The GOAT debate has been waged since the time the first legends took the stage in the NBA. Various names have been thrown into this debate over time. But there are two prominent names who find themselves in the debate perpetually – Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.
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The two superstars find themselves in the GOAT conversation with good reason too. Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain were physical specimens who took the world by storm during their time in the league. Exceptional numbers and multiple championships graced both of their legacies as players too.
The comparisons between the stars go beyond their physical gifts too. Both Jordan and Wilt, coincidentally, ended their careers with the exact same scoring average – 30.1 points per game. Incredible numbers indeed for the duration of their lengthy careers.
While Michael Jordan’s six championships dwarf the 7ft 1′ juggernaut’s two, there is considerable ground for debate otherwise surrounding who the greater player is. At least, for the general public.
Wilt Chamberlain himself, however, did not believe there was a debate. Especially if consideration was made with reference to their respective primes.
Wilt Chamberlain would bet on himself vs. Michael Jordan in their respective primes
Chamberlain, renowned for his confidence, appears to have been a believer in his own abilities in comparison to Michael Jordan. And based on how easy Wilt made the game look and the numbers he put up, one can understand why.
The Big Dipper’s best statistical season appears to be an anomaly in many ways. Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points for the season while also grabbing 25.7 rebounds a game. There is a strong case to be made for Wilt’s 1961-62 season as the greatest individual season of all time.
Naturally, Wilt backed himself against the more popular choice for the GOAT title, Michael Jordan. And with Chamberlain adding to his claim with stats regarding his absurd athleticism, I for one, am tempted to go the Wilt way in a one-on-one.
“If you had to have Wilt against Michael, my prime against his prime? How much money would you be willing to bet?” asked Wilt to a startled interviewer who had picked MJ as his GOAT.
“I run a 100 meters around 10, 10.2, and then I have a 52 vertical. I bench press around 600 pounds” went a proud Chamberlain as he shut down all notions of Jordan mounting a challenge by taking him to the perimeter in a hypothetical one-on-one match-up.
Surely there’s no competition with Wilt in terms of confidence, at least. Michael Jordan is also no slouch in this department. Their competition wages on in all departments.
Jordan and Wilt even argued about their GOAT claim in public
When confidence and talent go hand in hand and in such abundance as MJ and Wilt had, it can make for quite some entertainment indeed. And with this duo, their confidence revolved around the case for GOAT status.
With both of them being vocal advocates of their own GOAT status, naturally, a debate ensued when they met. This meeting happened to be the NBA’s 50th-anniversary ceremony to which all members of the NBA’s top 50 players list were invited.
According to fellow NBA 50 member Bill Walton, Jordan and Wilt’s debate was “vociferous”. And Chamberlain laid it to the younger Jordan that His Airness had it easy thanks to the Big Dipper’s contributions to the game.
“Just remember, when you played, they changed all the rules to make it easier for you to dominate. When I played, they changed all the rules to make it harder for me to dominate” stated Wilt, according to sources from the event.
Although Wilt is no more, he’s left enough in his wake for the debate to rage on. The GOAT debate shall go on forward and both these greats shall be constant features.
