Chamberlains outing remains one of the most incredible performances in nba history. Wilt chamberlain continues to loom large in sixers history. His philadelphia 76ers had failed to defend their 1967 nba title, becoming the first team in league history to blow a 31 lea. Kareem abduljabbar once tore into wilt chamberlain in an. Lakers uniform and wearing his philadelphia warriors uniform. Highlights from wilt chamberlains days with the philadelphia 76ers. Wilt chamberlain career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and ncaa. Wilt chamberlain is statistically the greatest basketball player who ever lived.
Just like any other 7foot black millionaire who lives next door, lj 873. Nba finals 1987 the 1987 nba finals was the championship round of the 1986 1987 nba season. Wilt chamberlain, who dominated basketball in the 1960s, is being honored on friday with his own postage stamp. Chamberlain often found himself on the losing end of battles with bill russells boston celtics, who won 11 titles in. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball paperback september 26, 2006. 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. If wilt started at the age of 15, from then up to the age of 55 when the book was published he would have had 40 years to sleep with 20,000 women, or 500 different women a yeareasy math. He also became the first player in nba history to record a fieldgoal percentage above. Wilton norman chamberlain was a professional basketball player, born on 21 august 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania usa, to olivia johnson and william chamberlain. Wilt chamberlain was born august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, one of nine children raised by william and olivia chamberlain.
Bill russell has eleven rings meaning he won eleven championships in the thirteen years he played. Wilt chamberlain original sports autographed items for. His father worked in a local publishing company, while his mother performed outside housework. At seven feet, one inch tall, he was a towering figure, nicknamed wilt the stilt a moniker he is said to have despised.
For wilt chamberlain was every bit as gifted as his advocates believed. The day wilt chamberlain, nba legend, died at 63 in 1999. Wilts lakers still hold the record for most consecutive wins in a season at 33 straight games. His peers and the sportswriters of the day always said he had a chip on his shoulder for that reason.
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 chamberlains career. The record books are indeed heavy with chamberlains accomplishments. Mede door dit boek slaagde chamberlain erin zijn eigen imago en. In a 14year professional career studded with superlatives, wilt chamberlain established the centrality of court dominance in basketball, and thus changed the game forever. Traded by the san francisco warriors to the philadelphia 76ers for connie dierking, paul neumann, lee shaffer and cash. He was one of 11 children of olivia and william chamberlain. One of the most successful and popular professional franchises in all american sports, the lakers have won a combined 16 basketball association of. Lebrons heat are the nearest challengers recently winning 27 straight games. Lakers legend on playing with jerry west, relationship with rival bill russell and new book the hall of famer released his memoir just four days after his statue unveiling at. Chamberlain also published a more revealing book about his personal life entitled a view from above in 1991. The two wilt chamberlain stamps issued show him in his l. The book was still in great condition, with the binding still intact.
Its hard to believe that there will ever be another player who can dominate as many statistical categories as the big dipper did. The times have changed and chamberlain, now 50, has too. Wilt chamberlain biography childhood, children, story. Wilt chamberlain had more competition back in his day than there is today. Always outspoken and sometimes controversial, chamberlain feels he now has even more freedom to express his views on various subjects. Wilt chamberlain, playing in his final season, led the league in rebounding for the 11th time in his career. Chamberlain has written his second book in over 18 years the first was wilt. During his 196162 season he became the first player to score more than 4,000 points in a. Wilt chamberlain scoring stats belong to a oneman category and have no comparison with any other player in nba history. Wilt chamberlain is in a category of his own in nba. It should say something that kobe bryant s 81point outburst is. With 72 records 68 of which he holds by himself, wilt chamberlain dominates the nba record book.
He was the only nba player to score 4,000 points in a season. His extraordinary feats in the 1962 season were later subject of the book wilt, 1962 by gary m. Lebron wasnt the first great to orchestrate a move to the lakers. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives next door by wilt chamberlain macmillan publishing 1973 biography. Wilt chamberlain, while still considered by most to be the most dominant offensive force in history, only won two nba titles in his career, one with the philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and the other with the lakers in 1972. Wilt chamberlain is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. The show and millions of other books are available for instant access. Wilt chamberlain nba original autographed items for sale. The lakers had a great team with jerry west and wilt chamberlain. Wilt chamberlain american basketball player britannica. He would rewrite the nba record book many times over. In addition to all these legendary tales, wilt toured with the harlem globetrotters in 1959. He is considered as one of the most successful players in nba history. Unusually tall for his age, chamberlain was constantly teased about his height.
A capturing of basketball legend wilt chamberlains personality and. And he would prod bill russell into playing some of his very best basketball. Every guy in human history has been turned down by a woman at some point. The 33 wins in a row will most likely never be beat. Wilt passed away on october 12, 1999, at the age of 63. Wilt chamberlain, professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. Wilt the stilt, the big dipper, dippy, dip, the load, big musty, the record book. Wilt chamberlain is an american basketball player who played as a center and is considered one of the greatest players in history. The author shares stories of the nbas first big rivalry.
Wilt chamberlain and bill russell met in four game 7s. If youre looking to dig into some 50s and 60s nba history, this is the book for you. I have waited 40 years to read this book, well worth. Wilt chamberlain, in full wilton norman chamberlain, bynames wilt the stilt and the big dipper, professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in. Jerry west, elgin baylor, and bob ryan on how the trade of one of. Wilton norman chamberlain was an american basketball player who played as a center and is. Chamberlain is the only player in nba history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a. Did wilt chamberlain really sleep with 20,000 women. 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. The team, built around future halloffamers wilt chamberlain and jerry west, was. This book brought back all the heartache of all the loses to celtics, to the first championship in the 72 season. Wilt chamberlain, the most physically dominate athlete of his era, who got consistently whooped by the greatest player ever, bill.
Wilt chamberlain profile and basic stats wilt chamberlain information including teams, jersey numbers, championships won, awards, stats and everything about the nba player. A piece of my philadelphia childhood died when the greatest athlete of all time had fallen. He would become the greatest individual force in the sports history. Lakers rivalry back in the wilt chamberlain and willis reed do battle. Long before the emergence of onename superstars like shaq and kobe. As of summer 2012, the lakers hold the alltime records for wins 3,125, winning percentage. Wilt chamberlain was the second best center in pro basketball during the 1960s behind bill russell. Just like any other 7foot black millionaire who lives next door, was published in 1973. Postage stamp pays tribute to wilt chamberlain the new. He also played polo, tennis, paddle ball, and water skied.
The first definitive oral history of the ever popular l. Jalen rose and david jacoby give a lesson on nba legend and pro baseketball hall of famer wilt chamberlains career and legacy. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Wilt chamberlain, one of the most dominant players in the history of basketball and the only one to score 100 points in an nba game, died tuesday at. Wilton norman chamberlain wilt the stilt, the big dipper, dippy, dip, the load, big musty, the record book. He set nba singlegame records for most points 100, most consecutive field goals 18 and most rebounds 55. The extra tall stamps pay tribute to chamberlains height 7 1. Why wilt chamberlain was the greatest athlete of all time. As the book moves through the 80s, i could visualize each year and the outcomes. Pomerantz 2005, who used chamberlain as a metaphor for the uprising of black america. Wilt chamberlain was born on august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania.