Bill Russell is the GOAT

[BOTSLAYER]

Bill Russell wasn't talented enough to play in today's D-League.

You mean today at the age of 80 wouldn't make a cut? If you are considering that he must have been something special.

 

[Black Adam]

You mean today at the age of 80 wouldn't make a cut? If you are considering that he must have been something special.

Mel Counts>>>Bill Russell...

 

[Am I Blue Through it All?]

I love that argument that there were only 8 teams. Meant no dilution of talent. Number one picks routinely did not make teams. Hilarious.

Bill has more rings than fingers and thumbs. He is the only real constant during that period. Figure it out.

 

[LogicMan]

Mr Russell was clutch. As many Laker fans know well. He never pulled a Peyton. Passed well, delivered rings.

 

[trojanfan12]

Mr Russell was clutch. As many Laker fans know well. He never pulled a Peyton. Passed well, delivered rings.

Shhhh!! We're having fun busting Bot's chops.

Oh and.....

Billy "The Whopper" Paultz > Bill Russell

 

[LogicMan]

Too funny Trojan

 

[HammerDown]

Henceforth, every time Bot starts a silly "Bill Russell is God" thread, I'm posting this and walking away.

Or maybe even this...

 

[BOTSLAYER]

It really isn't a Bill Russell is god thread, the only reason I even wrote that was in reference to your lack of faith in what you have not seen, by that logic you have at least seen a video or photo of Bill Russell thus the next logical deduction is Bill Russell > God.

The thread was just revisiting the biggest knock against Russell is his Offense.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[Jims_Doors]

"Point center." Puhlease. Doesn't even deserve a response.

Magic played every position on the floor and dominated the world at age 19. Russell wasn't even the best player on his team and was largely an offensive liability but the simple-minded have deified this guy and he's enjoyed cult status because of it. It's really quite silly but BOTSLAYER, despite never having seen two full minutes of Russell play (because, well, there's nothing really to see) is now an expert who won't stop beating his drum.

Cherokee Parks > Bill Russell

at the wording.

 

[HammerDown]

Poor choice of words?

 

[Jims_Doors]

Dominate 1 game.....yes. But Jamal Wilkes 37pts in game 6 always goes unnoticed or never mentioned.

 

[trojanfan12]

Dominate 1 game.....yes. But Jamal Wilkes 37pts in game 6 always goes unnoticed or never mentioned.

Quietest 37 points in finals history.

 

[HammerDown]

Dominate 1 game.....yes. But Jamal Wilkes 37pts in game 6 always goes unnoticed or never mentioned.

Silks! Only guy who deserves to be mentioned along with Wilt and Magic for sleeping with the most women in LA. He was a legend in the bowels of The Forum after games. Taught Magic the ropes.

 

[lakersrule]

Dude was the most dominant player there ever was

No he wasn't.


Manute Bol > Russell


Word.

 

[gordontrue]

# of NBA Players taller than 6'9" who registered at least 1 season qualifying for minutes played between the years 1946 and 1970: 25

# of NBA Players taller than 6'9" who registered at least 1 season qualifying for minutes played between the years 1971 and 2014: 371

(NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History | Basketball-Reference.com)

 

[BOTSLAYER]

# of NBA Players taller than 6'9" who registered at least 1 season qualifying for minutes played between the years 1946 and 1970: 25

# of NBA Players taller than 6'9" who registered at least 1 season qualifying for minutes played between the years 1971 and 2014: 371

(NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History | Basketball-Reference.com)

Just doing a little math that is a 24 year sample size to a 43 year sample but the league has multiplied by 4 just in terms of teams. To get a fair number I think a percentage would be more accurate.

So that is what I looked for (because I did not want to do the math myself after finding out how many teams were in the league each year). To do a really rough conversion:

1st to make the years equal 371*.5581 and a lot more numbers (24/43=.5581 and a lot more numbers I just left in the calculator) = 207.07 rounded to 207.

207*.266666 because that is the percentage of teams there was then and we get 55.2 players if we roughly account for number of teams and years.

Roughly 45% fewer players back then as opposed to now that were over the height of 6' 9". That is a lot but not nearly as deceiving as the number quoted.


To add a little more context I looked up average height and weight from current day to 1951. Basketball reference does not show height weight stats before then so the above number could also be skewed in relation to Russel's average competition if that 1st 6' 9" player came after 1946 because I assume that it would grow exponentially to match the growth of the NBA, not constantly.

Back to the point.

Since 1951-52 to now the average height has increased from 6' 4" to 6' 7". Weight has increased by 22 pounds from 195 to 217.

However when we apply this to when Russell came into the league and left the league we find that by Russel's 7th season and half way through his career the league average was already at 6' 6" average height.

The weight is interesting as it jumped 10 pounds over his 1st 6 years and then stayed at between 203 and 208 all the way until 86-87 season when it would steadily increase to the 217 it is now. Interesting how the 80s is around the time that sports nutrition and "supplements" started to boom.

Avg height peaked in 1980-81 but average weight would gain another 12 pounds to 217. It was 218 several years and 219 twice.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

TLDR: the league has not changed much except 2 key moments


-the 1st being the integration of all americans being allowed to play basketball
-steroids and other PEDs becoming popular in major sports

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

The league has changed dramatically.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

DJ Mbenga > Bill Russell