Jean Renoir
French film director and screenwriter (1894-1979)
Wilt Chamberlain was an American basketball legend who dominated the NBA in the 1960s. Standing 7’1″ tall, he was renowned for his incredible strength, scoring prowess, and rebounding ability, setting numerous records that still stand today. After retiring from the NBA, he even played professional volleyball, demonstrating his athletic versatility.
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About the Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman Chamberlainwas an American professional basketball player. Standing 7 ft 1 intall, he played center in the National Basketball Associationfor 14 seasons. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Chamberlain was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978 and elected to the NBA’s 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams. Following his professional basketball career, Chamberlain played volleyball in the short-lived International Volleyball Associationawards, the Rookie of the Year, one Finals MVP, and one All-Star Game MVP; he was selected to thirteen All-Star Games and ten All-NBA Teams (seven First and three Second teams). He won seven scoring, eleven rebounding, nine durability, and nine field goal percentage titles; he is the only center to lead the league in total assists.
While in college, Chamberlain played for the Kansas Jayhawks, and lost the national championship game to the North Carolina Tar Heels in triple overtime his sophomore year. He also played for the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the NBA, where he played for the Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Chamberlain had an on-court rivalry with Boston Celtics’ center Bill Russell, suffering a long string of losses before breaking through and winning the 1967 NBA Finals as a member of the 76ers. Chamberlain won his second championship as a member of the 1972 Lakers, a team which set a record with a 33-game winning streak.
Sportswriters knew Chamberlain by several nicknames during his playing career, calling attention to his height since his high school days. He disliked the ones that negatively portrayed his height, such as “Wilt the Stilt” and “Goliath”, preferring “the Big Dipper”, inspired by his friends who saw him dip his head as he walked through doorways. The name was retained in one of Chamberlain’s signature moves, the “dipper dunk”. He was one of the first players to make prominent use of shots like the fade away jump shot, and the finger roll. His success near the basket led to the widening of the lane, offensive goaltending rules, and the banning of inbound passes over the backboard. Chamberlain, always a poor free throw shooter, had the ability to dunk from the foul line, which led to the ruling that a free-throw shooter must keep his feet behind the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wilt Chamberlain was an incredibly tall basketball player, standing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) tall.
Wilt Chamberlain played the center position in the NBA for 14 seasons, dominating the game with his size and skill.
Wilt Chamberlain held an astounding 72 NBA records, including several in scoring, rebounding, and durability.
Wilt Chamberlain was an incredibly prolific scorer, once averaging an astonishing 50 points per game in a single season.
Wilt Chamberlain is best remembered as the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game.
After his NBA career, Wilt Chamberlain played volleyball in the short-lived International Volleyball Association (IVA), where he was enshrined in the hall of fame.
Wilt Chamberlain had a long-standing rivalry with Boston Celtics’ center Bill Russell, though he eventually won an NBA championship against him in 1967.
18 Quotes by Wilt Chamberlain
- 1.
When you go out there and do the things you’re supposed to do, people view you as selfish.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 2.
You must understand as a kid of color in those days, the Harlem Globetrotters were like being movie stars.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 3.
The man who won’t loan money isn’t going to have many friends – or need them.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 4.
I believe that good things come to those who work.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 5.
And I remember leaving my place in L.A. and – my father is a big fight fan – and I said, ‘Dad, I got a couple of days off and I’m getting ready to go to Houston to sign to fight Muhammad Ali.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 6.
I couldn’t have come close without my teammates’ help because the Knicks didn’t want me to make 100.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 7.
Nobody roots for Goliath.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 8.
It just wasn’t right the way they were behind by 25 points and then they’re told to hold the ball.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 9.
If you have ability in a certain area, why not capitalize on it and improve it and use it?
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 10.
I guarantee you, if you could give me 10 points in all those seventh games against the Boston Celtics, instead of Bill Russell having 11 rings, I could’ve at least had nine or eight.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 11.
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.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 12.
They were so clever finding ways to get me the ball. They had to do more than just give up open shots. They had to avoid fouls and pass me the ball in traffic.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 13.
Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 14.
It was a challenge to my teammates to help me.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 15.
We’re all fascinated by the numbers, as we were about the 100 points.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 16.
I get constant reminders from fans who equate that game and my career as one and the same.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 17.
They were willing to do anything to stop me.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)
- 18.
But the point of using the number was to show that sex was a great part of my life as basketball was a great part of my life. That’s the reason why I was single.
Wilt ChamberlainAmerican basketball player (1936-1999)