NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain once claimed in an interview that he would average 60 to 70 points if he played against the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. The legendary center made the bold claim in a 1997 interview in front of longtime rival Bill Russell. At the time, Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon had already established themselves as the top centers in the league.

NBA greats Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain sat down for a joint interview in 1997 to look back at their historic rivalry. Notably, the intense competition between Russell’s Celtics and Chamberlain’s Lakers laid the groundwork for the NBA’s current prosperity.

In retrospect, the two great players detailed the nature of their rivalry and its various perks. However, the conversation soon turned to modern NBA players.

Wilt Chamberlain claims he would have averaged 60-70 in the 90s’ NBA

Wilt Chamberlain narrated the details of his memorable rivalry with Celtics legend Bill Russell in this 1997 interview. Meanwhile, the interviewer asked the Lakers legend how he would fare in the modern-day NBA.

“I would love it, ” scoffed Chamberlain. “Are you kidding me! I mean, it would be a joke.”

The interviewer seemed a little taken aback by the answer. In fact, he mentioned Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, the two top centers in the league at the time, to observe Wilt’s reaction. But the two-time world champion doubled down on his take.

Afterward, the interviewer asked Chamberlain how much he would average if he played in today’s game. In response, the 13-time All-Star stated that he could at least drop 30 even at his current age of 60.

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On a more serious note, he said, “But at 30, I could probably average 60 or 70...And I’m saying that politely,” added the four-time NBA MVP.

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain on guarding Shaquille O’Neal

Soon after entering the league as the number one pick in the 1992 draft, Shaquille O’Neal established his dominance in the league. Remarkably, he made it into the NBA All-Time Top 50 players list after spending only four years in the league.

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain revealed how they would try to defend the four-time NBA champion in a game. Russell told the interviewer that he would try to tire the 7’1″ giant by making him run down the court more. On the other hand, Chamberlain explained that he would simply make the “big and strong and fast” Shaq optimize his mistakes.

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