Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 12 – Wilt Chamberlain

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1959 – 1973

Achievements: Two-time champion; four-time MVP; All-NBA (10x); All-Star (13x); All-Defense (2x); Finals MVP; led league in scoring (7x), rebounds (11x), assists (1x); first in career rebounds; seventh in career scoring

Wilt Chamberlain was a physical outlier, a player so big and athletic that he could get to the rim over and around everyone, and get to every rebound before anyone else. No one could leap as high as him, or as quickly as him. Other big men couldn’t keep up with him loping down the court to score.

Chamberlain had his warts; he was not the consummate teammate, he passed for assists and not to elevate the play of those around him, and he wasn’t as efficient as you would think given his size and scoring numbers. Oh, but those scoring numbers were insane. Wilt averaged 30.1 points per game for his career, including one season where he averaged 50 points per game. He holds a presumably unbreakable record with 100 points in a single game.

What doesn’t get talked about enough with Chamberlain was his defense. Similarly to Russell, the lack of defensive awards, metrics or even counting stats makes it a mystery as to how much of an impact he had. Those who watched him play, or who have gone back and charter such things, identify him as a solid defender who truly deterred opponents inside.

Chamberlain is hurt by the presence of Bill Russell, and he lost again and again to Russell and the Celtics. He finally won a title late in his career with Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers, forestalling an ugly mark that would forever stick with him. Instead, he is best known for those incredible amounts of points and rebounds.