How would you play Wilt in 2025?

[D.Brasco]

I think Wilt was a man ahead of his time. I don't think coaches in the early '60s knew how to adequately utilize a player with Wilt’s size and skill set. Some had him shooting too much, while others restricted him to an overly defensive role.

How would Wilt fare under modern NBA coaching? Would his style of play change, less of a back-to-the-basket more of a slashing player? Could he be played like an even larger Giannis? Wemby at 7'4" plays like a slasher.

[penbeast0]

Think of a healthy Embiid but stronger and quicker miserable free throw shooting (and yes, that includes having rough playoff moments). He would probably work on his 3 point shot enough to play have the full package that Embiid does.

Even in his own day, he didn't like using his size/strength advantage the way Shaq did but wanted to be seen as a complete player taking a lot of those fallaway jumpers and using a finger roll to prove he had a finesse game.

He'd most likely also still be a very polarizing player with his incredible talent, huge ego, and the free throw issues giving critics ammo about his choking.

[kcktiny]

Great defender who almost never fouled, that outscored everyone when he played?

I'd play him like when he did play - 46/47 min/g and every game.

[capfan33]

Honestly have no idea what wilt would look like today, which is a stark contrast to Russell who I feel very confident projecting to the modern game.

Defensively he would have issues in space and potentially with motor. Would of course still be an insane rim protector and virtually immovable under the rim for boards.

Offensively… idk lol. He was stiff and not particularly fluid with some poor habits. He would hopefully fulfill his potential in terms of being a lob target. Great offensive rebounder. His fadeaway would def translate but I’d prefer he be more physical inside, however a 46-48% fadeaway with a strong inside game could be pretty crazy. Don’t really buy him as much as a spacer, his ft shooting and mechanics don’t inspire a ton of confidence in that regard although he could prob be at least ok from mid range. Good passer that would have issues with more advanced concepts.


Overall, with the right coach he could feast. At worst think he’s top10 with all the physical tools provided his defense isn’t too archaic.

[Outside]

I think of Wilt as "two Wilts," the young, thin, athletic, scoring wonder who could run the court like a gazelle and the older, heavier, stronger version who still scored but focused on defense and rebounding.

Young Wilt would be a marvel in today's game with the three-point line opening up spacing inside for him to score at will or, when the defense collapsed to him, passing to open shooters. Older Wilt would be a defensive anchor but would have trouble defending on ball in space and playing up on shooters when switching on high screens. He was a smart, competitive guy though, so he'd adapt his body and his game to today's playing style.

[f4p]

If the young thin wilt is scaled up to modern training, he would be incredible today. Like he's one of the most outlier humans ever. I think applying modern wilt's physique to good coaching could be an incredible player. I'm not entirely sold you could just throw him the ball like Shaq but I think his upside is unstoppable physicality like embiid and enough mobility for defensive dominance. On the other hand, if he truly couldn't blend scoring and passing like he struggled to do, then his floor wouldn't be terrible but would be disappointing.

[f4p]

I think of Wilt as "two Wilts," the young, thin, athletic, scoring wonder who could run the court like a gazelle and the older, heavier, stronger version who still scored but focused on defense and rebounding.

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Yeah I can't think of anyone who changed so much mid career. Which also makes some of the legends of wilt tough to believe. They tend to blend the track athlete smaller wilt with the incredibly strong older wilt.

[One_and_Done]

In today's league? I wouldn't. He wouldn't be the same force today, and even in his own day his impact was somewhat overrated.

[tsherkin]

Think of a healthy Embiid but stronger and quicker miserable free throw shooting (and yes, that includes having rough playoff moments). He would probably work on his 3 point shot enough to play have the full package that Embiid does.

Embiid shoots a lot more, and a lot better, outside of like 7 feet compared to Wilt. I don't know that Wilt working on his 3pt shot would have done anything. I don't want to grill Wilt too hard here, I think he'd still be very effective in today's game, I just don't think it would include a lot of jumpers.

Even in his own day, he didn't like using his size/strength advantage the way Shaq did but wanted to be seen as a complete player taking a lot of those fallaway jumpers and using a finger roll to prove he had a finesse game.

Giannis would seem to be the primary point of comparison to me. I figure Wilt would try to attack more off the dribble with the greater freedom of movement and from the coaches.

[70sFan]

Offensively… idk lol. He was stiff and not particularly fluid with some poor habits.

What poor habit do you have in mind?

Good passer that would have issues with more advanced concepts.

What issues do you see Wilt would have? Wilt played in triangle offense and didn't have any problems with that.

[70sFan]

I think of Wilt as "two Wilts," the young, thin, athletic, scoring wonder who could run the court like a gazelle and the older, heavier, stronger version who still scored but focused on defense and rebounding.

Wilt definitely transformed his body throughout his career, but we should not forget that he was basically 275 lbs in his third year already and he was plenty athletic at that point. Wilt was "thin" only at the very beginning of his career, which with his frame means he was already 260 lbs.

He was a smart, competitive guy though, so he'd adapt his body and his game to today's playing style.

[/quote]
Yeah, that's my conclusion. Wilt would figure out things for him today.

[70sFan]

On the other hand, if he truly couldn't blend scoring and passing like he struggled to do, then his floor wouldn't be terrible but would be disappointing.

I don't think we came clearly said he struggled with that. Wilt had some problems with playmaking in the early 1960s, but based on what we can see it seems that was mostly the problem of Warriors schemes and coaching. I don't see any problems with that blending in 1963/64 Warriors footage that we have and it was still very high scoring Wilt after all. Then he played in triangle system in Philly and did remarkably well.

[giberish]

Young Wilt: I'd look to run as much as possible. Hope to beat slower bigs down the floor and dunk on smaller guys forced to match up with him. Even in the half-court I'd look to get him on the move a lot. Straight post-ups are hard to be that efficient now and he's not great at shooting from any range but he's very mobile and if he gets a slight edge on someone he'll get to the rim.

Old Wilt: More of a high-post passer/dribble handoff guy. Some rolling to the rim from there but generally less offense. Better team defensive oganizer.

[scrabbarista]

Think of a healthy Embiid but stronger and quicker miserable free throw shooting (and yes, that includes having rough playoff moments). He would probably work on his 3 point shot enough to play have the full package that Embiid does.

Embiid shoots a lot more, and a lot better, outside of like 7 feet compared to Wilt. I don't know that Wilt working on his 3pt shot would have done anything. I don't want to grill Wilt too hard here, I think he'd still be very effective in today's game, I just don't think it would include a lot of jumpers.

Even in his own day, he didn't like using his size/strength advantage the way Shaq did but wanted to be seen as a complete player taking a lot of those fallaway jumpers and using a finger roll to prove he had a finesse game.

Giannis would seem to be the primary point of comparison to me. I figure Wilt would try to attack more off the dribble with the greater freedom of movement and from the coaches.

A bigger Giannis would be a marvel. I feel lucky to have seen MJ, but the same can be said for those who saw Wilt.

I would wonder about Wilt's killer instinct/aggressiveness, though. From what I've read, it wasn't on par with Giannis'.

I have nothing to contribute to the OP, though. Just thinking out loud.

[tsherkin]

A bigger Giannis would be a marvel. I feel lucky to have seen MJ, but the same can be said for those who saw Wilt.

Wilt in a Giannis role would be insane.

I would wonder about Wilt's killer instinct/aggressiveness, though. From what I've read, it wasn't on par with Giannis'.

He liked to score, he liked racking up numbers. He liked to feel his own celebrity. He might have some issues in the playoffs (within some parameters for what counts as "issues") but I have no doubt that he would love dominating with the freedom of the face-up action in today's game. He'd be a monster.

[70sFan]

I would use him off-ball a lot, to establish deep positions and score off the catch. I would use him more in P&Rs to leverage his insane lob finishing ability. I'd put him in position to fight for offensive rebounds. I'd play many hand-off actions with him, because he was good at that when he played. I wouldn't run stagnant offense around his post ups, but I'd definitely use him a lot as a post threat.

On defense, I think you'd have to leverage his GOAT-level rim protection ability. I'd play him similarly to Gobert - one man zone inside, but with the hope that his athleticism would give him more room for errors than in Rudy's case. I also think his strength and stability would make him far better man defender than Gobert, who is not that well suited to guard the best centers in the league.

[tsherkin]

I would use him off-ball a lot, to establish deep positions and score off the catch. I would use him more in P&Rs to leverage his insane lob finishing ability. I'd put him in position to fight for offensive rebounds. I'd play many hand-off actions with him, because he was good at that when he played. I wouldn't run stagnant offense around his post ups, but I'd definitely use him a lot as a post threat.

Sounds pretty solid to me!

[Heej]

He'd have a way better time down low because he won't get called for offensive fouls initiating even a tiny bit of contact. Dude was insanely skilled for his size, casually shwapping 3s shooting hook shots lol. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he developed a competent face up game and functioned as a strong pivot passer and glass cleaner.

[70sFan]

He'd have a way better time down low because he won't get called for offensive fouls initiating even a tiny bit of contact. Dude was insanely skilled for his size, casually shwapping 3s shooting hook shots lol. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he developed a competent face up game and functioned as a strong pivot passer and glass cleaner.

Doubt he'd develop anything outside of short midrange shot, but even that would be very helpful in high post actions.

[penbeast0]

Might doubt he'd ever be good at it but Wilt loved to play guard in practice, bringing the ball up court, shooting 20-30 footers, etc. He'd shoot them just to prove that he could.