Michael Jordan:
vs.
Wilt Chamberlain:
Awards:
Rookie of the Year:
Michael Jordan: Yes
Wilt Chamberlain: Yes
All-Star Selections:
Michael Jordan: 14
Wilt Chamberlain: 13
All-NBA 1st Teams:
Michael Jordan: 10
Wilt Chamberlain: 7
MVP Awards:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 4
All-Defensive 1st Teams:
Michael Jordan: 9
Wilt Chamberlain: 2
*Keep in mind that All-Defensive Teams were not awarded until later in Wilt's career. I pointed this out in the West vs. Kobe comparison. Steals and Blocks were not recorded at all during Chamberlain's career. If so, who knows what kind of havoc he would have wreaked in Blocks? He already did major damage in Scoring and Rebounding. Therefore, Defensive Player of the Year is a moot point. Bill Russell was recognized as the Best Defender in that Era.
However, I must point out that Michael Jordan became the first player in NBA History to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in one season, as he did it twice. ('87 & '88) That is right! A SHOOTING GUARD with 100 BLOCKS in one season! Michael's shot blocking was very underrated. Hakeem Olajuwon and Scottie Pippen would be the next two players to achieve this feat.
Regular Season:
Seasons over 50 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 0
Wilt Chamberlain: 1
Seasons over 40 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 0
Wilt Chamberlain: 2
Seasons with 32 points per game or higher:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 7
Seasons over 30 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 8
Wilt Chamberlain: 7
Consecutive Scoring Titles:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 7
Career High Scoring Average (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 37.1 (1987)
Wilt Chamberlain: 50.4 (1962)
Career High Total Points (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 3,041 (1987)
Wilt Chamberlain: 4,029 (1962)
Career Averages (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 30.12 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49.7% FG (50%)
Wilt Chamberlain: 30.07 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 54% FG
Michael ranks 1st All-Time in Career Points Per Game. Wilt ranks 2nd. In the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan became the first player in NBA history since Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 or more points in a season.
Career Player Efficiency Rating:
Michael Jordan: 27.91
Wilt Chamberlain: 26.13
Career Offensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 149.9
Wilt Chamberlain: 153.3
Career Defensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 64.1
Wilt Chamberlain: 93.9
Career Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 214.0
Wilt Chamberlain: 247.3
Career Win Shares Per 48 Minutes (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: .250
Wilt Chamberlain: .248
Seasons leading the league in PER:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 8
I can't go much into detail with Rebounding, because of the different positions. (MJ-SG, Wilt-Center) However, while Wilt is 1st All-Time in Rebounding no matter the position, Michael Jordan is 3rd all-time in Rebounding for a guard. (Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson) With his large hands, Jordan was able to grab boards with no problem as a perimeter player.
Obviously Wilt is going to shoot a higher field goal percentage because he was a Center who shot the most. Meanwhile, Michael was the Shooting Guard who shot the most. However, it must be said that Wilt shot 54% while Michael shot roughly 50% (51.5% as a Chicago Bull). Jordan's shooting percentage was that of a Big Man! As a Guard, he attacked the basket and scored like one.
Both have their fair share of haters. The one criticism that Michael and Wilt both share is that they "shot too much". Well, if they are shooting that percentage, wouldn't you WANT them to have the ball? This is merely even more of a testament to Michael's IQ and Excellent Shot Selection.
Now, let's take a look at the various records that both men hold in NBA history:
Michael Jordan Records:
Career Regular Season Scoring Average: MJ (30.12)
Career Playoff Scoring Average: MJ (33.45)
Highest Scoring Average in Playoffs: MJ (43.7)
Highest Scoring Average in NBA Finals series: MJ (41.0)
Highest Career Scoring Average in NBA Finals: MJ (33.6)
Career Total Points in Playoffs: MJ (5,987)
Most Seasons leading league in Scoring: MJ (10)
Most Seasons leading in Total Points: MJ (11)
Most 50 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (8)
Most 40 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (38)
Most 30 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (109)
Most 30 Point Games: MJ (563)
Most Consecutive 50 Point games in Playoffs: MJ (2)
Most Consecutive 45 Point games in Playoffs: MJ (3)
Most Consecutive 40 Point games in Finals: MJ (4)
Most Consecutive 30 point games in Finals: MJ (9)
Most Consecutive 20 point games in Playoffs: MJ (60)
Most Consecutive 20 point games in Finals: MJ (35)
Most Consecutive games in double-figure scoring: MJ (866)
Highest scoring playoff game: MJ (63)
Most points in one-half of NBA Finals: MJ (35)
Oldest to score 50: MJ (51- age 38)
Oldest to score 40: MJ (43- age 40)
Wilt Chamberlain Records:
Most Points in Regular Season: Wilt (4,029)
Highest Scoring Average in Regular Season: Wilt (50.4)
Most Points in a Game by a Rookie: Wilt (58, 1/25/1960 & 2/21/1960)
Most Points by a Rookie: Wilt (2,707- 1959-60)
Most PPG by a Rookie: Wilt (37.6)
Most 60 point games: Wilt (32)
Most 50 point games: Wilt (118)
Most 40 point games: Wilt (271)
Most Consecutive 60 point games: Wilt (4)
Most Consecutive 50 point games: Wilt (7)
Most Consecutive 45 point games: Wilt (7)
Most Consecutive 40 point games: Wilt (14)
Most Consecutive 35 point games: Wilt (33)
Most Consecutive 30 point games: Wilt (65)
Most Consecutive 20 point games: Wilt (126)
Highest Scoring Game: Wilt (100)
Most Points in All-Star Game: Wilt (42)
Most points in 3 quarters: Wilt (69)
Most points in one half: Wilt (59)
*Consecutive Seasons Leading the League in Scoring: MJ, Wilt (tied at 7)
Out of the recognized scoring records in NBA history, Michael Jordan holds 24, Wilt Chamberlain holds 20. (If you include Wilt's rookie records)
Bonus:
Fewest Games to Reach 20,000 points: Wilt (499)
Fewest Games to Reach 30,000 points: Wilt (941)
Career +60 point games:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 32
Career +50 point games:
Michael Jordan: 34
Wilt Chamberlain: 118
Career +40 point games:
Michael Jordan: 172
Wilt Chamberlain: 271
Michael Jordan: 172
Wilt Chamberlain: 271
Career +30 point games:
Michael Jordan: 563
Wilt Chamberlain: 515
Scoring Titles:
Michael Jordan: 10
Wilt Chamberlain: 7
Even though Wilt had a more impressive scoring peak, Jordan maintained his level of scoring dominance for three more seasons. Michael and Wilt have the most consecutive scoring titles in NBA history. Both are neck and neck as far as scoring impact. When you look at many of Wilt's scoring records, Michael Jordan is somewhere in second place in many categories:
60 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)
50 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)
40 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)
Michael was even second behind Wilt in fewest games to reach 20,000 points (620), and fewest games to reach 30,000 (960).
As many of you may notice, Wilt has a strong advantage when it comes to the regular season because of his video game-like numbers. Wilt is only second place to Michael in Scoring Titles, and 30 point games. However, you may also notice that Michael has the advantage when it comes to the playoffs as well. This is where the separation really begins.
Career Averages (Playoffs):
Michael Jordan: 33.45 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 48.7% FG
Wilt Chamberlain: 22.5 ppg, 24.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 46.5% FG
NBA Playoff runs over 30 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 12
Wilt Chamberlain: 4
Playoff runs over 32 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 8
Wilt Chamberlain: 4
Playoff runs over 34 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 3
Michael's level of play increased during the postseason, while Wilt's level of play dropped. Not only did Wilt's scoring take a blow, but his field goal percentage did as well. The only thing that went up for Wilt in the playoffs was his rebounding. Michael was the ultimate postseason player. Wilt's drop is a big part of the reason why people say that he was a "choker". Not all of that is true, because for a while Wilt did not have the right supporting cast against a team like the Celtics. Yes, Chamberlain blew his fair share of games, but don't put ALL of the blame on him. He was largely a one-man army. Wilt later had to change his game by dialing back his scoring for his teams to win championships. This is what helped cause his drop in points. Jordan was able to keep his scoring title while leading his teams to championships. I will say this in Wilt's defense. Jordan and Chamberlain led what are considered by many as three of the Greatest Championship teams of All-Time:
Michael Jordan:
1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10) (MVP- MJ)
Wilt Chamberlain:
1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (68-13) (MVP- Wilt)
1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (69-13, 33 game winning streak)
Michael won MVP in '96, while Wilt won it in '67. The 1997 Bulls also won 69 games. The Big separation between the '72 Lakers and '97 Bulls is that the Lakers had the winning streak (33), which made that team even more memorable.
With that said, Wilt Chamberlain was NOT the performer that Michael Jordan was in the Playoffs, especially the NBA Finals:
Finals MVP's:
Michael Jordan: 6 in 6 tries
Wilt Chamberlain: 2 in 6 tries
(The Finals MVP was not awarded in 1967. If it was, Chamberlain would have won it.)
Conclusion:
This is merely a discussion of peak value versus consistency. Taking everything into consideration, Michael was slightly a more consistent scorer than Wilt in the long run. Michael also brought more to the table as a team leader. You can't go wrong with either one. This comparison is always very fun, and is also a testament to how iron clad Wilt's legacy will always be. Both of these men are on my personal Mt. Rushmore of Basketball, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. This is to show how the LeBron's, Kobe's and Durant's of the world CANNOT even come within a 40 foot pole of players like MJ and Wilt.
Winner: Michael Jordan
Case Closed!
Special Thanks to: Bruce Blitz and Clutch 23 Productions.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to leave a comment, and give your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff.
ReplyDeletecheck out http://pweb.netcom.com/~bjalas/basketball/bulls/love.htm
ReplyDelete"They are trying to sell today's game, not the game from the 1960's, 70's or 80's."
-Wilt Chamberlain on the NBA at 50 celebration in 1996
No other major sport propagandizes that one particular player is the best ever. Why is Basketball so different? Because David Stern is trying to sell his current game by calling Jordan "unquestionably the best ever". The late Wilt Chamberlain said it best: "If Michael was here right now, I would say to him: When you are so great that the league tries to change the rules in an attempt to stop you then you can claim you are the best ever. Every rule change I have seen during your career has been meant to enhance your game (such as shortened 3 point line, hand checking rules & well defined rules regarding illegal defenses)." Wilt also went on further to discuss how players of his day did not have the luxury of regular National T.V. broadcasts to promote their talents to the public. Modern players have the luxuries of chartered jets, first class hotels, modern sports medicine, fewer games on back-to-back nights, illegal defenses, looser rules governing assists, the 3 point line and superstars getting preferential treatment from referees. 1960's refs freely admit that they let players foul Wilt Chamberlain when he did not have the ball "to help them"defend him. Contrast this with today when superstars are coddled by officials. In spite of all these luxuries afforded to modern players Wilt Chamberlain (who retired 28 years ago) still holds 50 regular season records, many of which are in the untouchable realm. Contrast this with Michael Jordan who in spite of getting more preferential treatment from officials than any other player in history holds a whopping 4 regular season records.
This is hilarious. So many misleading points... typical Jordan fawning. To be 100% fair and honest - YES MJ is a great player. YES he is worthy of being considered in the GOAT discussions. But come on man this website is pretty absurd. Wilt is AT LEAST equally worthy.
ReplyDelete1 – The discussion of records is presented to make it look “close” between Wilt and MJ. This is not true. Although MJ is worthy of GOAT consideration, Wilt absolutely clobbers MJ, and any other player, when it comes to NBA records. Wilt holds 72 records in the NBA:
ReplyDelete"With 72 records (68 of which he holds by himself), Wilt Chamberlain dominates the NBA record book. And he's not just the top guy on the lists below. In several cases, he's No. 1, 2 and 3. It's hard to believe that there will ever be another player who can dominate as many statistical categories as the Big Dipper did."
Source: http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/wilts_records.html
To add more context – rules were changed and massaged to ENHANCE the domination of a great player like MJ (for marketing purposes) during his era, while rules were instituted to LIMIT the domination of a great player like Wilt (because of the era, culture, society, novelty of a big man who was so skilled, etc.) And the records are still what they are.
ReplyDelete2 – To put the FG% discussion in context, Wilt shot his FG% at a time when the league’s overall FG% was much much lower, due to the nature of the league, the frantic pace and ebb and flow of games. Therefore, Wilt shot a much higher relative %age in the field in comparison to his peers during his career. Although MJ’s FG% was strong for a guard/perimeter player, which is admirable, MJ’s FG% is much closer to the averages of his era.
3 – PER/WS stats are not entirely accurate. Basketball Reference has noted that they “zero out” blocks and steals – which to a player like Wilt has an enormous impact on how his career is “analyzed” for stats like that. If you add even the most conservative estimates for blocks and steals – he CLOBBERS MJ and everyone in PER/WS. And he is in the top top echelon without it. LOL.
ReplyDelete4 – MJ was nearly always individually dominant. However, as far as teams go, the Bulls did nothing without Pippen, Grant, other great players and good coaching at his side. After MJ entered the league – his Bulls endured 3 straight years of sub .500 records and 3 straight years of sweep and near sweep playoff exits, winning 1 game out of 10 total playoff games played. In fairness they played against some great Bucks and Celtics teams – and MJ had great individual performances in some games. Nevertheless, they always lost the series, not even coming close to making them competitive. The Bulls, led by MJ (only) did not once 1) have a record over .500 and 2) even win a single playoff series, until those other players joined the team and other coaching changes (Collins/Jackson) and team maturing and gelling happened over time. After that, the Bulls still failed 3 straight years against the Pistons in the playoffs. That's 0-6 in playoff tries. 6 straight years of losing in the playoffs for those counting at home. But to their credit, there was improvement and growth. MJ, and other players, were certainly a part of that progress.
ReplyDelete5 – In comparison, Wilt took 40something win teams to the closing moments of game 7s on more than one occasion against far superior opponents (and greatest basketball team of all time worthy consideration) in the 1960s Celtics.
ReplyDelete6 - MJ was a great leader? The historical record and MJ quotes here really don't support that too much:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/445705-i-wanna-be-like-wilt-not-like-mike
He even had his coach fired because he was being urged to share the ball more to help his team be more successful. Did he end up in a good situation with other great players and coaches and weak opponents to take advantage in a diluted era with officiating and trends that favored superstars? Yes – good for him. In addition to being an all-time great, MJ was smart and took advantage of the situation, to his credit.
7 – Winning championships is always a great achievement. But there is context to this comparison of Wilt and MJ. First of all titles are a team accomplishment. No great player has ever won a title alone – although an intelligent NBA fan would know that Wilt came the closest to doing so – he did the most with the least against the greatest in the 1960s as discussed above.
ReplyDeleteOn that point – who was the best team MJ's bulls faced in the 1990s? An aging and declining Lakers squad? An over the hill Celtics team? The end of the Bad Boys? The underwhelming Blazers? The overmatched Suns? The immature Sonics? The Jazz had the best chance – and even they were outmatched by a 2nd 3peat Bulls team featuring 3 HOFers and Kukoc and several other great players. Remember that the league added 4 teams in 1988 and 1989, then another 2 in 1995. Dilution. Expansion. LOL. The # of HOFers and top 50 players MJ and the Bulls faced in the Finals during his 6 finals appearances was the same as Wilt faced in ONE playoff series on SEVERAL occasions. It is a silly comparison with no real significance.
8 – MJ and Wilt served different functions for their teams. The claim that “scoring went up for MJ” and “scoring went down for Wilt” is a very crude and contextless comparison and not as it appears to people who don’t know the history.
ReplyDeleteWe already established that MJ faced nowhere near the concentrated level of talent that Wilt did. Additionally, for the first half of his career, Wilt was asked to do everything because his teams were not very good. Hence the herculean numbers (mind-boggling that he was even able to do what his coaches asked him to do as asking him is one thing, him delivering is another). For the 2nd half of his career – he started to change his game because the coaching got better and the teammates got better – and Wilt became, and this is no slight to Bill Russell, but a superior version of Bill Russell. He led the league in total assists one year and averaged nearly 8 another! On top of that, right as he was into this 2nd half of his career change in role, Wilt had a horrible knee rupture and required surgery, missing nearly an entire season in 1969, but then somehow miraculously returned in the playoffs for a deep postseason run. Imagine any player doing that today! LOL again. So his playoff scoring “decline”, as well as his regular season scoring “decline”, had a lot more to do with his change in role and injury than him doing “less” for his team. In that different role, the 1972 Lakers won 33 games in a row – a record that still stands today and he won Finals MVP. You did correctly point out that Wilt should have a 2nd Finals MVP if the award existed in 1967 when they clobbered the dynasty Celtics on the way to the title.
Wilt shot .522% FG% in his career in the playoffs. Not sure where you are getting your info from. Check out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01.html
Wilt has the highest T.O.P. in post-season history. The T.O.P. is Total Offensive Production and combines points, rebounds, and assists. Wilt's T.O.P. (e.g., 22.5 points, 24.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists) in the post-season is 51.2 which is the highest in NBA history. Wilt is the ONLY player in NBA history with a T.O.P. of 50 or more. MJ = 45.55. Calculating for pace, they are probably about the same impact-wise.
ReplyDeleteWhat really gets me is assists. Wilt averaged .9 less assists for his career than MJ. Wilt was a Center. MJ was a backcourt player. To be fair pace was a bit faster during Wilt's career - but the rules used to credit assists were also stricter so it's kind of a wash. When it comes to rebounds, Wilt dominating MJ is understandable. Their PPG being similar is understandable - although Wilt ended at 30+ with SEVERAL years of not playing as a main scorer to do what was best for the teams he played on. But assists - now that's something...