If Bill Russell was in his prime today would he be able to dominate the NBA the way he did in his era?

Question

Please consider the growth of the game and todays talent compared to that of the 1950/60's and explain if and why Bill Russell would be a bench warmer, an all star or a finals MVP in today's NBA.

Answer 1

yes, he would still considered one of the best in the game today. he would also be exposed to the same training players of today are exposed to. and he has great defensive instincts and great hands, 2 things you can't teach.

wilt chamberlain though would rule the league.

Answer 2

Great question... Wish we had the time machine to see if Mr. Russell could indeed "hang" with the athletes of this era. I want to be on the record by saying I believe Mr. Russell was a Phenom of sorts in his era and I believe he changed the game. The Rings alone speak for themselves. That being said I think that the game is probably twice as fast and the average athlete now is probably twice as strong and fast as the average athlete in 1950. So I base my opinion not so much on Mr. Russell but the competition he competed against. I think he was a very tall, fast, strong and a smart athlete that the NBA had never seen before but to say he could average 28 rebounds against players like Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett I would have a hard time believing that. I do believe if you used the same time machine and sent any one of those for mentioned players back to the 1950's they would dominate the slower, weaker players of that era much the same as Mr. Russell if not more. Now I have heard that Mr. Russell had a 48 inch vertical leap and could kick the net so I think he would have the athleticism (if thats true) to hang but to say he would lead a team in this era to a Conference Championship or win a title is a huge reach and I personally think he would not. Again absolutely no disrespect to the Pioneer and Hero Mr. Russell is...

Answer 3

He would be better because of the dilution of the physical finesse style he played with. Remember the players he went against saw him 5-6 times a year -- this generation would only get a look at him 1-3 times.

A prime Bill Russell would dominate because of the way the game is played and the way it is officiated.

Answer 4

I don't know about that. Yes Bill is a great athlete but as a player today? a career fg shooter of 44%? (even Michael Jordan had better FG at 49.7%) a career ft shooter of 56%? heck that is playing against few 7 foot guys, mostly white players that lack athletecism...

Yeah he could be a defensive dynamo and a rebounding machine but that's it. But playing against the many more athletic guys of today? I believe even those averages would also dim a bit. Actually I am thinking Dennis Rodman right now. (averaged 52% in FG 58 % in FT 14.6 REBS).

He would be good but not that great in this era.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Wilt and Russell confronted one yet another 142 situations for the period of the ten seasons wherein they competed head-to-head. this is 14x consistent with season. Then there replaced into Nate Thurmond. Then Willis Reed. Then Walt Bellamy. Then Wes Unseld. Then Elvin Hayes. Then Jerry Lucas. Heck, Wilt and Kareem confronted one yet another 27x in merely 3 complete seasons of enjoying against one yet another (their careers overlapped by way of 4 seasons, yet Wilt did no longer play against Kareem in 1970, while Wilt ignored an excellent type of the season after tearing up his knee). Shaq would not play 27 video games against a HOF midsection over any 5 year era.

Answer 6

Bill Russell was a damn good bball player in his time. I'm sure that he could hang with the best of today, when in his prime, but not dominate. I have to admit that today's athletes are better. That's life.

I could say the same thing about Wilt Chamberlain, Dr. J., Pete Marivack, Walt Frazier, Wes Unsel, Dave Debusher, Nat Thurmond, ...

Answer 7

He'd be the modern day Tim Duncan only better!...Bill was an athlete!...he had almost a 50" vert....and he was the Greatest team player/leader ever!!!!!!...Russell in Todays game = Allstar/Finals MVP...but then again..Bill was'nt about individual awards..he was about winning as a TEAM!..14 titles in 15 years..the GOAT!

Answer 8

Multiple Finals MVP and regular season MVP's. I see him today as a cross between Amare and Big Ben. Just to be sure though, give him all the modern training and nutrition that modern NBA players receive and youre all set. Of course Red, Cousy, and Havlicek maintains that Russell, pulled directly from the 60's, is would be as dominating today as he was in the 60's even without modern training and nutrition.

While i dont necessarily agree with that, you have to admit that its hard to think of a modern team who wouldnt want a 6'10 rebounding and defensive genius with a 48inch vert leap and a 7'4" wingspan, with the speed and nimbleness and excellent passing and ball handling skills of a guard.

And of course an unbelievable sense of will to win.

As for his scoring, the only thing stopping him from scoring more points back then was Auerbach's team oriented philosophy of focusing a player's energy on his role and in Russell's case it was defense and rebounding (The 60's Celtics usually has 6-5 guys averaging between 15 and 22. Russ is usually the third highest scorer for the team scoring between 17-19pts. His shooting percentage of 44% was among the highest on his team and is the same FG% as Sam Jones and John Havlicek, the two primary shooters on the Celtics. His scoring average drop considerably however during his playercoach days).

Back in college, his coach was also preaching a team oriented style of play (as would most college coaches do) but was less stringent on pigeon-holing his players to a specific role. Russ was dumping 20pts as well as 20 rebounds a game and shotblocking. His FG% was 52%.

If given the chance, Russell is a dependable scoring threat.

And speaking of rebounding numbers, Russ averages 20 rebounds regardless whether its in a run and gun pro ball or in a slow, shotclock-less, stall-happy college ball. I wouldnt go out and say that he will grab 22.4 rebounds a game today like it was in the 60's but im pretty sure its not way beyond his abilities.

And yes, Wilt in his prime would still be ridiculously overpowering in today's game. A 275lbs, 7 foot something jumping from the freethrow line. Ridiculous. Hell the only thing preventing Wilt from bullying his way inside and dunking back then is his pride. He wants to be known as a finesse player and thats why he goes for his finger rolls and fadeaways.
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Why dont we warp modern players into the 60's . . . .

If Duncan, Dwight, Amare or any of today's players had to endure the same sub-standard training regimen (shin splints and acute knee pains were considered normal) and nutrition(Red Auerbach prohibits drinking H2O during practice), in addition to the general lack of concern for the player's welfare by the management (No team trainer, no team physician . . . the player union still havent forced the issue to the owners), that players in the 60's like Wilt and Russ had to endure, they would do NO better than say Nate Thurmond, or Walt Bellamy or Willis Reed.

In other words they are going to be good in the 60's, Hall of fame-caliber even, . . . . BUT they would still PALE IN COMPARISON to Wilt and Russ in terms of accomplishments or performance. Like Willis Reed, Duncan, Dwight, Amare and co. will not win a ring until Russell retires. Like Nate Thurmond, its possible that Duncan, Dwight, Amare and co. could average 18rebs a night in the 60's but that would still be chump change to Wilt and Russ' rebounding numbers.

The thing is the main reason as to why Wilt and Russ dominated their opponents, black and white, short and tall, is because they are superb physical specimens. Russ was a track star and an Olympic caliber high jumper. Wilt was a shotput thrower, a champion high jumper, a track star and a triple jumper. Their above average physical gifts allows them to stand out from the pack in their era. Giving them modern training and nutrition would further enhance their natural talents and would still allow them to dominate today.

To get a rough idea on how physically gifted these two are just look at the Minutes Played per game average. Wilt and Russ are STILL number one and two respectively, even after 30 plus years. Even in today's era of chartered jets, plush hotels, modern medicine and nutrition, modern training methods, and pampered treatment, no modern athlete was able to bump them off the record books.

Answer 9

Players today are also more self-absorbed and less team oriented. Bill Russelll would adapt himself to any scheme and would be primo defensive pimp de la creme anywhere in any era.

Answer 10

Bill Russelll