Artis Gilmore vs Kareem Abdul Jabbar rivalry

[70sFan]

I collected both stats in their h2h matchups. It's one of the most entertaining centers matchup since Wilt-Kareem.

Spoiler:

1977 (4 games):

Kareem (1-3) - 28.8 mpg, 17.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.5 bpg (2 games) on 55.0% FG, 30.8% FT and 53.3% TS
Artis (3-1) - 32.8 mpg, 18.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 bpg (2 games) on 51.7% FG, 57.9% FT and 53.4% TS

1978 (3 games):

Kareem (2-1) - 32.3 mpg, 19.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg on 46.0% FG, 76.5% FT and 51.3% TS
Artis (1-2) - 39.0 mpg, 23.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 4.7 apg on 60.9% FG, 82.4% FT and 65.4% TS

1979 (4 games):

Kareem (3-1) - 46.0 mpg, 22.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 5.7 bpg (3 games) on 53.5% FG, 78.9% FT and 57.3% TS
Artis (1-3) - 36.5 mpg, 16.8 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 bpg (2 games) on 49.1% FG, 83.3% FT and 55.0% TS

1980 (3 games):
Kareem (3-0) - 36.7 mpg, 26.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.0 apg on 67.4% FG, 73.9% FT and 70.4% TS
Artis (0-3) - 36.7 mpg, 16.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.7 apg on 62.5% FG, 72.7% FT and 65.1% TS

1981 (2 games):
Kareem (1-1) - 38.0 mpg, 25.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.5 bpg on 45.8% FG, 87.5% FT and 49.5% TS
Artis (1-1) - 36.0 mpg, 17.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.5 bpg, 3.0 tov on 60.0% FG, 62.5% FT and 61.4% TS

1982 (2 games):
Kareem (0-2) - 36.0 mpg, 19.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.5 apg on 54.8% FG, 83.3% FT and 58.% TS
Artis (2-0) - 38.5 mpg, 28.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.5 apg on 74.1% FG, 84.2% FT and 79.2% TS


Full stats (18 games):

Lakers - 10-8
Bulls - 8-10

Kareem - 36.3 mpg, 21.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.8 apg on 53.6% FG, 70.9% FT and 56.6% TS
Artis - 36.3 mpg, 19.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.1 apg on 57.6% FG, 75.0% FT and 61.6% TS

It's amazing how close this matchup is stats-wise. Also, Gilmore's Bulls were much weaker than Kareem's Lakers and yet LAL won only 2 more games.

[70sFan]

Bump, any thoughts?

[DoItALL9]

Super close, looks like Kareem really wanted to go after this matchup after 1978 when A Train might've been slightly ahead.

A Train vs Walton could be interesting.

I also wonder if Gilmore ever played against Wilt in a pickup game?

[Djoker]

Kareem was often in foul trouble against Gilmore. That's why he played such low minutes in many of those games. He had a very hard time stopping Gilmore on defense because of how strong Artis was.

[AEnigma]

That does add some interesting perspective to 1983, both in the Spurs’ pursuit of Gilmore and in the ultimate futility of his addition.

[wojoaderge]

I also wonder if Gilmore ever played against Wilt in a pickup game?

A 70sFan production:

Watch on YouTube

[Doctor MJ]

1977 (4 games):

Kareem (1-3) - 28.8 mpg, 17.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.5 bpg (2 games) on 55.0% FG, 30.8% FT and 53.3% TS
Artis (3-1) - 32.8 mpg, 18.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 bpg (2 games) on 51.7% FG, 57.9% FT and 53.4% TS

Wow. Artis looking pretty dang good there.

[penbeast0]

Kareem had a rep for having trouble with guys stronger than he was, which wasn't that common. Moses and Artis have to top the list of muscle guys once Wilt retires though.

[prolific passer]

Always wonder what would have happened if the Bulls kept Artis when they drafted Jordan. Jordan probably extends Artis's career a bit and Artis probably helps Jordan learn to be more patient of a player. Heard some players were mad when Krause released him in 88.

[70sFan]

Up to this point, I have collected 20 out of 49 Gilmore vs Jabbar H2H clashes:

0 from 1976/77
0 from 1977/78
0 from 1978/79
2 from 1979/80
0 from 1980/81
2 from 1981/82
8 from 1982/83
2 from 1983/84
1 from 1984/85
4 from 1985/86
1 from 1986/87

I'm really hoping to find something from pre-1980, but I have failed to do so far...

[kcktiny]

the Spurs’ pursuit of Gilmore and in the ultimate futility of his addition.

Why do you say this? Considering his age when with San Antonio (ages 33-37) Gilmore played incredibly well.

His first 3 seasons with them (1982-83 to 1984-85) despite his age (33-35) among Cs in the league he ranked 7th in minutes played - but 5th in points scored (only Malone, Jabbar, Parish, and Sikma scored more), 5th in rebounds (Malone, Laimbeer, Parish, Sikma grabbed more), 3rd in blocked shots (Eaton, Rollins), 2nd in FTAs (to only Malone). Those 3 seasons he averaged 33 min/g, 17.7 pts/g, 11 reb/g, 2.2 bs/g. He lead all Cs in 2pt FG% (63%), and missed an average of just 6-7 games/season.

The six years prior (1976-77 to 1981-82, after the merger) the Spurs did not have a single C that averaged even 16 pts/g or 9 reb/g in a season.

Also he is just 1 of 4 Cs since the NBA/ABA merger that from the ages of 33-35 averaged at least 15 pts/g and 10 reb/g each season, the others being Ewing, Malone, and Mutombo.

The Spurs those 3 seasons averaged just 44 wins a season, but they would have been a hell of a lot worse without him. He alone accounted for 22% of their total rebounds, 35% of their blocked shots, 20% of their FTAs, and 14% of their points scored - despite playing just 13% of their total minutes played.