- Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain competed against each other throughout their NBA careers
- Despite both having a claim to be considered the GOAT center, Wilt Chamberlain once said Bill Russell was greater
- Wilt Chamberlain explained that Bill Russell was a complete basketball player
Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell was the NBA’s first true legendary rivalry, with the two centers battling each other throughout the 1960s. Bill Russell won more championships with the Boston Celtics, but Wilt Chamberlain was the more dominant individual force.
While fans often debate which one of them was better, Wilt Chamberlain once explained why Bill Russell was the GOAT center, even over himself.
“I pick him (Bill Russell) as the No. 1 center of all time because he was a complete, complete basketball player,” Wilt Chamberlain said.
When asked about whether he’d pick Russell over himself, Chamberlain added, “Well, you know, yeah. I’ll pick Bill over me because he also helped his team a lot more than maybe I could have helped my team to win.
“Sometimes the pure power of you makes you more individualistic. I have said this before, Wilt Chamberlain on the Boston Celtics would not have been the same.
“Sometimes, less is better, that’s how I view it… You can’t ask for more from that position.”
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Wilt Chamberlain averaged twice as many points as Bill Russell during his career, with 30.1 points per game to Russell’s 15.1. He had more rebounds and more assists, as well. But ultimately, the championships that Russell won became the major differentiating factor.
Wilt Chamberlain’s Teammate Jerry West Once Also Chose Bill Russell Over Him
Whether someone prefers Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain is entirely up to what they value in a player. Wilt Chamberlain was statistically the man, but Bill Russell’s skill set was more impactful.
Jerry West was teammates with Wilt Chamberlain but he has the distinct record of having lost in the NBA Finals more times than anyone else in history. So it’s natural that Jerry West once picked Bill Russell over Wilt Chamberlain.
“I think Wilt Chamberlain is a better basketball player than Bill Russell, but for one game I think I’d rather have Bill Russell,” West said.
“But if I had to pick one guy for one game, it’d be Russell. It’s incredible what he does for his team. It’s hard to imagine how one guy can do so much for his teammates. When they see him on the court, they’re different players.”
This quote is eerily similar to what Wilt Chamberlain himself said about the difference between them. And it’s safe to say that the value of winning with a team trumped the value of individual stats in the long run.
Wilt Chamberlain And Bill Russell Were Friends But Had Their Differences Over The Years
The level of rivalry they shared often ended up with people like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain becoming either fast friends or mortal enemies.
And their relationship saw both things. While they were fast friends for a time, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain once went 20 years without talking to one another.
In any conversation about the GOAT center, most people will bring up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal. Those guys certainly have a case to be considered alongside Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
When it comes down to it though, the NBA’s first two iconic big men would always have named the other as the GOAT center, their respect for one another remains an inspiration to the players of today.
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