Are KG and Wilt analogues of each other?

[ardee]

If you've been here long enough, you'll know it's crazy I'm making this thread: for 2012-14 I was the biggest Wilt stan on here and was always very skeptical of KG. But here are some facts:

Both were drafted to somewhat incompetent franchises they were forced to carry hard with tremendous loads on both sides of the ball. Wilt was obviously the more prolific scorer while Garnett was a more all-around guy on offense (though Wilt was also a sneaky good passer when he wanted to be). Both were elite rebounders.

Both were also in the shadow of a positional counterpart in Russell/Duncan who won more titles and defeated them multiple times in the Playoffs.

Both also had some meh years thrown into their prime where they missed the Playoffs altogether.

Then, they switch teams to Philly/Boston, play with better teammates and win their first titles in dominant fashion by changing their role respectively. This applies more to Wilt than KG of course, given he went from a score-first guy to running the offense with his high-post passing, but KG also DID focus more on defense and while still being the no. 1 option was no longer a unipolar act like in Minny.

They continue to settle into their new roles. Both lose close Finals (1970 and 2010). Wilt puts it together for one more title run at age 35, beating young Kareem in the process, while KG manages to roll back the years personally in 2012 with a magnificent individual postseason but his team falls short to LeBron (the GOAT candidate of this time).

Is it too much? Am I reaching?

In summary, they're both do-it-all bigs who could carry tremendous loads but are accused of underperforming in the Playoffs, overshadowed by rivals due to lack of winning, switched teams, embraced new roles and had success in the latter portions of their careers.

[Throwawaytheone]

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[migya]

Chamberlain was the clear best individual player in his era, right from the start, Garnett never was except for maybe one season.

[homecourtloss]

I think you could craft a similar narrative around their career arcs, moments in history that align thematically, and the "story of their legacy" but past that, absolutely not. Their games, their impact, their styles of defense, strengths and weaknesses, the role they played on both ends, their value and perception of said value, etc etc are very meaningfully different.

Are you saying their respective on court impact was very meaningfully different or impact on the game itself, i.e., the popularization of the game and/or becoming part of the mythology of the sport?

[Texas Chuck]

I mean David Robinson is more the obvious comparison to KG, right? Wilt just such a different offensive player.

[Dr Positivity]

I am higher than some on Wilt's supporting cast when he enters the league with Arizin and Gola being quality 2nd and 3rd all-stars, and good fits with Arizin being a scoring wing and Gola an elite D/rebounding/passing wing with 14-15ppg. That's not mentioning Rodgers who we can be critical of, but as a 4th best player, still seems like a decent thing to have, and gives Wilt someone elite at feeding him. Philadelphia had already won 56 title with Arizin and Gola, and then were in ideal position of getting to make an athletic upgrade by replacing Johnston with Wilt four years later. I think Wilt is part of the problem be being a black hole, but they also could have won if not for the Celtics.

[Doctor MJ]

If you've been here long enough, you'll know it's crazy I'm making this thread: for 2012-14 I was the biggest Wilt stan on here and was always very skeptical of KG. But here are some facts:

Both were drafted to somewhat incompetent franchises they were forced to carry hard with tremendous loads on both sides of the ball. Wilt was obviously the more prolific scorer while Garnett was a more all-around guy on offense (though Wilt was also a sneaky good passer when he wanted to be). Both were elite rebounders.

Both were also in the shadow of a positional counterpart in Russell/Duncan who won more titles and defeated them multiple times in the Playoffs.

Both also had some meh years thrown into their prime where they missed the Playoffs altogether.

Then, they switch teams to Philly/Boston, play with better teammates and win their first titles in dominant fashion by changing their role respectively. This applies more to Wilt than KG of course, given he went from a score-first guy to running the offense with his high-post passing, but KG also DID focus more on defense and while still being the no. 1 option was no longer a unipolar act like in Minny.

They continue to settle into their new roles. Both lose close Finals (1970 and 2010). Wilt puts it together for one more title run at age 35, beating young Kareem in the process, while KG manages to roll back the years personally in 2012 with a magnificent individual postseason but his team falls short to LeBron (the GOAT candidate of this time).

Is it too much? Am I reaching?

In summary, they're both do-it-all bigs who could carry tremendous loads but are accused of underperforming in the Playoffs, overshadowed by rivals due to lack of winning, switched teams, embraced new roles and had success in the latter portions of their careers.

They have a lot in common when you present in that way.

I don't think they are that similar as players really, but the parallels are interesting.

[tsherkin]

They have a lot in common when you present in that way.

I don't think they are that similar as players really, but the parallels are interesting.

This is almost word-for-word what I came here to say.

[Throwawaytheone]

.

[TheGOATRises007]

Presented that way, I can see it.

Personally think Wilt is a tier better on offense than KG though(even when Wilt scales back his volume).

[Statlanta]

KG's analogue is Rasheed imo.

[dygaction]

Nothing alike about their offense. Wilt was a force to recon with in the paint, never out of top 3 best in EFG% except his rookie years, whereas KG was never in top 20 best, even during his Celtics years under a reduced role. KG's game was away from the basket and was a much better free throw shooter.