The NBA might have seen its fair share of superstar centers. From Bill Russell to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal, some of the best players the league has ever seen have emerged from the center position. While many might consider Shaq as the most dominant center ever, there is one name that might topple Shaq Diesel in the same regard: Wilt Chamberlain.
Standing at 7’1″ feet tall, Chamberlain was a player like no other in his era. Despite his incredible size, the center was surprisingly agile and very athletic as well. It was no surprise when the 13-time All-Star grabbed 55 rebounds in a game. Playing for four different teams in the NBA in his career, the 4-time MVP never showed signs of slowing down.
Even in his last two seasons with the Lakers, the center contributed to the team’s success, becoming a key player in the Big 3 of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and him. Given all of his exploits in the league, some people in the current generation have been in awe of the 7-time scoring champion.
Wilt's entire arm is over the rim 😳 pic.twitter.com/zNVkz8pjJ8
— Real Talk 🏀 (@_RealSportzTalk) July 27, 2022
A recent picture of the 2-time NBA champion has sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy. With Chamberlain jumping to deflect the ball, the center’s incredible wingspan was at full display as Wilt’s stretched arm was almost over the rim.
This picture truly showcases the physical phenom that was Wilt Chamberlain. In an era where scoring was a tough task, it was ‘The Big Dipper’ who did the impossible, scoring 100 points all by himself. Not only that, the 11-time rebounding champion averaged almost 46 minutes per game, which is absolutely unheard of in the modern game.
While many still might claim that Shaq was a force to be reckoned with in his prime, Chamberlain was easily the best player in the league for many years, and given the insane numbers and records he notched up at the time, Chamberlain undoubtedly should be given his due as one of the best players to play the game of basketball.
