“Hearing about Wilt Chamberlain and those guys is like hearing about Zeus”: Kevin Durant mythologizes the ‘Big Dipper’ and the 60s superstars
Wilt Chamberlain and company seem larger than life to Kevin Durant as the 60s superstars live on as borderline myths.
Hearing about what guys like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell did back in the 1960s is quite the trip for any NBA fan. Everything from Russell earning himself 11 championships in the span of 13 seasons to Chamberlain averaging 37 points in his rookie season, guys from that era feel like people from a completely other world.
The difference in talent between a superstar and an average player was much greater then than it is nowadays. The difference in skill between Wilt Chamberlain and the average player was much greater than say, the difference between Kevin Durant and Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors.
The fact that guys like Wilt and Russell achieved such Herculean feats, coupled with how long ago they played basketball results in a certain level of mythologizing taking place from superstars of those eras.
Even players like Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West, amongst several others, are looked at as basketball gods by players of today. Rightfully so as they paved for future generations to come after them.
Kevin Durant on Wilt Chamberlain and others from that era.
Despite being a top-20 player of all-time, Kevin Durant is still fascinated by guys who came before, with Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell being a few of these guys. He took to the ‘Icons Club’ podcast and opened up about his thoughts regarding guys from the past to Jackie MacMullan.
“You hear someone score 100 points in a game and you never feel like that’s attainable. As much as we got confidence in ourselves, 100 points is a lot of points to score in a regulation game. It’s like hearing Zeus, it’s that legend, that myth around those guys.”
With numbers like 50 point averages in a season and multiple 70+ point games in the same season, it’s safe to say that mythologizing those guys makes more than just a little bit of sense.
About the author
-
Advait Jajodia •
“Kevin Durant was really getting hyped with the Chinese fan”: When the Nets superstar shared an incredible moment with a fan in Shanghai
-
Arun Sharma •
“Wilt Chamberlain could not only block your shot, he could catch it!”: Wilt the Stilt played like he had gravity on easy mode throughout his career
-
Adit Pujari •
“They Are Gated Community Gangsters”: Shaquille O’Neal Aggressively Roasts LeBron James and Co. for Their Poor Start
-
Jay Mahesh Lokegaonkar •
“Booked The Flight Before Game 4”: Dwight Howard Pokes Fun At Tyrese Haliburton For Supposedly Already Being In Cancun
-
Arun Sharma •
‘Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman couldn’t talk to women!’: When John Salley spoke about the initial hazing by Michael Jordan after switching to the Bulls
-
Nithin Joseph •
Sonny Vaccaro Thinks Rookie Sensation Victor Wembanyama Is Worth a Blank Check