (+10.81) 1987 Jordan 27.79 FGA 37.09 PPG 1987 Harden 27.79 FGA 41.91 PPG (+4.82) 1964 Chamb. 28.73 FGA 36.85 PPG 1964 Harden 28.73 FGA 43.32 PPG (+6.47) 1967 R. Barry 28.72 FGA 35.58 PPG 1967 Harden 28.72 FGA 43.31 PPG (+7.73) 2006 Bryant 27.16 FGA 35.40 PPG 2006 Harden 27.16 FGA 40.96 PPG (+5.46) 1988 Jordan 24.37 FGA 34.98 PPG 1988 Harden 24.37 FGA 36.75 PPG (+1.77) If Harden took as many shots at Chamberlain, Jordan, Barry or Kobe in their Top 10 PPG seasons, he'd outscore all of them individually by AT LEAST 4.82 points PER GAME in every season except for Jordan's 1988 campaign where he'd still top Jordan by nearly 2 points per game. This is the best scoring season in NBA history by any player period and its not even particularly close.
Not exactly. The best scoring season of the three-point era was set by Stephen Curry in 2015-16. 67% TS% on 30 PPG. Thirteen percent higher than the league average TS%. The only player to lead the league in TS% and PPG in the same season. The greatest season of all time by somebody not named Kareem, LeBron, Michael, or Wilt in terms of WS/48. Going further back, you have Kareem averaging 34.8 PPG on 60% TS% during 1971-72. No three-pointers, just skyhooks. All this when the league average TS% was fifty. In terms of WS/48, this is the best season by anyone ever.
He was absolutely not of this world. He was a champion high jumper, a triple jumper, track star. He bench pressed 550lbs in college. Dude is in the volleyball hall of fame. He was always double and triple teamed, he played 46+ mins a game. He would still dominate the game today, he was a once in a lifetime athlete.
This is incorrect though. The comparison you're trying to make is faulty. To make a correct comparison you would have to subtract one point from every single one of James Hardens 3 pointers so as to convert them to 2 pointers since all of James Hardens current three's would have only counted as twos then. Then you could calculate what his PPG average would be & then you can make the comparison you're trying to make.
Weak old theory and I used to think the same thing. There were 4 other players Wilts size and they couldn’t sniff what Wilt was doing and did. Look it up. The league was far more physical and yes less teams and less dominate athletes but Wilt would still be a dominate force in any era.
He wouldn't need to shoot 3s. Wilt was incredibly skilled. He'd be a bigger stronger faster Ben Simmons. If he shoots free throws underhanded like he did his best season he'd actually have a higher % than LeBron.
