Could Wilt Chamberlain have guarded Shaquille O’Neal?

[stevenash]

https://www.quora.com/Could-Wilt-Chamberlain-have-guarded-Shaquille-O-Neal

Okay, lets think about this question for a moment.




That is a picture of Prime Shaq, 50 something y/o Wilt and Patrick Ewing. We don’t have to rely on the picture to see that wilt is bigger. We know Wilt was measured at 7′1 and 1/8″ in his stocking feet when he was drafted and Shaq was measured at 7′ 1/2″ inch in his stocking feet when he was drafted.





Wilt also played more minutes per game than Shaq. He averaged 45.8 minutes a game compared to Shaq’s 34.7 minutes per game. Wilt also stayed in better shape over the course of his career while Shaq tended to be a little more “padded”. Wilt gets the edge in stamina.


Shaq’s game was built on his ability to overpower people he played against. Shaq struggled against guys like Yao Ming, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwan who were able to deal with his strength. Wilt was able to bench 550 lbs in his prime, about 85 lb more than Shaq’s best. Shaq was strong but Wilt’s feats of strength are the stuff of legends…


Then there is athleticism. Shaq was fast for a big man. He once did an exhibition where he he ran against Tyson Gay, an olympic sprinter. Shaq ran 30 meters to Gay’s 60 meters and Shaq covered that distance in 4.86 seconds. Wilt’s measured time in a 40 yard dash was 4.6 seconds.
So Wilt was bigger, stronger and faster than Shaq. Wilt was also more versatile offensively. His turnaround jumper was regularly on display as was his hook shot. Wilt also spent time with the Harlem Globetrotters and was a good enough ball handler for them to feature his as a guard. Finally there was leaping ability. Wilt was a track athlete in college and one of the events he competed in was high jump. Sorry Shaq, you lose this category too.
Wilt would have eaten Shaq alive.

[stevenash]

https://www.sportscasting.com/lifting-cars-bare-hands-intimidating-arnold-schwarzenegger-weight-room-wilt-chamberlain-herculean-strength-epic/

[Brandt Moat]

Shot Gun nose Ewing has no business in the picture! That guy cost me $660. It was my last chance to put some furniture in my new apartment. My girlfriend at the time(future wife), stayed with me for 20+ years of gambling,drinking and partying. We started calling him Shot Gun nose that game sitting on milk crates.lol

Wilt was a better basketball player. Wilt laid down more Pipe then Shaq. He fooked about every ho around the towns he was in. Dude is a azz getn legend. Just way better then Shaq at creating a way to make a basket. Shaq had no real shooting ability. He had that lil bunny hook from 2 feet. Shaq was stronger! You can tell me how much somebody benches til the cows come home. You utilize the bench strength in sports when you are getting some one off of you, because they put you on your back. It is and never will be a good measuring stick for the power you bring to your sport. I have competed against big men my whole life. Not at Bball. Power comes from your core. Shaq's leg strength and core would move a house. If Shaq wanted the rebound it was his. If Shaq wanted to stuff the ball, your head or anything, it was through the hoop. Down low I would take Shaq. Every where else, I would take Wilt. Wilt was a better athlete and kept his stamina up with more minutes and fookn. How can't ya like the guy!

[stevenash]

Shot Gun nose Ewing has no business in the picture! That guy cost me $660. It was my last chance to put some furniture in my new apartment. My girlfriend at the time(future wife), stayed with me for 20+ years of gambling,drinking and partying. We started calling him Shot Gun nose that game sitting on milk crates.lol

Wilt was a better basketball player. Wilt laid down more Pipe then Shaq. He fooked about every ho around the towns he was in. Dude is a azz getn legend. Just way better then Shaq at creating a way to make a basket. Shaq had no real shooting ability. He had that lil bunny hook from 2 feet. Shaq was stronger! You can tell me how much somebody benches til the cows come home. You utilize the bench strength in sports when you are getting some one off of you, because they put you on your back. It is and never will be a good measuring stick for the power you bring to your sport. I have competed against big men my whole life. Not at Bball. Power comes from your core. Shaq's leg strength and core would move a house. If Shaq wanted the rebound it was his. If Shaq wanted to stuff the ball, your head or anything, it was through the hoop. Down low I would take Shaq. Every where else, I would take Wilt. Wilt was a better athlete and kept his stamina up with more minutes and fookn. How can't ya like the guy!

I get your entire post.
I wrestled in school, 170lb class, I'm 5'7"
At that time mostly mass, low body fat.
I have the lowest center of gravity that anybody can have outside of a midget, or whatever the pc phrase is these days is.
Dwarf? Little person? Whatever.

No 6'2 170lb. string bean can take me down, people of my size, lower body mass, low center of gravity only have difficulty with opponents the same size.

My opinion, Wilt probably would have rag dolled Shaq.
Shaq was soft for a giant.

[Brandt Moat]

Shaq wasn't highly motivated for sure. He played hard at times. But, liked to rest a whole lot more! Not going to rag doll Shaq on a get the fook outta my way day.

[shadymcgrady]

No one could have guarded Shaq in his prime

[jjgold]

Impossible to say

Wilt probably would of controlled him

[Brandt Moat]

If you were an owner, would would ya take 1st? Wilt. He was an all around great player.

[stevenash]

If you were an owner, would would ya take 1st? Wilt. He was an all around great player.

Wilt or Kareem?

[shadymcgrady]

They changed the rules bc of wilt and alcindor. Barkley and Jordan were the last

[stevenash]

They changed the rules bc of wilt and alcindor. Barkley and Jordan were the last

Jordan was the GOAT
Barkley extremely underrated.
I loved to watch Bark play.

[shadymcgrady]

Jordan was the GOAT
Barkley extremely underrated.
I loved to watch Bark play.

Yes but I was referring to the NBA changing the rules bc of players

[stevenash]

Yes but I was referring to the NBA changing the rules bc of players

Gotcha, and yeah.

[magpie878]

I still don't know why a ton of fouls weren't called on Shaq, offensively.

He just would ram guys with his fat ass and bowl through them.

[Brandt Moat]

I can't watch Bball any more. NCAA tourney only. I loved watching Bingo, Austin and Chones from the Mohawk Tire and Rubber loge at the Richfield Coliseum. Got to see all of the All-Time greats! From Akron, I will never consider LeGone an All-Time great. Wouldn't and couldn't win games down the stretch. It has been said. It has been proven. I'm sure a stat finder can look it up. His shooting percentage in the last 3 minutes of a game when score is around 5 or less. He tanks. He rarely takes the last shot.

[Brandt Moat]

Karl Malone doesn't get his due ever! He was a fantastic player. What a bad dude.

[Brandt Moat]

Wilt over all players ever. He was the best ever.

Wilt or Kareem?

[stevenash]

I can't watch Bball any more. NCAA tourney only. I loved watching Bingo, Austin and Chones from the Mohawk Tire and Rubber loge at the Richfield Coliseum. Got to see all of the All-Time greats! From Akron, I will never consider LeGone an All-Time great. Wouldn't and couldn't win games down the stretch. It has been said. It has been proven. I'm sure a stat finder can look it up. His shooting percentage in the last 3 minutes of a game when score is around 5 or less. He tanks. He rarely takes the last shot.

I'm the biggest stat nerd on these here boards.
And yes, you are correct, I addressed that similar question a year or so ago.

The playoff game Ray Allen hit that miracle three and bailed his ass out, Lebron bricked a crucial free throw down the stretch and committed an ungodly bad pass turnover too.

[shadymcgrady]

I'm the biggest stat nerd on these here boards.
And yes, you are correct, I addressed that similar question a year or so ago.

The playoff game Ray Allen hit that miracle three and bailed his ass out, Lebron bricked a crucial free throw down the stretch and committed an ungodly bad pass turnover too.

None of that would have mattered if either manu OR kawhi didn't miss a free throw. That's more on them

[DrunkHorseplayer]

When Wilt entered the league, some shooters were using the two-handed set shot. He played against mostly 6'10" white guys, put Shaq in that era and he would dominate as well. Put Mikan in the 80's, Wilt and Russell in the 90's, Bird and Magic in the 10's and Jordan in the 20's and none of them would dominate; some of them would be good, others might not even play..

[texhooper]

It doesn’t feel like it but Lebron’s clutch stats are a lot better than you’d think

[Snowball]

Wilt over all players ever. He was the best ever.

I agree, Wilt was the best. So the question is, could Wilt guard Shaq? Definitely.

[stevenash]

I agree, Wilt was the best. So the question is, could Wilt guard Shaq? Definitely.

Yes and yes.

[stevenash]

It doesn’t feel like it but Lebron’s clutch stats are a lot better than you’d think

Oh God, I got to go to mySQL again.
James's 'clutch' stats are not piss poor, but adequate.

[shadymcgrady]

When Wilt entered the league, some shooters were using the two-handed set shot. He played against mostly 6'10" white guys, put Shaq in that era and he would dominate as well. Put Mikan in the 80's, Wilt and Russell in the 90's, Bird and Magic in the 10's and Jordan in the 20's and none of them would dominate; some of them would be good, others might not even play..

Yeah I think alot of posters here never rly played competitive ball to understand the physicality and difference of athleticism in respective eras

[marcoloco]

but could Shaq have guarded Wilt?

[shadymcgrady]

Wilt was Rudy gobert when the field was full of 5 foot 9 white guys that didn't have a left or off hand. Greatest athlete of all time bc of the disparity for sure but to conjure up that frame of reference just bc it was your era and translate into a different era where guys are bigger, stronger and faster is delusional

[shadymcgrady]

Anyone here ever bang in the post? Or sat in on coaching drills with scouts working on post play? Doubt it but suprise me.

One of the early fundamentals they go through is disguising push offs with your legs or lower body transferred into force while making offensive moves, pivots, spins etc.

For example a simple plant and spin on a block is what you see on the surface but rly the player is basically bumping it throwing the defender away without any hands. The mechanics in itself is a skill or art of done well. You can use leverage or brute strength or deception and anything in between but it's not just pushing on the paint like a caveman.

Shaq was so freakishly gifted in that nuance of the game and absolutely unstoppable, he trumps all the greats in that Dept except arguably olajuelwon, who he later learned from and added to his arsenal

[IBetYou]

Kareem was better than Wilt surely... Silly to compare eras anyway. As someone has already stated Wilt was going against a bunch of white Americans -aren't too many of these about in the pro ranks these days.

Shaq played bully-ball basketball. He'd dominate guys smaller than him -even a DPOY such as B.Wallace because he had the size advantage. But put him up against someone of equal size such as Sabonis (whom was well past his prime in his NBA days) and he'll barely crack double digit points (think he actually had a single-digit scoring game against him in the playoffs one year).

[thomorino]

Wilt also played before the 3 second rule which changed the game significantly for bigger players - that rule was put into effect because of him.

People don't realize what an athlete Chamberlain was. He was one of the best high and long jumpers of any athlete in the world.

[IBetYou]

Another thing about Shaq: he didn't get into a serious weight program until his 2nd or 3rd year in LA. He was much bigger after that than when he was going against Olajuwon in the finals with the Magic. His prime really only lasted 2-3 years.

[Roger T. Bannon]

Look at the size of Wilt in the 70s. The man was a mountain. He did not have a real strong offensive game but he would have limited Shaq for sure. Wilt beat Jim Brown in a 40-yard dash twice. He never really applied himself as a player.

You also have to keep in mind that Wilt would have a been a much greater offensive and defensive player in the same era because he would have been putting more time in. They just showed up and played in those days.

[DiggityDaggityDo]

[JIBBBY]

Shaq was to heavy and strong to be guarded by any of the thin taller centers in NBA history. That includes Kareem, David Robinson, and Wilt. They all would get backed down and dunked on by Shaq in his prime.

[Roger T. Bannon]

You can see in the picture that Wilt was as big as Shaq at 60. Shaq would not have been able to push him around and the refs would let Wilt body Shaq instead of Shaq bodying guys. It would be an even match. Wilt could also move a lot faster than Shaq.