From 1960-69:
- Wilt’s teammates made the All-Star team 14 times; Russell’s, 19 times
- One of Wilt’s teammates made the All-NBA First team; Russell, eight teammates
- Five of Wilt’s teammates made the All-NBA Second team; Russell, fourteen teammates
- Wilt’s teammates accounted for 17 Hall-of-Fame player-seasons; Russell’s, 47
“Also, if you’re scoring at home, Russell played with four members of the NBA’s Top 50 at 50 (Havlicek, Cousy, Sharman and Sam Jones); Wilt played with six members (Baylor, West, Greer, Cunningham, Arizin and Thurmond).”
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time now to play America's favorite game, "What's? Bill? Simmons? HIDING!?" (applause) I'm JR, your host - folks, Bill Simmons just pointed out that Wilt Chamberlain played with more members of the NBA's top 50 at 50 than Bill Russell did. But something's missing from that statement, right audience?
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All right folks, you've had some time to think about this. Vanna, let's find out what Bill Simmons was hiding this time:
You read that right. Despite having two more Top 50 at 50 teammates than Russell, Wilt got 10 fewer seasons from his six 50@50 teammates. This is classic - classic - Bill Simmons. More to the point, it's a classic case of outright dishonesty. (Label forthcoming)
That’s enough of that. I’m done with this part of Wilt vs. Russell because by now, anyone who can read knows which player really did have the greater supporting cast. Surprisingly, it went to the guy with 11 championships in 13 seasons.
I'm glad you posted this on your blog! I'm so sick of people citing Mr. Simmons book as the unofficial basketball bible. I mean he does make some decent points, but I really disliked his negative portrayal of Chamberlain. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteYes, and, Russell played with his HOF teammates on the same team at the same time. Wilt's were spread out at different times on different teams. And in nate Thurmond's case, he was a rookie who had to play out of position at center because of Wilt, and didn't blossom into a star center in his own right till Wilt was traded.
ReplyDeletethere is dishonesty, and then there is simhonesty, russell was a handicapped player who need the 3 in the key rule to dominate, although an underrated athlete, if the 3 in the key rule were removed, russell would be average in height among the league, and he wouldn't be nearly as effective a defender as he was
ReplyDeleteits funny the 2 players some people put ahead of Russell
ReplyDeleteWent to a championship contending team out of college who had the best player /MvP on it uhh Cousy 8 assist titles only Stockton has more 9 assist titles( that's more than Oscar Magic Paul Kidd Nash)
Also Kareem 1 st 10yrs is exactly like Wilt 1 title each
ReplyDeleteThen Kareem played with a man called Magic 3 Mvps 3 FMPS n 4 assist titles n boom 4 more titles
So Bill n Kareem played with MVPS in there Prime who had 12 assist titles n 4 reg MVPS who was the great guard Wilt played with a old J.West yes he won 1 title with him same amount Kareem won with Oscar.....Who's the best Center?
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