In the championship series, the lakers played the powerful new york knickerbockers, led by willis reed 1942, dave debusschere 1940. Bill russell regularly feared being embarrassed by chamberlain, walt frazier called his dominance on the court comical, and when 6ft 11in, 250pound in his early years halloffame center bob lanier was asked about the most memorable moment of his career, lanier answered. Led by wilt chamberlain and jerry west the 197172 lakers won an nba record 33consecutive games and went to win the nba championship, the second in chamberlain s career. For wilt chamberlain was every bit as gifted as his advocates believed. Gicker, the creative director for the stamp program. He played for the university of kansas and also for the harlem globetrotters before playing in the nba. His father lived in a raciallymixed middle class neighborhood, and chamberlain had a relatively pleasant childhood. Wilt chamberlain, jerry west and elgin baylor led the lakers past the phoenix suns and into the western conference finals on this day in nba history.
Each and every season during that stretch, a new nba championship flag was hoisted to the. Here, in his own words, are the outspoken opinions that made wilt chamberlain one of the most controversial sports icons in the world, such as his admission to bedding 20,000 women while supporting. But so was the greatest individual subplot in american team sports history. Wilt had many facets to him, millionaire, basketball star, ladies man, thinker. His 1978 induction into the basketball hall of fame forever memorialized chamberlain as the basketball legend that he truly was.
This book should have picked one of those facets and explored it but i felt it jumped from one story to another without really giving you the detail needed to appreciate the mans talent and mind. Jerry west, elgin baylor, and bob ryan on how the trade of one of. During his 196162 season he became the first player to score more than 4,000 points in a. Could any current nba center handle wilt chamberlain. He would become the greatest individual force in the sports history. He was a successful businessman, authored several books, and appeared in the movie conan the destroyer. Of all his memories of wilt chamberlain, the one that stood out for larry brown happened long after chamberlain s professional career was over. Chamberlain was notorious for always seeking out a new challenge, but he missed out on one that became one of the great what if. Wilt chamberlain basketball vintage sports publications for. Wilt chamberlain is a hall of famer and most experts place him in the top 10 players of alltime. Jul 01, 2010 wilt chamberlain is perhaps best known as the only player in the history of the nba to score 100 points in a single basketball game.
Jalen explains why chamberlain is in a category of his own when. Red auerbach, coach of those great boston teams, admired chamberlain. For eight straight years, the boston celtics had dominated the national basketball association. In college, he led the kansas jayhawks to the ncaa title game and later he played with two nba championshipwinning teams. Lebron wasnt the first great to orchestrate a move to the lakers. In fact, even the ambitious title doesnt do the set justice, as the opening 2002 documentary traces the franchise to its minnesota roots and a vintage 1953 feature shows the games first dominant big man, george mikan, in action.
Wilt chamberlain, professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. The complete history is a treasure trove for fans of the purple and gold. A great coffeetable book that is a must read for all laker fans. When people talk about the greatest scorers in lakers history few ever utter his. Although his accomplishments were often credited to. Trading wilt was a difficult decision as he was a legend in philly. Lebron james looking a lot like wilt chamberlain the boston. Chamberlain group, a manufacturer of garage door openers chamberlain tractor, or chamberlain john deere, a brand of agricultural tractor and the company that made them operation chamberlain, an american military operation during the 2003 invasion of iraq. Wilt chamberlain, in full wilton norman chamberlain, bynames wilt the stilt and the big dipper, born august 21, 1936, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. Lakers have long been one of the nbas most exciting teams. The miami heat monday night won their 23d consecutive game, recovering. A chamberlain stamp was originally envisioned as part of a set of four basketball players who made history, said william j. The book, while a success for chamberlain, brought about many questions regarding his inhumane lifestyle, mainly from profeminine groups who were disturbed by his supposed mistreatment of women.
The lakers still had an option year left on his contract and sued chamberlain, barring him from playing. Get the best deals on wilt chamberlain basketball vintage sports publications when you shop the. Jul 08, 2016 48 years ago, the sixers traded wilt chamberlain to the lakers here are 11 things you might not know about the pride of overbrook high. Wilt chamberlain career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and ncaa. With numerous records, four mvp titles and two nba championships under his belt, wilt retired in 1973. The great wilt chamberlain is traded from the philadelphia. Wilton norman chamberlain was an american basketball player who played as a center and is. Wilt chamberlain was always bigger than life, a mythical giant.
You can argue about his overall legacy and where he ranks among the best. In 197172, the lakers put together the longest regular season winning streak in major professional sports history, rattling off 33 consecutive victories behind a talented roster led by jerry west. The late wilt chamberlain became a new breed of sports champion when he took the sport of basketball by storm in the 1960s. One of the most successful and popular professional franchises in all american sports, the lakers have won a combined 16 basketball association of america and nba titles. Its hard to believe that there will ever be another player who can dominate as many statistical categories as the big dipper. Nov 30, 20 lakers nations compilation of lakers legend wilt chamberlain s top 5 lakers moments. His peers and the sportswriters of the day always said he had a chip on his shoulder for that reason. At 7foot1 he was the most dominating offensive big man in basketball history.
When wilt chamberlain lifted me up and moved me like a coffee cup. He was the only nba player to score 4,000 points in a season. Jalen rose and david jacoby give a lesson on nba legend and pro baseketball hall of famer wilt chamberlain s career and legacy. Born to play basketball wilt chamberlain was born august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, one of nine children raised by william and olivia chamberlain. Postage stamp pays tribute to wilt chamberlain the new. Really, you arent a true laker fan until you own this. He clinched the mark in the final minute as oklahoma. On a summer day in the early 1980s at the mens gym on the ucla campus, chamberlain showed up to take part in one of the highoctane pickup games that the arena constantly attracted. Wilt chamberlain scoring stats belong to a oneman category and have no comparison with any other player in nba history. A view from above is one of the most popular books written by an nba player of all time not because of what chamberlain accomplished on the court, but for the lavish lifestyle he displayed off it.
Able to overcome the initial adversity he faced as a writer, chamberlain wrote his last book in 1997, entitled whos running the. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, which didnt come as a total shock as he had a history of heart trouble and had been under a cardiologists care for years. His philadelphia 76ers had failed to defend their 1967 nba title, becoming the first team in league history to blow a 31 lea. Former lakers teammate jerry west said he once told chamberlain, nobody roots for goliath. Founded in 1946, the lakers are one of the nbas most famous and successful franchises. Wilt has 32 and lebron has 1 a careerbest 61 points on march 2, 2014. Asked in basketball history, wilt chamberlain how many. But chamberlain s success extends to more than a single game. Its hard to believe that there will ever be another player who can dominate as many statistical categories as the big dipper did. August 21, 1936 october 12, 1999 was an american basketball player who played as a center and is considered one of the greatest players in history. Their rivalry has had no equal, in basketball or any other sport, and more than 20 years have passed since they last battled for position in the low post.
Wilt chamberlain biography childhood, children, story. Dec 05, 2014 wilt chamberlain, who dominated basketball in the 1960s, is being honored on friday with his own postage stamp. Wilt chamberlain a man who was as uncompromising on the basketball court as he was in his life. Westbrook joins chamberlain in the nba history books in. Basketball history i love basketball basketball legends basketball pictures nba players basketball players basketball shirts nike. He would rewrite the nba record book many times over. Nba finals 1987 the 1987 nba finals was the championship round of the 1986 1987 nba season.
The first definitive oral history of the ever popular l. One of the most successful and popular professional franchises in all american sports, the lakers have won a combined 16 basketball association of. The 76ers had just been beat by boston for the 3rd time in 4 seasons in the conference finals and they wanted to make a change. Founded in 1947, the lakers are one of the nbas most famous and successful franchises. Chamberlain was a dominant force beginning the moment he stepped on the court as a rookie and went on to complete a hall of fame career. Postage stamp pays tribute to wilt chamberlain the new york. Lakers and lebron james can tie road wins record this week. 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.
In a 14year professional career studded with superlatives, wilt chamberlain established the centrality of court dominance in basketball, and thus changed the game forever. As of summer 2012, the lakers hold the alltime records for wins 3,125. The record books are indeed heavy with chamberlain s accomplishments. Wilt chamberlain american basketball player britannica. Wilt chamberlain born 1936 is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. Here, in his own words, are the outspoken opinions that made wilt chamberlain one of the most controversial sports icons in the world, such as his. Chamberlain is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, being selected times to the nba all star team. Chamberlain, 4 inches taller than russell, often seemed to be viewed as the villain in his classic matchups against the celtics center. Wilton norman chamberlain was an american basketball player who played as a center and is considered one of the greatest players in history. Again focusing on defense in 1972, he led the lakers to their firstever nba title. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives next door by wilt chamberlain macmillan publishing 1973 biography.
Chamberlain is the only player in nba history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a. Wilt chamberlain is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. And he would prod bill russell into playing some of his very best basketball. Wilt chamberlain was born in philadelphia and was one of nine children. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Wilt chamberlain is in a category of his own in nba. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives. Some of the greatest players in nba history have worn the lakers jersey. Chamberlain stood 7 ft 1 in tall, and weighed 250 pounds as a rookie before bulking up to 275 and eventually.
They finished the year with the best regular season record in history, breaking the record set by chamberlain and the 76ers in 1967. Wilt chamberlain educational videos for students black. That was the mission of wilt chamberlain and 196667 philadelphia 76ers. Legendary boxing trainer and promoter cus damato approached chamberlain in 1965 with a lucrative offer to box heavyweight champ muhammad ali. Wilt chamberlain was the first nba player to score more than 30000 cumulative. Lakers, shaquille oneal, wilt chamberlain, kareem abduljabbar.
Chamberlain was inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 1978. Highlights from wilt chamberlain s days with the philadelphia 76ers. Wilt chamberlain was born on august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania. The most exciting are chaptors concerned showtime era magic, riles, kareem, coop, scott and others. Wilt chamberlain is an american basketball player who played as a center and is considered one of the greatest players in history. Trade of chamberlain to lakers is denied the new york times. Wilt chamberlain was the second best center in pro basketball during the 1960s behind bill russell. With 72 records 68 of which he holds by himself, wilt chamberlain dominates the nba record book. Everyone knows about wilt chamberlain s 100point game 50 years ago, but that was just one of his amazing nba feats. Perhaps sensing the lakers best days were behind them, chamberlain became playercoach for san diego of the american basketball assn.