Was Wilt Chamberlain the Greatest Athlete in History?

[toobfreak]

He DOMINATED basketball. He averaged over 50 points a game one season and he scored an amazing 100 points in a game that season. That is why I consider him to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Michael Jordan would be runner up in my humble opinion.

If Wilt was so good, why doesn't he have his own brand of sneakers?

 

[Couchpotato]

Setting aside his basketball records, Wilt Chamberlain's size, strength and physical ability put him in a different class than any other athlete I can think of. It was as if all of these elements had been packed into 7' giant without any corresponding compromises. For example, he had a 48" vertical leap that has only been matched in the NBA by Michael Jordan, who was 50 pounds lighter. Wilt was also a world class track & field athlete in college, and later considered a serious opponent to fight Muhammad Ali. Amazingly, he would still be a first round NBA draft pick, some 70 years later.

Have any other athletes ever equaled his physical dominance in so many areas? If so, please list them.

Nope.


There that was easy.

 

[Couchpotato]

What makes Chamberlain unique is that he would still be the world's greatest athlete TODAY.

That’s ridiculous

 

[bluzman61]

If Wilt was so good, why doesn't he have his own brand of sneakers?

This was before sneakers were a big deal, of course.

 

[toobfreak]

This was before sneakers were a big deal, of course.

Wow, Wilt has been dead for a quarter-century! He only lived to be 63. Back then, sneakers were only $7.99.

I guess the early sixties is about when all the good pootang ran out for him. The stress killed him.

 

[odanny]

Bo Jackson played professional football, professional baseball, and won the Heisman Trophy in college. He scored a TD in the Pro Bowl and hit a homerun in the All-Star game. Has Wilt beaten that? Not quite.

Yep, my pick for greatest athlete is Bo Jackson. People like himself and Deion Sanders are those rare, two sport athletes who excel in BOTH of them.

 

[Cassandro]

Yep, my pick for greatest athlete is Bo Jackson. People like himself and Deion Sanders are those rare, two sport athletes who excel in BOTH of them.

Not even close. Wilt was a singular physical specimen who could excel in anything. He could even have been a champion decathlete if he had wanted to.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Setting aside his basketball records, Wilt Chamberlain's size, strength and physical ability put him in a different class than any other athlete I can think of. It was as if all of these elements had been packed into 7' giant without any corresponding compromises. For example, he had a 48" vertical leap that has only been matched in the NBA by Michael Jordan, who was 50 pounds lighter. Wilt was also a world class track & field athlete in college, and later considered a serious opponent to fight Muhammad Ali. Amazingly, he would still be a first round NBA draft pick, some 70 years later.

Have any other athletes ever equaled his physical dominance in so many areas? If so, please list them.

Pound for Pound I would say Bo Jackson is the greatest pure pro athlete as far as athletic ability of someone who played pro sports.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

He could even have been a champion decathlete if he had wanted to.

Stop. Wilt was too tall and his limbs were too long. You're telling me he is going to be competitive in shot put, pole vault, the 100m dash, and a mile run?

If he dedicated himself he could do well in Long jump, high jump, the 400m, discus, and maybe Javelin. That's it.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Bo Jackson played professional football, professional baseball, and won the Heisman Trophy in college. He scored a TD in the Pro Bowl and hit a homerun in the All-Star game. Has Wilt beaten that? Not quite.

Bo Jackson's High school track records and baseball/football accomplishments are insane.

I'm pretty sure it's not entirely official, but looking at video and pretty much backed up by everyone there Bo ran the 40 yard dash at the combine at 4.19sec, the fastest ever. And he wasn't some 180lb WR.. he was all beef that could move that fast.

 

[Cassandro]

You're telling me he is going to be competitive in shot put, pole vault, the 100m dash, and a mile run?

Yes. Look up his track and field background at Kansas. He was also very fast (40 yard dash) and immensely strong. No one else has come close to his physical size and overall athletic abilities.

 

[Hellbilly]

I believe he was the greatest basketball player ever. Going WAY back I believe the greatest athlete ever was Jim Thorpe. He excelled at SO many different sports.