Chamberlain dominated the postseason. For some reason, many basketball fans believe Wilt “sucked” during the playoffs. Some “deep thinkers” claim the planet is flat. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 30.4 points, 27.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 67 playoff games spanning the 1959-60 to 1966-67 seasons. We also know from box scores where blocked shots were recorded that Wilt averaged 8.3 blocks per game during the playoffs. And Wilt hit 51.5% of his field goal tries while being double- and triple-teamed, hand-checked, and mugged every night.
Wilt Chamberlain averaged 24.5 rebounds, 22.5 points, and 4.2 assists in 160 postseason games, coupled with approximately 8.3 blocks per game. Wilt dominated the tournament, just as he did throughout the regular season, but basketball is a team sport. Bill Russell and the Celtics possessed a superteam, which was why they won 11 championships in 13 seasons. Unlike common perception, Bill Russell did not “shut down” the Big Dipper.
Chamberlain averaged 30.0 points and 28.2 rebounds over 94 games against Russell. If your favorite NBA team’s center averaged 30 points and 28 rebounds per game, you’d proclaim him the GOAT, and Wilt was doing it against the greatest defensive center of all time!
Chamberlain cut down Russell’s attack, limiting him to 14.2 points per game and a 37.0% field goal percentage. Wilt outperformed Russell in FG% with 48.8%. He more than doubled Russell’s points per game, from 30.0 to 14.2 ppg. He outrebounded Russell by 28.2 to 23.0 rpg. Wilt also made nearly three times as many free throws (12.0 per game vs. 4.4 for Russell). Russell had to foul Wilt to slow him down, otherwise he would have scored 40 points every game. Wilt stopped Russell without fouling him. The myth that Russell outplayed Wilt is exactly that: a myth.
