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Wilt Chamberlain vs Bill Russell
Which player? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Wilt Chamberlain Golden State Warriors · 1936–1999 53% · #6 in the world
- Bill Russell Boston Celtics · 1934–2022 47% · #10 in the world
What the votes say
Too close to call: the world picks Wilt Chamberlain over Bill Russell by just 53% to 47%. Wilt Chamberlain is #6 of the 250 NBA players in the world ranking, and #1 of the 11 of the Golden State Warriors. Bill Russell is #10, and #2 of the 19 of the Boston Celtics.
The case for each
Wilt Chamberlain: The scoring giant of the 1960s: 100 points in one game in 1962, a season averaging 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds, four MVPs and two titles, with Philadelphia and the Lakers.
Bill Russell: The Boston Celtics center who won eleven titles in thirteen seasons, the last two as player-coach, five MVPs and a defensive game built on blocked shots and rebounds in an era that did not count blocks.
Side by side
| Wilt Chamberlain | Bill Russell | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #6 | #10 |
| Team | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics |
| Born | 1936 | 1934 |