BTW, I've already written the script for my thoughts on Mad Dog’s Shaq take… Should be a good one. Where do you rank Wilt Chamberlain among the greatest Centers??
Wilg chamberlain I don't think the Era he played in is the reason for his greatness. I truly believe he was a demi God. Stepehn A IS wrong. His speed and stamina where the main reasons I say this. Imagine if he shot free throws even marginally better.
I’m a 71 years old NBA fan. I’ve seen Wilt’s career come and go. But I’ve never seen Wilt’s legendary career overshadowed by anyone. Wilt is the NBA center to which all other centers since have had to look up to.
Well ya. Thats because he was the first one. You think Wilt is gunna look up to Shaq 😂 i bet you dont look up to any of your grand kids. Your argument doesnt really make sense
If people want to say Wilt isn’t a top five center because basketball had not evolved yet, so be it. But at least be intellectually honest about it. This is why I love your videos. Thank you for keeping people accountable for their nonsense!
@@RLSmith-jt8qj semantics- I’m just saying I’d listen to the argument if they wanted to talk about shooting percentages being so low (which leads to more rebounds and higher opportunities for centers).
This video needed to be made. I too am so sick of the LIE that Wilt played against dwarves. Let's also remember that Wilt holds the record for the most rebounds in a game (55) and he did that against the guy that many consider the greatest rebounder/defender of all time: Bill Russell.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 Wrong, care to to guess who the ACTUAL playoffs record holder is? Hint 1 - Norman is his middle name. Hint - 2 It's the same guy that holds the regular single season record.
@@billsikes4007 Bill DOES hold the total rebounds record for the Playoffs at over 4100 to Wilt near 3900. Wilt hold the one game record - managed 41 once - but Bill managed 40 twice, BOTH in Finals games vs Wilt's 38 best (also twice) in Finals games.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 Your initial comment was in response to Wilt holding the the single game record of 55, which was against Russell, and Wilt also holds the single playoff game record as well. Now you're focused on the Finals? You do realize Russell went to the finals 12 times to Wilt's 6....don't you?
@@billsikes4007 Which is part of the reason why Bill's finals total rebounds record is the most unbreakable record in NBA Basketball. There ARE people that can try to argue finals appearances - Lebron is also double-digit there - but none of them had Bill's rebounding prowness or faster-paced era they played in. BTW - Bill won the previous single-game rebounding record against the holder of the same record BEFORE HIM - seems almost like a pattern there.
In his era, offensive players weren't allowed to touch defensive players. If he had leaned into the defender it would have been an offensive foul, so most of his points came on fadeaways, hooks, and finger rolls. Absolutely lethal out to about 14 feet, and in an era with no 3 point line why would a giant shoot from further? The way the game was officiated was the source of many of the misconceptions about earlier eras. Even the 90s - without hand-checking, the 3 point percentages would have been much higher.
@@page8301 I know. Lots of them. The lane used to be narrower, etc. I think my favorite is that he is the reason players have to stay behind the free throw line until the ball hits the rim. That one was put in place because apparently Wilt would just dunk his free throws.
@@Raxcblue NCAA changed the rule during his first year at Kansas. Freshmen were not allowed to play then, but after seeing him take off from the free throw line in an exhibition game they changed the rule. Nobody roots for Goliath. An older Bill Russell called Wilt the greatest athlete he had ever seen...bear in mind that there is footage of Bill Russell literally leaping over a man's head a la Vince Carter back in the day.
From what I have heard about Wilt Chamberlain, he's the most athletic player in NBA history. It's not that he played against "plumbers", it's just that he had that massive advantage athletically that only Bill Russell rivaled at center.
I always get clowned for having Bill Russell at number four on my greatest of all time list, but for me, what he did off the court, his impact on defense, and 11 rings is what ultimately made me put him there
He was an amazing athlete, a smart player, and a great leader. He even held the position of head coach for one or two years while he was STILL playing as the starting centre at the same time! The idea of the centre also being a play-maker was, to some extent, pioneered by Bill Russell and the Celtics. Russell was an extremely versatile player, who could adapt his role depending on the matchup, and on who was playing. Chamberlain also ended up having a playstyle which was often very similar to Russel's, and did eventually become a proponent of centres focusing on defense and play-making, and less on attacking the opposing team's rim. It seems kind-of strange that more centres HAVEN'T focused more on playmaking. Obviously we're seeing it again now with Jokic, and he's been playing that way for his entire NBA career, but Jokic is not quite the defensive monster that Russell or Chamberlain was, though he's arguably a more versatile offensive player than either of them were.
It's crazy that someone as ignorant as Stephen A. is (at times) has such an important voice and huge influence amongst casuals/fans in the basketball world. I've heard some of the nonsense he's said regurgitated by ignorant people countless times. Videos like this are very necessary and I hope your channel continues to grow so that more people can learn the truth based on actual facts and evidence instead of blindly following BS narratives.
Don't single out Stupid A. On any given day, someone's out there, throwing out the most inaccurate stuff to millions of people. Cowturd, A.A. Ron, Shaq, Chuck, and it's not just on TV, though. Jxmy has so many errors in his vids that I had to hide his channel. It's like these people don't respect the difference between being like, factually 100% wrong, and "I disagree with you" wrong.
Jonny, you're one of the few NBA RU-vidrs who don't let their personal opinions cloud verifiable facts. That shouldn't stand out so much, but it DOES. Thx again...
Wilt Chamberlain is the real goat ! This video need to be a ESPN special to educate !!!! Thanks for this video Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest player of all time he’s the most underrated center of all time it’s ridiculous
There is no reasonable explanation for wilt being over Jordan, Lebron, or Kareem. Marvelous player, but his playoffs unfortunate runs were far too lackluster compared to his regular season performances.
@@NowayTino Kareem hasn’t won anything without Oscar or Kareem. Wilt was a better scorer and passer also defender and was most dominant player. He definitely had moments where he choked but wilt didn’t know how to win and when he changed his role into being more of a passer in Philly instead of scoring more his teams had more success
This video is short and to the point and a much needed video, thank you for making this video because as a basketball fan I am tired of hearing how the centers in the 1960s were 6 foot 3 and wilt only dominated because he was so much bigger than everyone else.
when Bill Russell said to MJ, he’s lucky to have Paxson make that game winner because if MJ played in the 60s, Paxson would be in the stands. the best burn ever.
@@AndyHorcasitas-ck6dn casuals will discredit the 60s because “there was only 9 teams”. while yes there were only 9 teams but you were facing them atleast 8 times a season. that also meant the talent was stiffer because of the lack of availability. as the league grew to more teams, lesser quality of players came in. John Paxson is a prime example. he’s a good ball player but if he played in the 60s, he wouldn’t have been good enough to make any NBA roster. that’s the point of what Bill Russell was saying.
@markjackson6431 flawed assessment. What happens when one of those teams have a monopoly on talent, or can just buy players outright? No free agency meant that team would always be at an advantage. That was the Celtics.
@@strmshadow8411 sir if you’re trying to imply that John Paxson would be good enough to play in the 60s sorry but you’re crazy. that’s like saying Enes Kanter would dominate like Wilt if he played in the 60s. after all this is the topic we are discussing
Regardless of Wilt’s competition, he was perhaps the greatest athlete to ever play basketball. Dude ran a 10.1 100 dash, held high jumping records for years, and had multiple rule changes to make him less dominant. People are just stupid. Wilt would dominate any era
Wilt tied for a conference championship in college ONCE. Bill Russell Tied for 7'th highest jump in the WORLD during his senior year in college, versus the eventual Olympic Champion at the West Coast Relays for that championship. BTW - that Olympic Champion was Charles Dumas, aka the first man to ever clear a 7 foot high jump (at the Olympic Trials later the SAME year). The height they both cleared at the WCR would have been the 4'th highest jump at the Olympics that year. Wilt could jump, but Bill could jump better. Bill also was a conference-class sprinter, though Wilt was probably a little faster.
@@semicharmedlife311 I would probably agree that MJ in a vacuum is more athletic yeah. That leaping ability alone combined with his ability to contort, hang, and still have the dexterity to do the things he did was something else… Wilt being a hyper athlete at 7’1 is a different beast though. Man I would have loved to see him play in modern times.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 I didn’t know all of that about Bill. Crazy! Kinda nuts to think that perhaps the two greatest big men, both in terms of athleticism and accomplishments, played in the same era and when the game was still in its infancy. I could listen to Wilt and Russell stories all day.
Now let's talk about how the NBA exaggerates the heights of modern players. Almost every "7-footer" is barely a genuine 6'10 or 6'11! I remember Joel EMbiid being called 7'2 for ages when he's actually 6'11.75. Listing players' heights in shoes is absolute nonsense, too. I'd bet that those players from the '60s weren't any shorter on average than today's players at all as I like to tnink they probably didn't BS their heights as much as they do these days.
Completely agree. I compare players between time gaps (before 1980, 1980-2020, 2020 and beyond) because of the drastic differences in the leagues outside of those periods..however I get enraged with the irrational things I hear when people compare players outside of those gaps like the point being made in this video. I love your takes when comparing players between era's also.
Whenever he's on First Take Stephen A. Smith is playing a character same with Skip Bayless and most of the talking heads. It's never been about actual analysis it's all hot takes and yelling because it's more entertaining.
Shaq and Lebron are allowed to be heavier and stronger than anyone in their position AND get away with offensive fouls, but Wilt isnt allowed to be 'one of the tallest' and strongest which he couldnt even use back then because offensive fouls were called easily. As if being taller means anything by default. Most centers in history 7'1 and over werent even good, but they supposedly shouldve dominated anyone.
I'm hoping this a troll and you never actually watched Shaq play. He should have shot 30-40 FTs a game for the amount of times HE WAS FOULED. Acting like he was 'getting away with offensive fouls' when he was getting hacked all over the place every other time he had the ball is just hilarious. No player has ever gotten fouled more than Shaq, period.
Say it louder for the people in the back, Johnny. Whenever this is brought up, I always say try to go down to the YMCA and play in the YMCA league and average 50 points and 26 rebounds. It's pretty hard, right? So imagine doing that against the people who were the professionals of that day on any level. They say the same thing when the Celtics won all those championships in a row and I tell them you go try to win anything 13 times in a row and tell me how easy it is. I don't care if it's just a 1 v 1. People have always had, but especially these days, zero context and it drives me nuts.
@@hooptroopers Harder THEN when even LOSING teams had 3 or 4 prime Hall of Fame level players, as opposed to today when junk teams make it into the playoffs and routinely get swept. You didn't GET "easy off nights" back then like you have since the league started expanding like crazy.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 I would tend to think the level has gone up. Not only has the game evolved tremendously but furthered I also don't believe the league has ever been so crowded with talent as it is now.
@@hooptroopers I'd say the talent peak happened in the 1980s or 1990s. Players today have rules that let them get away with slop they had NO CHANCE of in the 1960s - and they were more tightly enforced then too. And even in the 1990s, talent PER TEAM was thinner than the 1960s - Bill Russell once made the point to Michael Jordan that in his time, Paxton would not have been on a team.
Wilt played in an era with 12 teams...each team, stacked. It was team play, lots of movement, no travelling or palming, no 3 pt line. The guy was the greates athlete to ever play any game and would dominate any era.
Stacked with what? lmao. The athleticism and advanced ability of players today means you could take an average NBA player today and he'd be a superstar back then. Get real.
@@douglasbell8408 Dominate as in 30 pts and 12 rebounds a game or whatever, sure. Dominate like Shaq or DRob in their prime? Sure. Dominate like 25 rebounds a game? don't make me laugh.
Funny thing about that was seeing an old Bill Russell standing next to modern “7 footers” like Duncan and Dirk and looking the same height. The heights were inflated from the late 70s until they started listing heights correctly in 2019.
I’m a simple man - I see Wilt, smash the like and listen to the content. All praises due to Wilt who is still of the top 2 to 3 centers ever to walk this earth. And no, unfortunately Shaq is not of that 3, just outside of it.
@@mayo1273 Yes, insane vertical and speed, while on top he was a beefcake. Derrick Rose was more on the skinny side, while Ja Morant is completely skinny.
@@kostastube2010 i dont want to disrespect big O but he is nowhere near Rose or Westbrook athleticismwise... like cmon man He is a better player than those two for sure but pure athleticism... HELL NAW
@@mayo1273 Search in google for "Oscar Robertson vertical". You 'll get a photo where he does the splits Jean Claude Van Damme style, like 5 feet in the air. That is damn athletic!
i’m a sophomore in college and have been watching you channel since 11th grade. been one of my favorite youtuber since i first found your channel. keep up the good work man
Wilt is in a weird place for me because I never know how to effectively evaluate him. I don't like comparing eras because of the drastic changes to the game, so when I try to make all-time lists for positions I am always stuck for where to put him and Bill. I mean obviously they both should be considered in the top 3 just based on personal stats or championships, but their era was so wildly different from the eras that followed that it feels odd and like I am shortchanging centers that had legitimate cases for being the greatest like Hakeem. It's a tough debate. Plus I never know where to put Shaq because I can go back and watch a lot his plays and think "Yeah, I guess that's dominant, but it was also an offensive foul that wasn't called, so how good was it really?" and can't shake the feeling that the narrative on Shaq might be a bit inflated in the same way that LeBron dunking gets on tons of highlight reels...but they never acknowledge that he traveled like 6 steps to do it.
I can respect that though! I rank Wilt higher than most people, but someone could rank Wilt 5th, 10th or 20th, and I can still respect their take, as long as its based on facts and opinions... but when people just start lying, thats when I lose respect for the person arguing.
I doubt Shaq and ESPN would be proclaiming him "most dominant ever" without those 3 years winning alongside Kobe and Phil. Phil was the most Finals-experienced coach besides Pat Riley and Kobe was arguably the best SG in the world those years. Shaq had incredible help.
@@jonnyarnett I personally have zero respect for people that discredit the era that someone played in as a way to devalue their case. If you think their era is too different from other eras to compare it, just say so and acknowledge that you rate them lower because of that. That's where I think modern analysts fail in their evaluation because to me it's rooted in dishonesty. Just say you don't like that era and move on. A personal top 10 is just an opinion anyway, unless someone is under the delusion that their top 10 is the One True Ranking, which some clowns like Stephen A and Skip Bayless might actually believe. Everyone has different criteria and lenses on how they view the difference in eras and the skillset of players and that should be core to a debate between people, understanding what they value as important and trying to understand how those values influence the case they are making. There is nothing wrong with just flat out saying "This person is my GOAT. There may have been better players, there may have been more skilled players, there may have been people that won more rings and awards...but this person exemplifies everything I feel about how the game should be played and they are my GOAT." I do that all the time with Larry Bird.
Jonny made great Videos on Shaq, all put together in the ultimate Shaq video. then there is also a video on if Shaq carried Kobe which show how dominant Shaq was in arguably the absolute big man era with most of the greatest centers ever. on Wilt.. i feel the same. the era was so different and his stats are also inflated due to his numbers but then again it`s impressive that he even played so many minutes. his rebounds are also inflated due to the high pace and low shooting percentages. they averaged 70rebounds per game in the 60s while in the 90s there were only like 40rebounds per game. perspective is always important. i also can not look past the fact that Wilt always performed worse in the playoffs than the regular season. it`s like he really was all about the stats in the season and then in the playoffs he just couldn`t replicate that production. while other greatest players of all time played BETTER when it matters the most. Wilt played better when it meant shit. just like his 100points game is the perfect example of stat padding. the team as a whole went out of their way to give Wilt buckets. they even fouled the other team to give them freethrows just so they could have more posessions and give Wilt more shots. literally any good scorer can get to 100 points if they get that many shots.
@@AcousticOlli I agree, I learned too that Wilt's team owner used Wilt's stat-padding to boost ticket sales. He prioritized revenues and entertainment over winning. That 100pt record was manufactured entertainment, not a byproduct of him doing everything possible to win. I don't want to be that guy who craps on Wilt's career, but there's certain things worth mentioning when comparing greats.
Me and my brother have been saying this for years now, the NBA needs to provide up with an archive to watch all previous NBA games footage that they still have access to and explain the differences in the rules for each decade. I agree that on average as time passes things evolve and people become more skilled at them but that doesn't mean older eras lacked skill and in fact some were far ahead of their time
It’s hard to rank players for me. Based on the ESPN clip you showed I couldn’t argue against putting Wilt or Hakeem ahead of Shaq as I always have Hakeem or Russell in my rotation of a “Dream Team” type lineup. The fact that both Stephen and Jay took such a stance about Wilt genuinely surprised me. I’m not sure why so many fans want to disparage the 60s era. It’s a strong feeling from fans in person or online. I agree that it’s so hard to comprehend a player with those averages. But it doesn’t mean that the players Wilt faced were that much worse. What if it means he really was that much better?
indeed and having fewer teams also means that you have to be great to be in a roster and not the other way around + the fact that those great players didnt just play basketball but actually has a job after basketball, so there's that as well.
Being a commentator talking about Wilt puts you in an awkward position. His stats are seriously insane. They are downright cartoonish. Their job is to make modern NBA players sound like peak basketball to increase viewership. That's why they compare everyone to MJ. The league is helping them by loosening the rules to increase scores. When Wilt gets brought up, he even makes new stars look silly. They either recognize Wilt as a demigod, or try to diminish his achievements by dismissing everyone he played against.
@@jonnyarnett yes thank goodness they did! I hope they use this season as a lesson in how competitive the league is and how staying the course of action can lead to success. Also, the front office management and coaching staff might need to change as well.
Thank you. You can tell some people are blind by the glitz and glammer of the NBA and don’t actually love and know the game. Am 21 and I do research. I know that most of this is just narratives to prop up the league to make money and get attention. Say it long enough it will become true.
I never realized all those teams had those tall players in that era. I've always known Wilt was really good, but I did wonder if he was going up against shorter defenders like everyone claimed. Definitely should be a top 3 center with those numbers.
Wilt led the league in Rebounding his FINAL eight seasons, except 69-70 he was injured and didn’t qualify. Elvin Hayes led that season with 16.9 , Wilt had 18.4 in the games he played…Kareem (age 22-25) played four of those seasons.
When are we going to hold this era of basketball accountable for the insane team scoring averages it’s producing the way we discount scoring records back in earlier eras? Half of the league today is averaging over 115 with 6 teams averaging over 120.
We have some very talented scorers, but we also have a game that is called differently. Side note: Since points are more abundant, could it be argued that the shooting guard position is being devalued?
Thank you for making and sharing this video!!! Steven Smith speaking out like this is the perfect example of why social media is a dangerous thing = people can say anything and people that are not educated will believe these false statements and outwrite lies.
You did your shit with this one. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 For god sakes wilt was doing one hand fadeaways. Thats hard to do against even a bad defender. Wilt had way more skill than shaq and more range. Not alot but def more range.
Great video, Jonny! I too have seen similar comments being used to discount Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. It is ridiculous and wrong. I appreciate you debunking that narrative. As for how I would rank Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, it is something I have gone a bit back and forth on. Nonetheless, my rankings are as follows (best center): 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. Bill Russell 3. Wilt Chamberlain 4. Hakeem Olajuwon I am open to hearing others' rankings though. Happy Monday, Jonny! 😊 Have a nice week.
Shaq at #4 of #5 is completely realistic and fair. The gap between Bill Russell and Shaq is small but intangibles (hustle, leadership, etc) do matter and the advance stats count too. 1. Kareem 2. Wilt 3. Bill 4. Hakeem 5. Shaq
@@averyce2 Great points. I put Shaq in my top 5 too (I should've listed him, but I put him right after Hakeem). I'm curious what makes Wilt rank higher (I personally have gone back and forth between them in rankings and am curious about your thoughts).
@@paquinraino8180 Thanks for sharing your rankings. By best, do you mean dominance and skills and by greatest, are you referring to their overall legacy?
centers who rank above shaq in no particular order: wilt chamberlain, kareem abdul jabbar, bill russell, hakeem olajuwon, moses malone, artis gilmore...
Thank you for making this video… people disrespect & ignore wilt’s greatness all the time. He didn’t just dunk, more than 50% of his buckets came from fade aways
Thanks for posting this video. I began watching Wilt at the end of his career. From my limited viewing of Wilt, videos, and interviews, I have to agree with the rest who believe Wilt is the GOAT.
Wilt averaged 50 for a few reasons: 1. The pace leading to more attempts. 2. Wilt and his team were more focused on getting Wilt his stats than winning. 3. Wilt was an all-time great. Nothing to do with height. That said, many great centers could go back and average 50. Probably not Shaq, though, because his physical play would be called as offensive fouls all day. Someone like David Robinson or Hakeem Olajuwon though? Probably. I would say Giannis, too, but he'd have to learn to dribble properly and not body people in the paint. Rules were way stricter back then.
Jonny! Thank you for respecting basketball history and teaching it to us. I have learned so much from you and has made me respect basketball history immensely both past and present. The mainstream sports pundits should learn from you because they desperately need it. Stay blessed and God Bless! Happy New Year!!!
THANK YOU. Was thinking the exact same thing when I seen that clip. Jonny is easily one of the best NBA youtubers there is. Whenever i’m eating, im always watching a Jonny video. Appreciate the boat load of content bro. Wish you the best 🔥💯
Honestly Mad dogs original take is not bad at all and most people agree with it indirectly, he said shaq’s the 5th best Center of all time, he’s probably right, Kareem & Wilt are higher on basically every all time greatest player ranking you can find done by sports media/experts, Hakeem and Shaq are literally always right beside each other and people flip them around all the time, and Tim Duncan is higher as well (again basically every all time list agrees with this) it’s just most people consider him a PF but if you take him as Center, there that’s 4, shaq probably does have an argument to be over one or two of them but it’s certainly close, it’s just the way Mad dog phrased it “shaq’s not a top 4 Center” that seems crazy for a split second just because of the phrasing, but if you think about it for more than one second which I think SAS and Jay Williams are incapable of since I mainly see them especially Stephen A react more emotionally than logically then there probably are 4 centres better then shaq and again, most people agree with this, I never see people upset when an all list comes out and people have all these guys over Shaq
Excellent video. Thank you for this. I hadn’t investigated this topic and was inclined to suspect that Wilt was a unicorn big man for his era. This information is incredibly valuable. I have to reprocess my thinking.
From the few videos that I could find of extended game footage from that era, the pace was crazy so there were an insane amount of possessions. Also Wilt had a reputation for being a black hole on offence in those highest scoring seasons. Lastly this is just my 2 cents: without far fewer sharp changes in direction due to strict palming rules back then, it's easier to keep a high pace for high minutes per game as the entire game is very linear.
Aww Johnny, you owed these guys a good tearing down. You let the Stephen A smith's of the world off the hook because guys perpetuate that stereotype like a quick google search couldn't disprove that info. Thank you for being one of the credible RU-vidrs and bringing this to light because i die a little inside trying to have conversations with people about Wilt and the height disparity and also that there were far fewer teams so while there was less overall talent, he still faced the best guys 9 - 10 times a yr.
I absolutely love this video! I have had so many heated arguments about Chamberlain and this topic for over 15 years. All it takes is a little bit of research.
Wilt and Russel played in a time where they played in bad shoes and had trash plane rides. It's many factors that makes their time even to players now, both are top 10 easily.
That's another misbelief. The shoes in the 50's through the '70's were not 'bad'. Actually, they were made just for the game. The Converses then were not the paper thin replicas that are sold today. They were made in America and had great support, before they were made in Asia. I wore them in the 60's and '70's. The problem came with the marketing campaigns of Adidas, especially NIKE (it's the shoes Money!), BROOKS, PUMA, etc... although I must admit, PRO-KEDS also made a great shoe for the game. Look at the ankle injuries suffered recently, (A Davis ?) with the so-called 'better' shoes. The first serious ankle sprain I suffered in college in 1974 was in a pair of Adidas 'Pro-Model', I immediately went back to my Hi-Top Cons. The shoes now are different... but they're not 'better'.
This was answered years ago by the Wilt Chamberlain Archive in his amazing video _The Top 6 Centers in the 1960s._ He raised many of the same issues you raised here and broke the issue all the way down. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who are basketball junkies.
Thanks Johnny! TBH, Wilt should be in the discussion for the GOAT, not for the top 5 centers! We have rarely, if ever, seen any player with such athletic skills, good technique and IQ. The only thing that stopped him was his mindset
Wilt did have a winning mindset. Not on Bill, Jordan, Kobe or Bird level of mindset but still somewhat close. The problem is that Wilt is so freakishly strong he can accidentally hurt people with barely any effort. Coupled with the fact that offensive fouls were really strict in his time, Wilt had to hold back physically unlike Bill who was more of a defensive player. Wilt and Artis would greatly benefit if the rules were similar to Shaq's time.
@@psalmerperena4120 Nah. Some quotes from contemporaries: Bob Cousy: "Basketball is a team game. When it becomes a one-man operation, as it did after Chamberlain came to Philadelphia, it just doesn't work. You can't expect nine other guys to submerge themselves and their abilities to one man. It particularly doesn't work when the man everybody is feeding isn't helping others whenever and wherever he can.. .the argument can be made that Chamberlain only suffers from a poor supporting cast. If you have a man who makes better than 50 percent of his shots, the argument goes, why shouldn't you concentrate on getting the ball to him whenever possible? Carrying that to its logical conclusion, I would have to ask why you should ever let any other player on that team shoot at all. No, statistics mean nothing in basketball." Rick Barry: "I'll say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loser... He is terrible in big games. He knows he is going to lose and be blamed for the loss, so he dreads it, and you can see it in his eyes; and anyone who has ever played with him will agree with me, regardless of whether they would admit it publicly. When it comes down to the closing minutes of a tough game, an important game, he doesn't want the ball, he doesn't want any part of the pressure. It is at these times that greatness is determined, and Wilt doesn't have it. There is no way you can compare him to a pro like a Bill Russell or a Jerry West... these are clutch competitors." Bill Bradley: "Wilt played the game as if he had to prove his worth to someone who had never seen basketball. He pointed to his statistical achievements as specific measurements of his ability, and they were; but to someone who knows basketball they are, if not irrelevant, certainly nonessential. The point of the game is not how well the individual does but whether the team wins. That is the beautiful heart of the game, the blending of personalities, the mutual sacrifices for group success... I have the impression that Wilt might have been more secure with losing. In defeat, after carefully covering himself with allusions to his accomplishments, he could be magnanimous... Wilt's emphasis on individual accomplishments failed to gain him public affection and made him the favorite to win the game. And, simultaneously, it assured him of losing." Jerry West: "I don't want to rap Wilt because I believe only Russell was better, and I really respect what Wilt did. But I have to say he wouldn't adjust to you, you had to adjust to him." Jerry Lucas: "Wilt was too consumed with records: being the first to lead the league in assists, or to set a record for field goal percentage. He'd accomplish one goal, then go on to another. Russell only asked one question: 'What can I do to make us win?'" John Havlicek: "Wilt's greatest idiosyncrasy was not fouling out... When he got that fourth foul, his game would change. I don't know how many potential victories he may have cheated his team out of by not really playing after he got into foul trouble." Butch van Breda Kolff: "The difference between Russell and Wilt was this: Russell would ask 'What do I need to do to make my teammates better?' Then he'd do it. Wilt honestly thought the best way for his team to win was for him to be in the best possible setting. He'd ask, 'What's the best situation for me?'"
If they have ever seen a highlight video, they will realize that even players in the 60s are not as technically developed as modern players but are not amateurs. Wilt's finger roll and post-up fade are still super effective in modern times, and besides Wilt, some other players also seem really talented in that era from the highlight reels I watched. I am not old enough to watch them in real time, but they deserve much more credit.
Wilt and Russell were freakishly athletic. They would be dominant in any era including Shaq's which he himself was known for being dominant largely due to his own size advantage (he had skill too though which people often overlook about shaq). Edit: also, Shaq was at his peak winning championships when the league started having a decrease in great big men. So you could use a similar critique against him even though I don't believe that lowers his greatness.
Few years ago after doing much research on Wilt I always felt he’s completely overlooked by todays NBA fans. The stories of Wilt’s freakish athleticism and strength gets completely stomped on. The guy just pretty much had it all. There’s almost literally no reason he wouldn’t dominate in any era. I’m honestly so glad that some one has made this video. Unfortunately people will still overlook Wilt’s dominance just cause he played the game over 50 years ago when the game was different.
i still think it’s hilarious how the casuals will say that Bill and Wilt faced plumbers and electricians. yet those are respected 6 figure jobs. like how is that a bad thing ahaha
I find it funny how people say that Wilt and company didn't play against Plumbers while saying the competition was like playing against a bunch of Plumbers.
Plumbers and elektricians also are strong like an ox because of their work and they still practiced everyday AFTER work. They act like these were small weak dudes when some of these men built the homes people live in today and NOT how they do it today which is way less taxing. Yes the game hadnt go full pro yet, but acting like these were just some dudes picked up on the streets is wild.
I think what they're to say is that back in the day, they were part time ball players, which is true but that doesn't mean they didn't practice or train.
many fans didnt notice on why Wilt number is so great is because of his stamina... he literally played the whole season without sub.... that the reason why his number is so great.... i dont know if shaq can do that.... or many of the players today... so beside his advance basketball skills at that time .. one of the biggest advantage of Wilt is his stamina....
Man, I wanted to call stephen a on his show about that take. I was going to state these exact thoughts. Btw I may have Wilt 6 just behind 5. Shaq 4.Tim Duncan 3.Hakeem 2.Bill Russell 1.Kareem. I may swap 3 and 4, but I think that's the list. Happy new year bro and I'm excited to see what you have planned this year
Its coming bro! The series only does well on the big market teams, so I gotta take a break every once in a while, just because lower view videos kinda kills the momentum of the algorithm. Its coming back soon though, I promise :) Nuggets are next btw
In the 60's they played contact defense as well, sometimes with three people hanging off of Wilt's arms legs and back and shoulders like they were trying to play king of the mountain on the big guy.
Excellent video! I leave down here my top 10 centers list. Any thoughts? 1- Wilt Chamberlain 2- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3- Hakeem Olajuwon 4- Shaquile O’Neal 5- Bill Russell 6- Moses Malone 7- David Robinson 8- Nicola Jokic 9- Joel Embid 10- Patrick Ewing
Wilt,Kareem,Russell have to be top three.They are the foundation.They did it first.With all due respect what did Hakeem Shaq Moses or anyone else do that they didn't do?
Russell never outplayed Wilt a day in his life.Russell always got outplayed but he won because he was on the best team in basketball.Wilt avg 30 pts,30 reb one year against Russell in the playoffs. How is that schooling Wilt?When Wilt finally got s good team in 1967 they beat the breaks off the Celtic 4-1
@@SchulzEricT Russell wasn't much of a scorer. Of course he didn't really have to be one on those teams. But I'll always take the guy who proves he could score 30 a night over the guy who never did
Can we make a video on the best fadeaways in NBA history. Because Wilt's Fade was amazing But back to the point, totally agree with you people like @stephenasmith saying that foolishness to try to make their points, only makes them come off as ignorant and lacking any knowledge on basketball history.
Hey i know you said u were influenced by Mike Korzemba and Jimmy Highroller, no disrespect to them but i think youve passed them 😂💯your content is addicting for a true NBA fan like myself
They also measure height with shoes on today but did not during Wilt’s era. This accounts for the 1 inch difference. Players are literally the same size today as they used to be
Mad Dog isn't too far off when he said Shaq is #5. I mean Kareem is clearly #1, then you could say Bill Russell at #2, Wilt could be #3, and Hakeem could be #4. So why Shaq took offense to it to such a high degree is beyond me. He reveres those 4 guys on my list.
Kareem is clearly number 2 or 3 Wilt is clearly number 1 but the general public is scared of facts having Kareem over Wilt is laughable did Kareem score 50.4 and have 26 rebounds a game for an entire season no. Did Kareem have 50 games scoring over 50 points no. Did Kareem score over 4000 points in a season no did Kareem have 9 blocks a game no did Kareem score 100 in one game no! Does Kareem still have over 55 records in the NBA like Wilt the record book no !!!!! Are you smoking crack yes!!!!! lmao. Wilt still owns the NBA record book and he has not played for 51 years give your head a shake Kareem is not fit to tie Wilts' shoes. If your life depended on it what would you bet on a prime Wilt going against a prime Kareem one on one i think we all know the answer clearly it would be the goat MR. Norman Wilton Chamberlain!!
What makes Kareem "clearly" number one.His stats don't say it.His rings don't say it(Russell has 11).He's not the all time leading scorer anymore.LeBron is.
When did Shaq take offense to it? This is about Stephen A. Shaq actually responded to this and said he sees himself at #4, behind Kareem, Wilt and Russell, but just ahead of Hakeem. He wasn't offended, lol.
The competition was not easier than today. He and Bill played against each other and other great players of that time way more often than great players of newer eras played against one another because they have more players after Bill and Wilt's time. Another counter argument against their era having easier competition is none other than Kareem himself. An old Wilt was giving prime Kareem a run for his money while an old Kareem was giving the players of the 80's a run for their money. Magic Johnson was still young and hadn't reached his true peak yet during the first half of Showtime Lakers dominance so old Kareem still had to do some heavy lifting together with young Magic for the Lakers. There's also Bill Walton who was past his prime and suffering from injuries and even he was instrumental to one of Larry Bird and the Celtics championships.
Big greetings from snowy Russia. Still don't understand why these people so called experts are on tv. They say stupid things, with same behavior. I just don't understand
Because it's not the true take that gets the attention, but the HOT one. At the end of the day, ESPN is fueled by corporate greed. They'll say whatever they have to say to get attention and money.
@@jonnyarnett too strange for big company with infinite money to make a click bait for kids/not so smart.Too priceless... I don't understand this. Maybe cause in Russia there's no so big money except football. Well in general situation in hockey is awful. In basketball is trash. No hot key to save it
The deeper you look into Wilt’s archives, the more you realize he had a bit more to his arsenal than Shaq. The only thing that truly hurts Wilt’s case is the lack of championships. There would really be no argument if that category worked more in his favor. But, I absolutely agree greater respect needs to be put on “The Stilt’s” name. He had every tool needed to rival those seen as the “most dominant”
Thanks, Jonny! I really thought Stephen A. knew more about the history of the game than that. I'm not surprised by Jay Williams' reaction, though. Unfortunately, these biases against older players and generations are only going to get worse when reporters/historians like Bob Ryan are gone.
I'm old enough to have watched Wilt and the NBA since the late 50s. I'd actually love to see players of the various eras be able to compete against each other at their best. Maybe AI will make this possible and hopefully that future show will not be weighted against earlier players the way most modern fans and commentators are these days. I also have a major grief against O'Neal, his shoulders, elbows and arms into the chests, necks and faces of opposing centers. He used an advantage 50s and 60s players could not due to rule and game changes. In my mind he was committing offensive fouls 25 ~ 35% of the time. I understand, it was a different era (see, eras matter: rule changes matter). I'd also like to see modern players play through the adversity of extreme racism and non-luxurious playing and training conditions as well as the much smaller paycheck, primitive sports medicine and lack of specialist trainers and coaches and the advisors of today. I'd not even rank O'Neal in the top 5. 1) Bill Russell 2) Wilt Chamberlain 3) Kareem Abdul Jabbar 4) Hakeem Olajuwon 5) Tim Duncan 6) David Robinson 7) Shaquille O'Neal 8) Willis Reed 9) Patrick Ewing 10) Bill Walton (when not injured). (No currently active players listed.)
Thank you brother, thank you for this video, I get tired of clowns disrespecting Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain, the Greatest Center to ever do it at his position. Also a great athlete and yes stronger than Shaq as well.
During the Kobe/Shaq Lakers era, Kobe started referring to Shaq as "Wilt Chamberneezee" as a COMPLIMENT. I have Shaq 3rd of all time centers, but Mad Dogs take isn't as outlandish as JWill and Stephen A are suggesting
The 60's were way better than most casuals think. The pace of the game back then was similar with today's game. Isiah Thomas had told that a few years ago, that today's style of play reminds him the 60's. Caasuals are the cancer of the game.
I’m 74 and played high school way back in the 60’s. Actually met Wilt and his coach Dr. Jack in Times Square one night after a game. He was welcoming and open, he must have known by my excitement I was a big fan. Have seen Wilt, Ray Felix, Bill Russel and many others of that era play in person. Wilt was unbelievable as was Kareem, Russell and Shaquille. I don’t think it is reasonable to rate them. Just ask yourself this, if I was putting a dream team together with my money who would I chose to play center as well as the other 4 spots. I would pick Wilt or Shaq and surround them with skilled players to support them.
It's hard to compare eras, but the modern NBA has significantly different rules from the Chamberlain era, making comparisons even harder. From the 3 second rule to the addition of the 3 point line, rule have been changed to open up the court and eliminate the benefit of a big man. Depth in the position is significantly different as well. While Chamberlain may have dominated other bigs, there weren't very many quality bigs in that era, unlike today. I'm sure Wilt would still be a top tier player, maybe the best at his position, if he were developed in the modern NBA, I seriously doubt his stat line would remotely compare to what he accomplished in his era.
