In his defense, coach McGuire said that "Wilt has been simply super-human" and commented on how the Warriors lacked a consistent second scorer, a playmaker, and a second big man to take pressure off Chamberlain. [62] In one particular game, Chamberlain blocked a dunk attempt by Baltimore Bullets player Gus Johnson so hard that he dislocated Johnson's shoulder. 2 in Slam's "Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time in NBA History" in 2009,[178] and No. In the 198081 NBA season, coach Larry Brown recalled that the 45-year-old Chamberlain had received an offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Chamberlain dominated his older college teammates by scoring 42 points (1635 from the field, 1012 on free throws), grabbing 29 rebounds, and registering 4 blocks. [107] Chamberlain then asked for a trade and Sixers general manager Jack Ramsay traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Darrall Imhoff, Archie Clark, and Jerry Chambers. That March, he became the first NBA player to score 100 points in a game, setting a league record for the highest number of points scored in a single game (which he still holds today). For Abdul-Jabbar, 75, the hubbub over his pursuit of Wilt Chamberlain's scoring record nearly 39 years ago was little more than a distraction in the final weeks of the 1983-84 regular season . Chamberlain allegedly forced her to perform oral sex after offering to show her a closet containing his NBA jerseys. [62] Powered by his defensive presence, the Lakers embarked on an unprecedented 33-game win streak en route to a then-record 69 wins in the regular season, yet the streak led to one strangely dissonant event. [a] Chamberlain had a natural advantage against his peers; he soon was renowned for his scoring talent, his physical strength, and his shot-blocking abilities. [4], Chamberlain was 6ft 11in (2.11m) when he entered Philadelphia's Overbrook High School. Data Provided By [41] In that season, Chamberlain again dominated his opposition by recording 33.5 points and 24.6 rebounds a game, leading the league in both categories. [1] He was a frail child, nearly dying of pneumonia in his early years and missing a whole year of school as a result. "[110], The lack of a second guard next to West, and the lack of speed and quickness, concerned coach Butch van Breda Kolff. They never meant anything to Wilt Chamberlain, though. [47], Despite his foul line woes, Chamberlain set the NBA record, later tied by Adrian Dantley, for most free throws made (28) using the underhand technique in a regular-season game in his 1962 100-point game. [109] Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke gave Chamberlain an unprecedented contract, paying him $250,000 after taxes, or about $1.9 million in real value; in comparison, previous Lakers top earner Jerry West was paid $100,000 before taxes (about $780,000 in real value). A feat matched only by fellow Hall-of-Famer. [142] As a testament to his importance, the IVA All-Star game was televised only because Chamberlain also played in it; he rose to the challenge and was named the game's MVP. 1. He was interested in world affairs, sometimes he'd call me up late at night and discuss philosophy. Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, Dippy, Dip, The Load, Big Musty, The Record Book, Hook and Ladder, Wiltie, Whip, Whipper are nicknames for Wilt Chamberlain. Cherry says that Reed, a prolific mid-range shooter, was a bad matchup for Chamberlain. Wilt retired from the NBA after the 1972-73 season with the . [158] On-court rival and personal friend Bill Russell stated, "the fierceness of our competition bonded us together for eternity. [56] The teams split the first two games, but Chamberlain got fed up with Heinsohn and punched him during Game 3. In a closely contested Game 7, Chamberlain tied the game at 107 with 16 seconds to go, but Celtics shooting guard Sam Jones hit a clutch shot with two seconds left to win the series for Boston. [111] Going into the NBA Finals as 3-to-1 favorites, the Lakers won the first two games but dropped the next two. [43][110] Erickson commented that "Butch catered to Elgin and Jerry and that is not a good way to get on Wilt's side that relationship was doomed from the start. "[122][206] Chamberlain also acknowledged that he never came close to marrying and had no intention of raising any children. [114] In Game 5, with the Knicks trailing by double digits, Reed pulled his thigh muscle and seemed to be done for the series. "[64], In the 196162 NBA season, the Warriors were coached by Frank McGuire, the coach who had masterminded Chamberlain's triple overtime loss in the NCAA championship against the Tar Heels. As of 2019, he is the first and the only player in NBA history to record 50 points and 35 rebounds in an NBA playoff game. In response, Chamberlain had everybody put all the pens in the middle of the floor and stepped on them. [46], In later years, Chamberlain frequently joined the Globetrotters in the off-season and fondly recalled his time there because he was no longer jeered at or asked to break records but just one of several artists who loved to entertain the crowd. [111], After the game, many wondered why Chamberlain sat out the final six minutes. He published his autobiography, Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door, in 1973. . . The Sixers charged their way to a then-record 6813 season, including a record 464 start. Do you have a blog? [106], The loss meant that Chamberlain was 16 in playoff series against the Celtics. [18] He has been retroactively honored as Mr. Basketball USA for 1955, the earliest such selection. [62] It was the ninth time that Chamberlain would lead the league in field goal percentage. and 6 assists in the same season. In Game 4, Boston won 114108. In addition, he shot an NBA record 0.727 for the season, bettering his own mark of 0.683 from the 196667 season. The matchup between Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar was hailed by Life as the greatest matchup in all of sports. [14] The Panthers comfortably won the Public League title after again beating Northeast in a game in which Chamberlain scored 40 points, and later won the city title by defeating South Catholic 7450. The closest any player has gotten to 100 points was the Lakers', Rick Barry, Confessions of a Basketball Gypsy: The Rick Barry Story, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, List of career achievements by Wilt Chamberlain, List of basketball players who have scored 100 points in a single game, List of National Basketball Association annual field goal percentage leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks, List of National Basketball Association rookie single-season rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association rookie single-season scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-game assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-game playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-game rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-game scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-season scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game, "Chamberlain, Wilt(on) Norman Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures-HighBeam Research", "Chamberlain rated greatest in court game", "Overbrook and Its Greatest Get Back Together", "Helen Kutsher, Pampering Matriarch of a Grand Borscht Belt Resort, Dies at 89", "Farrell defeats Overbrook and Chamberlain", "Mr. Basketball USA winners: ESPNHS national player of the year honorees date back to 1955", "Christian Street YMCA unveils its Wall of Fame", "Another forgotten accomplishment Worthy of Recognition Today", https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/Wilt_Chamberlain_NCAA_rules_free_throw_shooting_Kansas.html, "Triple OT: The 50th Anniversary of 1957 Championship | KUsports.com", "Syracuse Nationals at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 4, 1959", "New York Knicks at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 10, 1959", "Philadelphia Warriors vs Detroit Pistons Box Score, January 25, 1960", "New York Knicks at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, February 25, 1960", "Players to have recorded 50 points and 30 rebounds in the playoffs", "Philadelphia Warriors at Syracuse Nationals Box Score, October 22, 1960", "Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 24, 1960", "Philadelphia Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, November 29, 1960", "Chamberlain's 100-point game proves some things better with age", "Anthony Davis breaks Wilt's All-Star scoring record, earns MVP honors", "NBA's Greatest Moments 'Havlicek Stole the Ball! Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points a game in his career, including a record 50.4 in the 1961-62 season with Philadelphia. In the semi-finals, Chamberlain's Jayhawks handily defeated the two-time defending national champions San Francisco Dons 8056, with Chamberlain scoring 32 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and having at least seven blocked shots, as the game film is unclear whether an 8th block occurred, or the ball just fell short due to Chamberlain's intimidation. Several players and publications have argued that Chamberlain is the greatest of all time. Wilt 13 Chamberlain. He also made several film and television appearances, as well as hosted his own talk show. The dimensions of the game are fixed and unchanging, comfortable and understandable. In 1959, Chamberlain played his first professional game in New York City against the Knicks, scoring 43 points. Wilt Chamberlain. [62] Chamberlain won his first field goal percentage title and was so dominant that he scored almost 32% of his team's points and collected 30.4% of their rebounds. He chose to attend the University of Kansas, making his college basketball debut in 1956 with the Jayhawks, and leading the team to the NCAA finals in 1957. In Game 2, which the Lakers won 10692, Chamberlain put Lucas into foul trouble, and the Knicks lost defensive power forward Dave DeBusschere to injury. [f], In Chamberlain's junior season of 195758, the Jayhawks' matches were even more frustrating for him. Who is better Kobe or Wilt Chamberlain? We present them here for purely educational purposes. Despite his retirement, Chamberlain remained a highly sought after player, with multiple teams trying their hardest to lure the legendary center player out of . [71] Much like later center Shaquille O'Neal, Chamberlain would be fouled intentionally, and was a target of criticism because of it. Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968, Chamberlain again proved that he was a competitive and successful athlete. In all, he claimed 60 athletes with aspirations of expanding to 100. Russell never considered Chamberlain his rival and disliked the term, preferring competitors, and also said that they rarely talked about basketball when they were alone. In addition to Chamberlain's regular-season accomplishments, he scored 42 points in the All-Star Game. "[93] In Game 5, the Sixers overpowered the Celtics 140116, ending Boston's historic run of eight consecutive NBA titles. [80], Statistically, Chamberlain was again outstanding, posting 34.7 points and 22.9 rebounds per game overall for the season. 1936 [89] Cherry says there is a strange pattern in that game, as in a typical Sixers game Chamberlain got the ball 60 times in the low post but only 23 times in Game 7, with seven in the third quarter and twice in the fourth quarter. To this day, Additionally, Chamberlain remains notable for never fouling out of an NBA game. Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game. home/away, monthly, etc More Wilt Chamberlain Basketball Reference pages, Compare Wilt Chamberlain to other players. Wilt Chamberlain talks about playing basketball at the University of Kansas during a news conference Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, in Lawrence, Kan. Chamberlain returns to Kansas for the retirement of . In 1982, the Sixers tried to lure 45-year-old Chamberlain out of retirement after he was out of the league for nine seasons. [62] His efficiency that season was reflected by a streak of 35 consecutive made field goals over the course of four games in February. Philadelphia Warriors, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1959 NBA Draft (territorial selection), Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1979 (Full List), More Wilt Chamberlain pages at Sports Reference. He also never fouled out of a game; and is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, a feat he accomplished seven times. "[43], Despite some reluctance, after the trade, Chamberlain found himself on a promising Sixers team that included veteran shooting guard Hal Greer, a future Hall-of-Famer, and talented role players in point guard Larry Costello, small forward Chet Walker, and centers Johnny "Red" Kerr and Lucious Jackson. like Wilt Chamberlain, Russell was a defensive and rebounding force. As a result of his style of play change, Chamberlain averaged a career-low 24.1 points and took only 14% of the team's shots,[r] but was extremely efficient with a record-breaking .683 field goal accuracy. Also during this season, Chamberlain began his rivalry with Celtics defensive star .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Bill Russell. [111] Cherry comments that some journalists reported how Game 7 destroyed two careers: "Wilt's because he wouldn't take over and Van Breda Kolff because he wouldn't give in. In the first game, the Jayhawks played the all-white SMU Mustangs, and KU player John Parker later said: "The crowd was brutal. In the third overtime, the Tar Heels scored two consecutive baskets, but Chamberlain executed a three-point play, leaving KU trailing 5251. Wilt Chamberlain " To Bill, every game-every championship game-was a challenge, a test to his manhood. [89] The motivation for this move remains in dispute. He took the game so seriously that he threw up in the locker room before almost every game. He became the first player to break the 3,000-point barrier, and the first and still only player to break the 2,000-rebound barrier for a single season, grabbing 2,149 boards. [73] With both secondary scorers gone, Chamberlain continued his array of statistical feats, averaging 44.8 points and 24.3 rebounds per game that year. While blocked shots were not an official NBA statistic at that time and would not be officially counted until the season after Chamblerlain's retirement in 1973, reported data for blocked shots in 112 games played by Chamberlain in the 1970s shows he averaged 8.8 blocks per game. During the span of his 14-year professional career, the 7-foot-1 center was at the forefront of some of the most legendary moments in basketball history. [210], During most of his NBA career, Chamberlain was good friends with Bill Russell. [62], The Lakers again charged through the playoffs, reaching the NBA Finals, where they were pitted against the New York Knicks, loaded with future Hall-of-Famers Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier. Chamberlain later branched out in acting, appearing in the 1984 action film Conan the Destroyer with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Lakers won 60 games in the regular season and reached the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, a franchise that featured a healthy team with a rejuvenated Reed, while the Lakers were now handicapped by several injuries. In November 1998, he signed with Ian Ng Cheng Hin, CEO of Northern Cinema House Entertainment, to do his own bio-pic, wanting to tell his life story his way. [132] Chamberlain was named the NBA Finals MVP,[62] and he was admired for dominating the Knicks in Game 5 while playing injured. [84] For the fifth time in seven years, Russell's team deprived Chamberlain of the title. In a physically tough matchup, the Sixers lost sixth man Cunningham with a broken hand, and Chamberlain, Greer, and Jackson were struggling with inflamed feet, bad knees, and pulled hamstrings, respectively. Overbrook in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Draft: [146] He would continue to epitomize physical fitness for years to come, including participating in several marathons. Kobe was able to score more points faster than Chamberlain because he's such a good outside shooter and had an opportunity to score more points per shot than Chamberlain did. [132] In Game 3, Chamberlain scored 26 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for another Lakers win. He needed only 56 games to score 2,102 points, which broke the all-time regular-season scoring record of Bob Pettit, who needed 72 games to score 2,101 points. His number 13 was retired by the Kansas Jayhawks, Harlem Globetrotters, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023. Cherry says that Chamberlain was not a natural leader or a loyal follower, which made him difficult to fit in. He eventually reached his full height of a staggering 7'1" tall. In his first varsity game, Wilt scored 52 points and picked up 31 . . College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Wilt Chamberlain was a mythical figure. [79], In the 196465 NBA season, the NBA widened the lane from 12 feet to 16 feet especially because of centers like Chamberlain. The Sixers would post a 5525 regular-season record, as Chamberlain won his second MVP award. [149] Chamberlain played a villainous warrior and counterpart of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 film Conan the Destroyer. [189], Although Chamberlain racked up some of the most impressive statistics in the history of Northern American professional sports, Chamberlain was often called selfish and a loser because he won only two NBA championships and lost seven out of eight playoff series against the Celtics teams of his rival Bill Russell. Wilt Chamberlain was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1979 (Full List) Although Abdul-Jabbar idolized him as a teenager and was once part of his inner circle,[79] the studentmentor bond deteriorated into intense mutual loathing, especially after Chamberlain retired. [110] While he was on cordial terms with West, he often argued with team captain Baylor, later explaining in regard to Baylor: "We were good friends, but [in] black culture you never let the other guy one-up you. Chamberlain had a history of cardiovascular disease, and was briefly hospitalized in 1992 for an irregular heartbeat. Chamberlain was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, where he was the president of his pledge class. He happened to make a living playing basketball, but he was more than that. What age did Wilt Chamberlain retire?