Latest news with #WiltChamberlain
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Walton can do it all" - Ex-Blazers coach believed Bill Walton was better than Russell and Wilt
"Walton can do it all" - Ex-Blazers coach believed Bill Walton was better than Russell and Wilt originally appeared on Basketball Network. The late Bill Walton stands out as one of the most gifted big men in NBA history. Before injuries hampered his illustrious career, Walton showcased a remarkable array of skills that set him apart from his peers. Advertisement In his prime, Big Red was a force to be reckoned with, demonstrating exceptional versatility both offensively and defensively. Bill's ability to control the game was nothing short of mesmerizing as he could score, rebound and stop his opponents. Walton's presence in the paint was a game-changer, leading many fans and analysts to draw comparisons to legends such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. In fact, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Dr. Jack Ramsay even considered Bill a superior version of the iconic big men. "Bill Russell was a great shot blocker. Wilt Chamberlain was a great offensive player. But Walton can do it all," Ramsay told Sport magazine. "I was with the Boston Celtics when Russell came into the league," Lakers Coach Bill Sharman told the Los Angeles Times. "Walton is the same type of player. Extremely intelligent — but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct." Advertisement Walton's legendary transformation Prior to turning pro, Big Red was already an exceptional player. He led UCLA to two national championships and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year three times during his college years. As expected, many anticipated Walton's arrival in the NBA. In 1974, after averaging 19.3 points and 14.7 rebounds in his junior year, Bill was drafted by the Blazers as the No. 1 overall pick. Walton quickly established himself as one of the most dominant centers in the league. In 1977, he was named an All-Star for the first time. That same year, Bill also made history and led the Blazers to their first NBA championship. The following year, he was crowned the NBA's MVP. Advertisement Unfortunately, Walton suffered multiple injuries after his MVP season. However, along with his recovery, Big Red also showed his maturity as a player. He reinvented himself and embraced a different role on the court. By transforming his game, Walton won one more NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 1986 as a role player. Bill's efforts did not go unnoticed as he was also named the league's Sixth Man of the Year that season. Related: Pippen once missed a layup to prevent MJ from getting a triple-double in the 1997 Finals: "I didn't want him to tie me" Walton is arguably the NBA's GOAT center Some may argue that Russell, Chamberlain or any legendary big man shouldn't be compared to Walton, as each of them had distinct greatness and legacy. However, for renowned sports writer and host Bill Simmons, Bill was just different. In fact, Simmons even once assessed that Big Red may have become the greatest center of all time. Advertisement "As you know, I love Bill Walton," Simmons once said. "He was the epilogue of my book. I think he is the greatest what-if guy of the last 50 years. He was the best player on the planet for 18 months. How we feel about [Nikola] Jokic right now, we felt about Bill Walton. ... On paper may be the greatest center ever in terms of total package. Russell is the greatest center, and Kareem's the second-best center. But if you're just talking about tools and ceiling and what a center can do on both ends, doing the stuff Jokic did in the playoffs combined with shot-blocking and rebounding." In 1993, Walton was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame as a two-time champion, two-time All-Star and Finals MVP, among others. He was also named one of the NBA's greatest 75 players. Today, Bill's impact on the game still leaves an indelible mark that continues to resonate with fans and players alike. Related: 'They talk about Jokic being the most skilled center, but Bill Walton was first!' - Magic Johnson pays tribute to the late Bill Walton This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Put those guys on the court against anybody. They would win" - Julius Erving revealed his NBA all-time starting five
"Put those guys on the court against anybody. They would win" - Julius Erving revealed his NBA all-time starting five originally appeared on Basketball Network. When NBA legends, both past and present, are asked to name their all-time starting five, the answers are always interesting and often passionate. Some base their selections on who they've played with or against, while others choose players they've seen dominate the game. Advertisement For Julius Erving, a man whose name is synonymous with basketball greatness, his all-time starting five is as old school as it gets — and it's one that has raised plenty of eyebrows. "I have my team since I was 15, so that eliminates a lot of people," he said. "You got Wilt [Chamberlain], you got [Bill] Russell, you got [Elgin] Baylor, you got Jerry West and you got Oscar Robertson. Put those guys on the court against anybody. Anybody. They would win. That's my team." Erving's original picks Dr. J. made his name in the NBA during the 1970s and '80s and grew up watching and playing in a league dominated by Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. These were the players who defined the sport long before Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan reshaped it for the next generation. Advertisement Erving's selections, rooted in the old era, tell the story of a player who grew up in a league shaped by giants. Chamberlain, the 7-foot phenom, dominated the paint with scoring numbers that have yet to be matched, including his famous 100-point game. Russell, the ultimate winner, secured 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, showcasing unparalleled defensive skill and leadership. Baylor, a forward who changed the game with his athleticism and creativity, was one of the first to introduce the modern highlight reel dunk. West, the logo himself, was known for his scoring, playmaking, and clutch performances. Robertson, who averaged a triple-double over an entire season before it was trendy, was a true all-around talent that transcended positions. For Dr.J, these players weren't just his heroes but the foundation upon which he built his career. He grew up playing in a time when the NBA was still finding its identity, and these legends, each in their own way, were the trailblazers who made the league what it is today. Advertisement Related: "I know Dennis will not throw a punch. No way" - Phil Jackson was confident Dennis Rodman will never start a fight Standing by his decision As the years went on, the NBA saw a shift in talent and style. The 1980s ushered in the golden age of Johnson, Bird and a rising Jordan — players who would come to define the game for decades to come. Yet, for Erving, their greatness didn't change the team he had already chosen long ago. "That's always going to be my team," he said. "Magic, Michael, Bird. I love what they did for the game, love their talent, their blessed ability, but I picked my all-time team a long time ago. I'm really old schooling and I don't change." Advertisement While Johnson, Bird, and Jordan are household names, with their epic rivalries, championship runs, and game-changing abilities, Erving's stubborn loyalty to his original picks raises some eyebrows in today's basketball landscape. Magic brought flair, vision, and leadership to the point guard position, while Bird redefined what it meant to be a forward with his all-around skills and relentless competitiveness. Jordan, of course, became the global icon who inspired millions with his will to win and unparalleled talent. These three would almost certainly make the list of almost everyone, but not Erving. His vision of basketball greatness is firmly grounded in the players of his youth — those who helped create the game as we know it today. Related: "People have an aura, and Doc definitely is that person that has it" - Jim Jackson explains what made Julius Erving so magnetic personality This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
NBA all-star says he ‘doesn't believe in history' before 1950 or the moon landing
Heat star Tyler Herro may be a sharpshooter on the basketball court, but he was way off the mark with his latest take. Article content The Miami swingman said on a recent livestream that he 'doesn't believe in history' before the year 1950 and also several events after. Article content Article content Herro was appearing on a Twitch stream with Adin Ross and N3on last week when the all-star was asked if hoops legend Wilt Chamberlain would be a top player in the NBA today. Article content 'I don't even know what Wilt looked like, played like,' Herro admitted. Article content Ross then asked Herro if he believed that Chamberlain 'dropped 100' during a game in March 1962 while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors. Article content While Herro responded 'yeah,' it got something stirring inside him and the former first-round pick then asked the streamer if he believed in history. Article content Article content 'Nah, I don't believe in history,' Herro said to the surprise of the streamers. 'No, I'm deadass.' Article content Article content Tyler Herro says he doesn't believe in history before 1950 😕 — Underdog (@Underdog) June 13, 2025 Article content The pair, who clearly were taken aback by the revelation, asked Herro if he believed things that happened 200 years ago. Article content 'Hell no,' he replied. Article content 'What about the moon landing?' N3on asked. Article content 'Nah, I don't believe in that. I don't believe in anything that happened before 1950,' Herro said, leaving the Ross and N3on speechless as they processed what was said. Article content 'Have we been f***ing bamboozled?' N3on joked before they tried to dig deeper into Herro's belief — or lack thereof. Article content The hosts then probed Herro, asking him if he believed in the flat Earth theory before getting back to historical events. Article content 'For real, like, how do we know? When did he come to the land or whatever?' Herro asked. 'They said 1492?' Article content N3on quipped that there's 'no way of really knowing,' to which Herro shrugged his shoulders in agreement. Article content After fans responded in the chat that Herro had 'never read a book,' the Heat star responded by essentially confirming the statement. Article content 'See, y'all believe that s***,' he said of the chat comments. 'I don't believe that s***! I never read that s*** in school.' Article content Herro's statement quickly went viral, with many fans questioning if he truly didn't believe in historical events, or if he was just joking on the stream. Article content
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Miami Heat star Tyler Herro shares astonishing conspiracy theory on livestream, leaving fans stunned
Retired Red Sox slugger Carl Everett denied the existence of dinosaurs and NBA star Kyrie Irving briefly considered the flat-earth debate in 2017, but Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro may them both beat: He doesn't believe in history. Specifically, the 25-year-old University of Kentucky product questions anything before 1950 as well as select events over the ensuing years, such as the 1969 moon landing and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance in 1962. 'I don't even know what Wilt looked like, played like,' Herro told Twitch streamers Adin Ross and N3on about the Philadelphia Warriors legend's single-game scoring record. Herro isn't the first to question the legitimacy of Chamberlain's century-mark effort against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Officially, only 4,124 fans were in attendance that night and there is no film of the 169-147 Warriors win. The only keepsakes from the historic performance are the scorebook, a few articles and the famed photo of a 25-year-old Chamberlain holding up some paper with '100' scribbled across in dark pencil. Similarly, Herro isn't the only person to question Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon – a conspiracy theory that is currently enjoying renewed popularity. Where Herro really differs from other supposed truthers is the scope of his disbelief. Asked if he believes anything that happened two centuries earlier, Herro left the social media influencers stunned. Tyler Herro says he doesn't believe in history before 1950 😕 — Underdog (@Underdog) June 13, 2025 'Hell no,' he said. 'What about the moon landing?' N3on asked. 'Nah, I don't believe in that,' Herro continued. 'I don't believe in anything that happened before 1950.' Herro also took issue with Columbus' famed voyage to the Americas. But rather than arguing that countless other groups discovered the 'new world' prior to Columbus setting sail in 1492, Herro instead questioned the date. 'For real, like, how do we know? When did he come to the land or whatever?' Herro asked. 'They said 1492?' N30n, a 20-year-old influencer and not a history expert, immediately agreed, saying there is 'no way of really knowing.' In addition to Columbus' own journal and letters, other contemporaneous records of his journeys exist, such as the Book of Privileges detailing his specific agreements with the Spanish court. In the end, Herro did not seem interested in hearing about the existence of history, primary sources, or even books. When one person in the online chat tried to explain that historians can document facts and those records are then passed down to later generations, the Heat star shut down the conversation.
Fox News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Heat's Tyler Herro makes startling comments about history before 1950
Miami Heat star Tyler Herro made startling claims during a recent livestream as he got firmly settled into what could be an exciting offseason for the organization. Herro was spotted with popular Twitch streamers Adin Ross and N3on and was asked whether he thought Basketball Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain would be a top-five player in today's NBA. Herro said he did not know what Chamberlain "looked like" when he played and believed that Chamberlain did, in fact, score 100 points in a single NBA game. Then, the conversation veered off track. "You think history is a real thing?" Herro asked. Ross replied, "Yeah." "Nah, I don't believe in history," Herro said. "No, I'm dead a--." Ross was perplexed and asked, "you don't believe in s--- that happened like 200 years ago?" Herro said, "No, hell no," adding that he did not believe man actually landed on the moon. Ross smirked to the camera. "I don't believe in that. I don't believe in anything that happened before 1950," Herro said while later questioning how historians knew that Christopher Columbus sailed west and landed in the present-day Bahamas and later Cuba and Hispaniola. It is unclear whether Herro was being serious with his answers as he seemed to be chummy with Ross and N3on. The 25-year-old was born in Milwaukee and attended Whitnall High School in Greenfield before he attended the University of Kentucky. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
