Could it be that the most dominant player in basketball history was also its most despised? According to Wilt Chamberlain that was indeed the case. Because Chamberlain was bigger and better than anyone else in basketball--and he wasn't afraid to let the world know it- he was regularly vilified for being a bully. The irony is that, in time, Chamberlain proved to be exactly the kind of player around which a championship team could be built. A heads up, super-competitive and unselfish center who by the time his brilliant career was over, fans finally began to see him in a new light. Chamberlain was not just a great player, he took pro basketball and made it a great game.
Some of Wilt Chamberlains Highlights
- College All-American, 1958
- NBA Rookie of the Year, 1960
- 4-Time NBA MVP
- 7-Time NBA Scoring Champ
- 13-Time NBA All Star
- All Star MVP in 1960
- 11-Time NBA Rebounding Champ
- Record 100 points in a game, 1962
- 2-Time NBA Champion
- NBA Assists Champ, 1968
- Hall of Fame, 1978
Until Wilt arrived in the NBA no one had averaged 30 points a game. Within three years his per game average had reached 50.4. No player had ever come close to 2,500 points. Wilt Chamberlain topped that mark as a rooki. Scored over 3,000 points in his second years, and topped 4,000 points in his third! Simply dominating!
Wilt Chamberlain Throwback Jerseys, and Commemorative Plaques. View them All!
Did you know?
- After singlehandedly beating the Bulls in the waning moments of a hard-fought 1973 playoff series, Chamberlain actually wept for the Chicago Bulls players. As the teams limped off the court after the most physically punishing and emotionally exhausting series of Chamberlain's life, he threw his arms around Bulls' stars Chet Walker and Norm Van Lier and went to the Chicago locker room to tell the players how great they had played.
Here are some more AMAZING facts about Wilt Chamberlain that you may have not heard before. How can anyone argue that Wilt Chamberlain is the most dominating NBA basketball player ever?
- Wilt once grew four inches during a 7 week peried. Wow!
- After scoring 92 points in a High School game, Wilt's NBA draft rights were assigned to the Philadelphia Warriors five years before he would actually be eligible to play.
- Never once did Wilt Chamberlain foul out of a NBA game. Astonishing!
- Chamberlain was one of the fastest man in sports. He once beat football Hall of Famer Jim Brown in a 40 yard sprint while running barefoot.
- At Kansas University, Chamberlain lettered in track before basketball. His high jump cleared 6'8"
- When Chamberlain chose Kansas over several local colleges with excellent teams, the NCAA, FBI and IRS launched investigations, assuming he's been paid off.
- Wilt Chamberlain almost died from pneumonia and misses an entire year of school at the age of 9.
- At the age of 12 Wilt Chamberlain used to sell fruit from a push cart.
- Chamberlain was the only center ever to lead the NBA in assists
Wilt Chamberlain versus Muhammad Ali?
In 1971, the most recognized names in sports were Wilt Chamberlain and Muhammad Ali. Wilt was offered $500,000 to fight Ali. Chamberlain accepted, with the condition that Ali first beat heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Ali lost, and Chamberlain called off the fight. He wasn't going to get into the ring unless the heavyweight title was at stake.