How good is prime Wilt Chamberlain in today's game?

[Quotatious]

Best player in the NBA. 30/13/3 defensive player of the year 3-4 blocks per game, but would need a great coach to curve his massive ego.

Yeah, and 13 rebounds seems like a pretty conservative guess. Dwight averaged over 14 in his best seasons, Ben Wallace and Kevin Love had seasons with 15+, so I'd say 15-16 rpg for Wilt, definitely. Could possibly challenge Rodman's numbers, if he focused more on defense and rebounding. If he really was asked to be a volume scorer, averaging 30 a game, I'd say 15-16 rebounds still seems realistic.

[Mutnt]

Wilt averaging 30 a game is laughable... Come on guys

[DQuinn1575]

Wilt averaging 30 a game is laughable... Come on guys

In 1966, Wilt averaged 33.5 ppg while leading the league in fg%.

Okay , 2nd and 3rd best centers would have been Walt Bellamy 6-11, and Nate Thurmond 6-11 - Thurmond a defensive star. Bellamy has Willis Reed, 6-9 as his power forward. I dont think the average opposition in 2014 is better than that.
They both would easily be considered top 10 centers in the league today.

Wilt averaged 32.5 ppg against those 2 -now scoring is only 88% of 1966's scoring so that puts him at 28.5 ppg-
Do you give him a little bump because Nate was above average defense?

There's a case for 30 ppg -

28/15/4 blocks is not inconceivable.

[Joseph17]

Probably as good if not better than Lebron. I always look at Wilt the way I look at Shaq and I always use them interchangeably when I'm comparing them to other players. I personally think Shaq and Wilt would flat out dominate today's NBA mainly because the bigs of today are so finesse oriented. I guess if teams really wanted to contain them, the NBA could go back to signing players whose only role is to defend dominant power bigs (Jason Collins). I know that Collins is still in the league anyway, but we all know the reason why he's in the NBA so lets not even go there.

[CaliBullsFan]

Best player in the NBA. 30/13/3 defensive player of the year 3-4 blocks per game, but would need a great coach to curve his massive ego.

Yeah, and 13 rebounds seems like a pretty conservative guess. Dwight averaged over 14 in his best seasons, Ben Wallace and Kevin Love had seasons with 15+, so I'd say 15-16 rpg for Wilt, definitely. Could possibly challenge Rodman's numbers, if he focused more on defense and rebounding. If he really was asked to be a volume scorer, averaging 30 a game, I'd say 15-16 rebounds still seems realistic.

Yeah it depends on his team

[Mazter]

I don't know, ask Shaq.

In his last 4 seasons with the Lakers Shaq averaged less FGA and more FTA in the 4th quarter then in the other 3 quarters. There was a certain pattern. And given his FT% record it didn't really help the team much like it would with Kevin Durant.

I figured Heat fans would have realized the benefits of having a shot-blocking center, given their struggles against Roy Hibbert and Tim Duncan. There's a huge value in having guys like that defensively, it allows guys to stick to their man closer because they know that they have an eraser behind them.

Until this Finals Duncan was 5-8 against the Heat in the big 3 era, and Hibbert is 13-20. I wouldn't call that struggling.

And how many starting centers can actually shoot mid range shots these days anyways?

Just some of them and I wasn't even halfway through the league. FG% 10 feet away from the basket:
Jefferson 38.2%
Cousins 40.6%
Horford 48.8%
B.Lopez 51.4%
Marc Gasol 39.8%
Gortat 40.7%
Noah 38.1%
Hibbert 38.6%
Kaman 43.9%
If Wilt would leave his man open today to cover the paint the attacking player will find the open center to shoot an uncontested jumper.

On a side note, people seem to make the offensive comparison with Shaq. But Shaq used his weight to bully centers, just like Wilt might have done. The only difference, Shaq weights 325 pounds. That is a huge advantage. Wilt's 275 pounds was impressive back in those days, now it would just be slightly above average. The only real comparison between Shaq and Wilt is their FT%.

[penbeast0]

You don't think Wilt would bulk earlier and carry his weight more effectively considering the much greater prevalence of weight work, training, and "performance enhancing substitutes?" In Wilt's day, most coaches told their big men to avoid lifting weights so they wouldn't get "muscle bound."

[RayBan-Sematra]

In his last 4 seasons with the Lakers Shaq averaged less FGA and more FTA in the 4th quarter then in the other 3 quarters. There was a certain pattern. And given his FT% record it didn't really help the team much like it would with Kevin Durant.

To be fair Shaq also led the 00-02 Laker's in 4th quarter playoff pts scored.
Shaq also has the two highest 4th quarter averages for a Finals series (95/00) even better then anything MJ ever did.
I am sure at times his poor FT shooting did hurt him down the stretch of games but in general it did not stop him from being an effective scoring threat/offensive force.
Plus their are rules which were in place (and I think still are?) which made hacking him in the last 2 minutes difficult to do since if he wasn't in the act of shooting his team could let anyone they wish shoot the FT's.
Because of those rules Shaq could often avoid being hampered by either relying on good percentage jumphooks or by finishing through contact.

On a side note, people seem to make the offensive comparison with Shaq. But Shaq used his weight to bully centers, just like Wilt might have done. The only difference, Shaq weights 325 pounds. That is a huge advantage. Wilt's 275 pounds was impressive back in those days, now it would just be slightly above average. The only real comparison between Shaq and Wilt is their FT%.

I agree to some extent with you.
Wilt during much of his Prime was significantly lighter then Shaq and more top heavy which is not ideal for bullying in comparison to being bottom heavy.
Physically and skillwise I am far from certain that Wilt was as capable of playing the power game like Shaq could.

[Jaivl]

If handled properly, at least 26 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. Plus great defense.

If not... well, who knows.

[HornetJail]

he'd be as good as Javale McGee

Easily top 3. I'm really hesitant to put him over Lebron and Durant though. Regardless, he's the best center in the game by a very wide margin. Probably puts up 24/14 with 2-3 blocks and good defense.


And he'd also be labelled as a massive stat padder.

[RayBan-Sematra]

You don't think Wilt would bulk earlier and carry his weight more effectively considering the much greater prevalence of weight work, training, and "performance enhancing substitutes?" In Wilt's day, most coaches told their big men to avoid lifting weights so they wouldn't get "muscle bound."

Wilt was always into weight lifting though if I remember correctly so while what you say is true of his time it doesn't nessasarily apply to him.

I could imagine Wilt perhaps choosing to be bigger in this era due to the slower pace and the likelyhood that some coaches would demand he limit his minutes to a more reasonable extent then he usually desired.

At the same time Shaq's power game involved many basic and minute skills which Wilt may not have had or may not have been as proficient in.
So I won't assume that Wilt regardless of his weight could play the power game at the same effectiveness as O'neal.

[CaliBullsFan]

On a side note, people seem to make the offensive comparison with Shaq. But Shaq used his weight to bully centers, just like Wilt might have done. The only difference, Shaq weights 325 pounds. That is a huge advantage. Wilt's 275 pounds was impressive back in those days, now it would just be slightly above average. The only real comparison between Shaq and Wilt is their FT%.

The comparison is because both guys overwhelmed you by getting deep post position using their strength. Shaq was much wider, but based on everything I have ever heard he was just as strong. If anything Shaqs width helped him receive the ball without giving much ground. On the other hand Wilt has significantly longer arms which obviously helps receiving and finishing(even if you give up ground)

[Exodus]

Wilt would put up over 30 and 15 rebuonds and 4 blocks in todays game.

No way you can play spread the court shooters at the 4, Wilt would demolish who ever is guarding him at the 5.

[RayBan-Sematra]

On the other hand Wilt has significantly longer arms which obviously helps receiving and finishing(even if you give up ground)

From memory Wilt only has about a .5 - 1 inch advantage in total length.
That is hardly significant.

[MisterWestside]

Chamberlain's volume scoring would be much more valuable in today's era of (superior) deep-shooting specialists and offenses that are centered around the low-post.

Top 2 with James.

[ronnymac2]

22 points, 13 rebounds, 2.5-3 blocks, 3-4 assists, 55 percent shooting, 8-10 FTAs per game. Much better than Dwight Howard due to his passing and high IQ on offense. Slightly worse defender, still very good though.

Up there with LBJ for best in the game.

[ceiling raiser]

On a side note, people seem to make the offensive comparison with Shaq. But Shaq used his weight to bully centers, just like Wilt might have done. The only difference, Shaq weights 325 pounds. That is a huge advantage. Wilt's 275 pounds was impressive back in those days, now it would just be slightly above average. The only real comparison between Shaq and Wilt is their FT%.

Minor correction...Wilt was 275 after his 3rd year. At the end of 63-64, sources have him at 292 (and heavier before camp the next year), and the LA times and other papers noted his weight at 300 or 310 several times during his tenure with the Lakers. Still not as big as Shaq, just wanted to point it out.

It doesn't really make a huge difference though, because even though Wilt was incredibly strong, he opted for two finesse moves (fadeaway and finger roll) more often than not (less so with the Lakers obviously, though aside from 68-69 and the beginning of 69-70, this was outside of his prime. Even though one would want to think he'd go with more of a power game today, I have a feeling the fadeaway and finger roll would still feature prominently in his game.

[Swagalicious]

Best player in the game

Look at his attributes:

- GOAT level scorer (though pace-inflated). Which center im today's game can do anything against prime Wilt? He'd just tower and back down the league.

- GOAT-level rebounding judging from TRB% (iirc he would be at 16 rpg or so in today's game)

- If coached right, he can be your defensive anchor and an incredible one at that. Blocks weren't recorded at the time but he most definitely blocked upwards of 5 shots every night.

- In the right system you can run your offense through him in the high post. He was a very capable passer

- stamina. This is really underrated imo. Dude played full minutes regularly at a higher pace, even as he got older.

[MacGill]

On a side note, people seem to make the offensive comparison with Shaq. But Shaq used his weight to bully centers, just like Wilt might have done. The only difference, Shaq weights 325 pounds. That is a huge advantage. Wilt's 275 pounds was impressive back in those days, now it would just be slightly above average. The only real comparison between Shaq and Wilt is their FT%.

Minor correction...Wilt was 275 after his 3rd year. At the end of 63-64, sources have him at 292 (and heavier before camp the next year), and the LA times and other papers noted his weight at 300 or 310 several times during his tenure with the Lakers. Still not as big as Shaq, just wanted to point it out.

It doesn't really make a huge difference though, because even though Wilt was incredibly strong, he opted for two finesse moves (fadeaway and finger roll) more often than not (less so with the Lakers obviously, though aside from 68-69 and the beginning of 69-70, this was outside of his prime. Even though one would want to think he'd go with more of a power game today, I have a feeling the fadeaway and finger roll would still feature prominently in his game.

This is very refreshing to see and I wish more would look at things this way. Another example is 50 years from now another Wilt/Shaq giant shoots 3's and crosses over on the dribble. Poster's would be saying that if Shaq had modern advances he'd play more the corner 3 and what not. The power game wasn't just dunking..it was backing down, pressuring the defense, gaining great position etc. This is instinctual as much theory. A larger guy knows that if he gets on top of a smaller guy in a fight it spells trouble. This is what annoys me about Wilt transitions. When your ahead of your time......modern advances give minimum lift. Just like MJ probably wouldn't start taking 3's like Kobe today because he knew he was more effective on the drive.

Regardless of what poster's think, and please feel free to keep that opinion, it is also mine though that Wilt wouldn't shy away from what we already saw because his instincts told him this is what you can do. Shaq knew he couldn't hit 15 foot fade aways, which is why we never saw them. He knew though he could back you down like no tomorrow.

Sure coaches could suggest and ask him to do this and that....the same way they asked Kobe not to shoot the ball so much at times, KG making one too many passes, or LBJ taking that last shot etc. Point is, Wilt only benefits from a very small amount of modern advances but you aren't changing him into another player that he really wasn't. Which is why his rebounding and man defense would probably be best in game today.

[magicmerl]

- stamina. This is really underrated imo. Dude played full minutes regularly at a higher pace, even as he got older.

I agree. The thing about Shaq was his amazing agility and footwork for his size. There were other players as big as Shaq in the league, but none of them were as agile as him. Shaq was bigger than the guys who were as mobile as him, and he was more mobile than the guys who were as big as him.

Wilt is the size of Shaq, but really his 'modern day' equivalent I think is Karl Malone. He'd be able to outrun and outwork whoever is playing against him, and get a lot of easy points that way. And he'd be the perfect big man to slot into the post-Thib frenetic defensive schemes while also being an offensive anchor.

I don't think it would be a stretch to say he'd be more valuable than LeBron in the modern NBA. He'd be more valuable defensively, and they both have their core offensive value in their incredible ability to take and make shots at the rim. LeBron might have the advantage there, but I don't think it would outweigh Wilt's defensive advantage.