NBA Rivalry Chamberlain and Russell

The greatest rivalry in NBA history was between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. The 1950s and 1960s displayed the two most fiercest competitors in all sports. Russell from the Boston Celtics and Chamberlain from Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and the L.A. Lakers defined the role of the dominating big man in basketball in different ways. Chamberlain was the better offensive player, providing his team with low-post scoring while passing out of double-teams to open teammates. Russell was the greater defender, providing an intimidating presence for his team by blocking shots and rebounding This started the famous Celtic fast break which led to many easy baskets.

The record books are filled with Chamberlain's accomplishments. He is the only NBA player to score 4,000 points in a single season. He holds the single-game scoring record with 100 points and the most rebounds in one game "55". In 1961-1962 season he averaged an unbelievable50.4 points per game. Wilt won 2 NBA titles with two different teams.

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Other Chamberlain scoring feats: Most games with50 pts. or more, 118. Most consecutive games with40 pts. or more 14. Highest soring average for a rookie 37.6. Wilt also hold the highest field goal % for a single season .727.

Wilt retired as the all-time career points leader with 31,419 which has been surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Karl Malone. Chamberlain is still No.1 in career rebounds with23,924. he lead the NBA in scoring seven straight seasons. He also lead the league in assists in 1967-68 to prove scoring is not all that he could do.11 out of his 14 seasons Wilt lead the league in rebounding.

Bill Russell was the main cog in the Boston Celtics dynasty of 1950s and 1960s. Russell was an uncanny shot blocker who revolutionized the way the NBA played defense. Although blocked shots were not an official statistic until 1973-74, Russell changed the game in ways that were clearly understood, even if they were not measured with statistics. He had the ability to leave his man and slide over to cover an opponent that had gotten by a teammate and block or alter their shots.

Russell averaged 15.1 pts. a game and pulled down 22.5 rebounds a contest. The 12-time all star and 5-time NBA Most Valuable Player accumulated 21,620 career rebounds. Bill led the league in rebounding 4 times and had 51 boards in 1 game and 49 in 2 others. He also had 12 consecutive 1,000 or more rebounds in a season.

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His individual accomplishments were great but that is not all Russell brought to the table. His philosophy of team play brought the Boston Celtics 11 championships in 13 seasons. Bill also was a player coach for 3 years winning the NBA Championship 2 times.

Wilt Chamberlain dominated the game as few players in any sport ever have, Chamberlain seemed capable of scoring and rebounding at will. As Oscar Robertson put it when asked whether Wilt was the best ever, " The books don't lie."

Bill Russell defensively did things no other NBA players have been able to do. As Celtics player Don Nelson told the Boston Herald, "There are two types of Superstars. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better then they are, and thats the type Russell was.

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To choose one over the other is a tough call. Watching them both play basketball in the 60's, Wilt was my favorite player by far, but if I was starting a new franchise in the NBA, Bill Russell would be my first pick.

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