RealGM Greatest Peaks Project (2022): #8 - 1963-64 Bill Russell

[70sFan]

I have to say, I really don't see how so many people are picking 1964 Russell here. In the playoffs, this dude averaged 13.1 PPG on 13.2 FGA for a TS% of .406 in a very high pace league. You guys really think that's better than KG having arguably the best defensive season of the modern era while putting up 24/15/5 with .547 TS% in one of the slowest most defensive seasons ever? In the '64 Finals, Wilt had 29 PPG on 52% from the field while Russell had 11 PPG on 39% from the field. Wilt outrebounded Russell too. There's no way this is one of the most dominant seasons of all-time. If you wanna give Russell credit for his playoff consistency as a reason to have him near the top of an all-time career list, I totally get it even if I don't agree with it, but there's nothing about this '64 season that stands out for all-time dominance. There have to be at least 15 players with better seasons than this.

I said before that I picked other Russell versions over 1964 mainly because or better offensive production, but I don't think you realize how incredible Russell's defensive impact was. It was higher than anything any player ever had on offense. We have seen Curry and Magic votes already, but Russell is on another level to them. If you start your analysis of Russell's peak with scoring numbers, you're doing it wrong.

About Wilt - he's already voted in.

Honestly I feel the same way about Curry at this point. Tremendous impact over a number of years from 2015-2019, but I can’t find one season that beats the top 2 way seasons from KG and Giannis. Also find it hard to vote for a season at this point when a guy wasn’t the best player in the league at the time. And just like LeBron was clearly the best player in 2016 and 2017, I’d have to say Wilt was the best player in 1964.

Russell's defense was more dominant than Curry's offense though. It's not clear that Curry was the best offensive player in the league in 2017, while Russell was very likely the best defensive player ever in 1964.

[falcolombardi]

I said before that I picked other Russell versions over 1964 mainly because or better offensive production, but I don't think you realize how incredible Russell's defensive impact was. It was higher than anything any player ever had on offense. We have seen Curry and Magic votes already, but Russell is on another level to them. If you start your analysis of Russell's peak with scoring numbers, you're doing it wrong.

About Wilt - he's already voted in.

Honestly I feel the same way about Curry at this point. Tremendous impact over a number of years from 2015-2019, but I can’t find one season that beats the top 2 way seasons from KG and Giannis. Also find it hard to vote for a season at this point when a guy wasn’t the best player in the league at the time. And just like LeBron was clearly the best player in 2016 and 2017, I’d have to say Wilt was the best player in 1964.

Russell's defense was more dominant than Curry's offense though. It's not clear that Curry was the best offensive player in the league in 2017, while Russell was very likely the best defensive player ever in 1964.

In fairness, 2017 was also the arguable offensive peak of an arguable offensive goat in lebron james and he is the only player that may be above curry offensively that season imo

Is as if we diminished wilt defense cause he was not even #1 of his era

[70sFan]

Honestly I feel the same way about Curry at this point. Tremendous impact over a number of years from 2015-2019, but I can’t find one season that beats the top 2 way seasons from KG and Giannis. Also find it hard to vote for a season at this point when a guy wasn’t the best player in the league at the time. And just like LeBron was clearly the best player in 2016 and 2017, I’d have to say Wilt was the best player in 1964.

Russell's defense was more dominant than Curry's offense though. It's not clear that Curry was the best offensive player in the league in 2017, while Russell was very likely the best defensive player ever in 1964.

In fairness, 2017 was also the arguable offensive peak of an arguable offensive goat in lebron james and he is the only player that may be above curry offensively that season imo

Is as if we diminished wilt defense cause he was not even #1 of his era

Sure, but there is no debate who is the best defender ever. Curry has a case for the best, but it's not very strong and you can argue quite a few ahead of him. I likely wouldn't have him inside top 3 even, though he has a case as I said.