Is Wembanyamas impact now similar to Wilt?

[D.Brasco]

Not that they necessarily play the game the same way, but both have such physical advantages over their competition that you'd almost want to change the games rules just for them. Wilt, being a 7'1" super-athlete in the early 1960s, and Wembanyama, at 7'5" in today's league and having guard like skills, are both massive physical outliers compared to their competition.

I think Wilt is as far back as we have to go for a proper comparison to Wemby.

[UcanUwill]

A lot of people thought WIlt was a loser, which he often was. When Victor was 17, I said he was ''modern Bill Russell''.

Watch on YouTube

[balrog27]

No, no one was or is like wemby. Just enjoy the alien. He's a one in a lifetime type of spectacle.

[Doctor MJ]

Not that they necessarily play the game the same way, but both have such physical advantages over their competition that you'd almost want to change the games rules just for them. Wilt, being a 7'1" super-athlete in the early 1960s, and Wembanyama, at 7'5" in today's league and having guard like skills, are both massive physical outliers compared to their competition.

I think Wilt is as far back as we have to go for a proper comparison to Wemby.

So I can't not note that Wilt's impact wasn't the best of his own era, Russell's was.

To your question, that means it's really not that hard for Wemby to top Wilt's impact - it's not some impossible thing we've never seen before or since - and so long as Wemby stays healthy, it's probably more a question of when Wemby tops Wilt's impact rather if.

And the answer to When? may be "Now", but I'll let the season play out longer before making that assertion.

[D.Brasco]

Not that they necessarily play the game the same way, but both have such physical advantages over their competition that you'd almost want to change the games rules just for them. Wilt, being a 7'1" super-athlete in the early 1960s, and Wembanyama, at 7'5" in today's league and having guard like skills, are both massive physical outliers compared to their competition.

I think Wilt is as far back as we have to go for a proper comparison to Wemby.

So I can't not note that Wilt's impact wasn't the best of his own era, Russell's was.

To your question, that means it's really not that hard for Wemby to top Wilt's impact - it's not some impossible thing we've never seen before or since - and so long as Wemby stays healthy, it's probably more a question of when Wemby tops Wilt's impact rather if.

And the answer to When? may be "Now", but I'll let the season play out longer before making that assertion.

I'm viewing things from the standpoint of individual impact. As good as Russell was, he was on some damn good teams. Wemby likewise, even if he wins the MVP and DPOY this year, is not winning a ring as his team is just not up to the level right now.

We've certainly seen physical outliers in this league's history but I think Wemby and Wilt are on their own tiers, at least with respect to the leagues they played in. I have to imagine a Wilt playing in 1960 was at least as much as an alien as Wemby in the 2025 NBA.

[Doctor MJ]

Not that they necessarily play the game the same way, but both have such physical advantages over their competition that you'd almost want to change the games rules just for them. Wilt, being a 7'1" super-athlete in the early 1960s, and Wembanyama, at 7'5" in today's league and having guard like skills, are both massive physical outliers compared to their competition.

I think Wilt is as far back as we have to go for a proper comparison to Wemby.

So I can't not note that Wilt's impact wasn't the best of his own era, Russell's was.

To your question, that means it's really not that hard for Wemby to top Wilt's impact - it's not some impossible thing we've never seen before or since - and so long as Wemby stays healthy, it's probably more a question of when Wemby tops Wilt's impact rather if.

And the answer to When? may be "Now", but I'll let the season play out longer before making that assertion.

I'm viewing things from the standpoint of individual impact. As good as Russell was, he was on some damn good teams. Wemby likewise, even if he wins the MVP and DPOY this year, is not winning a ring as his team is just not up to the level right now.

We've certainly seen physical outliers in this league's history but I think Wemby and Wilt are on their own tiers, at least with respect to the leagues they played in. I have to imagine a Wilt playing in 1960 was as much as an alien as Wemby in the 2025 NBA.

I'm talking about impact too. Fine for you to disagree, but I'll be crystal clear:

a) I know all about Russell's teammates.
b) I don't believe Wilt was matching Russell's impact except in rare circumstances in part because...
c) Russell was much smarter.

Re: Wemby & Wilt the two greatest physical outliers?

Quite possibly. In fact I think Wilt might be the greatest physical talent for general athletic endeavors generally that the human species has ever produced even today. I think he was more talented at volleyball than basketball, and certainly could have played NFL football without getting physically destroyed, in addition to his track talents.

Re: Wilt 1960 alien. I'd point out that Russell was the better leaper and had longer arms. Russell was the one seen as the alien first, and then the duo of Russell & Wilt stood as the two aliens like nothing ever seen before.

[infinite11285]

I strongly reject the claim that Wilt was a loser simply because he often lost to the guy with the better team.

Swap their rosters, and the results flip. Everyone loves to call basketball a “team sport,” but that truth conveniently disappears when it’s time to give credit—or assign blame.

[xdrta+]

Impact similar to Wilt? Maybe, but not yet. More impact than Wilt? Not a chance.

[UcanUwill]

I strongly reject the claim that Wilt was a loser simply because he often lost to the guy with the better team.

Swap their rosters, and the results flip. Everyone loves to call basketball a “team sport,” but that truth conveniently disappears when it’s time to give credit—or assign blame.

I agree, but thats what people who were there used to say. I am not saying I would say that, but Basketball is also a sport where Superstar player often decides winner and loser, and I wont write off Russells wins on him just having better teammates

[SOA]

Let's wait until Wemby plays a full season. Not a half season like has done the last two years.

Wilt played most of his games every year with huge minutes.

[KGtabake]

Unless someone in here is 80 years and older you can't possibly know the answer to this.
Someone who has actually watched Wilt play live can answer.
I have him as the GOAT big only by watching film.
That's not a way to know about his impact though.

[Calvin Klein]

Maybe except Wemby seems like the complete opposite of Wilt in terms of mentality

[D.Brasco]

Unless someone in here is 80 years and older you can't possibly know the answer to this.
Someone who has actually watched Wilt play live can answer.
I have him as the GOAT big only by watching film.
That's not a way to know about his impact though.

Do you hold the same standard to discussing Michael Jordan? It's been almost 30 years since he has last played as a Bull and there has been an entire generation of NBA fans now who were not old enough to ever see him play live.

[sikma42]

Unless someone in here is 80 years and older you can't possibly know the answer to this.
Someone who has actually watched Wilt play live can answer.
I have him as the GOAT big only by watching film.
That's not a way to know about his impact though.

Do you hold the same standard to discussing Michael Jordan? It's been almost 30 years since he has last played as a Bull and there has been an entire generation of NBA fans now who were not old enough to ever see him play live.

As someone who watched MJ live, there just isn’t that much full game footage of peak Wilt available. You easily find as many MJ games as you want

[Lalouie]

in the way that players couldnt cope with wilt's size, yes

if you are referring to the overall player, it was kareem, then later sampson

if you want to limit it to just size, college teams were holding brooms to adjust to lew alcindor

[The Master]

To be honest, if we're already reaching with historical comparisons - he may be the first player since Bill Russell with that much transformational defensive impact.

Spurs: 1st DRTG (104.1)
Wemby on: 98.8 DRTG
Wemby off: 120.0 DRTG

Imagine if Wemby can lead Spurs on annual basis to -8/-10 rDRTG defenses.

[D.Brasco]

To be honest, if we're already reaching with historical comparisons - he may be the first player since Bill Russell with that much transformational defensive impact.

Spurs: 1st DRTG (104.1)
Wemby on: 98.8 DRTG
Wemby off: 120.0 DRTG

Imagine if Wemby can lead Spurs on annual basis to -8/-10 rDRTG defenses.

Russells offensive game never had the volume and efficiency that Wemby has, and Wilt was a dominant deffensive force himself. It's a sad irony they only started officially counting blocks the literal year after he retired.

[The Master]

Russells offensive game never had the volume and efficiency that Wemby has, and Wilt was a dominant deffensive force himself. It's a sad irony they only started officially counting blocks the literal year after he retired.

Wilt was definitely more than a capable defender (if he wanted to be one), but his teams were only from time to time dominant defensively, especially in the first part of his career.

I thought about Russell, because since the 60s, I don't think anyone reached the level of being so 'transformational' defensively (that's why sometimes people have problems in really acknowledging Russell's impact based on boxscore/more contemporary perception of the game) - and I don't mean being 'amazing', I mean redefining a perception of impact single player can have on that end. Aaaand I can definitely imagine Wemby doing that. What's pretty scary considering that offensively, even era-adjusted or whatever way you want to call it, he's just significantly more talented as an offensive player than Bill was.

On the basic level of being a generational freak (and fantastic player), Wilt is definitely a good comp, I'm not denying that part.

[WillyJakkz]

Wemby is the modern version of Ralph Sampson.

Had Sampson stayed healthy he is who we'd be comparing Wemby to not Wilt.

[druggas]

I strongly reject the claim that Wilt was a loser simply because he often lost to the guy with the better team.

Swap their rosters, and the results flip. Everyone loves to call basketball a “team sport,” but that truth conveniently disappears when it’s time to give credit—or assign blame.

Exactly. The same posters spew the same rhetoric.