Bill Russell is the GOAT

[trojanfan12]

DJ Mbenga > Bill Russell

Nice!!

 

[BOTSLAYER]

The league has changed dramatically.

Obviously athletes are more successful with fundamentals taking a back seat. The average height has only increased by 1 inch since integration. The big difference came in sports "nutrition" which if Russell played in that era would have had the benefit of that as well. The greats are great because they worked hard, not because of the era they lived in.

 

[trojanfan12]

Jackie Moon > Bill Russell

 

[HammerDown]

Philip Seymour Hoffman > Bill Russell

 

[HammerDown]

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.

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

All of this to prove that Bill Russell is the GOAT. Guy was never even the best player on his own team.

 

[Black Adam]

Michael Olowakandi>Bill Russell...

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Michael Olowakandi>Bill Russell...

 

[HammerDown]

I can't find the complete, updated list but here's an older one. We can add to it.

Philip Seymor Hoffman > Bill Russell
Cherokee Parks > Bill Russell
Mike Smrek > Bill Russell
Olden Polynice > Bill Russell
Alton Lister > Bill Russell
Kwame Brown > Bill Russell
Cornbread Maxwell > Bill Russell
Nipsey Russell l> Bill Russell
Keri Russell > Bill Russell
Russell from "Honey I shrunk the Kids" > Bill Russell
Bryon Russell > Bill Russell
Kurt Russell > Bill Russell
Russell Crowe > Bill Russell
Russell Wilson > Bill Russell
Russell Simmons > Bill Russell
Washington Irving > Bill Russell
Irving Fryar > Bill Russell
Friar Tuck > Bill Russell
Tuck Everlasting > Bill Russell
Everlasting Gobstoppers > Bill Russell
Bob Lanier > Bill Russell
Mike Gminski > Bill Russell
Paul Mokeski > Bill Russell
Billy Paultz > Bill Russell
Kevin Duckworth > Bill Russell
Benoit Benjamin > Bill Russell
Danny Manning > Bill Russell
Mel Turpin > Bill Russell
Detlef "The German Giant" Schrempf > Bill Russell
Jack Sikma > Bill Russell
Artis Gilmore > Bill Russell
Frank Brickowski > Bill Russell
Wes Unseld > Bill Russell
Sam Perkins > Bill Russell
Hersey Hawkins > Bill Russell
Ricky Pierce > Bill Russell
Arvydas Sabonis > Bill Russell
Christian Laettner > Bill Russell
Scott Pollard > Bill Russell
Brad Daugherty > Bill Russell
'Nique > Bill Russell
Thurl Bailey > Bill Russell
Tree Rollins > Bill Russell
Roy Tarpley on gutter glitter > Bill Russell
Bill Wennington > Bill Russell
Jon Koncak > Bill Russell
Cliff Levingston > Bill Russell
Terry Cummings > Bill Russell
Kevin Willis > Bill Russell
Danny Schayes > Bill Russell
Alaa Abdelnaby > Bill Russell
Fred Roberts > Bill Russell
Orlando Woolridge > Bill Russell
Greg Oden > Bill Russell
Michael Olowokandi > Bill Russell
Sam Bowie > Bill Russell
Joe Barry Carroll > Bill Russell
Travis Outlaw > Bill Russell
Luke Walton > Bill Russell
Spencer Haywood > Bill Russell
Will Perdue > Bill Russell
Dickey Simpkins > Bill Russell
Jack Haley > Bill Russell
"Mad Dog" Mark Madsen > Bill Russell
Chris Jent > Bill Russell
Tom McMillen > Bill Russell
Bill Cartwright > Bill Russell

 

[Black Adam]

I can't find the complete, updated list but here's an older one. We can add to it.

Philip Seymor Hoffman > Bill Russell
Cherokee Parks > Bill Russell
Mike Smrek > Bill Russell
Olden Polynice > Bill Russell
Alton Lister > Bill Russell
Kwame Brown > Bill Russell
Cornbread Maxwell > Bill Russell
Nipsey Russell l> Bill Russell
Keri Russell > Bill Russell
Russell from "Honey I shrunk the Kids" > Bill Russell
Bryon Russell > Bill Russell
Kurt Russell > Bill Russell
Russell Crowe > Bill Russell
Russell Wilson > Bill Russell
Russell Simmons > Bill Russell
Washington Irving > Bill Russell
Irving Fryar > Bill Russell
Friar Tuck > Bill Russell
Tuck Everlasting > Bill Russell
Everlasting Gobstoppers > Bill Russell
Bob Lanier > Bill Russell
Mike Gminski > Bill Russell
Paul Mokeski > Bill Russell
Billy Paultz > Bill Russell
Kevin Duckworth > Bill Russell
Benoit Benjamin > Bill Russell
Danny Manning > Bill Russell
Mel Turpin > Bill Russell
Detlef "The German Giant" Schrempf > Bill Russell
Jack Sikma > Bill Russell
Artis Gilmore > Bill Russell
Frank Brickowski > Bill Russell
Wes Unseld > Bill Russell
Sam Perkins > Bill Russell
Hersey Hawkins > Bill Russell
Ricky Pierce > Bill Russell
Arvydas Sabonis > Bill Russell
Christian Laettner > Bill Russell
Scott Pollard > Bill Russell
Brad Daugherty > Bill Russell
'Nique > Bill Russell
Thurl Bailey > Bill Russell
Tree Rollins > Bill Russell
Roy Tarpley on gutter glitter > Bill Russell
Bill Wennington > Bill Russell
Jon Koncak > Bill Russell
Cliff Levingston > Bill Russell
Terry Cummings > Bill Russell
Kevin Willis > Bill Russell
Danny Schayes > Bill Russell
Alaa Abdelnaby > Bill Russell
Fred Roberts > Bill Russell
Orlando Woolridge > Bill Russell
Greg Oden > Bill Russell
Michael Olowokandi > Bill Russell
Sam Bowie > Bill Russell
Joe Barry Carroll > Bill Russell
Travis Outlaw > Bill Russell
Luke Walton > Bill Russell
Spencer Haywood > Bill Russell
Will Perdue > Bill Russell
Dickey Simpkins > Bill Russell
Jack Haley > Bill Russell
"Mad Dog" Mark Madsen > Bill Russell
Chris Jent > Bill Russell
Tom McMillen > Bill Russell
Bill Cartwright > Bill Russell

that's one HELLUVA lotta owie's...

 

[HammerDown]

Roy Tarpley on gutter glitter > Bill Russell

Forgot about that one. Maybe the best one.

 

[trojanfan12]

In order to be the GOAT, shouldn't he first be the best to ever play his position?


Since Kareem, Wilt, Olajuwon and Shaq were all better................

 

[HammerDown]

In order to be the GOAT, shouldn't he first be the best to ever play his position?


Since Kareem, Wilt, Olajuwon and Shaq were all better................

To pretend like Bill Russell deserves to be mentioned along with the great center is ludicrous.

"Frankly, I am outraged." - Stephen A.

 

[trojanfan12]

To pretend like Bill Russell deserves to be mentioned along with the great center is ludicrous.

"Frankly, I am outraged." - Stephen A.

Don't want to make Stephen A. outraged.

 

[celticsintheoc]

Bot stop arguing with idiots ! The envy and jealousy are obvious and to take the time to create a list that long just proves How angry and jealous they are that he wasn't on there team .

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Bot stop arguing with idiots ! The envy and jealousy are obvious and to take the time to create a list that long just proves How angry and jealous they are that he wasn't on there team .

Are you finished?

Ok!

Slava Medvedenko >>>> Bill Russell

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Bot stop arguing with idiots ! The envy and jealousy are obvious and to take the time to create a list that long just proves How angry and jealous they are that he wasn't on there team .

I was responding to 2 legit posts. I know the Laker fans are incapable of rational thought let alone posting it in a forum so I do not argue with them.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Bot stop arguing with idiots ! The envy and jealousy are obvious and to take the time to create a list that long just proves How angry and jealous they are that he wasn't on there team .

Only a dumb ass Celtic fan would say this, Please save me the drivel. I am so jealous that Russell was far better than Wilt, Kareem, & Shaq. How much I wish the Lakers would of had him.


Samaki Walker > Bill Russell

 

[trojanfan12]

Bot stop arguing with idiots ! The envy and jealousy are obvious and to take the time to create a list that long just proves How angry and jealous they are that he wasn't on there team .

Here:

Now go buy yourself a sense of humor.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Here:

Now go buy yourself a sense of humor.

as if you have that kind of money to throw around

 

[trojanfan12]

as if you have that kind of money to throw around

Hey!! I have more vcash than you do!!