Wilt Chamberlain Timeline

(August 21, 1936 - October 12, 1999)

Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999) was one of the most dominant players in basketball history. Known as 'Wilt the Stilt,' he played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers, setting numerous records including his famous 100-point game in 1962 and averaging 50.4 points per game during the 1961-62 season. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and College

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Aug 21, 1936

Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia to William and Olivia Chamberlain. He grew up in a large family and was one of nine children. Despite suffering from pneumonia as a child, he developed into a remarkable athlete, standing 6 feet 11 inches by the time he entered high school.

Image source: Wilt Chamberlain

Stars at Overbrook High School

1951 - 1955

Chamberlain attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, where he became a basketball sensation, scoring over 2,200 points and leading his team to two city championships. His extraordinary height and skill made him one of the most recruited players in the nation.

Joins University of Kansas Jayhawks

Sep 1, 1955

Chamberlain enrolled at the University of Kansas on a basketball scholarship under coach Phog Allen. He immediately made an impact, dominating freshman games while waiting for varsity eligibility.

Varsity debut with 52 points against Northwestern

Dec 3, 1956

In his first collegiate varsity game, Chamberlain scored 52 points and grabbed 31 rebounds for Kansas, setting school records in his very first appearance and announcing his arrival as a college superstar.

Leads Kansas to NCAA championship game

Mar 23, 1957

Chamberlain led the Kansas Jayhawks to the 1957 NCAA championship game, where they lost in triple overtime to North Carolina. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament despite the defeat, and was selected as a consensus All-American.

Leaves Kansas to join the Harlem Globetrotters

1958 - 1959

Frustrated that the NBA's rules prevented him from turning pro early, Chamberlain left college after his junior year and joined the Harlem Globetrotters for a lucrative tour, entertaining crowds worldwide before entering the NBA draft.

Image source: Harlem Globetrotters

NBA Career

Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors

May 8, 1959

The Philadelphia Warriors selected Chamberlain as a territorial pick in the 1959 NBA draft. He signed a contract reportedly worth $30,000, making him an immediate star and the highest-paid player in the league.

NBA debut: 43 points and 28 rebounds vs. Knicks

Oct 24, 1959

Chamberlain made a spectacular NBA debut against the New York Knicks, scoring 43 points and grabbing 28 rebounds. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in his first season, averaging 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game.

Traded to the San Francisco Warriors

Jan 15, 1965

After the Philadelphia Warriors franchise moved to San Francisco, Chamberlain was traded mid-season back east to the Philadelphia 76ers, returning him to his hometown where he would lead a dominant team.

Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

Jul 9, 1968

In one of the biggest trades of its era, the 76ers sent Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers, pairing him with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and creating one of the most formidable teams of the late 1960s.

Image source: Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers lose Game 7 of Finals to Celtics by two points

May 5, 1969

Chamberlain and the Lakers lost a heart-breaking Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics by just two points. Chamberlain was forced out of the game with a knee injury late, and it marked Bill Russell's final championship.

Image source: 1969 NBA Finals

Plays final NBA game

May 10, 1973

Chamberlain played his last NBA game in Game 5 of the 1973 NBA Finals, which the Lakers lost to the New York Knicks. He retired shortly afterward after 14 seasons as arguably the most statistically dominant player ever.

Records and Achievements

Grabs record 55 rebounds in a single game

Nov 24, 1960

Chamberlain pulled down 55 rebounds against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, setting the NBA record for most rebounds in a game. It remains one of the most untouchable records in professional basketball history.

Image source: Rebound (basketball)

Averages 50.4 points per game in 1961–62 season

Oct 19, 1961 - Mar 11, 1962

During the 1961–62 season, Chamberlain averaged an astonishing 50.4 points per game, the only time a player has ever averaged more than 40 or 50 points across an entire season. He also played nearly every minute of every game.

Scores 100 points in a single game

Mar 2, 1962

Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain scored an unprecedented 100 points, a record widely considered unbreakable. He shot 36-of-63 from the field and 28-of-32 from the free throw line that night.

Image source: Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game

Named NBA MVP for third time

May 1966

Chamberlain won his third consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Award after the 1965–66 season, having previously earned the honor in 1960, 1966, 1967, and would again in 1968 — four times total in his career.

Image source: NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Wins first NBA championship with 76ers

Apr 24, 1967

Chamberlain led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1967 NBA title, defeating the Boston Celtics in five games to end their eight-year championship reign, then beating the Warriors in six games in the Finals. The team posted a 68–13 regular-season record, then the best in NBA history.

Leads NBA in assists as a center

Nov 1, 1967 - Apr 1, 1968

During the 1967–68 season, Chamberlain led the NBA in assists, averaging 8.6 per game — the only time a center has ever led the league in that category, showcasing his all-around brilliance.

Image source: Assist (basketball)

Lakers' 33-game winning streak

Nov 5, 1971 - Jan 9, 1972

The 1971–72 Lakers, anchored by Chamberlain's defense and rebounding alongside Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, won 33 consecutive games — a record for major American professional sports that still stands today.

Sets NBA record for field goal percentage

Feb 1, 1972 - Apr 1, 1972

During the 1971–72 season, Chamberlain set the NBA record for highest field goal percentage in a season, shooting 72.7 percent from the floor, a mark that still stands as the standard for accuracy.

Image source: Field goal percentage

Wins second NBA championship with Lakers

May 7, 1972

Chamberlain was named Finals MVP as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New York Knicks in five games to capture the 1972 NBA championship. The Lakers had set a then-record 33-game winning streak that season en route to the title.

Number 13 jersey retired by multiple teams

1979

Chamberlain's No. 13 jersey was retired by the Golden State Warriors (formerly the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors), the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers, a rare triple honor reflecting his impact on three franchises.

Named to NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team

1980

The NBA honored Chamberlain by naming him to its 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980, recognizing him as one of the greatest players of the league's first 35 years.

Image source: NBA 35th Anniversary Team

Selected as one of NBA's 50 Greatest Players

Oct 29, 1996

At the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration, Chamberlain was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, affirming his status as a transcendent figure in the sport.

Image source: NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Post-NBA Life

Briefly coaches the San Diego Conquistadors

1973 - 1974

After retiring as a player, Chamberlain signed to coach the ABA's San Diego Conquistadors, though legal action by the Lakers barred him from playing for them. His coaching stint lasted one season.

Image source: San Diego Conquistadors

Publishes autobiography 'Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire'

1973

Chamberlain released his autobiography in 1973, offering candid reflections on his career, fame, race, and life as one of America's most recognizable athletes.

Competes in beach volleyball and other sports ventures

1974 - 1980

Following retirement, Chamberlain pursued volleyball, becoming a standout amateur player, investing in the International Volleyball Association, and even considering marathon running and boxing matches during his athletic post-retirement years.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

May 7, 1978

Chamberlain was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, cementing his legacy among the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Image source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Appears in film Conan the Destroyer

Jun 29, 1984

Chamberlain co-starred as Bombaata alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the fantasy film 'Conan the Destroyer,' showcasing his imposing physical presence on the big screen and expanding his celebrity beyond sports.

Dies of congestive heart failure at age 63

Oct 12, 1999

Wilt Chamberlain died at his home in Bel-Air, California, of congestive heart failure at age 63. Tributes poured in from across the sports world honoring the man who revolutionized the game of basketball.

Statue unveiled outside Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia

Dec 8, 2000

A larger-than-life statue of Wilt Chamberlain performing a dunk was dedicated outside the Sixers' arena in Philadelphia, commemorating the hometown legend who remains one of the city's greatest sports icons.

Image source: Xfinity Mobile Arena

Key Facts

Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, an NBA record that still stands today.
He averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game during the 1961-62 season, one of the most statistically dominant seasons in sports history.
Chamberlain won two NBA championships: with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
He was a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was selected to 13 All-Star Games over his career.
Chamberlain led the NBA in rebounding for seven seasons and retired as the all-time leader in total rebounds with 23,924.

Source

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