Wilt's superhuman strength

[KOBE]

Drummond/DJ are great rebounders on their own and would be averaging 20 in Wilt's day

He could but IDK, it's a hypothetical question. I don't think hje would/should play 40ish minutes tho.

This is exactly the shyt I'm talking about in my first post. Why downplay what Wilt did by saying anyone could do it for today's game? Could they average 30? Possibly, but I don't think either are in the condition to play 48 minutes a game.

Also why could he not nor should he not play 40 minutes a game in today's game? These guys in the opening post are going on about what an athlete he was, how strong he was, and what great shape he was in yet you don't think he should play 40 minutes because some players today don't?

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

This is exactly the shyt I'm talking about in my first post. Why downplay what Wilt did by saying anyone could do it for today's game? Could they average 30? Possibly, but I don't think either are in the condition to play 48 minutes a game.

Also why could he not nor should he not play 40 minutes a game in today's game? These guys in the opening post are going on about what an athlete he was, how strong he was, and what great shape he was in yet you don't think he should play 40 minutes because some players today don't?

I'm not downplaying Wilt, he's arguably the most dominant player ever. Just putting some context about his performances. And the game today is way more demanding than it was 50 years ago IMO

 

[KOBE]

I'm not downplaying Wilt, he's arguably the most dominant player ever. Just putting some context about his performances. And the game today is way more demanding than it was 50 years ago IMO

Okay I want you to explain how the game is way more demanding today than it was 50 years ago, for Wilt in particular. This man scored 50 points a game, while putting up 25-30 shots a game. That's not including the fact he got 10-20ish free throws a game to, which means he was going up for those shots as well before getting hacked. Now someone putting up 25-30 shots while constantly getting fouled doesn't seem incredibly demanding to you? Think about all the times he had to go up for dunks, shots, etc, and tell me that isn't putting a demand on your body.

He averaged 45 minutes per game in his career, does that seem like a huge demand to you?

He got 20-30 rebounds for most of his career, that doesn't include all the ones he missed out on. Does that not seem like it would be incredibly demanding to you?


You think Andre/DJ are great rebounders so they could just go back in time and do the same shyt Wilt was doing because they're big and get a lot now, but you're ignoring the type of shape and conditioning he was in in order to have those performances REGULARLY. Maybe it wasn't as demanding for the average player, but Wilt was the offense/defense/rebounding for his fukking teams and you're trying to sit there and tell me it wasn't as demanding compared today's game where players often get rest games and don't play for more than 35 minutes because they need their rest.

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

Okay I want you to explain how the game is way more demanding today than it was 50 years ago, for Wilt in particular. This man scored 50 points a game, while putting up 25-30 shots a game. That's not including the fact he got 10-20ish free throws a game to, which means he was going up for those shots as well before getting hacked. Now someone putting up 25-30 shots while constantly getting fouled doesn't seem incredibly demanding to you? Think about all the times he had to go up for dunks, shots, etc, and tell me that isn't putting a demand on your body.

He averaged 45 minutes per game in his career, does that seem like a huge demand to you?

He got 20-30 rebounds for most of his career, that doesn't include all the ones he missed out on. Does that not seem like it would be incredibly demanding to you?


You think Andre/DJ are great rebounders so they could just go back in time and do the same shyt Wilt was doing because they're big and get a lot now, but you're ignoring the type of shape and conditioning he was in in order to have those performances REGULARLY. Maybe it wasn't as demanding for the average player, but Wilt was the offense/defense/rebounding for his fukking teams and you're trying to sit there and tell me it wasn't as demanding compared today's game where players often get rest games and don't play for more than 35 minutes because they need their rest.

There are more teams today, more trips, more rotation and players now. Not to mention, the players for the most part are bigger, stronger and more atheltic. In the 60s, he was playing Boston 13 times a year and their biggest player was Bill Russell (listed at 6'10" & 225 lbs). There was pretty much no one to even challenge Wilt physically and athletically. Russell was also averaging 45 mins a game durin his prime, but granted he wasn't the offensive player Wilt was but he wasn't also as strong or athletic. Gene MFING Shue was playing 43-44 MPG.

He's not taking 35 shots a game and getting 27 boards in this day and age, but he'd still be the best player in the league

 

[I.V.]

Wilt would be dominant today. Absent the context of his era and statistics -- He's a better athlete than anybody at the position, today... and he was more skilled. With modern medicine, training, and nutrition... he would likely be in even better shape. Even stronger, event faster.

You could make a very good argument that he would average 25-30 points per game. And somewhere between 15-18 rebounds, with 3-5 blocks per game. Baseline.

 

[Noah]

Weirdest thing about Wilt was he had very little weaknesses that he couldn't work on. Everything he was either just naturally good at or could just do it (and do it well) if it was required of him. I mean yeah he had his share of significant flaws- he preferred not to guard very far away from the paint and he had an issue at the free throw line- but he's one of the closest centers you can get to saying "there's nothing he can't do" about. He would have to buy into what you wanted him to do, but he was for the most part able to mold into any role you wanted for him.

Even that part about guarding the perimeter he could adapt to. Whenever he played against Nate Thurmond and Jerry Lucas (two bigs who could shoot outside, but Thurmond was streakier), they sat outside and got open jumpers. Wilt had said (rough paraphrase) basically that "The farther away he (Thurmond) is from the basket, the better. I'll let him take those long jumpers." If Wilt's team lost because of it, then tough for them I guess was his mentality. Except for the playoffs. I can't find the exact year but in the playoffs vs. Lucas, once he started sticking to Lucas on the perimeter his shooting tanked, especially later in the series. Lucas used to have some games where he'd torch Wilt (because of his long-range accuracy and a quick hook shot that Wilt wasn't quick enough to get up and block legally) but once Wilt made an adjustment, he was too much. He had the right idea for the time about his role on defense (protect the paint, and he was incredible at it in the last 2/3 of his career) but he could adapt when necessary. Wasn't the best one-footed leaper either but if he timed your shot correctly on two feet, that shyt was in the crowd (or it lead to a fast break bucket for his team if he felt like playing like Russell ).

Should be noted that while Wilt was all about the whole larger-than-life, center of attention thing, he didn't necessarily have to be the biggest scorer. He could be unselfish as a teammate. In his earlier years (most notably during '62), Frank McGuire (Warriors coach) had two goals: win a title, and have Wilt score as much as he could. They force-fed Wilt the ball to score (and it's a possibility that during that '62 season he touched the ball on almost every offensive possession the Warriors had that entire year) even though they generally won big when he had more than his usual two-three assists. He still probably got to touch the ball over 100 times a game during his Philadelphia tenure, but that was much healthier since he was looking to pass as much as he was looking to score. Just fantastically talented. Good find.

 

[KOookin KOrner]

Imagine Wilt's numbers if he wore today's shoes vs. Chuck Taylor's

 

[Originalman]

Yeah. But Draymond Green would shut him down tho.

Whatever Draymond Green could lift up the moon like Superman and beat the flash in a foot race.

Draymond also got healing ability like Wolverine.....