Wilt Chamberlain is often overlooked in the conversation about who was the greatest player of all time. This article will explore how Chamberlain should be regarded as one of the NBA’s best players and how he could have beaten Michael Jordan and LeBron James if they had faced off against each other.
Wilt Chamberlain is a basketball player that deserves more respect in the NBA GOAT conversation. He was one of the most dominant players to ever play the game and had a career average of 30 points per game.
LeBron James or Michael Jordan? When it comes to the NBA’s GOAT, that’s all we hear. It’s tough to choose the best athlete in any sport. Comparing athletes from various periods is difficult, but Jordan and James always seem to come up in conversation. Why is Wilt Chamberlain seldom, if ever, in the championship game?
Jordan and James are solid choices. They’re also the slacker options. Chamberlain’s GOAT status is mostly based on the opinions of fans who have never seen him play. Check watch some YouTube video and look at his statistics if you’ve never seen him in action — like me — and you may alter your opinion.
Wilt Chamberlain is deserving of greater recognition when it comes to NBA GOAT debates.
During Game 7 of the 1969-70 NBA Finals, New York Knicks center Willis Reed defends Los Angeles Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain. | NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
So, what precisely qualifies someone as the GOAT? That is the most important question, yet there is no definitive solution. On the basis of statistics alone, Chamberlain is the clear winner of the GOAT argument. If winning championships is the measure, his adversary, Bill Russell, comes out on top with 11 as a player.
When the best-of-all-time discussion starts, people’s memories tend to fade. Early-era players are mostly forgotten. Is it because there were just a few NBA clubs back then that they were dismissed? Take the 1966-67 season, for example, when the Chicago Bulls made their debut in the league. The NBA now has ten clubs, thanks to the addition of the Bulls.
Is Chamberlain’s case harmed by a 10-team league? If so, what’s the reasoning behind it? Is it because with fewer teams, it’s simpler to win a championship or an MVP? Is that even a factor in deciding who the GOAT is?
LeBron James plays in a 30-team league that has been diluted. Isn’t that going to harm his case? James and Jordan had considerably more publicity than Chamberlain because they played in front of huge television crowds. Does the extra attention help them maintain their GOAT status? When Chamberlain was playing, steals and blocks were not even a category. Is it anything to consider? There are many questions for which there are no definite solutions.
Wilt Chamberlain has the best statistics of anybody.
Chamberlain has all of the statistics to show he was a complete player, but he also has one of the most startling statistics that should propel him to the top of the GOAT list on its own. All of this occurred during the 1961-62 season, when Chamberlain played an average of 48.5 minutes per game. When an NBA game is just 48 minutes long, how can one average 48.5 minutes each game?
Chamberlain only missed one game during the 1961-62 season, when he received his second technical foul of the game and sat out the last eight minutes. That season, seven games went to overtime, increasing his average to almost 48 minutes. Chamberlain averaged 45.8 minutes per game throughout the course of his 14-year career.
Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game throughout his career, and he never fouled out in an NBA game. During the 1961-62 season, the center averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds while appearing in an NBA-high 80 games. He averaged 44.8 points and 24.3 rebounds the next season. He once had a game when he scored 100 points.
Chamberlain won the NBA scoring title seven times, including his first six years in the league, and led the league in rebounding 11 times. During the 1967-68 season, the versatile 7-foot-1 center topped the league in assists, averaging 8.6 per game. He was a four-time NBA MVP and a two-time NBA champion.
Chamberlain should be regarded as the NBA’s All-Time Greatest Player.
Chamberlain should not just be regarded a contender for the NBA GOAT with Jordan and James, but he should be considered the greatest player ever. The guy was the embodiment of sturdiness. He never left games, and while he was playing them, he was unstoppable. His free-throw shooting was his greatest flaw.
Often, he isn’t even regarded among the top five. Chamberlain was ranked sixth on ESPN’s list of the best 74 NBA players of all time in 2020. Before him, Jordan, James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Russell, and Magic Johnson were all listed.
In terms of statistics, no one beats Chamberlain. Is he out because he’s only won two NBA championships in seven Finals appearances? Chamberlain had four more seasons than James, who has just four. James doesn’t have the same career statistics as the Hall of Fame center, nor does he have the same durability. Even though Jordan has six titles, his totals pale in comparison to Chamberlain’s.
The battle for the title of GOAT is always entertaining. It’s also always a challenge. Jordan and James should always be in the mix, but maybe for a second-place showdown.
Basketball Reference provided all stats.
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