Wes Unseld is somewhat overlooked today, and that’s a shame.
The Louisville native had a tremendous career at his hometown school, averaging 20.6 ppg and 18.9 rpg for his varsity career (freshmen were not eligible at the time) Drafted in 1968, he was brilliant in the NBA as well.
In the NBA, despite being just 6-7, Unseld played center. With his immense strength, he managed to limit much taller players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He was also one of the greatest outlet passers of all time. In our opinion, that list includes Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Unseld’s godson Kevin Love, and probably Nikola Jokic (Maurice Stokes gets a special mention here).
But when you get down to it, Unseld, who won both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 1969, something only Wilt Chamberlain has ever done, succeeded largely through sheer strength and will.
He was able to use his massively powerful body to push bigger men around, and nobody wanted to run into him as a screener, because Unseld left bruises.
He was a highly unusual player, and someone who is not acknowledged nearly enough today as one of the greats of the game.
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