The seasons in which he put up really eye-popping numbers, his teams weren't that good. And he often disappointed in the playoffs.
I see this being bought up a lot, but how is that a knock on Wilt. If other players aren't in shape or their GMs at the time didn't draft fit players. The fact that he was a rare physical specimen at a time where they weren't too many; doesn't that make him even a more of a gem?
Quoted for truth. Personally , I don’t even think Russell vs Wilt should be a debate. It’s not even close when it comes to offensive ability between those two
He was far worse and less impactful player than Russell. Russell has an argument for GOAT but Wilt just wasn't at that level. Maybe if he played like he did in '67 his whole career he'd have a chance, but he was more intestered in putting up fake numbers rather than focusing on team wins.
Because the majority of the people having the goat discussion never saw him play. It’s not fun to admit you missed out on see in the goat. This is why almost all “goats” are someone the person arguing saw first hand. All other talking points (pace, weaker era etc) are simply justifications after the fact to dismiss his truly astounding numbers.
Many of these same people haven't seen Kareem play either, and they put Kareem over him. So that doesn't really explain it.
Thank you. Wilt played his last NBA game in ‘73, most of these list makers weren’t even born. Also, Wilt is dead, so he can’t make a case for himself. I wish Wilt was still here so I could see Stephen A. smith or another talking head tell Wilt face to face that he wasn’t the greatest.
Actually yes it does. How many people day Kareem is the goat? Not many, because most making the argument didn’t get to see him play live. To them Kareem is just some old guy.
I agree with you there is a recency bias. But there are good numbers-based arguments for not considering Wilt to be GOAT or even best of his era.
I’m not saying Wilt is the goat, I’m simply saying that recency bias is a large part of the reason he, and other players from his generation, will never be considered goats.
Because so many of his games were not televised. He's almost like a mythical legend. People know he was great, but it's hard to put it in perspective when you don't get to see so much of his work, much of it was not recorded in statistics (blocks), and it was so long ago.
On the one hand: Athletes in the 1960s and 70s didn't get nearly as much press about everything they tweet and eat for breakfast like Steph and Lebron. They were just not in the global mind the same way. On the other hand: If you put Tacko Fall back in the 60's against a bunch of mini-Ryan Bowens he might also put up 60 points per game.
Recency bias can go both ways. There is a kind of mythical power with Michael Jordon so much so that nobody can ever unseat him as the GOAT, unless someone can do something really crazy like averaging triple double while shooting 50-40-90 and winning 10 straight championships. If MJ didn't have that mythical power that has such a tight hold on NBA lore, many more people today would say that LeBron was the GOAT.
wilt is seen as a top 10 player universally now, but when he played believe it or not he was never really seen as the best player in the league. Similar to James Harden, its one of the reasons i feel in 25 years , harden will be seen in a far more favorable light, than in his playing days
True, He wasn't at that level. He was at a far higher level. But, curious...what do you think he was worse than Russell at, exactly? Are you aware that probably Wilt's biggest supporter is...Russell? Did you know he was playing professional basketball, and dominating, when he was 16? This story happened after he retired. Pay attention to Wilt plus 4 college freshmen beating the world champion Lakers. If those numbers were 'fake'...why didn't anyone else put up anything close to those numbers? As for era, Wilt would DOMINATE in today's game. Best comparison would probably a much stronger, much bigger, and much better jumping Giannis. Or a far more athletic Shaq. He would be completely unstoppable. Imagine Shaq with a 40" vertical. How would you stop THAT?
