[starpyParticipant]

This may have already been a post but if it was I missed it.

On PTI and Around the Horn when speaking of Kevin Love’s record,  they both mention that Wilt’s record is 278.

Why is his double double record not counted?

Ive heard that it is due to the merger. If that’s the case then why are his scoring records counted?

Ive been puzzled about this since I heard it, can anyone help me out.

[the I in winParticipant]

If we counted all of Wilt’s records the records would never get broken giving espn nothing to talk about.

[ChrischiParticipant]

Wilt got his record with guys who were 6’6, skinny and white guarding him. No disrespect but most greats from the 60’s couldn’t average the same numbers in todays game.

[llperez]

rebounding numbers in general were crazy in the 50’s and 60’s. A number of guys averaged 20+ rebouinds and 30 rebound games were not uncomon. Heck wilt once grabbed over 50 rebounds in a game.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Back then, just about every team in the league played faster than the fastest teams in today’s game.  Also, teams shot significantly worse from the field.  Their were way more rebounds available in any given game. 

[iguapops420Participant]

 Bpb Cousy was a sub 40% shooter. Just goes to show how many  more minutes there were bacjk then with the pace. Not to mention Wilt was like the first REAL athlete. Was just too unfair.

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

I thought the reason they dont count it is because there isnt much proof other than word of mouth..

Other rumors surrounding Wilt.

50 inch vert
500 pound bench press
100 points in a game
50 rebounds in a game
20,000 women

I dont know if any of that is really true… I mean how many times have you heard your friends talk about the best game they played… The first time you hear it, he scored 15 points, 5 assist, 8 rebounds and had the game winning block… Second time he scored 20 points, had 7 assist, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and one of them won the game… Well, after 5 years, that game turns into:

"I wish you could have been there.. I scored 31 points, I had 15 assist, 20 rebounds, 6 blocks, blocked the shot that would have wont them the game, then I hit a game winner from half court to win the game for us!!"

In reality, he played well but had 11 points, 2 assist, 7 rebounds, and did actually block the game winning shot……

I know you all have seen that before… Maybe not that extent but you know what I am saying… LoL

[akhan786Participant]

Um I’m pretty sure Wilt’s 100 point game wasn’t a rumor…it was actually recorded

And I REALLY hope the 20,000 women story isn’t a rumor cause I think he should be considered the GOAT just because of that…

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

I never understood why most of Wilt’s accomplishment isn’t considered a "record" or some how we have to put an astrisk. Babe Ruth played in an era where only white players were allowed to play, yet his records are considered the most "hollow".

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Chamberlain most definitly couldn’t average those numbers in todays game. Part of the reason his numbers were so high was because the pace of the game was so much faster with more possessions occuring. Also Wilt played 45-48 minutes a game (Keep in mind that Kevin Love would be on pace for 27 PPG and 20.4 RPG over 47 minutes per game a mark that Wilt surpassed four times in his career) and Wilt took a ridiculous number of shots per game (with the Warriors he routinely averaged over 30 shots per game averaging a whopping 39.5 FGA per game in his 50 point season, by comparison Jordan’s career high in FGA was 27.8 in the season in which he averaged 37.1 PPG).

That being said I do get a bit annoyed when people bring up his competition in order to bring him down. No the other centers in the league weren’t 6-6 who were guarding him. Here are the other starting centers in the league in 1965, the pivotal season in which Wilt in his prime was traded to to the 76ers and would win the championship that had eluded him as a brash youngster;

Wayne Embry 6-8, 240 lbs Royals
Bill Russell 6-9 Celtics
Walt Bellamy 6-11 Bullets
Willis Reed 6-9 Knicks
Luke Jackson 6-9, 240 lbs, 76ers (the starter before Wilt was traded there and his backup after)
Zelmo Beatty 6-9, 240 lbs Hawks
Leroy Ellis 6-10 Lakers
Reggie Harding, 7-0 Pistons
Nate Thurmond 6-10 Warriors (started at center after Wilt was gone)
 

So the average height for the starting centers in the league other than Chamberlain was about 6-10. Yes Wilt was the tallest player in the league. And was about 3 or 4 inches taller than the average center he played against but the same could be said about Shaq in his prime (when a 6-10 Zo and a 6-9 Ben Wallace were his top rivals) or Yao Ming, Rik Smits and Ralph Sampson in their primes. And none of them besides Shaq dominated to the extent Wilt did. It wasn’t like Wilt was playing against today’s guards; half of the players I just listed would actually be as tall as the centers of today. He wasn’t dominating purely because of size he also had more skill and athletic ability than the other big men in the league.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

For the record I realize that Wilt didn’t win his first championship in 65 I just meant that he was traded to the team where he would eventually win his first championship and become known as a winner and not just a stat stuffer.

Also for the record in case anyone is wondering..all those other starting centers were in fact black.

[HitsterParticipant]

Wilt’s records are there, I didn’t know his double-double one was not listed. Don’t forget that blocks weren’t listed until more recently and 3 pointers even more recently so some players from that period would have had greatly adjusted stats.

There was always an asterisk by the HR record in a season when Roger Maris broke it in the early 1960’s as he had played more games than Babe Ruth. The record of course has since gone to Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds in more recent years. But the last two have both been involved in alledged steriod use so maybe an asterisk goes by their performances as well.  

[Author]

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