How would the modern day perceptions or rankings of Russell and Wilt change if they didn't have each other to deal with.
Posted: Thu Mar 2, 2023 1:23 am
In a non Wilt universe.
Russell now ends his career with.
6 MVPs-
11 ALL NBA first team
11 rebounding titles-
12 rings including 11 straight from 1959 to 1969
to go along with his other accolades
Pros to his goat case.
one more ring and a extra MVP
8 more first team nods.
Now seen as the undisputed best player of his era.
Russell's stats now would also be viewed more of a outlier as with no Wilt.
his rebounding numbers would look even more impressive as he would own every single record basically in that category.
Cons to his legacy would be that with no Wilt people would argue.
Weak era such as the early 1950's.
played on stacked teams
He faced a lack of any real teams that could have given him a run for his money.
Had no rival at his position besides Nate and Walt
His main rival was a white guard in Jerry west and another guard in Oscar both of whom lacked the help to take him down.
In a non Russell universe.
Wilt with his 80% winning percentage against Non Celtic teams in the playoffs.
now ends his career with.
6 MVP's
8 to 9 titles
13 rebounding titles
10 first team All NBA
Pro's to his goat case.
Would have the ultimate combo of individual success and team success in NBA history.
Is seen as both the best offensive and defensive player of his era
Is seen as the undisputed best player of his era.
His playoff stats don't take the Celtics hit.
Has a higher playoff PPG and finals average due to his stats not taking the Celtics hit.
would own a lot of records in the finals such as rebounding and scoring due to facing LA who he put up god-like numbers against
His stats are now seen as even more of a outlier without Russell's rebounding dominance as nobody would have even come close to putting up the RPG that Wilt did.
Cons would be that with no Russell to play against.
people would argue.
Weak era
Team's lack of good offensive ratings
He played against midgets and white guys
played on stacked teams such as the 76ers and Lakers.
He faced a lack of any real teams that could have given him a run for his money outside of the Knicks and Kareem's bucks.
Had no rival at his position besides Nate and Walt both of whom were put in bad team situations
His main rival in the finals was a white guard in Jerry west.
He could also be seen as a vulture especially if he struggles to win more rings once Kareem came into the NBA
Russell now ends his career with.
6 MVPs-
11 ALL NBA first team
11 rebounding titles-
12 rings including 11 straight from 1959 to 1969
to go along with his other accolades
Pros to his goat case.
one more ring and a extra MVP
8 more first team nods.
Now seen as the undisputed best player of his era.
Russell's stats now would also be viewed more of a outlier as with no Wilt.
his rebounding numbers would look even more impressive as he would own every single record basically in that category.
Cons to his legacy would be that with no Wilt people would argue.
Weak era such as the early 1950's.
played on stacked teams
He faced a lack of any real teams that could have given him a run for his money.
Had no rival at his position besides Nate and Walt
His main rival was a white guard in Jerry west and another guard in Oscar both of whom lacked the help to take him down.
In a non Russell universe.
Wilt with his 80% winning percentage against Non Celtic teams in the playoffs.
now ends his career with.
6 MVP's
8 to 9 titles
13 rebounding titles
10 first team All NBA
Pro's to his goat case.
Would have the ultimate combo of individual success and team success in NBA history.
Is seen as both the best offensive and defensive player of his era
Is seen as the undisputed best player of his era.
His playoff stats don't take the Celtics hit.
Has a higher playoff PPG and finals average due to his stats not taking the Celtics hit.
would own a lot of records in the finals such as rebounding and scoring due to facing LA who he put up god-like numbers against
His stats are now seen as even more of a outlier without Russell's rebounding dominance as nobody would have even come close to putting up the RPG that Wilt did.
Cons would be that with no Russell to play against.
people would argue.
Weak era
Team's lack of good offensive ratings
He played against midgets and white guys
played on stacked teams such as the 76ers and Lakers.
He faced a lack of any real teams that could have given him a run for his money outside of the Knicks and Kareem's bucks.
Had no rival at his position besides Nate and Walt both of whom were put in bad team situations
His main rival in the finals was a white guard in Jerry west.
He could also be seen as a vulture especially if he struggles to win more rings once Kareem came into the NBA