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. Westbrook joins chamberlain in the nba history books in. Weve seen streaks in recent memory that have challenged this record see. Lebron james passes dirk nowitzki for 6th on nbas all. The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest players basketball biography books geoffreys, clayton on. There just wasnt as much competitionlets take a look at the competition wilt played against, compared to the competition faced by shaq, a player with equally. List of the last five seasons completed by the lakers. His name overwhelms the pro basketball record book the way his presence on the court overwhelmed everyone else on it. During his 196162 season he became the first player to score more than 4,000 points in a. The lakers had a great team with jerry west and wilt chamberlain. Highlights from wilt chamberlain s days with the philadelphia 76ers. Wilt chamberlain is one of the most fascinating and intriguing players in nba history he put up statistics that no one else has ever come close to matching and dominated.
Wilt chamberlain had a special place in basketball history and he will be missed. Even though the lakers fell to the phoenix suns, 110109. 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. Lebron james passes dirk nowitzki for 6th on nbas alltime. Wilt chamberlain career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and ncaa. Wilt chamberlains unparalleled skill and talent made incredible defensive plays look easy. Wilton norman chamberlain was an american basketball player who played as a center and is. Chamberlain also marked himself in the history books forever on feb.
The nbas weirdest triple doubles include some of the nbas signature names, including wilt chamberlain and jason kidd. Chamberlain posted the most famous stat line in nba history on march 2, 1962, scoring 100 points for the philadelphia. Wilt chamberlain american basketball player britannica. With 72 records 68 of which he holds by himself, wilt chamberlain dominates the nba record book. The best basketball books to get you through the offseason. This article concerns the career achievements of basketball halloffamer wilt chamberlain, who holds numerous nba records in scoring, rebounding and durability. This book covers the magical 196667 sixers, one of the greatest teams in history. He also became the first player in nba history to record a fieldgoal percentage above. Wilt chamberlain presaged this remarkable nba summer, 51. The lakers set another record in 1972 by winning 69 games. The best record posted by the team was 69, in 1972. Pomerantz 2005, who used chamberlain as a metaphor for the uprising of black america. In a 14year professional career studded with superlatives, wilt chamberlain established the centrality of court dominance in basketball, and thus changed the game forever.
The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest players, youll learn the incredible story of one of basketballs greatest centers, wilt chamberlain. The late wilt chamberlain, who orchestrated a move from the sixers to the lakers over a halfcentury ago, surely would have appreciated this summers many moves on the part of nba players. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of. At seven feet, one inch tall, he was a towering figure, nicknamed wilt the stilt a moniker he is said to have despised. Wilt chamberlain was one of the strongest men and greatest scorers to ever play the game of basketball. The book of basketball by bill simmons the breaks of the game by david.
He was the only nba player to score 4,000 points in a season. 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. Kobe bryants 4game 50point streak was a decade ago this. It is widely considered one of the greatest records in basketball. The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest players. Wilt chamberlain, in full wilton norman chamberlain, bynames wilt the stilt and the big dipper, born august 21, 1936, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. The record books are indeed heavy with chamberlains accomplishments. Wilt chamberlain biography childhood, children, story. When wilt chamberlain lifted me up and moved me like a coffee cup. The late wilt chamberlain became a new breed of sports champion when he took the sport of basketball by storm in the 1960s. Wilton norman chamberlain wilt the stilt, the big dipper, dippy, dip, the load, big musty, the record book. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball. Wilt chamberlain was born on august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania.
The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest players basketball biography books clayton geoffreys on. These appearances include eight nba finals appearances in the 1980s. Wilt chamberlain memorabilia, autographed wilt chamberlain. Kobe bryants 4game 50point streak was a decade ago this week. As the book moves through the 80s, i could visualize each year and the outcomes. Mar 23, 2017 kobe bryants 4game 50point streak was a decade ago this week. In the entire history of the league, only one player has ever scored 100 points, and that player is wilt chamberlain. It is a pure biography that goes up to the his final season in the nba.
Wilt chamberlain died in his home in bel air, california of congestive heart failure, on october 12, 1999. The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest. After 14 seasons in the nba, chamberlain was the all time leader in points scored 31,419, rebounds 23,924, and held more than 40 league records. Check out all his known nba shot blocking numbers in the link bel. 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. That 197172 lakers squad led by wilt also posted the longest winning streak in nba history that year, winning 33 games in a. It was the first time that a professional basketball player had scored 100 points in.
This book brought back all the heartache of all the loses to celtics, to the first championship in the 72 season. Wilt chamberlain is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. Chamberlain led the nba in field goal percentage and rebounding, and west led the nba in assists. Highlights from wilt chamberlains days with the philadelphia 76ers. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives next door by wilt chamberlain and david shaw. In the the story the rivalry written by john taylor the main person is wilt. Mar 09, 2016 wilt chamberlain s unparalleled skill and talent made incredible defensive plays look easy. Russell westbrook joins wilt chamberlain in the nba history. Phil jackson asked to pick between shaq and wilt youtube. In the infancy of the latest chapter of his career, lebron james added another piece to his legacy by passing dirk nowitzki for sixth on the nbas alltime scoring list. Lebron james added to the history books today, passing wilt chamberlain for fifth place on the nbas alltime scoring list james entered thursdays game against the portland trail blazers needing 39 points to pass chamberlain and in the fourth quarter of their 126117 win, the king got the and1 bucket to go with 3. Wilt chamberlain educational videos for students black. Taylors depiction of one of the most celebrated shots in nba history, don.
His father lived in a raciallymixed middle class neighborhood, and chamberlain had a relatively pleasant childhood. The 33 wins in a row will most likely never be beat. Wilt chamberlain set the singlegame scoring record in the national basketball association nba by scoring 100 points for the philadelphia warriors in a 169147 win over the new york knicks on march 2, 1962, at hershey sports arena in hershey, pennsylvania. This framed original page from the april 24, 1972 sports illustrated shows an outstretched wilt chamberlain soaring to block the young kareem abduljabbar whod changed his name from lew alcindor just one year prior, after converting to islam and his otherwise unblockable sky hook in a lakersbucks conference finals. Wilt chamberlain, professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball paperback. One of the most successful and popular professional franchises in all american sports, the lakers have won a combined 16 basketball association of. The 10 most unbreakable records in nba history nbc sports. This is the story of this kansas native who scored well in every aspect of his lifeeven after he retired and. Only wilt chamberlain has posted as many points in at least. Lebron james passes wilt chamberlain for fifth place on. Born to play basketball wilt chamberlain was born august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, one of nine children raised by william and olivia chamberlain. The lakers have won 16 nba titles and have appeared in the nba finals 15 other times.
Nov 15, 2018 lebron james added to the history books today, passing wilt chamberlain for fifth place on the nbas alltime scoring list james entered thursdays game against the portland trail blazers needing 39 points to pass chamberlain and in the fourth quarter of their 126117 win, the king got the and1 bucket to go with 3. Russell westbrook became the second player in nba history to achieve the feat he clinched the mark in. The 10 most unbreakable records in nba history nbc. Lebron james passes wilt chamberlain for fifth place on nbas. Oct 06, 2018 now, for those of you who dont know i have a second page where i put opinion videos and where i debate michael jordan fans. It was the first time that a professional basketball player had. Wilt chamberlain was born in philadelphia and was one of nine children.
Feb 07, 2017 the nbas weirdest triple doubles include some of the nbas signature names, including wilt chamberlain and jason kidd. Nov 16, 2009 on march 2, 1962, philadelphia warriors center wilt chamberlain scores 100 points against the new york knicks. Wilt chamberlain is an american basketball player who played as a center and is considered one of the greatest players in history. Wilt chamberlain the incredible defensive force shot. Considering that wilt chamberlain was one of the most unique and outsized personalities. Chamberlain is the only player in nba history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a. Even though the lakers fell to the phoenix suns, 110109, chamberlain became the first player in nba history to score.
List of career achievements by wilt chamberlain wikipedia. His philadelphia 76ers had failed to defend their 1967 nba title, becoming the first team in league history to blow a 31 lea. He clinched the mark in the final minute as oklahoma. He is the author of four books, including, most recently, the count and the.
Led by wilt chamberlain and jerry west, the lakers won 33 games in a row in 197172 on the path to winning the nba championship. Among others, he is the only player in nba history to average 40 and 50. Feb 28, 2020 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. Asked to name the greatest players ever to play basketball, most fans and aficionados would put wilt chamberlain at or near the top of the list. He was one of 11 children of olivia and william chamberlain.
It is also a behindthescenes journal of the 200910 lakers season, a year in. Theres no other way to start this list than with wilt. On march 2, 1962, philadelphia warriors center wilt chamberlain scores 100 points against the new york knicks. 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. Why isnt wilt chamberlain considered the greatest of all.
The record books are indeed heavy with chamberlain s accomplishments. Wilt chamberlain he was basketballs unstoppable force, the most awesome offensive force the game has ever seen. Wilt chamberlain was inducted into the hall of fame in 1979. Wilt chamberlain born 1936 is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. Wilt chamberlain scoring stats belong to a oneman category and have no comparison with any other player in nba history. Please subscribe to the second channel this is the link. Wilt chamberlain, playing in his final season, led the league in rebounding for the 11th time in his career.
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