How good was Wilt Chamberlain?
- Thread starter patdog
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He was good. I was a kid in New Jersey in the 60’s and we went and saw the sixers play several times when he was there. No one could stop him when he wanted to play.
he would dominate today.
he would dominate today.
There’s no denying Wilt Chamberlain was talented but I mean look at the competition. Looks like Shaq playing for Belhaven against Millsaps.
Not to take anything away from him but all the crazy numbers and records he holds should have an asterisk. (*denotes stats played against 5’4 white guys who smoked)
serious question, was there really no other black or tall guys playing at the time? How did he end up to be kinda the first real black basketball talent? Was he like the Jackie Robinson of bball?
Not to take anything away from him but all the crazy numbers and records he holds should have an asterisk. (*denotes stats played against 5’4 white guys who smoked)
serious question, was there really no other black or tall guys playing at the time? How did he end up to be kinda the first real black basketball talent? Was he like the Jackie Robinson of bball?
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Bill Russell was around and won 11 championships to Wilts 2. Not sure of Russell's bedroom totals though.
He's probably the biggest freak of nature that ever played in the NBA. His 40 time is out there somewhere. He was as athletic as Jordan, stronger than Shaq, could touch the top of the backboard, and was faster than any running back in the NFL.
He had his moments, but the most impressive thing, I recall.
A ball was bouncing out of bounds, he reached out and caught it with one hand, going away from him.
(must have made an impression)
A ball was bouncing out of bounds, he reached out and caught it with one hand, going away from him.
(must have made an impression)
Sabonis was right there with Wilt as two best centers ever. Sabonis would shoot over the top of ralph sampson and block his shots. Watch some of hos old youtube videos before he blew out both achilles. Muscular 7-3 foot player who could jump and shoot
Sabonis and Sampson weren't in the NBA at the same time and Sampson didn't play in the Olympics.
When were they playing against one another?
Sabonis, from what I've read and heard, would have been a legendary NBA player if he had been in the league at a younger age.
But still, his name seems like an odd one to claim as one of the two best centers of all time.
Yes he was. Look up sabonis on youtube. David Robinson looked like a small child trying to guard him. 7-3 295 could run and jump better than any modern center. Highly skilled. Cold war kept him from playing in nba until he was old with two blown achilles tendons. Still a great player.
Sabonis played robinson qnd sampson in international competition and dominated both.
16 pts 10 rebounds vs 30 & 23. There’s a dozen centers better than Sabonis.
Lol. Nba scouts would laugh at that. Take the time and watch sabonis playnin his prime
When healthy. Monster watch him play sampson and robinson
Man against boys
Where do Ralph Sampson and David Robinson fit in your rankings since you’re using them in your argument?
Claiming Sabonis is a top 2 center of all time is absurd.
...but citing stats is also absurd. Different era of play, different level of overall competition, etc.
And who has the 16 and 10 stats you reference? It sure isn't Arvydas.
...did you perhaps look at his son's stats? Hmm...
Arvydas has worse stats, but when he was in the NBA was past his prime.
Wilt is number one but Sabonis is in the top 2-3 we just never got to see him play in his prime. sabonis was stronger and more athletic than Kareem and he was bigger. David Robinson was a very good player but was physically overmatched by Sabonis.
I just watched that clip. You do realize that’s college age David Robinson. He was a toothpick back then.
David Robinson didn’t again much size from college senior to nba. Watch Ralph Sampson literally the same size as he was from Virginia to Nba get swatted by a Sabonis and Sabonis shoots jumpers over him.
sabonis was 7-3 and 295. Could run like a deer and jump out of the gym.
the one to watch is “sabonis offense and defense highlights-before injuries” on YouTube, beast
sabonis was 7-3 and 295. Could run like a deer and jump out of the gym.
the one to watch is “sabonis offense and defense highlights-before injuries” on YouTube, beast
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Dude he was good and ahead of his time because he could shoot the 3 but you are severely overrating the guy.
So maybe he’s the NBA version of Marcus Dupree….and we get to play the “what if” game. Who cares? There’s no winners or losers in a hypothetical argument like that. Potential is nothing if you don’t actually ever do it against the best of the best….for an extended period of time….against others that are also in their prime.
I mean, the guy averaged 12 / 7 for 7 seasons in the NBA, as a 7-3 center. Those numbers aren’t worthy of the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Very Good, or even the Hall of Above Average, and you’re putting him ahead of Shaq, Kareem, Hakeem, Russell, etc.? It’s preposterous.
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Might be a good point if there hours of Marcus Dupree film playing professionally in Europe. Citing statistics with an old Sabonis after two blown Achilles is also not really pertinent.
But neither is showing him clowning on other European players. It’s like the tallest kid playing in academy ball.
Wilt was insanely good. Bill Russell was only 6'10. Probly the second biggest center. Guys were smaller. Wilt was 7'1 with a 7'8" wingspan. I'm sure y'all have all seen the Conan pic with him and Andre and Arnold. Arnold looks like a child. It's impossible to compare players from different eras and everybody has their opinion but I bet he would dominate Shaq, Olajuwan, Robinson and certainly Sabonis. Kareem ? Idk. Probly
Bill Russell-Artis Gilmore--Zelmo Beaty--Nate Thurmond- Willis Reed--Abdul-Jabbar- There weren't plumbers. Wilt would dominate in any era.
there are many articles and interviews with scouts and former players that place Sabonis in the top 3-4 centers of all time When he was in his prime. He was highly skilled and athletic at 7-3.
its an opinion but if you are ignorant of the subject matter you really don’t know what you are disagreeing with.
Ok you know what fine. He’s the best ever, better than Wilt. Greatest ever.
No, I never said he was better than Wilt. Clips of Sabonis dominating David Robinson like a small child, you dismissed because Robinson was a ”skinny toothpick” , no Robinson was a college senior and was then NBA rookie of the year and an all star His first year in the league. That gives you an idea of what he could have done in the nba during his prime.