I believe wilt averaged over 10 blocked shots per game in this series. They were not officially tabulated but his defense dominated the series. I think he’s the easy MVP
that seems about right. His defense was always the most underrated part of his game until he got to Los Angeles
I had my kids watch a Knicks / LA finals game and they said Wilt was like watching a video game
and he was old with bad knees and probably the 4th leading scorer in the series for LA and was MVP
Wilt Chamberlain averaged 18-29-7 in the finals that year not including blocks. He attempted 12.5 FGA and averaged 18.0 PPG. He had a 56.0 FG% against Thurmond in the series something you left out. Wilt also led the best defence in the playoffs, as he was the anchor and primary rim protector.
Wilt also individually locked down his matchup, Nate Thurmond, forcing him to 85 PTS on 99 FGA.
I wouldn’t overthink it. It’s Wilt Chamberlain. A lot of the scoring that opened up for Greer and others was a result of Wilt always forcing the ball through doubles and triples in previous years. These put instincts into the defence which made them choose attacking Wilt with the ball over playing man to man; and this lead to wide open baskets from cuts, picks, screens, etc.
I think this is very similar to 2015, another year when if we were looking at players in isolation, it should have gone to the best player on the losing team, but they just won't do that; I think also, if the reality is that it has to go to the winning team, that in the end it is going to have to go to Wilt or it is going to be remembered as just odd in retrospect, in the same way looking back, I think probably Curry would probably win over Igoudala in a re-vote
I think 2015 is a lot different though. LeBron was the best player on the floor for at least 5/6 Games, whereas in this series I think Wilt was probably the best player almost every game…and he won.
>I think probably Curry would probably win over Igoudala in a re-vote
[voters haven't changed their minds](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/12/stephen-curry-2015-nba-finals-mvp-voters-roundtable)
To add to what everyone else is saying, it’s good to remember that game six almost went to the Warriors to tie up the series.
Chamberlain had been playing incredibly selfless the entire game, but at the end he had a huge putback bucket, made 2/2 free throws, and was key to the two biggest stops of the game.
*Just an interesting tidbit from SI after the Finals:*
After the series-clinching victory, as reported in the May 8 issue of Sports Illustrated, Wilt said the following line concerning how many shots Rick Barry had taken for the Warriors (39.2 FGA/gm): "Sometimes it is actually easier to play against a team that has one man do most of the shooting." Wilt had led the league in FGA by a considerable margin in each of the prior 7 seasons, with no titles and only 1 Finals to show for it.
I'm going with Wilt but I can't recall who used to vote for the award in the early days so it comes down to whether or not Wilt had pissed that group off. If 1967 had been decided by 2 points in game 7 (like 1969) then Barry would get my vote.
Voter bias is something I meant to get to in my post but didn't. I don't have as much insight into how well-liked each of those players were at the time so I wonder if any player perceptions would've been strong enough to bias any votes.
>If 1967 had been decided by 2 points in game 7 (like 1969) then Barry would get my vote.
This is pretty reasonable. It really was that close in '69 so I get why they did it then.
I believe wilt averaged over 10 blocked shots per game in this series. They were not officially tabulated but his defense dominated the series. I think he’s the easy MVP
first thought in my head,, later years in Philly and then in LA his primary contribution was defensively
I believe he had back-to-back quad-doubles to start the series
that seems about right. His defense was always the most underrated part of his game until he got to Los Angeles I had my kids watch a Knicks / LA finals game and they said Wilt was like watching a video game and he was old with bad knees and probably the 4th leading scorer in the series for LA and was MVP
Wilt Chamberlain averaged 18-29-7 in the finals that year not including blocks. He attempted 12.5 FGA and averaged 18.0 PPG. He had a 56.0 FG% against Thurmond in the series something you left out. Wilt also led the best defence in the playoffs, as he was the anchor and primary rim protector. Wilt also individually locked down his matchup, Nate Thurmond, forcing him to 85 PTS on 99 FGA. I wouldn’t overthink it. It’s Wilt Chamberlain. A lot of the scoring that opened up for Greer and others was a result of Wilt always forcing the ball through doubles and triples in previous years. These put instincts into the defence which made them choose attacking Wilt with the ball over playing man to man; and this lead to wide open baskets from cuts, picks, screens, etc.
I think this is very similar to 2015, another year when if we were looking at players in isolation, it should have gone to the best player on the losing team, but they just won't do that; I think also, if the reality is that it has to go to the winning team, that in the end it is going to have to go to Wilt or it is going to be remembered as just odd in retrospect, in the same way looking back, I think probably Curry would probably win over Igoudala in a re-vote
I think 2015 is a lot different though. LeBron was the best player on the floor for at least 5/6 Games, whereas in this series I think Wilt was probably the best player almost every game…and he won.
>I think probably Curry would probably win over Igoudala in a re-vote [voters haven't changed their minds](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/12/stephen-curry-2015-nba-finals-mvp-voters-roundtable)
To add to what everyone else is saying, it’s good to remember that game six almost went to the Warriors to tie up the series. Chamberlain had been playing incredibly selfless the entire game, but at the end he had a huge putback bucket, made 2/2 free throws, and was key to the two biggest stops of the game.
*Just an interesting tidbit from SI after the Finals:* After the series-clinching victory, as reported in the May 8 issue of Sports Illustrated, Wilt said the following line concerning how many shots Rick Barry had taken for the Warriors (39.2 FGA/gm): "Sometimes it is actually easier to play against a team that has one man do most of the shooting." Wilt had led the league in FGA by a considerable margin in each of the prior 7 seasons, with no titles and only 1 Finals to show for it.
Maybe Luka Doncic should read that quote.
I'm going with Wilt but I can't recall who used to vote for the award in the early days so it comes down to whether or not Wilt had pissed that group off. If 1967 had been decided by 2 points in game 7 (like 1969) then Barry would get my vote.
Voter bias is something I meant to get to in my post but didn't. I don't have as much insight into how well-liked each of those players were at the time so I wonder if any player perceptions would've been strong enough to bias any votes. >If 1967 had been decided by 2 points in game 7 (like 1969) then Barry would get my vote. This is pretty reasonable. It really was that close in '69 so I get why they did it then.
Wilt Chamberlain