One of the few players to change the game of basketball, Wilt Chamberlain, was well before his time. Built like a machine, Wilt was a dominant presence on the floor. Standing at 7ft 1in, Wilt was unstoppable, and put up video game numbers night in and night out. In a video that surfaced on social media, a 60-year-old Chamberlain talked of a return to the NBA with Kevin McHale. He even agreed to play for the Boston Celtics under one golden condition.
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Drafted in 1959 by the San Francisco Warriors, Wilt averaged 37 points and 27 rebounds per game in his rookie season. If that doesn’t sound ridiculous enough, in his third season, Wilt averaged an unprecedented 50 points and 25 rebounds per game. Such was his presence in the game. Despite not having much team success, his individual performances have been carved in stone.
When Wilt Chamberlain wanted to join the Celtics
The 50th-anniversary celebration of the NBA was a night to be revered for years. A collection of the top 50 greatest players in the history of the game, all gathered under one roof. There ought to have been some fascinating conversations to go around. And one such was between Wilt Chamberlain and Kevin Mchale. Wilt was ready to come out of 23 years of retirement to play for the Celtics under the following condition:
“I have another year or two of eligibility left if one of you guys wanna look for a guy for about 10-15 minutes. If you allow me to shoot the technical foul, I am going to come otherwise I ain’t coming.”
The above statements from Wilt got the room laughing. After all, despite his ridiculous numbers, Wilt was a poor shooter from the foul line. And as is common knowledge, the technical shot always goes to the best free-throw shooter on the floor.
Having been part of the Lakers organization for five seasons, Wilt expressed his desire to play for the Boston Celtics and felt like he had something to offer to their rivals. In his era, the Lakers and the Celtics faced off twice in the NBA finals, with Wilt losing both times.
Wilt Chamberlain display his strength to Arnold
Wilt Chamberlain’s basketball abilities were well-complimented by his superhuman strength. Chamberlain once lifted a 3,000-pound car to help his PR chief change tires. Now, that’s just ridiculous. He was no ordinary human being and even impressed the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger on one occasion.
Arnold, known for his body-building prowess, was mesmerized by the strength displayed in the gym. He narrated a story of the basketball player lifting him with one hand. He further said how Wilt made him look like a fly when doing a movie in Mexico City. And this is Arnold Schwarzenegger we are talking about, who himself is a bit of a specimen. So suffice it to say, this is beyond a feat worth being proud of.
