If Wilt plays with the Lakers in 73-74, how far do they go?

[ceiling raiser]

West was in his last season, and the Lakers went 47-35, losing to the Bucks 1-4 in the West Semis.

With Wilt, could they have achieved a higher seed and competed with the Bucks?

[coastalmarker99]

We do know that a 36-year-old Wilt blocked 446 shots in 1972-73 (5.44 a game), his 14th and final season in the league.

28-year-old Mark Eaton blocked 456 shots in 1984-85 (5.56 a game) his third season in the league, the most since blocks were an official statistic.

So Wilt at 36 years old in his last season in the league blocked 10 fewer shots than the record for most blocks in a regular season since they officially started recording them in '73-74.


Also here are Wilt's averages in the 1973 PLAYOFFS 10.4 PTS 22.5 REBS 3.5 ASTS 6.9 BLKS FG% 55.2



I think having Wilt would ensure that they most likely make it to the WCF before losing to the Bucks in six

But I would be worried about the Bulls taking the Lakers out beforehand.

[coastalmarker99]

Fun fact against the Bulls in Wilt's last season.

He blocked 11 shots in game 2 and blocked 8 shots in game 7 plus blocked 12 shots in game 4.


While Against the Warriors Wilt blocked 8 shots in game 1 and 7 shots in game 2 then 8 shots in game 3 then 6 shots in game 5

I have also seen one source credit him with 6 blocks in Game 1 of the 1973 Finals, 7 in Game 3 and he had 2 or 3 in Game 5.

[coastalmarker99]

You can make a really good case based on impact alone that Wilt still would have been a top-five player in 73-74.

As he would have been the top defender and rebounder plus shot blocker in the game while also being incredibly efficient.

As for West when he was healthy that season his defence was awesome as he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

It's possible that West would have averaged even more steals that season had he had Wilt waiting in the paint as the last line of defence as he would have been able to be more aggressive.