Let me repeat. In the first 15 years of NBA history they only drafted six Black players over 6'9". Only SIX in 15 years. The year that Wilt was drafted, he was the ONLY Black player over 6'9" who was drafted. None at all was drafted the year before him. None at all the year before that either. None at all was drafted the year after him either.
Compare that to today, where you have 12 Black players 6'10" or taller drafted
in 2017 alone. You acting like it's compareable is straight ignorant. There is FAR more talent and athleticism at height today than there was back then.
The NBA would put up one random 6'9" White stiff on each team and you think that's somehow comparable to now? Here are the centers that Wilt faced in the PLAYOFFS during the first half of his career when he put up big scoring numbers:
Connie Dierking. 6'9" 220lbs. #20 in this picture, the one who is nowhere near even reaching the rim. Wilt faced him in the '60 and '67 playoffs
Swede Halbrook, a 7'3" 235lb alcoholic with mental issues who only lasted two years. Wilt was famously fazed while playing against him cause he was the only player his height. After getting released he became a circus clown. Wilt faced him in the '61 playoffs (where Wilt got swept in the 1st round without breaking 50% shooting in a single game) and the '62 playoffs.
'
Zelmo Beaty. 6'9" 225lbs. Beaty actually had some athleticism, unlike the first two guys on this list, but he simply didn't have modern center size. In fact, he ended up switching to power forward in the 1970s. Wilt faced him in the '64 playoffs.
Wayne Embry. At 6'8" 240lbs, Embry was even shorter than Beaty, and looked it. Wilt faced him in the '65 playoffs
Then of course....Bill Russell. At 6'10" and 215lbs, Russell was nowhere near Wilt's size. But he was the only athletic player over 6'8" when Wilt came into the league and he gave Wilt fits, beating him every playoff series they played 1960-1966.
And just to be fair, here were the rest of the starting centers when Wilt came into the league.
Charlie Tyra: 6'8", 230lbs
Clyde Lovellette, 6'9" 234lbs
Walter Dukes, 7' 220lbs
Jim Krebs, 6'8" 230lbs
Phil Jordon, 6'10" 205lbs
Those are ALL the starting centers when Wilt came in. You got three skinny-ass tall guys with zero muscle or skill, five little guys who were just 6'8" or 6'9", and Russell. THAT is who Wilt was building up huge stats against.
Anyone coming into this thread trying to claim these guys would be starting centers in the NBA today is full of shyt.
? Imagine if Harden went from averaging 35ppg during the regular season to just 20 in the playoffs? He would get clowned even more than he already does.
