open his career in 1959-60. “So many of them are just crazy.”
Chamberlain was also known for a life outside basketball that included an array of interests and adventures.
“I think he lived more lives than most people,” Durant said with a chuckle, recalling some stories he read about Chamberlain’s escapades in his autobiography “Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door.”
Durant recalled reading how the Hall of Famer once bet an opponent $10,000 before Game 5 of the NBA Finals that he would score at least 35 points.
“In my mind,” Durant said, “that’s not even a fair bet. You can’t win it if you don’t put in some effort and play hard.”
Chamberlain didn’t take kindly to losing that wager — or any game for that matter. His teams won only one championship during his career (the 1972 Lakers), but he was named Finals MVP on three occasions.
“Wilt had a great mentality,” Hill said, explaining how Chamberlain’s competitive drive would manifest itself in practice with the Sixers when coach Alex Hannum would go easy on him. “He used to tell us that every time he put his hands around your throat and you could still breathe was a gift from God.”
And yet for all of Wilt’s success — 4 All-Star games, Rookie of the Year Award in ’60, four scoring titles, seven rebounding crowns, two MVPs — it has been suggested that Chamberlain is often overlooked or undervalued by fans and analysts. Some point to his lack of championships as a reason for this.
“Wilt didn’t have much help,” Durant said with a shrug when asked about the championship question. “He was on some pretty terrible teams, so you can’t knock him too hard for that.”
In fact, Chamberlain’s legacy might be even greater if he had played in an era where there were more dominant players to push him.
“Maybe we wouldn’t have seen as many crazy numbers,” said Jokic when asked about the impact of playing with modern stars like LeBron James and Durant. “But I think it would’ve been a better game because everybody was trying to win.”
Chamberlain, who had one of the most unique styles ever witnessed in basketball — a combination of raw athleticism, strength, agility, quickness and coordination that’s almost unfathomable today — once said he didn’t like being compared with other players.
“I don’t want people comparing me,” Chamberlain told Sports Illustrated. “I just want them to appreciate what I do.”
And while Wilt may not have been a conventional big man by modern standards, his impact on the game is undeniably monumental. His sheer dominance in an era without shot clocks or three-point lines speaks volumes about how good he was.
“It’s like trying to compare apples and oranges,” said Hill when discussing Chamberlain with today’s players. “But let me tell you something: Wilt could’ve played any position on the court, including point guard.”
And while some may question whether modern stars are truly aware of all that Chamberlain did during his career, one thing is clear: they certainly respect him.
“It’s amazing to see what he was doing back then,” said Antetokounmpo. “To play against these guys would’ve been a dream come true for me.”
So while the legacy of Wilt Chamberlain may seem like a mythical tale from another era, it’s worth remembering that even in an ever-evolving league where records are constantly being broken and surpassed, there will always be certain names etched into history. And no matter how many modern stars manage to reach or surpass his incredible feats on the court — including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential record-tying run at 20-point games — Wilt Chamberlain is sure to remain one of them.
In an era where numbers can sometimes seem more important than skill, it’s worth remembering that there was a time when pure dominance ruled. And in the realm of NBA legends, no figure towers over others quite like “The Big Dipper” himself.
One-Ry Out.