Prime Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors

[Shinyhubcaps]

You could say the same with Oscar Robertson... I'm a Bucks fan, and that team was one of the greatest teams in NBA history, but Oscar averaged a triple-double for a season with the Cincinnati Royals. Some more 1960s teams with younger guys would be cool.

[Brophog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shinyhubcaps

You could say the same with Oscar Robertson...

Yep. In some respects, he's lost to history even more than Wilt.

[adonis04]

that's right, Wilt Chamberlain as a Warrior was one of the best center of all-time, I wish they could've chosen him as a warrior instead of a Lakers. I don't know why they didn't make any challenges for any of the legends sort of what they did to Michael Jordan in Nba 2k11. It's probably alot of work to any challenges for every single legend, but its never too late hopefully they can make it happen in Nba 2k13

[Rule of Two]

Wilt is definately one of the greatest of all-time but way too many people rate him higher than he deserves. He was a genetic freak during a time in which there wasn't anyone else able to physically match him. If Wilt had played in today's NBA he wouldn't have averaged anywhere near what he managed decades ago and he wouldn't have scored 100 points in a single game. Not to mention there weren't as many teams. The talent pool was much smaller.

As a sport grows so does the talent. It happens in every sport across the world. I know a lot of people have their fond memories of their favorite players growing up but many of the old time greats wouldn't have made as big of a splash in today's league.

[yossixbean11]

I'd include the 62 Warriors that also have Paul Arizin with the 61 Celtics who are the same team as the 65 Celtics plus Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman. I'd also include the 66 Sixers who have Wilt, Greer, Cunningham and Chet Walker and put them against the 66 Warriors who have Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond and Guy Rogers. I'll admit that while these additions would be very cool, I'd probably never play with these teams ever again after unlocking them.

[Brophog]

It would be impossible to have a worthwhile discussion comparing players from such dissimilar eras given the massive amount of variables and assumptions one could make. There have been so many major changes in strength, conditioning, and technology that we really don't have to go back all that far before we hit a stark divide.

More to the point is how we respect players from different eras. It's not an issue of pulling players out of their time, because that problem exists in both regards, but moreso a problem that you're crossing generations and how that is treated in the sport. In some sports it is seen as more of a continuum, despite the change in variables, however that really isn't the case in the NBA. Many of the 30 and younger crowd can't even fathom a game without the 3 point line because that's all they've known. It's a game more marketed to a younger audience with a culture they more identify with, and as such, has a passionate, yet rather limited, target market.

Guys like Russell, Wilt, Oscar, etcetera merely represent this divide in the NBA. Licensing issues, as they always do, likely played the biggest role in deciding who and when was included in 2K12, but as a whole it would be nice if the basketball community appreciated more the full history of the game because there are some great players and great moments that history has forgotten. Maybe the presentation planned will start a conversation to that effect, though I likely fear that it will simply be a one time novelty appreciated mostly by those that already have an appreciation.

[yossixbean11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brophog

It would be impossible to have a worthwhile discussion comparing players from such dissimilar eras given the massive amount of variables and assumptions one could make. There have been so many major changes in strength, conditioning, and technology that we really don't have to go back all that far before we hit a stark divide. More to the point is how we respect players from different eras. It's not an issue of pulling players out of their time, because that problem exists in both regards, but moreso a problem that you're crossing generations and how that is treated in the sport. In some sports it is seen as more of a continuum, despite the change in variables, however that really isn't the case in the NBA. Many of the 30 and younger crowd can't even fathom a game without the 3 point line because that's all they've known. It's a game more marketed to a younger audience with a culture they more identify with, and as such, has a passionate, yet rather limited, target market. Guys like Russell, Wilt, Oscar, etcetera merely represent this divide in the NBA. Licensing issues, as they always do, likely played the biggest role in deciding who and when was included in 2K12, but as a whole it would be nice if the basketball community appreciated more the full history of the game because there are some great players and great moments that history has forgotten. Maybe the presentation planned will start a conversation to that effect, though I likely fear that it will simply be a one time novelty appreciated mostly by those that already have an appreciation.

Agreed 100%. Like I said before, it would be REALLY cool to include more pre shot clock/pre 3 point line legends like Mikan, Pettit, Barry merely for the fun of it and historical aspect as well. But I'll be honest, I would probably play with those guys just once and that's it. I'm 18 and I actually do appreciate NBA history having studied and researched a lot of it for many many years. But no matter what I'm still part of the younger era that you've mentioned and I'm never going to be able to fathom a basketball game without todays culture and rules. If there were more 50s/60s teams, most likely I would play with them every now and then but only on the home courts of teams that do have todays rules (shot clock, 3 in the key, 3 pt line), but then again, if there was no three point line in the 50s/60s then who can actually shoot from there, among other things that a player from back in the day might not be able to do today.

[Control-X]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brophog

It would be impossible to have a worthwhile discussion comparing players from such dissimilar eras given the massive amount of variables and assumptions one could make. There have been so many major changes in strength, conditioning, and technology that we really don't have to go back all that far before we hit a stark divide.

...and specially the major changes in the RULES on how the game of basketball is played.