“People say it was the greatest individual rivalry they’ve ever seen,” Russell says. “I agree with that. I have to laugh today. I’ll turn on the TV and see the Knicks play the Lakers, and half the time Patrick [Ewing] isn’t even guarding Shaq [O’Neal], and vice-versa. Let me assure you that if either Wilt’s or Russ’ coach had ever told one of them he couldn’t guard the other guy, he would have lost that player forever!”
It was the great man-to-man confrontation of the Sixties, and unquestionably the greatest individual rivalry in NBA history.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain went at each other — are you ready? — 142 times during the 10 years of their rivalry. Russell’s Celtics won 85 while Wilt, who was with the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers during that period, was on the winning side 57 times. And that average of more than 14 meetings a year was only during the regular season and playoffs. They also played in many exhibitions against each other.
Now that, friends, is a rivalry.