I will take Kareem. His hook shot was unstoppable. Plus I think wilt was kinda of a ball hog. Wilt was better in stats, but when you think about overall basketball skills, I'd go with Kareem.
Both players in their prime (1959-1968 Wilt and 1969-1974 Kareem) would dominate their position in any era. I think it comes down to who you like more or what you need. If you need a guy to average 30,20,8, then Wilt's the man, or if you need a scoring machine then you can't go wrong with either of them. If you need a stopper, I'd say Wilt is better, if you need a reliable anchor in the post, then of course, both would fit perfectly. I you want to run and gun it, then both Wilt and Kareem would be excellent and grabbing rebounds and shooting the outlet pass down to a streaking guard (Wilt did that in 1972).
Im sorry guys, but to me, its Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain as the two best players of all time. No questions asked. Jordan is slef explanatory. Wilt Chamberlain was a monster. You heard Ballaholic, 29 and 29 against Bill Russel. Also, Kareem had such a better supporting cast. MUCH better.You guys underrate him so much, its scary. He scored 100 points ina game for heaven sakes. Like ive said, I dont care if your playing against sixth graders, your dominant when you do that.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ May 14 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Both players in their prime (1959-1968 Wilt and 1969-1974 Kareem) would dominate their position in any era. I think it comes down to who you like more or what you need. If you need a guy to average 30,20,8, then Wilt's the man, or if you need a scoring machine then you can't go wrong with either of them. If you need a stopper, I'd say Wilt is better, if you need a reliable anchor in the post, then of course, both would fit perfectly. I you want to run and gun it, then both Wilt and Kareem would be excellent and grabbing rebounds and shooting the outlet pass down to a streaking guard (Wilt did that in 1972).</div>To add to that, Wilt is one of the most athletic players of all time in the NBA. His endurance and stamina was amazing. Do you guys know that during his 100 point game, he drank nearly a gallon of milk during halftime? Thats nearly a full 4 bags of milk. I dont know anyone who wouldnt have a cramp not drinking that much. He also averaged 48.5 minutes a game in a season. That means he played ALL the game, and played ALL of every overtime. Id like to see Kareem play that much. The most he averaged was 44 minutes a game.
I will take Kareem. Kareem played in a more advanced era of basketball more complex defense and smart scouts. He had to adjust his game almost everday when Wilt played there was less teams and not that many zones or presses or anything. Kareem also had too play against players like Hakeem, EWing, M. Malone, K. Malone it was different challenge every other day of the week while Chamberlain's real only concern of being contained was Russell.
^^To that, both eras have their differences but, Wilt was head and shoulders above everybody, it's hard to believe that he'd all of a sudden not be a monster if he played only a few years later. Remember, Wilt used to practice with Showtime when he was in his 50's. If the dude can play with showtime in his 50's, he can't be that bad against Kareem's competition.
Kareem was better, but that doesn't make him greater. He was a bigger guy with that unstoppable sky hook. I'd take him over Wilt any day if they were in their primes and it was a pickup game or draft.However, Wilt is by far greater than Kareem. The guy was so dominant and carried teams to great records year after year only to lose to the legendary Russel-lead Celtics. Kareem is Mr. Consistant, but he never dominated like Wilt did. He was needed Oscar Robertson and later Magic Johnson, which doesn't really reflect badly on him at all, it just means the game had evolved to make things more difficult for centers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ May 9 2007, 04:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You act like Wilt was sprinting up and down getting easy ass layups. He played in the post with his back to the basket just like Kareem did.</div>My point is that when one team averages 95 possessions per game and another team averages 125 possessions per game, the latter is going to have a lot more opportunity to get stats.To explain how fast paced 125 possessions per game is, this year's Warriors, the fastest team in the league, played with under a hundred possessions per game and were thought of as running renegades.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>To explain how fast paced 125 possessions per game is, this year's Warriors, the fastest team in the league, played with under a hundred possessions per game and were thought of as running renegades.</div> Times have changed. But, it wasn't easier, he may have had more scoring opportunities but remember, all those extra possessions meant, being hacked more, having to boxout more, having to muscle his way into position more, I mean, he may have had more possessions, but they still weren't easy ones. I get your point, you're right, just don't say he had it easy, please.
Wilt didnt have it easy, but it deifently was the competition it is now, and expecially in the 70s and 80s for centers.I would take Kareem. He last forever...although Wilt almost made a return in the 70s..lol. Wilt wouldnt get those stats now though...20rpg is freaking incredible, I dont think anybody could ever do that in this era. Wilt would still be awesome though...just not that incredible stats he had then.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ May 14 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Both players in their prime (1959-1968 Wilt and 1969-1974 Kareem) would dominate their position in any era. I think it comes down to who you like more or what you need. If you need a guy to average 30,20,8, then Wilt's the man, or if you need a scoring machine then you can't go wrong with either of them. If you need a stopper, I'd say Wilt is better, if you need a reliable anchor in the post, then of course, both would fit perfectly. I you want to run and gun it, then both Wilt and Kareem would be excellent and grabbing rebounds and shooting the outlet pass down to a streaking guard (Wilt did that in 1972).</div>Wilt was young and just using his athleticism and raw talent to dominate. Later on he became a great team player and was more effective. In the same way, Wilt from 68-71 scored way less, but put his team first. He was far more dominant in his era on both ends of the floor and even became the assists leader one year. Size/Strenght advantage goes to Wilt as well. Wilt went up against tougher team competition (I.e Celtics, which had ALOT of HOFers). He only won when he got a clutch guard on his team. Yes Kareem played in a more evolved era of basketball. So what? It was his era. His technology. Now, there is more technology available to athletes, and the game is further evolved. Its tough to say whether each variable grows at the same rate over time, but they are co-related and you cant just transplant athletes between eras. You have to give Wilt the same tech. as Kareem if comparing them in the 70s.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ May 23 2007, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> Times have changed. But, it wasn't easier, he may have had more scoring opportunities but remember, all those extra possessions meant, being hacked more, having to boxout more, having to muscle his way into position more, I mean, he may have had more possessions, but they still weren't easy ones. I get your point, you're right, just don't say he had it easy, please.</div>well he played on a team that it was easy to get stats. There is no other situation in NBA history easier to get stats than he played in. Is that better?
My favorite Wilt story as told by chuck daily;in the early 80's, long after Wilt retired, he'd go to UCLA to run pick up games with NBA pros and some college students. Magic would play too.this day they are on opposite teams. Magic drives the lane, Wilt blocks his shot. Magic calls a goal tend.Wilt says "there was not goal tend" Magic insists that it was.after a few mins of neither man backing down, Wilt said "Fine, but there will be no more lay ups today"for the rest of the afternoon, Magic's team didn't get single layup or dunk cause Wilt was that dominant on defence.in the 80's he did this....
as for wilt vs russell.wilt has the all time single game rebound record of 55 vs.. the celts and Bill Russell.Wilt's stats are too jaw dropping to ignore.my fav's leading the league in assists as a Centeraveraging 48.5 mins a game for an entire season (let that one sink in)This monsterous tripple doublea 22 points 25 rebounds and 21 assistsMaking the all defensive team his last 2 years in the league because the award was just created the year before that.Never fouling out of a game.Kareem is a legend, but he played with the 2 greatest PG's of all time to help facilitate his game.
