Wilt Chamberlain (center) during his time at Shoemaker Junior High School (now Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus).
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1959
Wilt Chamberlain as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain (far right) as a member of the Overbrook High School Basketball Team.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Young Wilt Chamberlain, playing basketball, as a member of the Overbrook High School Basketball Team.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
5898 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131, United States
Overbrook High School, where Chamberlain studied.
College/University
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1957
Wilt Chamberlain displays the mitts which have deflected 127 enemy shots during Kansas' first twenty games that season.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Wilt Chamberlain of the University of Kansas dunks on the KU freshman team in an exhibition game, in Lawrence, Kansas, during the 1950's.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States
The University of Kansas, where Chamberlain studied and played basketball.
Career
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1962
Philadelphia Warriors basketball player Wilt Chamberlain holds a basketball while leaning against a trophy case.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1964
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the San Francisco Warriors posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1964 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1967
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1967 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1968
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics defends against Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game played in 1968 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1969
Wilt Chamberlain (#13) playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA finals versus Boston Celtics. In this picture: Wilt Chamberlain (13) (foreground). From left to right, of the Boston Celtics: John Havlicek (17), Larry Siegfried, Don Nelson, Bill Russell.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1969
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York City, New York, United States
Wilt Chamberlain (#13) of the Los Angeles Lakers and Willis Reed (#19) of the New York Knickerbockers go after a rebound during a game at Madison Square Garden.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1969
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
In the Lakers-Celtics match, Wilt Chamberlain (right), of the Los Angeles Lakers, challenges Bill Russell (6) of the Boston Celtics, as he tries for a hoop during second quarter action, the third game of the NBA Championship series.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
1972
Chamberlain as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers team.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain, among other team members.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
The 1957 All-American team included Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas, left, and Lennie Rosenbluth of North Carolina, second from left.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers grabs a rebound against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game circa 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Los Angeles, California, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribble drives circa 1970 during the NBA game at the Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Los Angeles, California, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for a layup against the Detroit Pistons during an NBA game circa 1970's at the Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia Warriors catches his breath from the bench during an NBA game circa 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gallery of Wilt Chamberlain
201 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Baltimore Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1971 at the Baltimore Civic Center (now Royal Farms Arena) in Baltimore, Maryland.
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the San Francisco Warriors posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1964 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1967 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics defends against Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game played in 1968 at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Wilt Chamberlain (#13) playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA finals versus Boston Celtics. In this picture: Wilt Chamberlain (13) (foreground). From left to right, of the Boston Celtics: John Havlicek (17), Larry Siegfried, Don Nelson, Bill Russell.
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York City, New York, United States
Wilt Chamberlain (#13) of the Los Angeles Lakers and Willis Reed (#19) of the New York Knickerbockers go after a rebound during a game at Madison Square Garden.
In the Lakers-Celtics match, Wilt Chamberlain (right), of the Los Angeles Lakers, challenges Bill Russell (6) of the Boston Celtics, as he tries for a hoop during second quarter action, the third game of the NBA Championship series.
Wilt Chamberlain eats a meal by himself at a table under a massive chandelier in his specially-commissioned home, called Ursa Major, in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California.
Young Rodney Allen Rippy gets a lift from basketball superstar Wilt Chamberlain as the two take a few shots for men during the first all-comedy special to be made chiefly by, with and about women, The Shape of Things.
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers grabs a rebound against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game circa 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for a layup against the Detroit Pistons during an NBA game circa 1970's at the Forum in Los Angeles, California.
201 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Baltimore Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1971 at the Baltimore Civic Center (now Royal Farms Arena) in Baltimore, Maryland.
(In this work, the basketball superstar discusses his view...)
In this work, the basketball superstar discusses his views on other basketball greats, his early career with the Harlem Globetrotters, and his views on politics, drugs in sports, and fame.
Wilt Chamberlain, in full Wilton Norman Chamberlain, was an American professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. During his career, he played for such teams, as the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (now Golden State Warriors), the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Background
Wilt Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to William Chamberlain, a welder, and Olivia Ruth Johnson, a homemaker. As a child, he was never fond of basketball and was more of a track and field athlete.
Education
At Shoemaker Junior High School (now Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus), Wilt began to play on the basketball team and he also played on the playgrounds against older players who taught him a lot about the game.
In his early years, Chamberlain was not interested in basketball, because he thought it was "a game for sissies." Instead, he was an avid track and field athlete: as a youth, he high jumped 6 feet, 6 inches, ran the 440 yards in 49. 0 seconds and the 880 yards in 1:58. 3, put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches, and broad jumped 22 feet. But according to Chamberlain, "basketball was king in Philadelphia", so he eventually turned to the sport.
Wilt attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia beginning in 1952. Because Chamberlain was a very tall child, already measuring six feet at the age of 10 and six feet 11 inches when he entered Philadelphia's Overbrook High School, he had a natural advantage against his peers; he soon was renowned for his scoring talent, his physical strength and his shot-blocking abilities. It was also in this period of his life when his three lifelong nicknames "Wilt the Stilt," "Goliath," and his favorite, "The Big Dipper," were allegedly born.
Chamberlain's high school basketball career was astounding. In three seasons, he scored more than 2200 points. More than two hundred universities recruited Chamberlain, but he wanted to get away from big cities and preferred to play in the midwest. After seriously considering Dayton, Michigan, Indiana, and Kansas Universities he chose Kansas because of the recruiting by Hall of Fame coach Phog Allen.
At the University of Kansas, Chamberlain continued his brilliant play on the basketball court, scoring fifty-two points in his first varsity game. During his first varsity season, he led the Jayhawks to the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, but they lost to North Carolina in double overtime.
During his college career, Wilt averaged over thirty points per game and was twice selected to All-American teams. Following his junior year, he decided to quit college and become a professional because, he said, "The game I was forced to play at Kansas wasn't basketball. It was hurting my chances of ever developing into a successful professional player." Because he did not play his final season at Kansas, Chamberlain was not eligible to join an NBA team until one more year. So he joined the Harlem Globetrotters and spent the year traveling the world and entertaining adults and youngsters alike. He still claims that his year with the Globetrotters was his most enjoyable season of basketball.
In 1959, Chamberlain joined the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. The great centers of the day were Clyde Lovellette, Johnny Kerr, Johnny Green, and, of course, Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics. But Chamberlain made an immediate impact on the league. He could score almost at will, and opposing teams gave up trying to stop him and instead tried only to contain him.
His scoring average during the 1959-60 season of 37. 9 points per game was more than eight points per game higher than anyone else had ever scored in the history of the league. He was named both rookie of the year and most valuable player, the first person to receive both awards in the same season. For the next six seasons, Chamberlain led the league in scoring.
In 1961-62, he averaged 50.4 points and scored 100 in one game. In 1962-63, he averaged 44.8 points per game. Chamberlain was simply the greatest scoring machine in the history of basketball. Despite his scoring achievements, Chamberlain and his teammates were not winning NBA championships.
The late 1950s and 1960s were dominated by the Boston Celtics and their center Bill Russell. Russell had revolutionized basketball as much with his defense as Chamberlain had with his offense, and Russell always had a great group of supporting players, including Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones.
Chamberlain often had strong supporting players as well, but Russell always seemed to pull out the championship. Chamberlain always took a great deal of abuse from the media and fans because of his lack of success against Russell.
Finally, in 1967, Chamberlain reversed his fortunes. The Warriors had moved to San Francisco, and Wilt had gone with them, but he was later traded to the new Philadelphia team, the 76ers.
In 1967, the 76ers had a great supporting cast, including Chet Walker, Luke Johnson, Hal Greer, Wally Jones, and Billy Cunningham. They finished the regular season with the best record in the history of the league. In the championship series, the 76ers polished off the San Francisco Warriors to win the first world title for Chamberlain.
Several years later, Chamberlain was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had featured numerous great players through the years, including Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, but had not won a championship since moving to Los Angeles from Minneapolis in 1960 (they lost in the championship series seven times between 1962 and 1970).
For the last two losses, in 1969 and 1970, Chamberlain was on the team. The 1969 loss was particularly devastating since it was to Russell and the Celtics again. In the final game, Chamberlain was injured and played very little. Russell later criticized Chamberlain for not playing, thus infuriating Chamberlain and removing the last remnants of friendship between the two men.
In 1972, however, the Lakers seemed poised to finally win a championship. They finished the year with the best regular-season record in history, breaking the record set by Chamberlain and the 76ers in 1967. In addition to Chamberlain, the team now featured Happy Hairston, Gail Goodrich, Jim McMillan, Jerry West, and a strong set of reserves. In the playoffs, the Lakers first defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, with Chamberlain completely outplaying the Buck center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the championship series, the Lakers played the powerful New York Knickerbockers, led by Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier.
In the fourth game of the series, Chamberlain suffered a fractured wrist. Although the Lakers led the series three games to one, the series still seemed in doubt because of Chamberlain's injury. Despite understandable pain, Chamberlain played the next game with football linemen's pads on both hands. He scored twenty-four points, grabbed twenty-nine rebounds, and blocked ten shots. The Lakers won the game and the series, four games to one and brought the first world championship to Los Angeles.
Following the 1973 season, Chamberlain left the Lakers to become the coach of the San Diego Conquistadors of the old American Basketball Association (ABA). Chamberlain left the NBA as the all-time leader in points scored (more than 30,000) and rebounds (over 22,000), and with four Most Valuable Player awards and more than forty league records.
The ABA was a different sort of challenge, however; the athletes were not generally as good as in the NBA, and Chamberlain had never been a coach before. The Conquistadors were a poor team, even by ABA standards, and Chamberlain left the coaching ranks shortly thereafter for a well-deserved retirement.
After retirement from basketball, Chamberlain was involved in a wide variety of activities. He sponsored several amateur athletic groups, including volleyball teams and track clubs.
Chamberlain gained notoriety in 1991 with the release of his second and most talked about autobiography, A View from Above. The book contains observations on athletes of the '90s, gun control, and his 14 years in the NBA, among other topics. But it was the claim that he slept with 20,000 women that landed him in the celebrity spotlight and in the public hot seat. Reflecting upon this claim, Chamberlain regretted the way he discussed sex in the book and became an advocate of safe sex.
In 1997, Chamberlain published Who's Running the Asylum?: The Insane World of Sports Today. His latest book provides a critical discussion of the sports industry and the NBA, including his own ranking of basketball's greatest players.
Chamberlain denounced the Black Panthers Party and other black nationalist movements in the late 1960s. He supported Republican Richard Nixon in the 1968 and 1972 presidential elections. Chamberlain accompanied Nixon to the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and considered himself a Republican.
Views
Quotations:
"It is said that good things come to those who wait. I believe that good things come to those who work."
"With all of you men out there who think that having a thousand different ladies is pretty cool, I have learned in my life I've found out that having one woman a thousand different times is much more satisfying."
"Scoring 100 points is a lot, but I maybe could have scored 140 if they had played straight-up basketball."
"I've prided myself on being in excellent condition - as good as any man in my profession. Now, this doesn't come from sitting around on your rear end. This comes from hard, hard work."
"We make too much of winning. The mere fact of winning doesn't make you great."
Membership
Chamberlain became a board member of the International Volleyball Association in 1974. The following year, he was appointed its president.
International Volleyball Association
1974
International Volleyball Association
1975
Personality
Although shy and insecure as a teenager, as an adult Chamberlain became well known for his womanizing. As his lawyer Seymour "Sy" Goldberg put it: "Some people collect stamps, Wilt collected women." Swedish Olympic high jumper Annette Tånnander, who met him when he was 40 and she 19, remembers him as a pick-up artist who was extremely confident yet respectful. She once said: "I think Wilt hit on everything that moved...[but] he never was bad or rude."
Despite the fact, that Wilt was often described as an egotist, he got on well with many contemporaries and enjoyed a great deal of respect. He was especially lauded for his good rapport with his fans, often providing tickets and signing autographs.
Physical Characteristics:
Wilt had a staggering height of 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m). He weighed approximately 275-300 lb (125-136 kg).
As a very young child, Chamberlain dealt with a brutal bout of pneumonia which nearly killed him. The sickness made the future basketball star quite frail and even caused him to miss an entire school year.
Chamberlain had a history of heart trouble. In 1992, he was briefly hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat. According to those close to him, he eventually began taking medication for his heart troubles. In 1999, his condition deteriorated rapidly. During this time, he lost 50 pounds. After undergoing dental surgery in the week before his death, he was in great pain and seemed unable to recover from the stress. On October 12, 1999, Chamberlain died in Bel-Air, California, at the age of 63. Congestive heart failure was the cause of his death.
Quotes from others about the person
"Chamberlain played the game the same way Russell did, except he scored so much more. But his teams had to get more points from him. He'd score 45 points and his teams would still lose." - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"If you want to get Wilt ticked off or bitter, just mention Bill Russell. You will incite him." - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"It was hard for Wilt to put his faith in many people. Being in his position, many people tried to exploit him. I say little in reference to character, not size. There were always those who enjoyed hanging around to pick up the crumbs that might fall off their 7' cake. No matter where we went to play ball, It seemed that he had a thousand cousins who needed tickets to the game-free tickets, that is. One of Wilt's weaknesses was being too big-hearted. He never turned down any of these requests, and very often he was holding the bag. You'd expect a 7' person to have an extra big heart, but his was even out of proportion to his size." - Bob Billings
Interests
Sport & Clubs
volleyball
Connections
Wilt Chamberlain was a lifelong bachelor. He never had a single child despite claiming to sleep with 20,000 different women.
Father:
William Chamberlain
Mother:
Olivia Ruth Johnson
Sister:
Yvonne Chamberlain
Sister:
Selina Gross
Sister:
Margaret Lane
Sister:
Barbara Lewis
Brother:
Wilbert Chamberlain
Brother:
Oliver Chamberlain
Sister:
Dolores Chamberlain
Sister:
Shirley Chamberlain
Friend:
Bill Russell
References
Wilt Chamberlain
This book by Ron Frankl traces the life and career of basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, who set records for scoring and forced the league to adopt new rules in order to reduce his impact on the game.
Wilt, 1962: The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era
Wilt, 1962 is not only the dramatic story of a singular basketball game but a meditation on small towns, midcentury America, and one of the most intriguing figures in the pantheon of sports heroes.
Wilt: Larger Than Life
A capturing of basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain's personality and thoughts - known by relatively few people other than family and close friends - is made available to all in this intimate biography. The author, a native of Philadelphia and an alumnus of Chamberlain's alma mater, spent four years researching and interviewing the most important people in Wilt's life to produce these results.
Muhammad Ali vs. Wilt Chamberlain
A look back at the proposed match-up between then heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain in 1967.