Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain was a legendary, Hall of Fame figure who rose to fame through his jaw-dropping exploits on the NBA hardwood.

The 7-footer is responsible for the highest-scoring game in NBA history (100) and etched his name in the record books on a number of occasions while winning MVP four times and earning two championship trophies. He even averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds during the 1961-62 season, which he spent with the Philadelphia Warriors just before the franchise relocated to San Francisco.

Over 14 NBA seasons following his stellar Kansas career and some time spent with the Harlem Globetrotters, Chamberlain created a larger-than-life reputation as one of the greatest athletic marvels in sporting history. He died at 63 years old of congestive heart failure on Oct. 12, 1999.

  • Birthday: Aug. 21, 1936
  • Died: Oct. 12, 1999
  • Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Listed height: 7-foot-1
  • Listed weight: 275 pounds
  • High school: Overbrook High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • College: Kansas (1956-58)
  • NBA draft: Round 1, Pick No. 3 in the 1959 NBA Draft (territorial selection)
  • NBA teams: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers
  • NBA position: Center
  • NBA number: No. 13
  • NBA playing career: 1958-73
Dan Marino throws a football for the Miami Dolphins
Sports
The Best Athletes to Ever Wear a Number 13 Jersey

The number 13 jersey wasn't unlucky for these legends.

J.L. Seto • 03 Oct 2023
San Francisco Warriors star Wilt Chamberlain goes in for a dunk.
NBA
Wilt Chamberlain: The Most Disrespected Player the NBA Has Ever Seen

There is no NBA player, past or present, more disrespected than Wilt Chamberlain.

Mike Thomas • 16 Sep 2023
Wilt Chamberlain shouts instructions to his team from the bench.
NBA
For Wilt Chamberlain, Image Appeared More Important Than Success in the ABA

Wilt Chamberlain's one year as a head coach in the ABA didn't come close to the success level he had as a player in the NBA.

Mike Thomas • 16 Sep 2023
Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird shoots a jumper over Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson.
NBA
What's the Bigger Personal NBA Rivalry: Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell or Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson?

Is the Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson rivalry bigger than Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell?

Mike Thomas • 08 Sep 2023
Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Royals.
NBA
Many Know About Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game but Don't Recall His Gem on Feb. 24, 1967

Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game is a classic that many remember, but what about his outing on Feb. 24, 1967?

Mike Thomas • 07 Sep 2023
Wilt Chamberlain pulls down a rebound as Warrior Nate Thurmond defends.
NBA
Wilt Chamberlain Went Public About His Fragile Psyche as a 29-Year-Old Star, and It Resulted in a Record-Setting Fine

Wilt Chamberlain was hit with a record-setting fine after going public with his frustrations as a 29-year-old NBA star.

Mike Thomas • 07 Aug 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain drives to the basket for a one-handed dunk.
NBA
It's Safe to Say Wilt Chamberlain Didn't Take His Lone Year of ABA Coaching Seriously

Wilt Chamberlain experimented with coaching after his NBA days, and let's just say it wasn't his thing.

Mike Thomas • 26 Jul 2023
Boston Celtics center Bill Russell drives to the basket around Philadelphia 76ers star Wilt Chamberlain.
NBA
Was Wilt Chamberlain a Team Player? Bill Russell Weighed In After Their 1966 Playoff Series

Some say Wilt Chamberlain was a selfish basketball player. Bill Russell weighed in after his Boston Celtics defeated Chamberlain's 76ers in the 1966 playoffs.

Mike Thomas • 21 Jul 2023
Wilt Chamberlain of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound.
NBA
Playing Though a Secretly Broken Wrist Led to Wilt Chamberlain's 2nd Title After Bill Russell Questioned His Toughness

Wilt Chamberlain led the LA Lakers to a championship in 1972, playing the series-clinching Game 5 with a broken wrist.

Mike Thomas • 03 Jun 2023
Boston Celtics center Bill Russell attempts to block the shot of Philadelphia 76ers star Wilt Chamberlain.
NBA
Hall of Famer Bill Sharman Once Said Wilt Chamberlain Might Be the Best Thing That Happened to the Boston Celtics

There will always be a debate about which center, Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, was better.

Mike Thomas • 04 May 2023