Absolutely Wilt had better stats, especially in regular season games which don't matter nearly as much. What Russell did couldn't necessarily be put into stats at the time or even now. Lets narrow the stats available to those from playoff games:
Russell: 4.8 FG
Wilt: 9.1 FG
Unfortunately many staple stats such as assists, blocks(advantage Russell in these match ups), and even rebounds were not kept. Lets agree and say that Wilt was the FAR FAR FAR superior athlete. Russell, a severely undersized big man, held wilt to 9.1 FG made per game in head to head match-ups. This is the same man that dropped a hundred in a game because he was so athletically superior, being held to 9.1 FG a game against an undersized and less athletic man playing man to man defense (no double teams). Wilt was also a notoriously selfish player (hundred point game... come on) leaving him far under Russell in the assist category. Back to blocks, Russell runs away with this one by the way (watch the film, just amazing how his defensive mind worked), Russell would block the shot directly to the outlet man already breaking out. Turning a great defensive play into easy offense. What flaws Russell in the minds on many modern fans was how his strengths didn't match up well with a stat sheet. Think of Unseld the same way in this regard, but to a lesser extent.
I can't argue that Wilt wasn't fantastic, he was its true. But it is simply one of the most ignorant basketball statements I have ever heard to say that Bill Russell was a horrible big man. Watch the film my man, there is a reason he is held to such a pristine level amongst his contemporaries of the modern era. They've watched the film and seen that no one player affected a game more than he did.
Woah woah woah! When did I say Russell was horrible?!?! I just said wilt was better! Which he was.
Blocks? Wilt. He blocked 26 shots in one game. 26. Here's how it goes, wilt blocked more shots, Russell was the smarter shot blocker (shot block outlet pass)
Russell was not a better passer. Wilt is the only center in NBA history to lead the league in assists. He was selfish alright. Wilts career high in assists was 8.6, Russell's was 4.3.
Get this. In the 1967 nba playoff series, 76ers vs celtics...wilt AVERAGED a triple double against Russell the entire series. And had an unofficial QUINTUPLE double. Wilt is the only player to have a triple double double 21 points 22 assists 25 rebounds.
Wilt has 8 career 40 point 40 rebound games. Russel has none
Wilt has 121 30 point 30 rebound games. Russell has 7.
Wilt set an nba record grabbing 55 rebounds against Russell in 1960.
Wilt scored 62 points against Russell, Russell scored 30 or more points only two times against wilt.
Russell is the second greatest center of all time, behind wilt.
