Lenny Wilkens on Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell: The Biggest Difference and Why Wilt Was the Better Player Beyond Championships

Lenny Wilkens on Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell: The Biggest Difference and Why Wilt Was the Better Player Beyond Championships

Basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell will forever be linked as two of the most dominant big men in NBA history. While Russell’s 11 championships with the Boston Celtics often fuel the argument in his favor, Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens has a different perspective. In a recent discussion, Wilkens explained why, beyond just rings, Chamberlain was the better player.

Physical Dominance and Versatility

According to Wilkens, the biggest difference between Chamberlain and Russell was their individual skill sets. Russell was a defensive anchor and a master of team-oriented play, but Chamberlain was a complete force of nature.

“Wilt was a generational athlete, one of the most dominant physical specimens we’ve ever seen,” Wilkens said. “People forget he was more than just tall—he was incredibly strong, fast, and had a level of coordination you don’t often see in big men.”

Chamberlain’s ability to score at will, rebound, pass, and even play defense made him a player who could take over a game single-handedly. His records speak for themselves: a 100-point game, a season averaging 50.4 points per game, and multiple rebounding titles. Russell, while an elite defender and leader, never had the same offensive prowess.

Skill Set and Offensive Superiority

Wilkens pointed out that Russell’s primary role was defense and leadership, while Chamberlain had a far more complete game.

“Wilt could do everything,” Wilkens continued. “He had a fadeaway, a hook shot, a finger roll. He could even pass the ball and led the league in assists one season. There wasn’t a part of the game he didn’t master.”

Chamberlain led the NBA in scoring seven times and in rebounding eleven times, while also proving his passing ability by leading the league in assists in 1967-68. Russell, in contrast, was never the focal point of an offense and never averaged more than 18.9 points per game in a season.

Competition and Individual Matchups

While Russell’s Celtics consistently got the better of Chamberlain’s teams in the playoffs, Wilkens believes that context matters.

“Russell had the better team and a legendary coach in Red Auerbach,” Wilkens explained. “He had Hall of Fame teammates all around him, while Wilt was often carrying teams by himself. If the teams were even, I think Wilt wins more often than not.”

Chamberlain’s individual matchups with Russell further prove his dominance. In their head-to-head meetings, Wilt consistently outperformed Russell in points, rebounds, and efficiency. However, Russell’s Celtics were simply better constructed, with superior depth and coaching.

The Legacy Debate

Wilkens understands why Russell is praised for his leadership and winning mentality but insists that Wilt’s individual greatness shouldn’t be overlooked.

“Championships are a team achievement,” Wilkens said. “If we’re talking about the best pure basketball player, Wilt was in a class of his own. There’s never been another player like him.”

While the debate will never end, Wilkens’ perspective adds weight to the argument that Wilt Chamberlain, when considering skill, athleticism, and individual impact, was the superior player to Bill Russell—championship rings aside.