NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain would've turned 79 years old today, and it's a great reminder he's one of the most important figures in the history of basketball and the NBA. Over the course of his basketball career, Chamberlain was one of the most dominant players. While it's easy just to dismiss his dominance to the quality and size of big men -- or lack thereof -- in his era, he truly was one of the most imposing figures regardless of who was defending him.
Chamberlain was a world-class athlete in both basketball and track & field. He was so good and dominant at basketball that several rule changes happened to the game just so he wouldn't be so great on the court. They widened the lanes, took away offensive goal tending as an option, changed inbounding rules, and disallowed players from crossing the free throw line on free throw attempts because he used to just jump from the line and dunk his free throws. His most dominant season came in 1960-61 when he averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds. And that was the season he had his still record 100-point game.
As you watch highlights of him, sure he was the biggest guy on the floor, but his sheer stature still made it look like they were playing on 9-foot rims. It almost looked like he had to cut his jump short just to dunk the ball. He was a four-time MVP, a two-time champion, a 13-time All-Star (only year he didn't make it was because of a knee injury that limited him to 12 games), a seven-time scoring champion, and once led the NBA in assists just because he wanted to prove he could.
His battles with Bill Russell were legendary, but his unwillingness to give in to the new big man in the league, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was equally as fascinating.
And of course, this interview when the NBA celebrated its 50th birthday between Ahmad Rashad, Russell, and Chamberlain is one of the more enjoyable conversations for basketball junkies and historians.
Sadly, Chamberlain passed away at the age of 63 in 1999. He still reigns as one of the most impressive basketball figures we have ever seen and will ever see.
