Wilt shot 40 times and 17 free throws a game when he averaged 50 in a season

[Peregrine01]

In light of Curry surpassing Wilt to become the Warriors' all-time leading scorer, I went to Bball reference to look at some of those Wilt seasons.

Everyone knows about his scoring average, but I had to rub my eyes when I saw this level of shot-jackery. And he shot only 51%!

[The_Hater]

The pace of play in the 60’s was ridiculously high. Much higher than today. Teams and players were able to get so many more shots off. Also, Wilt never came off the floor. He averaged 48.5 mpg which allowed for that many more personal possessions.

And post defense from what I’ve seen didn’t vary much. They basically let the player cAtch the pass down low without much resistance. And double teams were rare.

So while we criticize Wilt for taking all those shots, it should also be noted that he was 2nd in the league in FG% as well so it’s not like the ball was better off in one of his teammates hands.

[bisme37]

Hard to shoot a high percentage against an army of plumbers.

[NyKnicks1714]

The pace of play in the 60’s was ridiculously high. Much higher than today. Teams and players were able to get so many more shots off. Also, Wilt never came off the floor. He averaged 48.5 mpg which allowed for that many more personal possessions.

And post defense from what I’ve seen didn’t vary much. They basically let the player cAtch the pass down low without much resistance. And double teams were rare.

So while we criticize Wilt for taking all those shots, it should also be noted that he was 2nd in the league in FG% as well so it’s not like the ball was better off in one of his teammates hands.

But when you factor in the pace and the minutes, that's another level of amazing. When you also consider that he's a big man running baseline to baseline, he was basically playing the equivalent of two games ever game.

[KokoKaizer]

I need a 70sFan post on the subject !

[Marrrcuss]

Another Hail Curry post?

[_qubik]

In light of Curry surpassing Wilt to become the Warriors' all-time leading scorer, I went to Bball reference to look at some of those Wilt seasons.

Everyone knows about his scoring average, but I had to rub my eyes when I saw this level of shot-jackery. And he shot only 51%!

Its better than the best offensive center nowadays, Wilt carreer average is better than Embiid best season. Its on par with Jokic best season, that is this year, better than all time greats like Hakeem. As long as center as offensives focus of their teams he shows the same efficiency level of the greatest. That season of the 50pt average is pretty insane, I agree, but the dude was the actual freak, he was 2k player waaaaaaaay before it was created

[og15]

Different era, different pace, different defensive schemes, different understanding of shot selection. BUT, at the time with people knowing nothing else but this as what basketball was to look like professionally (with a shot clock), it would have been massively entertaining.

Obviously now with much more knowledge and development in the game, new and different rules, we can look back and criticize how "dumb" their style and decision making was, but that is done with so much more hindsight and knowledge.

[CarMalone]

Wilt’s .505 FG% was second in the league that year and he was one of two qualifying players to shoot higher than 50%.

5 players averaged 30ppg or higher that year.

[Myth]

The pace of play in the 60’s was ridiculously high. Much higher than today. Teams and players were able to get so many more shots off. Also, Wilt never came off the floor. He averaged 48.5 mpg

This is arguably more impressive than the scoring average.

[KayDee35]

Wilt was stat padding before it was a thing. Thanks, OP!

[CIN-C-STAR]

Wilt’s .505 FG% was second in the league that year and he was one of two qualifying players to shoot higher than 50%.

5 players averaged 30ppg or higher that year.

Exactly.
Have to compare it to the league average to get any kind of context here.

[The_Hater]

In light of Curry surpassing Wilt to become the Warriors' all-time leading scorer, I went to Bball reference to look at some of those Wilt seasons.

Everyone knows about his scoring average, but I had to rub my eyes when I saw this level of shot-jackery. And he shot only 51%!

Its better than the best offensive center nowadays, Wilt carreer average is better than Embiid best season. Its on par with Jokic best season, that is this year, better than all time greats like Hakeem. As long as center as offensives focus of their teams he shows the same efficiency level of the greatest. That season of the 50pt average is pretty insane, I agree, but the dude was the actual freak, he was 2k player waaaaaaaay before it was created

Are you talking about his FG% only? Because Wilt’s TS% was nowhere close to what Jokic and Embiid are posting this season. And you have to adjust for that.

Wilt was efficient for a Center playing in 1962 but don’t confuse that with Wilt was efficient compared to a Center playing today’s era. Wilt was closer to Drummond then the top offensive Centers of today based on efficiency.

This is why comparing stats between eras generally a very bad idea.

[ropjhk]

Wilt actually became a better player and had more team success when he stopped being a blackhole and started to share the ball more with his teammates. I don't even think Shaq could be highly efficient shooting 40 shots a game even in Wilt's era.

[rzzzzz]

Wilt was the ultimate unicorn. You just had to go with him one spectacular move after another.

[Biff]

People that point to the minutes as some sort of explanation for why Wilt is better than players today don't understand exercise science. The way the game is played today is much more anaerobic and is much more taxing on the body. Every single top 50 minutes per game season is pre 1980 other than Allen Iverson in 2001-2002. Wilt would never be able to play 48 minutes a game the way the game is played today. He might have elite endurance but he is still a human being. Lebron is also a physical freak and doesn't play that many minutes. And he spends an enormous amount of money maintaining his body.

Like the rest of the stats, the minutes per game things needs to be taken in context of how the game was played at the time.

[GYK]

I don’t see the big deal. Ten more points than shots is pretty amazing.

[Biff]

I don’t see the big deal. Ten more points than shots is pretty amazing.

Volume definitely factors into how amazing it is. Scoring 20 points on 10 shots is amazing. Scoring 100 points on 90 shots is much less amazing. And scoring 50 points on 40 shots (48.5 if you consider FT's) isn't very amazing either but it is better than scoring 100 on 90. At least in respect to how efficient guys are today.

[GYK]

I don’t see the big deal. Ten more points than shots is pretty amazing.

Volume definitely factors into how amazing it is. Scoring 20 points on 10 shots is amazing. Scoring 100 points on 90 shots is much less amazing. And scoring 50 points on 40 shots (48.5 if you consider FT's) isn't very amazing either but it is better than scoring 100 on 90. At least in respect to how efficient guys are today.

Would scoring 30 on 20 shots be worth praise?
I understand your point but I’m sure you don’t realize a 10ppg average over whatever FGA is exactly what elite is.
Check the all time seasons this is right in line.

[JN61]

I don’t see the big deal. Ten more points than shots is pretty amazing.

Volume definitely factors into how amazing it is. Scoring 20 points on 10 shots is amazing. Scoring 100 points on 90 shots is much less amazing. And scoring 50 points on 40 shots (48.5 if you consider FT's) isn't very amazing either but it is better than scoring 100 on 90. At least in respect to how efficient guys are today.

I would love to see today's player play every single second of a game and take up 40 field goals per game (+ missed ones leading to ft) for 80 games. Lets talk after that what is impressive...