Wilt was 71 tall. They were not on speaking terms for nearly two decades, but were eventually able to patch things up. Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Olivia Ruth (Johnson), a domestic worker, and William Chamberlain, a welder, custodian, and handyman. Off the court, the two had a good friendship, until a falling-out which was sparked by Russells accusation that Chamberlain gave up in the 1969 NBA Finals. To put it into perspective, all other NBA players combinedhave only done this 32 times. Wilt Chamberlian once performed 200 pushups in a row, fingertip style, in competition with Heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson who had maxed out with 158. A glimpse of Wilt Chamberlain's incredible strength (1969 NBA - YouTube Wilt Chamberlain's dominant physical presence, superior rebounding skills, and unparalleled scoring abilities (most notably racking up 100 points in a single game) cemented his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Goliath Facts About Wilt Chamberlain, The Big Dipper - Factinate He's third all time in technical fouls with 317 over his 16 seasons, behind only Karl Malone, who had 332, and Charles Barkley, who had 329. When Wilt Chamberlain was 59 years old, he could still bench press 465 pounds, which is more that Shaq has ever been able to do. However, the man is almost like an urban legend with numerous sources claiming he can do these incredible feats but there not actually being a lot of video footage to support it all. In fact, he was measured at 84 while playing for the University of Kansas in 1957. Only two other players have had 40 (Nate Thurmond and Jerry Lucas) in history. This is actually preseason for the playoff, you know. Now lets get into the details and start to unpack the answer to whether or not Wilt Chamberlain had a 48 inch vertical jump. It's also true that the highest-profile clashes between the two happened outside the 70-71 season. He was very fast running down the court. In 1970, Chamberlain returned to his track roots by establishing Wilts Athletic Club, a track and field club based in Southern California. Chamberlains 1961-62 season is best remembered for one legendary game in particular. I was skeptical when I first came across this one but I can assure you that this is in fact true. Chamberlain averaged 39.5 shots per game, the highest ever -- and no one is close. Wilt was definitely one of a kind, both on and off the court. He was nearly unstoppable at Philadelphia's Overbrook High School, scoring more than 2,200 total points, a Pennsylvania record. Therein lies the tie to Chamberlain. The physical attributes here are just off the charts, Wilt Chamberlain possessed a coveted combination of size and athleticism by todays NBA standards. For the most part Wilts head appears to be right at the rim or slightly above it in all of the jumps that Ive looked at. With his 96 standing reach, a vertical jump of only 36 inches would put Wilt at 126 in the air, which would be more than enough height to complete a slam dunk on a 12 foot rim. Following another defeat to the Bill Russell and the Celtics in the 1967-68 playoffs, the Sixers decided to trade Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA Legends And Players Explain Why Wilt Chamberlain Would Destroy Today's NBAIntro Music -https://youtu.be/crrz3bfhCv0Outro Music-https://youtu.be/AUsnvRiZX. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. There are a good amount of stories alleging that Wilt Chamberlain was able to touch the top of the backboard. On one hand he is saying that his vertical was higher than Michael Jordans and was easily 46 to 48 inches, but on the other hand he is quoted as saying that dunking on the 12 foot rim was a challenge. The closest anyone has come recently was in 2017, when Rajon Rondo had a 25-assist game with New Orleans. At 7'1", 275 pounds, he towered over the competition and could . This raised rim dunk has been replicated quite a few times now at this point, maybe most famously by Dwight Howard in the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Wilt was an impressive athlete with a seriously impressive vertical jump. Growing increasingly frustrated and wanting to make money, Chamberlain decided to forego his senior year at Kansas. But 1970-71 was by far the best stretch for the Bucks against Chamberlain's Lakers, with four wins in five regular-season games and a 4-1 win in the Western Conference finals. At 71 that is amazing, but not quite the 48 inches that he has been claimed to reach. Both his parents were no bigger than 5-9, but as a young boy he began a growth spurt which would eventually stop when he . Chamberlain won his second and last NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1971-72 season. Chamberlain, 34 years old that year, still had plenty left in the tank, and Alcindor, who didn't turn 24 until late in the season, already was a nationally recognized superstar thanks to his college exploits at UCLA and sensational rookie year. Warriors starNate Thurmond, another elite center in the league, was in attendance to watch the matchup. In his later years, Chamberlain began to suffer from a series of heart problems. The article credits Wilt with a 96 standing reach and a height of 133 after jumping. On April 18, Milwaukee finished off a 4-1 series win with a 116-98 victory. Chamberlain went so far as to get help from legendary trainer Cus dAmato, but he eventually pulled out of the fight at the last minute. He did this on back-to-back attempts in his mid thirties, while weighing around 300 lbs. Wilt Chamberlain Dress Size 8 US. To say it was the twilight of Chamberlain's career during the Bucks' title run was fair but also misleading. How much should I bench press for my weight? Can you imagine modern day centers being the fastest on the court? 5 out of 5 stars (232) $ FREE shipping Add to Favorites 1972 Topps Basketball Wilt Chamberlain #1 Reprint novelty basketball card.Lakers.Free shipping . This happened Nov. 24, 1960, in a game Chamberlain later said was one of the most exhausting of his career. He is obsessed with lifting weights, and the science of muscle building. Sure the camera angles were terrible, mostly shot from the ground angled up at the players, but one would think that you could at least clearly tell if a guys neck was above the rim. Quickness is what does it for you. That is more than enough height to touch the top of the backboard and getting real close to proving that Wilt Chamberlain had a 48 inch vertical jump. On March 2, 1962, in a game between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain scored 100 pointsthe most points a single player has ever scored in an NBA game. Born was so devastated by the loss that he decided to give up his dreams of playing in the NBA. After two career matchups between the players in which Chamberlain matched or surpassed Alcindor, Alcindorwas the clear winner this time. Rumors claim that Wilt Chamberlain could bench press up to 600 pounds (and has bedded 20,000 women), however given his height, weight and reach this seems highly unlikely. As a collegiate player, he was featured in popular magazines of the time, including Life, Time, Look, and Newsweek. Wilt Chamberlain (13) in action vs. New York Knicks in the 1973 NBA Finals. Whenever hes not in the gym attempting to maximize his bench press, hes online looking for the best ways to optimize his body, strength and overall results. You don't shove him around much because he's just about immune to it.". Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. This doesnt change the legendary status of Wilt Chamberlain. All we really have left is grainy videos shot from camera angles that leave a lot to be desired. There are some conflicting statements out there regarding just how high this man could jump. Wilt Chamberlain had a natural advantage against his peers; he soon was renowned for his scoring talent, his physical strength, and his shot-blocking abilities. When I was a freshman, I fooled around with shooting free throws this way: For some reason, I thought you had to stay within the top half of that free-throw circle, so I would step back to just inside the top of the circle, take off from behind the line and dunk. Chamberlain made his Hollywood debut in the 1984 film Conan the Destroyer. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Walt Bellamy's 88 games. Wilt Chamberlain had just scored 100 points, the most any player . Collection of Wilt Chamberlain speed stories, Track and 40 - reddit Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, NBA75: Meet the best players in league history, NBA75: Snubs, surprises and who's next for the all-time greatest list, LeBron breaks all-time records of Kareem and Kobe on Christmas Day, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In Philly, he met up with some buddies for a long lunch, which nearly caused him to miss the team bus to Hershey. [6] Chamberlain reportedly didnt like Goliath or Wilt the Stilt, but he did like The Big Dipper. The Big Dipper was apparently inspired by Chamberlains penchant for ducking his head underneath doorways to avoid hitting them. Elvira comes out as lesbian, reveals Wilt Chamberlain - New York Post The match was supposed to take place in the summer of 1971 in the Astrodome in Houston. This is a full 18 inches above a 12 foot rim! Want to forecast where your favorite NBA stars could wind up? Wilt didn't sleep the night before he scored 100. 1 all-time chart. Here's a baller spread. When he was asked to elaborate he simply said, "No.". You can't add guys like Oscar (Robertson) and Bob Boozer and Lucius Allen and not be a better ballclub. The tte--tte between big men ended with Milwaukee fans giving Chamberlain a standing ovation as he checked out of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals, representative of the matchup's amiable nature. In most cases, jumping is ruled by the players who stand between 6'3 to 6'8 inches. I loved Wilt. Standing at 6'11" tall at the time, Chamberlain physically dominated other players. To frame what it takes to put together something even close, consider the last two. Amongst NBA players with at least 1,200 free throw attempts, Chamberlain is third-from-last, with a career free throw percentage of only 51.1%. [5] As an avid track and field athlete, Chamberlain 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 long jumped 22 feet. Chamberlain then asked his coach, Butch van Breda Kolff, to get back in the game with only a few minutes left. Wallace's relationship with officials went from bad to worse, and it played out the following season as he racked up a record 41 technicals on the way to 18 ejections. Wilt Chamberlain's accomplishments are widely known, from his 100 points in a game, 25,000 woman or never fouling out of a basketball game. Chamberlain blocked six Alcindor shots and finished with 28 points and 23 rebounds, plus 10 blocks for the triple-double, but the Bucks won the game easily, 117-100. Wilt Chamberlain's Athleticism He was 7'1", 275 pounds. Wilt Chamberlain could also run a 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds and had a 45+ inch vertical. The only ongoing streak that was close belonged to James Harden, but that ended last season at 450 games after he had to leave a game with a hamstring injury. Tristan Thompson played 447 consecutive games with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2011 to 2017. On October 12, 1999, Chamberlain passed away from congestive heart failure. The following year, the Lakers defeated the Bucks in the Western Conference finals, 4-2, en route to the 1972 title. As a freshman at Kansas he was seen dunking his free throws, the NCAA decided to quickly move to ban the practice before Chamberlain could play his first game. It was a milestone move for Chamberlain, as he would make Los Angeles his primary home for the rest of his life. In his first season, he averaged 37.6 points and an absurd 27 rebounds per game, leading the league in both categories. He told an interviewer, With all of you men out there who think that having a thousand different ladies is pretty cool, I have learned in my lifethat having one woman a thousand different times is much more satisfying.. Compilation of Wilt Chamberlain Stories : r/nba - reddit However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. Wilt Chamberlain. He participated in high jump, long jump, and even broad jump, but excelled in the 100 yard-dash, and the 400 metre. He even appeared in a few games for the Seattle Smashers and was the MVP of one of the leagues All-Star games. During high school Chamberlain was part of the Overbook Panthers and led his school team with a win-loss record of 56-3. The most famous member of the club was a young Florence Griffith Joyner. John Stockton's 15,806 career assists. Chamberlain had an incredible rookie campaign. However, his one weakness was free-throw shootingand it was a pretty bad weakness. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. He won Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and the All-Star Game MVP. The January battle, of course billed as a chance for fans to glimpse Wilt and Lew, never materialized. Wilt Chamberlain: Nobody cheers for Goliath - Sportskeeda The opponent was Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, who won by three points. Wilt retired from the NBA after the 1972-73 season with the . He played in an era that simply didnt value or have access to the things we have today. Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (21. elokuuta 1936 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Yhdysvallat - 12. lokakuuta 1999 Bel Air, Kalifornia) oli yhdysvaltalainen koripalloilija.Chamberlain on yksi koripallon historian suurista pelaajista. Here are some facts you might not have known about the dipper. 872,196 12. In the Finals against the Knicks, Chamberlain battled a nagging hand injury to lead his team to victory in five games. He also didnt get along with Kansass new coach Dick Harp, who replaced Phog Allen after he retired. Wilt Chamberlain was such a fantastic jumper that he was able to dunk his free throws. Wilt Chamberlain Dead At 63 - CBS News Then when I would make my move, he would time his leap perfectly and block the shot," Alcindor said. ", Said Alcindor: "There was satisfaction on both sides. With Chamberlain's aggressiveness mitigated (and some writers noting that his overriding desire to keep his spotless foul-out record maybe played a role), Abdul-Jabbar scored 23 points in the final 22 minutes. I used to dunk on that basket. Second to Bellamy is Tom Henderson, who played 87 games between the Bullets and Hawks in 1976-77. Wilt Chamberlain stood 71 tall and weighed 250 lbs as a rookie, before eventually bulking up to 276 lbs. We just didn't play a good game. We'll try to answer them as best we can. Wilt Chamberlain's track times - LetsRun.com To go up under Wilt Chamberlain, to be down there and look up at him when he's towering up over you waiting to dunk, was a terrifying picture. [6] Wilt Chamberlain owns most. What was Wilt Chamberlains vertical jump? Wilt Chamberlain claimed that he slept with 20,000 women. As a result, Chamberlain joined the Harlem Globetrottersthe entertaining traveling exhibition team. Chamberlain suffered a knee injury that limited him to only one matchup with the Bucks in 1969-70, so fans were eager to see a rematch between big men in theNov. 20 game early in the 1970-71 season. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Wilt Chamberlain's former mansion hits market for $14.9M Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21, 1936-October 12, 1999) was a British basketball player. U svojoj petnaestogodinjoj karijeri ostvario je mnoge uspjehe.