Wilt Or Kareem?

[xogfog]

I'm only thinking about this now because people are now talking about where Curry ranks all-time. I think Wilt has fallen back in the rankings due to nothing but recency bias, where as Kareem is highly ranked. I'm trying not to be biased by my Philadelphia ties to Wilt, having met him or that my dad went to high school with him.

They are both hall of famers. Kareem played 5 more season and played until he was 41. Wilt called it a career at 36. Kareem was consistently great for a long time, Wilt was historically great for a shorter time. Kareem's highest scoring average in his career was 34.8 and led the league in scoring twice with a career scoring average of 24.6. Wilt's highest scoring average in his career was 50.4 and led the league in scoring seven times with a career scoring average of 30.1. Kareem led the league in rebounds once, Wilt lead the league in rebounds 11 times.

Kareem does have six titles to Wilt's two, but Kareem's title's came playing along two other all-time greats in Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Wilt only had one great team as a 76er that did win the title and won his other title with the ghosts of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Otherwise, Wilt suffered mightily at the hands of the Russell led Celtics when he was playing with 4 guys named Moe and the Celtics were loaded with hall of famers.

I think they are probably neck in neck in terms of accolades. Kareem had a better college career with the Wooden dynasty. Wilt was an incredible overall athlete and was a track and field star excelling in the high jump, long jump and shot put, he also played professional volleyball after his NBA career.

I still think Wilt, Jordan and Lebron a 1A, 1B and 1C, but like I said Wilt is falling down the zeitgeist list. My personal top 10 is 1a. Jordan, 1b. Lebron, 1c. Chamberlain, 4. Abdul-Jabbar, 5. Johnson, 6. Duncan, 7. Russell, 8..Bryant, 9. Bird, 10. Robertson.

But as I asked in the title of the post, who do you rank higher, Wilt or Kareem?

[VoteForKalas]

I would take Kareem by a nose....one difference was Kareem revolutionized a shot, the sky hook, that was not only incredibly consistent, but pretty much indefensible. He could shoot it with both hands from either side of the basket, in the paint and the top of the circle as well.

The other difference IMO was natural ability vs work ethic. Wilt was, like you said, the victim of some things beyond his control, but he also did not work as hard as Kareem throughout his career and was more active off the court than on in the later stages. His abilities were always there and I think he took them for granted at a certain point. Kareem had to create himself as an elite player. Of course, he had natural skills too, but combined with a relentless work ethic. Kareem was as determined, disciplined and focused as few other athletes I can remember in my lifetime. Only Jordan was more relentless in the game IMO. Like Jordan and Russell, the pursuit of excellence was his purpose every day and he had earned it every night when his head hit the pillow.

They are both absolute legends.

[xogfog]

I would counter the sky hook with the multiple rule changes that Wilt forced the NBA to change. Also, Wilt never once fouled out of a game. Unfortunately they did not keep track of blocked shots when Wilt played, but by all accounts of his peers his numbers would have been prodigious.

[BostonRoss]

Where I live they would still say Bill Russell…

[phillychuck]

Wilt, not even close. Wilt was better than the top trio FWIW. They had to change the rules of the game to make it competitive when he played.

Curry is certainly top ten, too.

[allentown]

I think Russell was certainly the best defensive center of all time. He had a way of blocking shots in a controlled manner, which triggered fast breaks. I loved the Wilt vs Russell games. Both teams were very good, although Celtics probably had the edge in supporting cast. At the time, I remember a lot of Wilt vs Russell debate. Wilt undoubtedly was the best offensive center of all time, but never seemed to mesh as well with the rest of his team offensively as Bill Russell did. More a one-man-show. I well remember the 100-point game.

[bkeich]

I well remember the 100-point game.

My father and grandfather were there, in Hershey. Really wish they had kept the tickets

[LegoDoom]

I agree about Wilt, but it's a little close. Kareem did have longevity and his game likely translates better to different generations.

[LoneStarPhan]

I well remember the 100-point game.

My father and grandfather were there, in Hershey. Really wish they had kept the tickets

I was not at the 100 point game in Hershey but I did see Wilt play in Hershey the year he was with the Globetrotters. The Globetrotters were part of a double header with a Philadelphia-Syracuse NBA game the second part of the twin bill.

[LegoDoom]

I still think Wilt, Jordan and Lebron a 1A, 1B and 1C, but like I said Wilt is falling down the zeitgeist list. My personal top 10 is 1a. Jordan, 1b. Lebron, 1c. Chamberlain, 4. Abdul-Jabbar, 5. Johnson, 6. Duncan, 7. Russell, 8..Bryant, 9. Bird, 10. Robertson.

5 is Magic? Way too high.

(Edit... #5 puts on header font?)

[jimbomill]

I think Wilt is the GOAT, so, he wins any "who's better" match up for me. As you point out, his time against the HOF laden lineup of the Celts did not yield that many Championships, but as in most sports, the best TEAM tends to win.

Also, if you look at Wilt's Playoff numbers prior to his time on the Lakers, he's got some worthy values.