39 replies to this topic

[L4L]

I don't know if this goes here, in NBA talk, or even Lakers talk. I'm putting it here because I want the discussion to also include his life outside of the NBA (high school, college, athletics in general, and women ) If necessary, move it mods.

Feel free to add any thoughts and comments you may have.

Overbrook High School:
State Champs:



Setting the State Record Shotput:


Lanky:


Kansas:
The High Jump Record Setter



Wilt can long jump too:


Man amongst boys:


Even at Kansas, Wilt was a star:


Hey.. the man can jump:


San Francisco:
Pulling up in the mid-range after losing Russell:


Philadelphia:
The patented finger roll:


World Champ at last:


Posterized:


Wilt winning the position battle and getting the easy tip-in:


Walt Bellamy, you aren't getting that board:


Wilt showing off the hook:


Going up strong:


REJECTED:


Wilt showing off the Philly hook:


You can't leave Wilt on island:


Even Russell feared Wilt at times:


Swat:


Los Angeles:
Another battle with Russell


Setting up the fade away jumper against Russ:


Kareem and Oscar trying to keep the ball out of his hands:


Rejecting Kareem:

Edited by L4L, August 01, 2008 - 02:33 AM.

[L4L]

Boardwork:


Willis Reed helping set up the and one:


Willis Reed trying to get a piece of the finger roll:


Wilt shows he can put it on the floor and take you baseline if you shoulder up on the finger roll:


If Wilt gets his hands on a board, it's his:


Teams learned quickly that Wilt demands 2-3 players nearby at all times:


Blocks weren't officially kept while Wilt played, but he would have been the All-Time leader:


Double team Wilt and you will pay the price as evidenced by his 8.6 assist per game season:


You can't drive the lane on Wilt:


Nate Thurmond:


Kareem trying to finish on Wilt:


Two Laker greats paying respects to each other:


Life after the NBA:
The trophy for being the NBA's All-Time leading Scorer(at the time):


Doctor J and the Dipper:


100 Points in a single game:


One of the Greatest of All Time:


Though they have taken subtle shots at each other's accomplishments throughout the years, there is no doubt MJ and Wilt respect each other:


Wilt was always the center... even off the court:


Wilt's House:


Some of the greatest ever in one room:


One of the 50 greatest of All-Time:


Even enemies loved Wilt:


Read the shirt:



Wilt showing he can play competitive volleyball with no problems:


Off the court:
Chillin':


Wilt's Statue:


Wilt always kept dogs:


The only person who can make Arnie look like a midget:


50+ years old means nothing:

[L4L]

Wilt and Arnold were good friends. Arnold helped Wilt achieve a 500lbs+ bench press and Wilt even worked in a movie with Arnie:


Wilt was known as a lover of music and art(and women):


Clean:


Tennis too:


Challenging Muhammed Ali to a title fight if he can beat Frazier(he didn't beat Frazier):


Two of the 20,000?:

[ファイナルファンタジ]

This is awesome. Great job with all the pictures.

[Tobias Fünke]

Great post.

Wilt, undoubtebly one of the best centers to ever lace it up

[Tobias Fünke]

Great post.

Wilt, undoubtebly one of the best centers to ever lace it up

[L4L]

Much appreciated guys. I am a huge Wilt fan and have collected pictures of him over the years.

I think a lot of people have a hard time connecting to Wilt and his accomplishments; thus, he gets underrated as a result. I feel that when people actually get to see the man at work, it increases their respect for him both on and off the court.

You have to see this man at work to understand how much of a beast he was.

[ファイナルファンタジ]

Much appreciated guys. I am a huge Wilt fan and have collected pictures of him over the years.

I think a lot of people have a hard time connecting to Wilt and his accomplishments; thus, he gets underrated as a result. I feel that when people actually get to see the man at work, it increases their respect for him both on and off the court.

You have to see this man at work to understand how much of a beast he was.

Do you think Wilt is the greatest of all time?

[L4L]

I think a very strong argument can be made -- yes.

It depends on what you're criteria is.

If I'm looking to build a basketball team, the very first player I would choose is Wilt Chamberlain.

[LaLa]

I think a very strong argument can be made -- yes.

It depends on what you're criteria is.

If I'm looking to build a basketball team, the very first player I would choose is Wilt Chamberlain.

I don't really know anything about basketball back in Wilt's time but was his stats inflated because of the talent level (minus Russell) & in your opinion, would he be the best in the game in these times?

[L4L]

Yes, some of his stats were "inflated". The pace of the game was much, much faster back then. In today's game, we have about 90-100 possessions a game for each team. Back then, it wasn't uncommon to have 110-130 possessions.

Think about that.

If Kobe scores 30 in 90 possessions. In 120, he might average 40.

However, that said, going by the %s, Wilt was still the second best rebounder of All-Time. Only Rodman grabbed a higher % of rebounds available than Wilt. Wilt once LED THE LEAGUE in assists as a center. This was in the era where if a player took a dribble, you no longer got the assist. He has a season of 7.8 assists as well as a season of 8.6. He led the league in FG%. He was a DPOY caliber player; he would have been the All-Time NBA leader in blocks. He had a bank shot out to 15 feet much like Duncan does. He's the most athletic 7'+ in the history of the NBA (4.5 40yd dash, 500+lbs bench press, 66" high jump in college which is not the same as vert, but still). I think he has the most unstoppable/effective set of post scoring moves in NBA history as well (not the same as best which goes to Hakeem Olajuwon). Just like Shaq, he was capable of bull-dozing people, but he also had a fade-away jumper in the post, an unstoppable hook shot (much like Kareem, but used less frequently), AND that sweet finger roll with either hand.

If you look at what Shaq did to this era (two seasons of 30ppg,15rpg in the playoffs), and consider that, in my opinion, Wilt was a more capable scorer and was DEFINITELY a better rebounder and defender, what do you get man? I think the most unstoppable force in the history of basketball.

However, people will always question Wilt because of the competition. The fact of the matter is that Wilt averaged 29/29 against Bill Russell, out-played Kareem in their head to head games, and even destroyed Nate Thurmond on a regular basis. If the competition was so weak, why didn't anyone else do it?

Wilt is capable of playing all styles of big man basketball: half-court, high post, low post, and fast break. He is the most versatile center in the history of basketball. A lot of people would start their 'chise with Jordan, but, for my tastes, Wilt Chamberlain is who I go with.

Edited by L4L, August 01, 2008 - 03:39 AM.

[ファイナルファンタジ]

Yeh I agree. I rather go with Wilt than MJ. And I don't think the competition was that weak. If you were to put Smush Parker in that era, would he be an All-Star?

[LaLa]

Thanks for educating me as always L4L!

[lyk13]

OMG, thank you L4L, those were truly the most inspiring Wilt photos that I have ever seen, alot I hadn't even seen before! He's truly one of the more respected players in league history that I've known, though I have never seen him play except probably in dvds...thanks!!!

[L4L]

No problem LaLa. Although you have to take what I say on Wilt with a tiny grain of salt. He's one of my favorite All-Time athletes.

lyk13,

I love to hear that. I think many people are the same way and I'm ecstatic that you got to see some pictures of Wilt for the first time.

[lyk13]

Yeah, sad thing is, if I can remember, the first time that I remember knowing Wilt, was when I saw his passing on NBA.com, then I go dig up his history, only know he scored 100 pts then too I think....from then on, it's from NBA Live, fortunately I got to use him and really started to respect his game back then.

Not to mention, his jersey got retired in LA so I regarded him as a staple in LA legacy, part of my never dying love for Lakers legends and present players.

[Cookie]

Great Job L4L!

I have a question, How did he die?

[lyk13]

Great Job L4L!

I have a question, How did he die?

Heart troubles.

http://en.wikipedia....ilt_Chamberlain

[Cookie]

That sucks, he died at the age of 63.