Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain: The Man Who Changed the Game

High School

Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Overbrook High School, where he was a dominant basketball player. Chamberlain was 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds in high school, which gave him a significant physical advantage over his opponents.

Chamberlain averaged 37.4 points per game in his three seasons at Overbrook.  As a result, he led the team to three city championships and was named to the All-American team twice. Chamberlain was also a track and field star at Overbrook, and he held the school record in the high jump, long jump, and shot put.

File/Photo from Vince Miller a good friend of Wilt this is a 1955 Overbrook High School starting 5, Back row/ (l-r) Dave Shapiro, coach Cecil Mosenson, Marty Hughes, front row, (l-r), Vince Miller, Wilt Chamberlain and Howard Johnson. DN Steven M. Falk

College

Initially, Chamberlain received scholarship offers from several colleges, but he chose to attend the University of Kansas. He played for the Kansas Jayhawks for two seasons, and he helped them reach the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. Moreover, Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points and 17.0 rebounds per game in his two seasons at Kansas.

Finally, He left Kansas after his sophomore year to play professional basketball in the Harlem Globetrotters. Chamberlain played for the Globetrotters for one season before entering the NBA draft.

NBA

Subsequently, Chamberlain was selected with the first overall pick in the 1959 NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. He quickly became one of the best players in the league. Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and the NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Chamberlain continued to dominate the NBA for the next decade. He held the NBA record for most points in a season four times, and he held the NBA record for most rebounds in a season seven times. Chamberlain also won two NBA championships, one with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1967 and one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.

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Finally, Chamberlain was a revolutionary player who changed the game of basketball. He was one of the first players to use his size and athleticism to score from anywhere on the court. Chamberlain was also a very good passer and defender. He was one of the most complete players in NBA history.

Legacy

Wilt Chamberlain is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was a dominant player who helped to change the game. Chamberlain was also a pioneer for African American players in the NBA. He was one of the first African American players to become a superstar in the league.

Chamberlain was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. He is also a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team and the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Chamberlain died of a heart attack on October 12, 1999, at the age of 63. He is remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and a pioneer for African American players in the NBA.