CharlesOakley wrote:Wilt Chamberlain is the GOAT and it isn't even close. He retired from the game over 45 years ago and still holds 72 NBA records. Many of these records are considered unbreakable like averaging 23 rebounds for a career, averaging over 50 points for a season, scoring 100 points in a game, pulling down 55 rebounds in a game and scoring more than 50 points 118 times (Jordan had 31).
What the youngsters on here don't understand is, even though Wilt had 78 triple-doubles in his career, he played in an era when they didn't keep stats on blocks or steals. Wilt was also the greatest shot blocker of all-time and would also hold many more unbreakable records if they kept proper stats. As an example, on March 18, 1968, Wilt unofficially had a stat line of 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks and 11 steals. That one game alone would add the NBA records for blocks and steals to his resume while being the only recorded quintuple-double in NBA history.
Wilt was the most complete player of all-time. He was the most dominant offensive and defensive player of all-time. He could pass, shoot, rebound, block shots, run the floor and score. He had an unstoppable fadeaway jumper. He was the strongest NBA player of all-time and at 7'1" had a 48" vertical. He could run 100 yards in 10 seconds, clear 6'6" in the high jump and throw a shotput over 55 feet.
Wilt == GOAT
My problem with saying Wilt is the Goat, is that he played in an era that’d be equivalent to me playing against a bunch of elementary school kids. Not really fair for a guy his size. I doubt he’d be able to accomplish all he did statistically against the great centers of the 90’s. Bill Russell was smaller than Kevin Durant in height and weight and he gave Wilt problems.
Not taking anything away from them as they both should be ranked at the top in terms of greatness, but when compared to other guys, I can’t just go by what they did in an incredibly weak era.