This really is pretty amazing
People look at older players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain and ask: could they play today?
And it’s not really a fair question because it assumes that you could somehow drop those guys into today’s game with their 1960’s skill set and so forth.
The reality is that if you could drop them into today they’d have modern equipment and training and nutrition and all those advantages. What can’t be doubted is talent and competitive desire.
Russell was 6-10 and 215 and while highly athletic himself, he gave up a lot to Chamberlain. But it didn’t always matter.
Take this play from 1967. Keep in mind that Chamberlain was 7-1-ish, by all accounts the strongest man to ever play the game and with a possible 50” vertical to boot.
Chamberlain is ready to flush it but Russell goes up and gets it. Most people wouldn't even try because Chamberlain was just so overwhelming, but Russell actually blocks the dunk.
That kind of desire fits into any era of basketball.
