[211] When Abdul-Jabbar broke his all-time scoring record in 1984, Chamberlain criticized his game and called on him to retire. 1 1.Why & When Did Wilt Chamberlain Retire? ', "Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers Box Score, March 18, 1968", "Wilt Chamberlain Reportedly Had A Quintuple-Double With 53 Points, 32 Rebounds, 14 Assists, 24 Blocks, And 11 Steals", "James Harden tied Wilt Chamberlain for the most points scored in a triple-double", "Russell Westbrook scored 57 points for most in triple-double", "Rockets' James Harden records first 60-point triple-double in NBA history", "Use Extension On Operating Table As Wilt Chamberlain Undergoes Tendon Surgery", "Achilles Heel Advertising: Repositioning the Competition", "5 Things You Didn't Know About Wilt Chamberlain", "Wilt spoke of regrets, women and Meadowlark", "Ali vs. Wilt Chamberlain: The Fight That Almost Was", "Jim Brown Talks Ali vs. Wilt Chamberlain // SiriusXM", "Chamberlain's feats the stuff of legend", "Flynn Robinson, 72, Scorer on Dominant N.B.A. Levi may be living proof", "Elvira's Cassandra Peterson Accuses NBA Pro Wilt Chamberlain of Sexual Assault: 'I Kept That a Secret', "Elvira accuses basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain of sexual abuse", 4th-quarter radio broadcast of Chamberlain's 100-point game, How Chamberlain's 100-point game almost went unrecorded, Image of Chamberlain making a dunk during a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks game in 1971, 1957 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1958 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilt_Chamberlain&oldid=1142545797, All-American college men's basketball players, American Basketball Association announcers, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association broadcasters, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Track and field athletes from Pennsylvania, Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, Career statistics and coach information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 01:04. The fact that Chamberlain scored 100 points without hitting a single three-pointer is so . UPDATE: For a great long read about the trade, check out Haley O'Shaughnessy's piece for The Ringer: Wilt Chamberlain's Trade To Los Angeles, 50 Years Later. Wilt Chamberlain. [14], During summer vacations, Chamberlain worked as a bellhop at Kutsher's Hotel. In his defense, coach McGuire said that "Wilt has been simply super-human" and commented on how the Warriors lacked a consistent second scorer, a playmaker, and a second big man to take pressure off Chamberlain. As he was coming close to the first real loss of his career, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. "[110], Chamberlain experienced an often-frustrating season. "[158], Several NBA players and officials were saddened at the loss of a player they remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. 's western division title series with Milwaukee, he (Chamberlain) decisively outplayed basketball's newest giant superstar, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, eleven years his junior. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. . In high school and college, he was Mr. Basketball USA, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1957, and twice consensus first-team All-American in 1957 and 1958. [62] Chamberlain won his first field goal percentage title and was so dominant that he scored almost 32% of his team's points and collected 30.4% of their rebounds. 13 retired by the Warriors, 76ers, and Lakers. After that season, coach Hannum wanted to be closer to his family on the West Coast; he left the Sixers to coach the Oakland Oaks in the newly founded ABA.
ESPN.com - NBA - Warriors finally retire Wilt's jersey 20 years later, Wilt Chamberlain's return to Kansas still produces [106] Chamberlain later blamed coach Hannum for the lack of touches, a point that was conceded by Hannum. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Chamberlain retired from the NBA after the 1973 season however he still remained very close to basketball. "[162] He was a scoring champion, all-time top rebounder, and accurate field goal shooter. The Lakers mounted a comeback, but then Chamberlain twisted his knee after a rebound and had to be replaced by Counts. Chamberlain had a bad relationship with Allen's successor Dick Harp fueled by this disappointment. Coach Allen turned 70, the mandatory retirement age for Kansas state employees, and was unexpectedly forced to retire. Chamberlain had other plans, however, pursuing interests outside of basketball. Red Kerr set a pick on Sam Jones to free Chet Walker. "[137] The players were split on Chamberlain, who was seen as competent but often indifferent and more occupied with promotion of his autobiography Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door than with coaching. It almost worked. [92] Philadelphia fans chanted "Boston is dead! When did wilt chamberlain retire? Cherry says that the Sixers shot badly (Greer, Jones, Walker, Jackson, and Guokas hit a combined 25 of 74 shots), while Chamberlain grabbed 34 rebounds and shot 4-of-9 for a total of 14 points. [41] In that season, Chamberlain again dominated his opposition by recording 33.5 points and 24.6 rebounds a game, leading the league in both categories. Philadelphia Warriors, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1959 NBA Draft (territorial selection), Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1979 (Full List), More Wilt Chamberlain pages at Sports Reference. [10], The rookie Chamberlain then shocked Warriors' fans by saying he was thinking of retiring. He chose to spend the next season performing with the Harlem Globetrotters before landing a spot with the Philadelphia Warriors. . He holds numerous NBA regular season records in scoring, rebounding, and durability categories; and blocks were not counted during his career. His success near the basket led to the widening of the lane, offensive goaltending rules, and it being illegal to inbound over the backboard. [40], Having lost the enjoyment from NCAA basketball and wanting to earn money, he left college and sold the story named "Why I Am Leaving College" to Look for $10,000, a large sum when NBA players earned $9,000 in a whole season. [132] Chamberlain was named the NBA Finals MVP,[62] and he was admired for dominating the Knicks in Game 5 while playing injured. After several Tar Heel turnovers, the game was tied at 46 at the end of regulation.[38]. When Greer attempted to inbound the ball to Walker, John Havlicek stole it to preserve the Celtics' lead. Best Known For: Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game.
That time 49-year-old Wilt Chamberlain received a contract offer in It was a small consolation that he was again named an All-American, along with future NBA Hall-of-Famers Elgin Baylor of Seattle University and Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati, plus Chamberlain's old rival Guy Rodgers, now playing for Temple University. I think he'll be remembered as a great man. "[196] Swedish Olympic high jumper Annette Tnnander, who met him when he was 40 and she was 19, remembers him as a pick-up artist who was extremely confident yet respectful, saying: "I think Wilt hit on everything that moved he never was bad or rude. [71] Much like later center Shaquille O'Neal, Chamberlain would be fouled intentionally, and was a target of criticism because of it. Chamberlain was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. [111], After the game, many wondered why Chamberlain sat out the final six minutes. To this day, Additionally, Chamberlain remains notable for never fouling out of an NBA game. [62] Powered by his defensive presence, the Lakers embarked on an unprecedented 33-game win streak en route to a then-record 69 wins in the regular season, yet the streak led to one strangely dissonant event. After his . The first team to retire Chamberlain's No. After King scored a basket, Kansas was ahead by one point.
List of National Basketball Association retired numbers Chamberlain became coach of the San Diego Conquistadors for a year before turning to business and entertainment. [62] His efficiency that season was reflected by a streak of 35 consecutive made field goals over the course of four games in February. In 1965, Chamberlain said that he and the late Richman had worked out a deal which would give him 25% of the franchise once he ended his career. Chamberlain divided that number in half, to be conservative and to correct for degrees of variation. Ex-soldier Hannum, who later entered the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, was a crafty psychologist who emphasized defense and passing. [186] Russell's Celtics won seven of eight playoff series against Chamberlain's Warriors, 76ers, and Lakers teams, and went 5737 against them in the regular season and 2920 in the playoffs. [86], In the playoffs, the Sixers again met the Boston Celtics and had home-court advantage for the first time. He was a Goliath. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. The Sixers charged their way to a then-record 6813 season, including a record 464 start. Clyde Drexler had his no.
The 20 NBA Players With The Most Minutes Per Game In A Single Season Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973, at the end of the '72-'73 season, to pursue other interests. [73] With both secondary scorers gone, Chamberlain continued his array of statistical feats, averaging 44.8 points and 24.3 rebounds per game that year. Russell's teams won all four series-deciding seventh games against Chamberlain's; by a combined margin of nine points. Chamberlain was a standout player at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. He later admitted that this loss was the most painful of his life. A feat matched only by fellow Hall-of-Famer. He also never fouled out of a game; and is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, a feat he accomplished seven times. (Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, Dippy, Dip, The Load, Big Musty, The Record Book, Hook and Ladder, Wiltie, Whip, Whipper), Position: [194][v] As a Philadelphia 76er, he could afford to rent a New York apartment and commute to Philadelphia. [207], Cherry says that although Chamberlain was an egotist, he had good relationships with many contemporaries and enjoyed a great deal of respect. [152][153] His condition deteriorated rapidly in 1999 and he lost fifty pounds (23kg). Who was better Shaq or Wilt Chamberlain? [92] Chamberlain, who contributed with 17.7 points and 28.7 rebounds per game against Thurmond, never failing to snare at least 23 rebounds in the six games,[94] said: "It is wonderful to be a part of the greatest team in basketball being a champion is like having a big round glow inside of you. Most importantly, he was not afraid to stand up to the dominant Chamberlain, who was known to not communicate with coaches he did not like. Chamberlain was regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time as the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 points during his professional career. "[12], Rick Barry wrote Ill say what most players feel, which is that Wilt is a loserHe is terrible in big games. Join our linker program. Bouncing elsewhere. [202][203] According to his contemporary Rod Roddewig, Chamberlain documented his love life using a Day-Timer. Countless suggestions were offered; he shot them underhanded, one-handed, two-handed, from the side of the circle, from well behind the line, and even banked it in. [150] He had been working on the screenplay notes for over a year at the time of his death. 2 in Slam's "Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time in NBA History" in 2009,[178] and No. [61], Chamberlain surpassed his rookie season statistics, as he averaged 38.4 points and 27.2 rebounds per game. During his first championship season, his assists also increased, recording two back-to-back seasons with eight assists per game, and winning one assist title. After losing Clark and Gail Goodrich, who joined the Phoenix Suns after the 1968 NBA expansion draft, he said: "Egan gets murdered on defense because of his [lack of] size but if I don't play him, we look like a bunch of trucks. Wilt Chamberlain. [40] Because KU came second in the league and at the time only conference winners were invited to the NCAA tournament, the Jayhawks' season ended. Do you have a blog? Chamberlain had an on-court rivalry with Boston Celtics' center Bill Russell, suffering a long string of losses. Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [89] Cherry adds several personal reasons, among them Chamberlain felt he had grown too big for Philadelphia, sought the presence of fellow celebrities, which were plenty in Los Angeles, and finally also desired the opportunity to date white women, which was possible for a black man in Los Angeles but hard to imagine elsewhere back then. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Standing 7-foot-1 and weighing almost 300 pounds, he was one of the greatest players in NBA history and a pop culture icon. In all, he claimed 60 athletes with aspirations of expanding to 100. Wilt Chamberlain " To Bill, every game-every championship game-was a challenge, a test to his manhood. ", "Greatness Revisited: Why Wilt Chamberlain Was the Greatest NBA Player Ever", "11 Memorable Wilt Chamberlain Performances", "Are all sports records made to be broken?
AP WAS THERE: Kareem passes Wilt for scoring record That's when the relationship turned sour. [23], At the ages of 16 and 17, Chamberlain played several games for the semi-professional Quakertown Fays under the pseudonym George Marcus. [114] In Game 5, with the Knicks trailing by double digits, Reed pulled his thigh muscle and seemed to be done for the series. He said: "There's been a lot of conversationthat I have some dislike for the University of Kansas. [117] In Game 1, Alcindor outscored Chamberlain 3222, and the Bucks won 10685. It was also the first national final to go into overtime; and is still the only one to go into triple overtime. . Leaving college in 1958, Chamberlain had to wait a year before going pro due to NBA rules.
Wilt Chamberlain: Career retrospective | Yardbarker "[209] Celtics contemporary Bob Cousy assumed that if Chamberlain had been less fixated on being popular, he would have been meaner and able to win more titles. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [62] In one particular game, Chamberlain blocked a dunk attempt by Baltimore Bullets player Gus Johnson so hard that he dislocated Johnson's shoulder.
Wilt Chamberlain's Stats Don't Seem Real Today | Stadium Talk Why did wilt chamberlain retire? [188] While previously friends, after Russell criticized Chamberlain for his performance during Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, the two did not speak for two decades. During his retirement, Wilt pursued various business ventures, such as a well-known chain of sports bars. [106] Prior to Game 5, the Sixers seemed poised to win the series, as no NBA team had overcome a 31 deficit before;[106] however, the Celtics rallied back, winning the next two games 122104 and 114106, respectively, powered by a spirited John Havlicek and helped by the Sixers' bad shooting. "[93] In Game 5, the Sixers overpowered the Celtics 140116, ending Boston's historic run of eight consecutive NBA titles. The 1961-62 season is the greatest single season that didn't result in an NBA championship ever. [47], Chamberlain also sponsored his personal professional volleyball and track and field teams, and also provided high-level teams for girls and women in basketball, track, volleyball, and softball. All Rights Reserved. Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973. EDITORS Kareem Abdul-Jabbar passed Wilt Chamberlain for the NBA's career scoring lead on April 5, 1984 during a game against the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas. 13 was the Los Angeles Lakers in November 1983. Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game. After his professional basketball career ended, Chamberlain played volleyball in the short-lived International Volleyball Association (IVA). He needed only 56 games to score 2,102 points, which broke the all-time regular-season scoring record of Bob Pettit, who needed 72 games to score 2,101 points. Chamberlain was also a lifelong bachelor and became notorious for his statement of having had sexual relations with as many as 20,000 women. Julius Erving had his no. Shoots: After rupturing his Achilles tendon, perennial captain Baylor retired, leaving a void Chamberlain filled. [10] He was listed as 7ft 1in (2.16m) tall and 258 pounds. According to various unofficial box scores at the time, Wilt Chamberlain had three quadruple doubles in the 1960s playoffs. So Katz crafted the lofty proposal of luring 45-year-old Wilt Chamberlain out of retirement after being out of the league for nine seasons. [45] One particular Globetrotter skit involved captain Meadowlark Lemon collapsing to the ground, and instead of helping him up, Chamberlain threw him several feet high up in the air and caught him like a doll. "[111] The greatest problem was his tense relationship with Van Breda Kolff. "[9] It was also in this period of his life when his three lifelong nicknames "Wilt the Stilt", "Goliath", and his favorite, "The Big Dipper", were born.
Shaq and 31 more athletes with numbers retired by multiple teams Retired 18 Years, Wilt Claims He's Ready to Rebound Russell botched the inbounds pass, hitting a guy-wire supporting the backboard, and giving the ball back to the Sixers. . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The last time being in 1989, when Wilt was 55 years old! He personally preferred "The Big Dipper", which was inspired by his friends who saw him dip his head as he walked through doorways. Answer (1 of 6): An interesting fact: in Wilt's two championship seasons, both his teams set regular season win records. He happened to make a living playing basketball, but he was more than that. Having never fouled out in his career, a feat that he was very proud of, Chamberlain played aggressive defense despite the risk of fouling out, and blocked two of Lucas' shots in overtime, proving those wrong who said he only played for his own statistics; he ended scoring a game-high 27 points. His fouls per 36 minutes (a statistic used to compare players that average vastly different minutes) was a remarkable 1.6 per game. Prior to the 196667 NBA season, Schayes was replaced by a familiar face, the more assertive Alex Hannum. The Celtics were knocked out of the running after eight consecutive championship wins. He wished people would understand that their roles were different. Chamberlain feared he might lose his cool one day.
Wilt Chamberlain - Wikipedia [5][163] Chamberlain is most remembered for his 100-point game,[164][165] which is widely considered one of basketball's greatest records. In Game 2, Chamberlain scored 19 points, grabbed 24 rebounds, and blocked Reed's shot in the final seconds, leading the Lakers to a 105103 win. [85] Chamberlain later commented that he could see in hindsight how the interview was instrumental in damaging his public image. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [12] Specifically, according to the 2 year contract that Chamberlain had signed prior to the 1971-72 season, if he failed to sign and mail back his next contract his contract with the Lakers would be deemed to be renewed. Cherry comments that Chamberlain, who always thought of himself as the best player of all time, should have been outspoken enough to demand the ball. He also made several film and television appearances, as well as hosted his own talk show. In a closely contested Game 7, Chamberlain tied the game at 107 with 16 seconds to go, but Celtics shooting guard Sam Jones hit a clutch shot with two seconds left to win the series for Boston. Coach Schayes called timeout and decided it would be unwise to pass the ball to Chamberlain, because he feared the Celtics would intentionally foul him. ", Chamberlain is regarded as one of the most extraordinary and dominant basketball players in the history of the NBA,[41][5][10] often being debated as the greatest NBA player of all time even ahead of Michael Jordan. Chamberlain promoted the sport so effectively that he was named to the IVA Hall of Fame, and he became one of the few athletes who were enshrined in different sports. He scored 34 points as Overbrook won the Philadelphia Public League title and gained a berth in the city championship game against the winner of the rival Catholic league, the West Catholic High School. [114] In Game 4, Chamberlain scored 18 points and grabbed 25 rebounds and helped tie the series at 2. When Chamberlain was 50, the New Jersey Nets had the same idea but were declined. He also played for the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the NBA, where he played for the Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. [41] Another landmark was his 25,000th point, making him the first-ever player to score that many points; he gave the ball to his team physician Stan Lorber. [142] As a testament to his importance, the IVA All-Star game was televised only because Chamberlain also played in it; he rose to the challenge and was named the game's MVP. In a fiercely battled Game 4, Chamberlain was playing with five fouls late in the game. [184], More hostile was Chamberlain's relationship with fellow center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, eleven years his junior. Chamberlain stayed with the Warriors as they moved out to San Francisco in 1962. [38], Chamberlain was named first-team All-American. [30] He reportedly had a 50-inch (130cm) vertical leap,[31] and was capable of converting foul shots by dunking, without a running start, beginning his movement just steps behind the top of the key. Cherry describes how Celtics coach Auerbach ordered his forward Tom Heinsohn to commit personal fouls on Chamberlain; whenever the Warriors shot foul shots, Heinsohn grabbed and shoved Chamberlain to prevent him from running back quickly. "[111] In spite of their earlier quarrels, Van Breda Kolff came to his defense, insisting the often-maligned Chamberlain hardly was able to move in the end. [28][d], Chamberlain's freshman team debut was highly anticipated; the freshman squad was pitted against the varsity, a team favored to win their conference that year. Scoring 35 points, Chamberlain led Overbrook to an 8342 victory. . With 10 seconds remaining, Tar Heels' center Joe Quigg pump faked then drove to the basket. [5][155][156] His longtime attorney Sy Goldberg stated Chamberlain died of congestive heart failure. Loaded with several other players who could score, Hannum wanted Chamberlain to concentrate more on defense. Chamberlain blocked Quigg's shot but was also called for the foul. That is totally ridiculous. With rookie Jim McMillian easing the scoring pressure, Chamberlain scored 24 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in a 118107 victory, but the Bucks defeated the Lakers 11794 in Game 4 to take a 31 series lead. [10][12], Chamberlain averaged 31 points a game during the 1953 high school season and led his team to a 7162 win over Northeast High School of Guy Rodgers, Chamberlain's future NBA teammate. In a physically tough matchup, the Sixers lost sixth man Cunningham with a broken hand, and Chamberlain, Greer, and Jackson were struggling with inflamed feet, bad knees, and pulled hamstrings, respectively. "[122][206] Chamberlain also acknowledged that he never came close to marrying and had no intention of raising any children. [111] Van Breda Kolff was perceived as "pig-headed" for benching Chamberlain and soon resigned as Lakers coach. Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973, at the end of the '72-'73 season, to pursue other interests.
When did wilt chamberlain retire? Explained by Sharing Culture 2 in Slam ' s top 500 NBA players of all time in 2011, In honor of Chamberlain, his jerseys have been retired six times, by Overbrook High .
Did Wilt Chamberlain Have a Quadruple-Double? - Sportsmanist The 210-pound Lemon later recounted how Chamberlain was "the strongest athlete who ever lived". By 197172, at age 35 and running less, his game had transformed to averaging only nine shots per game compared to the 40 in his record-setting 196162 season. [193], Chamberlain was the first big earner of basketball; he immediately became the highest-paid player upon entering the NBA. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Cherry says that Chamberlain was not a natural leader or a loyal follower, which made him difficult to fit in. The name was retained in one of Chamberlain's signature moves, the "dipper dunk". [117], After the playoffs, Chamberlain challenged heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali to a fight. [25], After his last Overbrook season, more than two hundred universities tried to recruit Chamberlain. Chamberlain often invited Russell over to Thanksgiving and visited Russell's place, where conversation mostly concerned Russell's electric trains. Peterson had stated that she had blamed herself and was almost "convinced that I was a very bad person for letting that happen", until the Me Too movement made her rethink the experience. Their relationship remained mostly strained until Chamberlain's death. For Game 5, Chamberlain's hands were packed into thick pads normally destined for defensive linesmen in football; he was offered a painkilling shot but refused because he feared he would lose his shooting touch if his hands became numb. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! He disliked the ones that portrayed his height negatively, such as "Wilt the Stilt" and "Goliath". Over a ten-day period, there were 23 checks in the book, which would be a rate of 2.3 women per day. "[64], In the 196162 NBA season, the Warriors were coached by Frank McGuire, the coach who had masterminded Chamberlain's triple overtime loss in the NCAA championship against the Tar Heels. [40] In two seasons at KU, he averaged 29.9 points and 18.3 rebounds per game, while totaling 1,433 points and 877 rebounds,[9] and led Kansas to one Big Seven championship. At the 1965 All-Star Weekend, Chamberlain was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. More than 7 feet (2.1 metres) tall, Chamberlain was an outstanding centre . This angered the team, who preferred an early schedule to have the afternoon off, but Schayes just said: "There is no other way." During his two championship seasons, Chamberlain led the league in rebounding, while his scoring decreased. Teammate Monte Johnson stated that Chamberlain had "unbelievable endurance and speed and was never tired. [151] According to those close to him, he eventually began taking medication for his heart troubles. The Jayhawks were defeated by North Carolina, but Chamberlain was named "Most Outstanding Player" of the tournament. ""Whats unfortunate is that most people regard the great leapers as being only the short guys who could dunk," said the 7 1 & 18u2033 Wilt Chamberlain.