Please take note that this is the first profile in a historical series on the greatest NBA careers ever.

Please take note that this is the first profile in a historical series on the greatest NBA careers ever.

Important figures and patterns
offensively overrated (scoring blindness)—failed to score and generate simultaneously
Defensively underappreciated; underpinned several elite defenses
inconsistent, frequently altered the game (too much attention on the stat of the day)
Scouting Report
Wilt isn’t well-documented, thus assembling his game requires comparing what we have with a plethora of journalistic reports. Though he didn’t train as hard for deep post position as someone like Shaq could have at his peak, he was a fan of the left block. Wilt was explosive and hard to stop when he did manage to get into deep position; he could rotate fast for a finger roll or slam. In addition, he enjoyed the fadeaway, which showed that he was more than just a monster.

But Wilt wasn’t always a flexible athlete—especially as he gained weight over his playing career. The first thing that strikes you when watching him on tape is his footwork, which at times seemed unnatural and resulted in several trips or unbalanced plays.

His attack turned black-and-white as he began to pass more frequently; he would frequently begin in “pass mode” when he received the ball in the post with his back to the hoop. In pass mode Wilt waited for an open cutter before initiating a calculated scoring play if his receivers were covered. He does a quick assessment below before establishing his fadeaway:

He was, in my opinion, held back as an offensive force by his incapacity to hit open teammates or score in order to simultaneously threaten the defense. Stated differently, he lacked skill as a playmaker. Sports Illustrated hinted at this zero sum, baseball-like method in 1966.

“However, the strategic requirements of utilizing [Wilt] to his full potential seriously impair the adaptability of his own team and typically cause morale issues among those who desire the ball as much as he does.”

The best offensive players, like Wilt, struggle to mix their individual scoring with creative playmaking. Not only that, but his habit of parking himself on the block and staying there the entire time obstructed his guards’ driving lanes.1.

With age and exposure to Alex Hannum, Wilt become a very cooperative passer. The movie does, however, show how other teams reacted to this “passing mode.” Wilt was frequently double-teamed in 1964 (and again in 1967), so if his passes to open cutters were spaced correctly, they may result in a 4-on-3 power play. Put otherwise, Wilt could create and defenses would react to him.

Nevertheless, clubs didn’t appear to double this action during the latter nine years of his career. Chamberlain was simply allowed to stand there and grip the ball.2. At that point, Wilt was actually creating a “Rondo Pass,” as he would sit back and wait for the other four players to find an opening rather than assisting them in creating one. This reduced the scope of his plays and diminished his.