The two situations you proposed are not similar at all. Wilt has played NBA basketball. That's a downright horrible example.
It's not hard to find clips of Wilt, box scores, reviews, newspaper articles. Wilt is hardly an unknown, and if he is then it's solely because of a lack of research.
In response to Minstrel, my friend, we know what Cousy did too. Did we witness what Cousy did, possibly not. But we most certainly know what he accomplished in Boston. Just looking at career stats makes it obvious that he was far superior to Fisher, you don't even need video clips, articles or opinions.
For the young ones out there, using Chan's theory, Austin Croshere>Larry Bird. Eric Snow>Magic Johnson. Ridiculous?
No, not at all. Bird and Johnson is not ancient history. Wilt dominated at a time where rules were one way, Shaq dominated at a time where rules were another. We have a frame of reference of Magic and Bird, but not of Wilt Chamberlain. You cannot say one dominant superstar is better than another based on clips, box scores, reviews, and newspaper articles. Unless you have seen him play in a modern time, you have no more credibility than John Hollinger. There is no proof Wilt is better than Shaq, but there is no proof Shaq is better than Wilt. It comes down to you judgement. Do you take the one you've seen dominate from a 1st hand perspective, or do you take the one you've heard dominate from box scores and newspaper articles?
Difficult choice as both were more dominant physically then other players in the league and both shared the biggest weakness in FT's. Going by PER alone Wilt scores higher in his 3 peaks years vs Shaq 3 peak years (This is with the big caveat that TO's, Blocked Shots, and other stats which go into PER were not available during Wilt's 3 peak years). Strangley enough and I'd never thought I'd say this but Shaq might have a more productive career in terms of career value rather then peak years. Bear me out:
Shaq joined the league at age 20 and so already has a few more years then Wilt at high production (PER age 20: 22.9, 21: 28.5, 22: 28.6)
From age 23 where Wilt entered the league till age 29
Wilts average PER: 29.8
Shaq average PER: 29.1
From age 30 till age 33 (4 seasons with age 33 being Shaq's last year with Miami)
Wilt average PER: 24.5
Shaq average PER: 26.3
Probably doesn't mean much as I'd rather base a player on there best decade say but odd considering how poor Shaq's conditioning is regarded
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This isn't like you are comparing baseball stats of Buck Ewing or Josh Gibson to Barry Bonds. Chamberlain played in the 1960s. Kevin Willis played against Shaq for 10 years, and grew up while Shaq was playing. Any number of people who played against him are still around, as are videos.
Also, if you are going to compare "PER" make sure you back out Shaq's steals and blocks, since they aren't available for Wilt. Even though contemporary reports suggest Wilt had more blocks; probably way more.
That said, we know what Fisher did. Cousy, like Chamberlain, is just a legend passed down in story form from generation to generation. Like Paul Bunyun.
i think a more apt comparison is landing on the moon. sure there's clips of it, and much discussion has been had, but did it really happen? that's what i'm sayin bout cousy or wilt. yeah, there's video, and there's print, and stats, but what did you really see? you don't know. you don't. no, you don't. cause you weren't there.
and even if it did happen, it was against little white dwarfs with polio.
i think a more apt comparison is landing on the moon. sure there's clips of it, and much discussion has been had, but did it really happen? that's what i'm sayin bout cousy or wilt. yeah, there's video, and there's print, and stats, but what did you really see? you don't know. you don't. no, you don't. cause you weren't there.
and even if it did happen, it was against little white dwarfs with polio.
I watched the moon landing, and I watched Wilt (both on TV, not live). Are you 12 or something?
If you want to argue about how John Wooden would have ranked as a point guard in the NBA today, it's largely speculation. Wilt and Cousy isn't.
i'm only 12, but i could score 100 pts against white coal-mining dwarfs with polio. duh. again, that's assuming that happened, and these guys existed in the first place.
If you think the moon landing was fake, I've got more evidence for your case.
How could the flag wave in the absence of air and wind? Checkmate.
Quote:
Like Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Nate Thurmund?
Yes. Besides, back then had all sorts of crazy scoring rules, like the first one to take a made basket out of the net got a rebound, everyone who made a pass in a possession that resulted in a basket got an assist and any minute spent in uniform, even on the bench, was counted as a "minute played."
You or I could put up "statistics" back then.
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Chamberlain or Shaq
