Rate Wilt Chamberlain's FREE THROW SKILLS (video)

[millwad]

Wilt is an all-time great, maybe the greatest offensive force the league ever saw and seen.

Wilt had problems though, he had an extremely low FT%, the guy during his career shot 51% from the line, which is even worse than Shaq. During the playoffs he was even worse only making 46% of his shots.

What did the mighty Wilt do wrong, how could he have done better? He clanked most FT's in league history but at the same time he shot a hell alot of them..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITxDdnzpnU8

[28renyoy]

Wow..it's like he didn't even care. He just throws them up there without even looking.

[Scoooter]

You can see how strong he was. The ball is just flying out of his hands.

With some guys it's just a mental. At the point shown in that clip, Wilt looked like he just didn't give ****. Especially in an All-Star game.

[jlauber]

While Wilt was never a good FT shooter, he was decent coming into the NBA. At KU, in his two years there he shot .627 and .608. He also shot .613 in his 61-62 season.

Still, you can't deny his IMPACT from the line. Chamberlain currently ranks 17th ALL-TIME, in FTs MADE. Just as matter of reference, Chamberlain ranks ahead of players like David Robinson, Rick Barry, and Hakeem (who played FOUR more seasons, and made 600 LESS in his career.) How about these numbers? Chamberlain MADE over 1000 FTs than Duncan. 1200 more than Stockton. 1500 more than Garnett. And then there is this staggering differential...Wilt MADE 6057 FTs in his career, while Bird MADE 3960. AND, while Kareem made 6712, his came over the course of 20 seasons. Chamberlain AVERAGED 432 MADE per season, while Kareem was at 335.

Furthermore, Chamberlain's 835 MADE in his 61-62 season, is the second highest SEASON in NBA HISTORY, and just behind Jerry West's 840 in '65. And find a player who made MORE in a GAME, than Chamberlain, whose 28-32 game...which is tied with Dantley as the MOST MADE in one game.

Of course, the REAL impact of Wilt's FT shooting came in a variety of examples. First of all, Wilt, and possibly Shaq, probably made the most "and-one's" in NBA history. These were BONUS FTs in addition to their baskets. Secondly, Wilt not only got his opposing center(s) in foul trouble, he got ENTIRE TEAMS into foul trouble....which ultimately benefitted not only himself, but his teammates, as well. Opposing defenders either were replaced, or had to play a more lax defense. And finally...how many EXTRA FTs did Chamberlain's teammates receive because of the EARLY penalty situations that Wilt put opposing team's in? Chamberlain's teams were first in FTAs THREE times, including a HUGE differential in '67. And they were second MULTIPLE times, including his last two seasons ('72 and '73) Interesting, too, is that his Lakers finished first in '69, and in '70 they were 11th (in a 14 team league)...when he missed nearly the entire regular season.

[PHILA]

With some guys it's just a mental.
:applause:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsRO2xQG8pY#t=1m57s



The Spokesman-Review - Feb 3, 1999

http://i.imgur.com/WknGp.png



Daily News of Los Angeles - Nov 21, 1991

Wilt Chamberlain once visited a psychiatrist to help him with his poor foul shooting. "All that happened," said Chamberlain, ''was that after two months, that sucker, the psychiatrist, was a great foul shooter, and there I was, doing my same thing.



Sports Illustrated - October 07, 1974 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089076/4/index.htm)

Free throws are something I'll always be sorry about. How can you make 80 or 90 of 100 in practice and not be able to make 45% in a game? Even though, I'll bet my clutch free-throw shooting percentage is as high as most. Ike Richman, a friend of mine with the 76er organization, paid for me to talk to a psychiatrist about foul shots. I don't think I'm a schizo. I think I'm fairly stable. But I'd go in there and see this analyst, and come out shooting worse. He talked to me about all the things you would talk about to a disturbed patient. I enjoyed it because I guess we all think we're a little bit of an amateur psychiatrist. I surely do. I wanted to see how the professionals did it. Unfortunately, and not to demean the guy, I don't think he found out a thing about me. I got to psychoanalyzing him. So after about 13 weeks I quit. And now I'm qualified in psychiatry—but still a lousy foul shooter.

[iamgine]

It's pretty clear what his problem is if you look at how he throw the ball.

[purplch0de]

most overrated center of all time

[Bring-Your-Js]

Shaq would destroy him.

[Rysio]

one of the greatest stat padders of all time. right up there with lebrick. :bowdown:

[z14h]

He was too busy banging chicks to practice his FTs.

[purplch0de]

Brian cook >>>>> Wilt

[Simple Jack]

It's pretty scary to think what he could have done had he been even a decent FT shooter considering he already beasted despite being sub-par from the line.

[Texas Chili Dog]

He clearly didn't give a **** because he knew he was just gonna score the next time down the court. :oldlol:

[jlauber]

one of the greatest stat padders of all time. right up there with lebrick. :bowdown:

Let's take a closer look shall we...

Wilt came to what had been a last place team in his rookie season, and IMMEDIATELY led the them to a then best-ever W-L record (49-26.) Two years later, in his 50 ppg -26 rpg season, he took that same basic last place roster to a game seven, two-point loss against the 60-20 Celtics, and their SEVEN HOFers...and with EVERY teammate shooting .397 or LESS in the post-season.

The next season, in a year in which he was arguably saddled with the worst roster in NBA history, he LED the NBA in 15 of 22 statistical categories...including leading the league in scoring, rebounding, and setting a then-record FG% mark. Keep that achievement in mind...as I will be bringing it up again. Despite his individual brilliance, that team went 31-49 (losing a ton of close games BTW.)

How bad was that roster? Chamberlain shot .528...and his teammates collectively shot .412. Even more importantly, the very next season, his new coach, Alex Hannum, conducted a pre-season scrimmage, without Wilt, with that roster going up against draft picks and undrafted players. Guess which team won the game? Despite that cast of clowns, Chamberlain LED that team to a 48-32 record. In the post-season, he averaged 34.7 ppg, 25.2 rpg, and shot .543 (in a league that shot .433), en route to taking them to the Finals, where they lost to Russell's Celtics, 4-1. Of course, Russell had an 8-2 edge in HOFers (and Wilt's lone HOF teammate was rookie Nate Thurmond, who was playing part-time, out of position, and shooting .395 from the field.) And, Wilt was dominant in the Finals, averaging 29 ppg to Russell's 11 ppg, and outrebounding Russell, per game, 27-25. Not only that, but Chamberlain shot .543 in the playoffs, while Russell shot .356...and Wilt faced Russell in five of hios 12 playoff games, while Russell faced Chamberlain in five of his ten.

A year later he was "traded" (out of panic when it was thought he had a heart problem), and he IMMEDIATELY took that team, which had been 34-46 the year before, to a 40-40 record. But even more importantly, he took that average roster, to a game seven, one-point loss against Russell's 62-18 Celtics (and their 6-2 edge in HOFers)...in a series in which he recorded the ONLY 30-30 playoff series in NBA history (30 ppg and 31 rpg...and that included a game seven of 30 points, on an 80% FG%, with 32 rebounds.)

He then led that Sixer team to the BEST record in the league THREE straight seasons. Included in that was his '66 season, when ONCE AGAIN, he LED the NBA in scoring, rebounding, and set a new FG% record (shooting .540 in a league that shot .433.) Once again...he did the SAME thing in '63, and his team went 31-49. So what changed? How come this team went 55-25?

Also included in that three-year run was his 66-67 season, when he averaged 24.1 ppg, 24.2 rpg, 7.8 apg, and shot an incredible .683 from the field (which came in a league that shot .441...and which was an eye-popping .162 better than runner-up Walt Bellamy's .521.) Oh, and BTW, that "stats-padder" LED that Sixer team to a then best-ever 68-13 mark. In fact, that W-L record is STILL a Philly team record. In the playoffs he crushed the Royals with a 28 ppg, 26.5 rpg, 11.0 apg, and .612 series. Then he pounded Russell his eight-time defending champion Celtics, 4-1...in a series in which he outscored Russell, per game, 22-11; outrebounded Russell, per game, 32-23; outassisted Russell, 10-6; and outshot Russell, .556 to .358. In the clinching game five, all Chamberlain did was outscore Russell, 29-4; outshoot Russell, 10-16 to 2-5; outassist Russell, 13-7; and outrebound Russell, 36-21. Then, in the Finals, he led his Sixers to a 4-2 romp over the Thurmond-Barry tandem. And he outscored Thurmond, per game 18-14; outrebounded Thurmond, per game, 29-27 (outrebounding him in five of the six game....inclyding one game of 38); and outshot Thurmond by a .560 to .343 margin.

After leading those Sixer teams to the BEST record in the league in his three full seasons, he engineered a trade to the Lakers. He then took those Laker teams to FOUR Finals in FIVE seasons (losing two game seven's.) He also LED the Lakers to a 69-13 record in his 71-72 season, which included 33 straight wins, and a dominating world title. And that 69-13 record is still a team record. By virtually EVERY account he outplayed a prime Kareem in the WCF's, and then won the Finals MVP ...which included a clinching game five performance of 24 points, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds (and the entire Knick team had 39 BTW), and nine blocks...all while playing with one badly sprained wrist, and the other BROKEN.

EVERY team he joined would set a then best-ever TEAM W-L record (and TWO of them are STILL team record.) Every team he left dropped dramatically (even when TRADED for MULTIPLE players.) He played in TWELVE Conference Finals in his 14 seasons. He played on SIX Division winners. He played on SIX Conference champions. He played on SIX teams that went to the FINALS. He played on FOUR teams with the best record in the league. He played on SIX 50+ win teams. He played on FOUR 60+ win teams. And he anchored TWO dominating title teams that went 68-13 and 69-13.

In his first seven years (his "scoring" seasons) , and in six post-seasons, he averaged 34 ppg and 27 rpg. In his first nine seasons, which covered eight post-seasons, all he did was averaged 29.3 ppg, 26.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, and shot .518 (in leagues that shot between .410 to .446...and averaged about .430.) He had THREE playoff series in which he averaged 37 ppg, 37 ppg, and 39 ppg. He also averaged 30+ ppg against Russell in FOUR playoff series (including that 30-31 series in '65.) In the '70 Finals, and on ONE leg, he averaged 23.2 ppg, 24.1 rpg, and shot .625...which is the ONLY 20-20 .600 Finals in NBA HISTORY. He had FOUR 50+ point games in the post-season, including a 50 point, 35 rebound game against Russell in an "elimination" game. And, he also had a 56-35 game in a clinching game five win in a best-of-five playoff series. Just against Russell alone, he had FOUR 40-30 games. He had NINE 20-20 post-seasons....which included SIX of 28 ppg or higher, and FOUR 30-20 post-seasons. He also had a 28 ppg, 30.2 rpg post-season (on .509 shooting...in a league that shot .433.) He NEVER had a post-season of LESS than 20.2 rpg. And he had EIGHT post-seasons of 24.7+ rpg...including 27 rpg, 27 rpg, 29 rpg, and 30 rpg. Even in his LAST post-season, covering 17 games, he averaged 22.5 rpg (in a league that averaged 51.6 rpg.) AND, in his 160 post-season games, he averaged 47.2 MPG!

THAT was Wilt the "stats-padder."

[zay_24]

most overrated center of all time
this

[jlauber]

this

The RECORD BOOK says otherwise.

[jlip]

What are "free throw skills"? Either you are a good ft shooter or you're not.

[jlauber]

What are "free throw skills"? Either you are a good ft shooter or you're not.

Russell was a .561 career FT shooter. Shaq was a career .527 FT shooter. And Chamberlain was a career .511 FT shooter.

Even Howard is a .598 career FT shooter. My god, Duncan had a SEASON of .599, and an entire post-season (covering 10 games) of .478.

[Butters]

I rate him a 5/10.right there with Shaq.

[millwad]

Let's take a closer look shall we...

Wilt came to what had been a last place team in his rookie season, and IMMEDIATELY led the them to a then best-ever W-L record (49-26.) Two years later, in his 50 ppg -26 rpg season, he took that same basic last place roster to a game seven, two-point loss against the 60-20 Celtics, and their SEVEN HOFers...and with EVERY teammate shooting .397 or LESS in the post-season.

The next season, in a year in which he was arguably saddled with the worst roster in NBA history, he LED the NBA in 15 of 22 statistical categories...including leading the league in scoring, rebounding, and setting a then-record FG% mark. Keep that achievement in mind...as I will be bringing it up again. Despite his individual brilliance, that team went 31-49 (losing a ton of close games BTW.)

How bad was that roster? Chamberlain shot .528...and his teammates collectively shot .412. Even more importantly, the very next season, his new coach, Alex Hannum, conducted a pre-season scrimmage, without Wilt, with that roster going up against draft picks and undrafted players. Guess which team won the game? Despite that cast of clowns, Chamberlain LED that team to a 48-32 record. In the post-season, he averaged 34.7 ppg, 25.2 rpg, and shot .543 (in a league that shot .433), en route to taking them to the Finals, where they lost to Russell's Celtics, 4-1. Of course, Russell had an 8-2 edge in HOFers (and Wilt's lone HOF teammate was rookie Nate Thurmond, who was playing part-time, out of position, and shooting .395 from the field.) And, Wilt was dominant in the Finals, averaging 29 ppg to Russell's 11 ppg, and outrebounding Russell, per game, 27-25. Not only that, but Chamberlain shot .543 in the playoffs, while Russell shot .356...and Wilt faced Russell in five of hios 12 playoff games, while Russell faced Chamberlain in five of his ten.

A year later he was "traded" (out of panic when it was thought he had a heart problem), and he IMMEDIATELY took that team, which had been 34-46 the year before, to a 40-40 record. But even more importantly, he took that average roster, to a game seven, one-point loss against Russell's 62-18 Celtics (and their 6-2 edge in HOFers)...in a series in which he recorded the ONLY 30-30 playoff series in NBA history (30 ppg and 31 rpg...and that included a game seven of 30 points, on an 80% FG%, with 32 rebounds.)

He then led that Sixer team to the BEST record in the league THREE straight seasons. Included in that was his '66 season, when ONCE AGAIN, he LED the NBA in scoring, rebounding, and set a new FG% record (shooting .540 in a league that shot .433.)

Also included in that three-year run was his 66-67 season, when he averaged 24.1 ppg, 24.2 rpg, 7.8 apg, and shot an incredible .683 from the field (which came in a league that shot .441...and which was an eye-popping .162 better than runner-up Walt Bellamy's .521.) Oh, and BTW, that "stats-padder" LED that Sixer team to a then best-ever 68-13 mark. In fact, that W-L record is STILL a Philly team record. In the playoffs he crushed the Royals with a 28 ppg, 26.5 rpg, 11.0 apg, and .612 series. Then he pounded Russell his eight-time defending champion Celtics, 4-1...in a series in which he outscored Russell, per game, 22-11; outrebounded Russell, per game, 32-23; outassisted Russell, 10-6; and outshot Russell, .556 to .358. In the clinching game five, all Chamberlain did was outscore Russell, 29-4; outshoot Russell, 10-16 to 2-5; outassist Russell, 13-7; and outrebound Russell, 36-21. Then, in the Finals, he led his Sixers to a 4-2 romp over the Thurmond-Barry tandem. And he outscored Thurmond, per game 18-14; outrebounded Thurmond, per game, 29-27 (outrebounding him in five of the six game....inclyding one game of 38); and outshot Thurmond by a .560 to .343 margin.

After leading those Sixer teams to the BEST record in the league in his three full seasons, he engineered a trade to the Lakers. He then took those Laker teams to FOUR Finals in FIVE seasons (losing two game seven's.) He also LED the Lakers to a 69-13 record in his 71-72 season, which included 33 straight wins, and a dominating world title. And that 69-13 record is still a team record. By virtually EVERY account he outplayed a prime Kareem in the WCF's, and then won the Finals MVP ...which included a clinching game five performance of 24 points, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds (and the entire Knick team had 39 BTW), and nine blocks...all while playing with one badly sprained wrist, and the other BROKEN.

EVERY team he joined would set a then best-ever TEAM W-L record (and TWO of them are STILL team record.) Every team he left dropped dramatically (even when TRADED for MULTIPLE players.) He played in TWELVE Conference Finals in his 14 seasons. He played on SIX Division winners. He played on SIX Conference champions. He played on SIX teams that went to the FINALS. He played on FOUR teams with the best record in the league. He played on SIX 50+ win teams. He played on FOUR 60+ win teams. And he anchored TWO dominating title teams that went 68-13 and 69-13.

THAT was Wilt the "stats-padder."

You really got an answer for everything, don't you?

For a guy who "dominated" his era that much, he sure thing didn't win a lot but individual accomplishments. Winning two championships ain't that great, and especially not for that era considering how dominant the guy was (at least when it came to statpadding).

And you always talk about how bad teammates he had but still there are guys who've led their teams to the titles with less help and are considered to be worse players than Wilt.


In the '66-'67 season when Wilt at age 30 finally won he had great help;

In the post season the major players of that 76er team averaged:

Hal Greer - 27.7 points, 5.3 assists and 5.9 rebounds
Chet Walker - 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 rebounds
Wali Jones - 17.5 points, 4.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds
Billy Cunningham - 15 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists
Luke Jackson - 11 points and 11 rebounds


Wilt had two guys averaging more than 20 points per game during the '76 playoffs and as if that wasn't enough he had two more guys averaging more than 15 points per game. And finally a Luke Jackson averaging a double double during the whole playoffs.

It's not like he led a crappy team to the championshiptitle, it was a team with 3 hall of famers (Wilt included), a 7-time all-star in Walker and a great playing Wali Jones.

And in his last run winning it all with the '72 Lakers when he wasn't even in his prime anymore, he had great help there as well with guys like Goodrich, West, McMillan and Hairston.

Beside those 2 years when he won, he didn't have the crappiest of crappy NBA players by his side.

[jlauber]

Of course, one can only wonder what Wilt's FT% would have been had the NBA not banned the dunking of FTs BECAUSE of Chamberlain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_dunk


Jim Pollard,[6] Wilt Chamberlain,[5] Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Stromile Swift, Shawn Kemp, Grant Hill, Darrell Griffith, Korleone Young, Edgar Jones, LeBron James, James White, Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, Jamario Moon, Hakeem Olajuwon, Chris Webber, Dwight Howard, Mike Conley, Sr., Serge Ibaka, Samuel Dalembert, Brent Barry, Al Thornton and Josh Smith have each completed a dunk from the free-throw line, which is 15 feet from the basket. Unlike the others, Wilt Chamberlain did not require a full running start, but instead began his movement from inside the top half of the free throw circle.[5]

[N0Skillz]

Of course, one can only wonder what Wilt's FT% would have been had the NBA not banned the dunking of FTs BECAUSE of Chamberlain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_dunk



prove it

[jlauber]

You really got an answer for everything, don't you?

For a guy who "dominated" his era that much, he sure thing didn't win a lot but individual accomplishments. Winning two championships ain't that great, and especially not for that era considering how dominant the guy was (at least when it came to statpadding).

And you always talk about how bad teammates he had but still there are guys who've led their teams to the titles with less help and are considered to be worse players than Wilt.


In the '66-'67 season when Wilt at age 30 finally won he had great help;

In the post season the major players of that 76er team averaged:

Hal Greer - 27.7 points, 5.3 assists and 5.9 rebounds
Chet Walker - 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 rebounds
Wali Jones - 17.5 points, 4.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds
Billy Cunningham - 15 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists
Luke Jackson - 11 points and 11 rebounds


Wilt had two guys averaging more than 20 points per game during the '76 playoffs and as if that wasn't enough he had two more guys averaging more than 15 points per game. And finally a Luke Jackson averaging a double double during the whole playoffs.

It's not like he led a crappy team to the championshiptitle, it was a team with 3 hall of famers (Wilt included), a 7-time all-star in Walker and a great playing Wali Jones.

And in his last run winning it all with the '72 Lakers when he wasn't even in his prime anymore, he had great help there as well with guys like Goodrich, West, McMillan and Hairston.

Beside those 2 years when he won, he didn't have the crappiest of crappy NBA players by his side.

How many of those other "greats" were OUTGUNNED by HOF rosters in nearly EVERY season (all but ONE post-season)? Even in Wilt's LAST post-season, his Lakers were outgunned by a Knicks roster that had SIX HOFers. And keep in mind that Wilt only played 14 seasons (and 13 post-seasons.) In his TEN seasons in the league with Russell, Russell's Celtics had an edge in HOFers EVERY season...some by HUGE margins (as much as a 9-1 edge.) Not only that, but Wilt faced a HOF center in TWO-THIRDS of his 160 post-season games.

Now, when Hakeem led his Rockets to a title, how many HOFers did his team's beat? How many HOFers were on Ewing's roster in '94, and how many HOFers (or even all-stars) were on Shaq's roster in '95?

[millwad]

Of course, one can only wonder what Wilt's FT% would have been had the NBA not banned the dunking of FTs BECAUSE of Chamberlain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_dunk

Haha, you're so full of crap.. Is a wikipedia-page who's not even correct your source? The same source tells that plenty of players have dunked from the FT line and if you actually would have checked the list you'd see what a joke that is and how much bullsh*t that page actually is.

And please, are you now gonna claim that Wilt actually dunked behind the FT-line on every single FT before it got banned? HAHA..

[jlauber]

prove it


Disprove it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain


He was also responsible for several rule changes, including widening the lane from 12 to 16 feet, as well as changes to rules regarding inbounding the ball[103] and shooting free throws

[Coach A]

Wow, Jlauber defends Wilt literally on EVERYTHING. Even Free Throw shooting :hammerhead:

[millwad]

How many of those other "greats" were OUTGUNNED by HOF rosters in nearly EVERY season (all but ONE post-season)? Even in Wilt's LAST post-season, his Lakers were outgunned by a Knicks roster that had SIX HOFers. And keep in mind that Wilt only played 14 seasons (and 13 post-seasons.) In his TEN seasons in the league with Russell, Russell's Celtics had an edge in HOFers EVERY season...some by HUGE margins (as much as a 9-1 edge.) Not only that, but Wilt faced a HOF center in TWO-THIRDS of his 160 post-season games.

Now, when Hakeem led his Rockets to a title, how many HOFers did his team's beat? How many HOFers were on Ewing's roster in '94, and how many HOFers (or even all-stars) were on Shaq's roster in '95?

Again, why are you bringing up Hakeem in every discussion regarding Wilt?

And as far as I care, Wilt in '67 playoffs had 4 guys who averaged more than 15 points, hell two of them averaged more than 20 per game.. Hakeem had 0 guys averaging more than 15 points a game during the '94 playoffs and if that wasn't all, the second best scorer on that team was Maxwell who averaged 13.8 points per game on 37% shooting...

[PHILA]

Haha, you're so full of crap.. Is a wikipedia-page who's not even correct your source? The same source tells that plenty of players have dunked from the FT line and if you actually would have checked the list you'd see what a joke that is and how much bullsh*t that page actually is.

And please, are you now gonna claim that Wilt actually dunked behind the FT-line on every single FT before it got banned? HAHA.. Toldeo Blade - Nov 28, 1956 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=340UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wAAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,4611332&dq)

'It seems Wilt has an unorthodox method of shooting free throws. The big guy takes aim at the basket from several feet behind the line. Then he takes about three giant steps, leaves his feet before reaching the line, and stuffs the ball through the hoop.

Under the old rule, it was perfectly legal as Wilt never touched the floor before letting go of the ball. In addition his percentage was fantastic.

"Why, he would have had a free throw percentage of 100," said [Tex] Winter. "He never missed."

Incidentally the rules committee did not mention Chamberlain by name as a reason for the change. The rule change was made, according to the committee, "to prevent freak activity."'



The Miami News - Nov 7, 1962 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1XYyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2229,2425147&dq)

'He can clean and jerk a 375-lb. weight, run the quarter mile in 47s, and high-jump over 6-11.'


Sports Illustrated - March 2, 1964 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075691/2/index.htm)

'The St. Louis Hawks' 6-foot-9, 240-pound Zelmo Beaty, for example, found out recently that he can no longer take Chamberlain's great strength for granted. Unable to slow Wilt down with conventional maltreatment, Beaty tried to yank his shorts off. Chamberlain, who can press 400 pounds without breathing hard, makes it a point to control his temper, primarily because he is genuinely afraid he might kill somebody. Beaty's unethical yank, however, was too much. Wilt flicked an arm, and Beaty flew across the floor like a man shot out of a cannon. Referee Mendy Rudolph rushed over to him and said: "For God's sake, stay down, man. Don't even twitch a muscle." Beaty didn't twitch, and he is still active in the NBA.'



The Evening Independent - Sep 15, 1966 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_dkLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7163,2399606&dq)

'Chamberlain, like Brown, is a great athlete and seriously considered becoming a fighter a year and a half ago. Wilt and Jimmy have competed against each other in foot races and tests of strength.

"I'd rather fight Clay than Wilt," Brown said. "Chamberlain's too big and he's too strong, but I'm no fighter. I'm saving whatever fighting I've got to do for the Dirty Dozen."'



St. Petersburg Times - Feb 25, 1969 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gPoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w3sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7049,3815406&dq)

'Wilt Chamberlain is probably the first giant in history to be able to break 50 seconds in the 440, win a Big Eight high-jump title and be able to set a pick. In fact, he may not be a true giant. Medicine has taken the mystery out of gigantism. Most giants of the past were physical weaklings. Some were 90 percent legs. Wilt Chamberlain, by common consent, is the world's strongest man.'


He was even stronger during his later years in life.

http://i43.tinypic.com/11icsox.gif

http://i48.tinypic.com/mk9pts.jpg


http://i45.tinypic.com/2dqttet.jpg

The Evening Independent - Jan 6, 1967 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TSMoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S1cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2229,911381&dq)

"I'd bet you $1,000 I could lift 1,000 pounds," the 76ers singular 7-1 center said, "I have. I've also hand-wrestled two men at the same time and beat them. And there's nothing I'd like to do better than play pro football."



Ocala Star-Banner - Sep 17, 1975 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_R8TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6593,3084647&dq)

'As inconspicuously as possible for a 7-foot 1-inch impresario, Wilt Chamberlain stopped by the New York Knicks' office for a quick social hello and now he was waiting for an elevator that would take him upstairs to the Madison Square Garden arena floor. When the elevator doors opened, Wilt stepped back as two husky workmen struggled to wheel a heavily loaded dolly into the corridor. On the dolly there were 10 big cartons of envelopes. For perhaps a minute the workmen pushed and pulled, trying to get the wheels of the dolly across the uneven gap between the elevator and the floor, huffing and puffing, they finally dropped their hands in frustration. "You look," Wilt said, "like you need a little help," His massive arms unencumbered by a chocolate sleeveless shirt, he reached down, grabbed the rope attached to the dolly and lifted the load into the corridor as if it had been a baby in a stroller. The workmen stared and thanked him. Wilt smiled, entered the elevator and the doors closed.

"I never saw anything like that," one of the workmen said. "These carton each weight about 80 pounds. This is an 800 pound load."

That's the approximate weight of four Knick teammates. And if Wilt were to join the Knicks for the approaching National Basketball Association season, he believes he could lift the team into contention with the Boston Celtics for the Atlantic Division title.'




I believe jlauber recently posted a John Havlicek quote on a physical confrontation Chamberlain had with NFL player and part time professional wrestler Big Daddy Lipscomb in the early 60's. Ended with Lipscomb on the floor and Chamberlain muttering, "Nobody messes with Wilt."


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/01/lipscomb.jpg

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/01/lipscomb365x445.jpg

[millwad]

Toldeo Blade - Nov 28, 1956 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=340UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wAAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,4611332&dq)

'It seems Wilt has an unorthodox method of shooting free throws. The big guy takes aim at the basket from several feet behind the line. Then he takes about three giant steps, leaves his feet before reaching the line, and stuffs the ball through the hoop.

Under the old rule, it was perfectly legal as Wilt never touched the floor before letting go of the ball. In addition his percentage was fantastic.

"Why, he would have had a free throw percentage of 100," said [Tex] Winter. "He never missed."

Incidentally the rules committee did not mention Chamberlain by name as a reason for the change. The rule change was made, according to the committee, "to prevent freak activity."'



The Miami News - Nov 7, 1962 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1XYyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2229,2425147&dq)

'He can clean and jerk a 375-lb. weight, run the quarter mile in 47s, and high-jump over 6-11.'


Sports Illustrated - March 2, 1964 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075691/2/index.htm)

'The St. Louis Hawks' 6-foot-9, 240-pound Zelmo Beaty, for example, found out recently that he can no longer take Chamberlain's great strength for granted. Unable to slow Wilt down with conventional maltreatment, Beaty tried to yank his shorts off. Chamberlain, who can press 400 pounds without breathing hard, makes it a point to control his temper, primarily because he is genuinely afraid he might kill somebody. Beaty's unethical yank, however, was too much. Wilt flicked an arm, and Beaty flew across the floor like a man shot out of a cannon. Referee Mendy Rudolph rushed over to him and said: "For God's sake, stay down, man. Don't even twitch a muscle." Beaty didn't twitch, and he is still active in the NBA.'



The Evening Independent - Sep 15, 1966 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_dkLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7163,2399606&dq)

'Chamberlain, like Brown, is a great athlete and seriously considered becoming a fighter a year and a half ago. Wilt and Jimmy have competed against each other in foot races and tests of strength.

"I'd rather fight Clay than Wilt," Brown said. "Chamberlain's too big and he's too strong, but I'm no fighter. I'm saving whatever fighting I've got to do for the Dirty Dozen."'



St. Petersburg Times - Feb 25, 1969 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gPoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w3sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7049,3815406&dq)

'Wilt Chamberlain is probably the first giant in history to be able to break 50 seconds in the 440, win a Big Eight high-jump title and be able to set a pick. In fact, he may not be a true giant. Medicine has taken the mystery out of gigantism. Most giants of the past were physical weaklings. Some were 90 percent legs. Wilt Chamberlain, by common consent, is the world's strongest man.'


He was even stronger during his later years in life.

http://i43.tinypic.com/11icsox.gif

http://i48.tinypic.com/mk9pts.jpg


http://i45.tinypic.com/2dqttet.jpg

The Evening Independent - Jan 6, 1967 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TSMoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S1cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2229,911381&dq)

"I'd bet you $1,000 I could lift 1,000 pounds," the 76ers singular 7-1 center said, "I have. I've also hand-wrestled two men at the same time and beat them. And there's nothing I'd like to do better than play pro football."



Ocala Star-Banner - Sep 17, 1975 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_R8TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6593,3084647&dq)

'As inconspicuously as possible for a 7-foot 1-inch impresario, Wilt Chamberlain stopped by the New York Knicks' office for a quick social hello and now he was waiting for an elevator that would take him upstairs to the Madison Square Garden arena floor. When the elevator doors opened, Wilt stepped back as two husky workmen struggled to wheel a heavily loaded dolly into the corridor. On the dolly there were 10 big cartons of envelopes. For perhaps a minute the workmen pushed and pulled, trying to get the wheels of the dolly across the uneven gap between the elevator and the floor, huffing and puffing, they finally dropped their hands in frustration. "You look," Wilt said, "like you need a little help," His massive arms unencumbered by a chocolate sleeveless shirt, he reached down, grabbed the rope attached to the dolly and lifted the load into the corridor as if it had been a baby in a stroller. The workmen stared and thanked him. Wilt smiled, entered the elevator and the doors closed.

"I never saw anything like that," one of the workmen said. "These carton each weight about 80 pounds. This is an 800 pound load."

That's the approximate weight of four Knick teammates. And if Wilt were to join the Knicks for the approaching National Basketball Association season, he believes he could lift the team into contention with the Boston Celtics for the Atlantic Division title.'




I believe jlauber recently posted a John Havlicek quote on a physical confrontation Chamberlain had with NFL player and part time professional wrestler Big Daddy Lipscomb in the early 60's. Ended with Lipscomb on the floor and Chamberlain muttering, "Nobody messes with Wilt."


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/01/lipscomb.jpg

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/01/lipscomb365x445.jpg

Bullsh*t, he didn't actually dunk the ball from the FT-line and this ain't a discussion about jumping over the FT-line, this is about Wilt's free throw skills while SHOOTING behind the line.

And if he actually used to "dunk" it from the FT-line, just show me one source with some kind of clip or picture that can prove it. This is like the time Jlauber said that Wilt was a "WORLD CLASS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER" when Wilt actually played one season in a league where men and women actually played together.. Haha..

[millwad]

Disprove it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain

That only says that the league changed the rules, it doesn't say he actually dunked it, fool..

[PHILA]

It appears that '00 Shaq (340 lbs) had a 20-25 lb advantage over '64 Wilt (315-320 lbs). :applause:


Los Angeles Times - Oct 7, 1999

Whatever Coach Phil Jackson's requested weight for Shaquille O'Neal was, the center did not meet it--probably didn't even come close--when the Lakers were weighed after the morning practice Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara.

"The more I lift weights, the higher the number's going to be," O'Neal said. "I'm not really concerned about numbers. . . . I'll bust any big man's butt no matter what I weigh."

"I'm not unhappy about it," Jackson said. "He's shown he's in condition out there on the floor. That's the major goal, the guy's in condition so he can get up and down the court."

O'Neal, who has added muscle on his shoulders, said he came in at 340 pounds.



Orlando Sentinel - Oct 31, 1999

He is bigger than ever now, a solid 340 pounds (at least 10 pounds heavier than last season) and has a Hungry Man appetite that demands immediate satisfaction.


Meriden Journal - Sep 6, 1963 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqxIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xwANAAAAIBAJ&pg=3715,469887&dq)

http://i.imgur.com/9hHKU.png





http://i.imgur.com/F8ayu.png
http://i.imgur.com/7Nkzu.png
http://i.imgur.com/YRmNb.png




Below he slams over 6'9, 240 lb Zelmo Beaty.

http://i.imgur.com/eiEJD.jpg

[jlauber]

Bullsh*t, he didn't actually dunk the ball from the FT-line and this ain't a discussion about jumping over the FT-line, this is about Wilt's free throw skills while SHOOTING behind the line.

And if he actually used to "dunk" it from the FT-line, just show me one source with some kind of clip or picture that can prove it. This is like the time Jlauber said that Wilt was a "WORLD CLASS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER" when Wilt actually played one season in a league where men and women actually played together.. Haha..

This...




Originally Posted by PHILA
Toldeo Blade - Nov 28, 1956

'It seems Wilt has an unorthodox method of shooting free throws. The big guy takes aim at the basket from several feet behind the line. Then he takes about three giant steps, leaves his feet before reaching the line, and stuffs the ball through the hoop.

Under the old rule, it was perfectly legal as Wilt never touched the floor before letting go of the ball. In addition his percentage was fantastic.

"Why, he would have had a free throw percentage of 100," said [Tex] Winter. "He never missed."

Incidentally the rules committee did not mention Chamberlain by name as a reason for the change. The rule change was made, according to the committee, "to prevent freak activity."'

[millwad]

It appears that '00 Shaq (340 lbs) had a 20-25 lb advantage over '64 Wilt (315-320 lbs). :applause:


Los Angeles Times - Oct 7, 1999

Whatever Coach Phil Jackson's requested weight for Shaquille O'Neal was, the center did not meet it--probably didn't even come close--when the Lakers were weighed after the morning practice Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara.

"The more I lift weights, the higher the number's going to be," O'Neal said. "I'm not really concerned about numbers. . . . I'll bust any big man's butt no matter what I weigh."

"I'm not unhappy about it," Jackson said. "He's shown he's in condition out there on the floor. That's the major goal, the guy's in condition so he can get up and down the court."

O'Neal, who has added muscle on his shoulders, said he came in at 340 pounds.



Orlando Sentinel - Oct 31, 1999

He is bigger than ever now, a solid 340 pounds (at least 10 pounds heavier than last season) and has a Hungry Man appetite that demands immediate satisfaction.


Meriden Journal - Sep 6, 1963 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqxIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xwANAAAAIBAJ&pg=3715,469887&dq)

http://i.imgur.com/9hHKU.png





http://i.imgur.com/F8ayu.png
http://i.imgur.com/7Nkzu.png
http://i.imgur.com/YRmNb.png




Below he slams over 6'9, 240 lb Zelmo Beaty.

http://i.imgur.com/eiEJD.jpg

And what has that to do with his FT-skills?

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

Wilt Chamberlain = Poor Man's Hasheem Thabeet

[PHILA]

And what has that to do with his FT-skills?

Nothing at all. :applause:

[millwad]

This...

Toledo Blade.. I remember you refering to some source before as well when you said he actually was a worldclass volleyball player.

If Wilt had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, please post me some actual footage of him doing it, a picture, a video.. Anything but some words.. You're claiming he had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, in that case he must have done it during his NBA career as well (which he didn't)..

[jlauber]

Bullsh*t, he didn't actually dunk the ball from the FT-line and this ain't a discussion about jumping over the FT-line, this is about Wilt's free throw skills while SHOOTING behind the line.

And if he actually used to "dunk" it from the FT-line, just show me one source with some kind of clip or picture that can prove it. This is like the time Jlauber said that Wilt was a "WORLD CLASS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER" when Wilt actually played one season in a league where men and women actually played together.. Haha..

As for MY claim that Wilt was a "world-class" volleyball player. I am just quoting other sources.

Here is just ONE...

http://videosift.com/video/Muhammad-Ali-vs-Wilt-Chamberlain-The-Fight-That-Almost-Was

[QUOTE]For Chamberlain, fighting Ali represented the pinnacle in his quest to conquer not only his own sport, but the entire sporting world. His accomplishments on the basketball court were already legendary. His records of 100 points scored in one game and 55 rebounds grabbed in another remain untouched, and many observers (then and now) considered him to be the greatest ever to play the game. With an NBA championship trophy and multiple MVP awards on his mantle, Wilt felt he had little left to achieve in basketball. However, Chamberlain was a driven man whose accomplishments spurred him to continually seek greater glory. In the off-season, Chamberlain was a world-class volleyball player and avid weightlifter who possessed enormous physical strength. With nothing left to prove in basketball, Wilt intended to prove that he was one of the greatest all-around athletes of all time. Naturally, there could be no better way to establish this credential than to switch sports and dethrone the man known to the world as

[jlauber]

Toledo Blade.. I remember you refering to some source before as well when you said he actually was a worldclass volleyball player.

If Wilt had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, please post me some actual footage of him doing it, a picture, a video.. Anything but some words.. You're claiming he had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, in that case he must have done it during his NBA career as well (which he didn't)..


Hmmm...the NBA OUTLAWED the DUNKING of FT's BECAUSE of Chamberlain. And the Internet is PLASTERED with links claiming just that...

Wilt was responsible for MULTIPLE Rules Changes...

And IF ONLY we had MUCH MORE footage of ANYTHING that Chamberlain did.

[millwad]

As for MY claim that Wilt was a "world-class" volleyball player. I am just quoting other sources.

Here is just ONE...

http://videosift.com/video/Muhammad-Ali-vs-Wilt-Chamberlain-The-Fight-That-Almost-Was



And he DID PLAY with WORLD-CLASS volleyballers...

http://www.volleyball.org/people/wilt_chamberlain.html

He did not play WORLD-CLASS volleyballers... First of all, he played in a league where women and men were on mixed teams, it was a crappy league who folded after 4 years. World class, haha, the dude played against women and you call it "world class"..

And yeah, you're quoting a lot of crap you don't know crap about..

[PHILA]

Toledo Blade.. I remember you refering to some source before as well when you said he actually was a worldclass volleyball player.

If Wilt had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, please post me some actual footage of him doing it, a picture, a video.. Anything but some words.. You're claiming he had such an easy time to dunk it from the FT-line, in that case he must have done it during his NBA career as well (which he didn't)..
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain

"When I was a freshman, I fooled around with shooting free throws this way: For some reason, I thought you had to stay within the top half of that free-throw circle, so I would step back to just inside the top of the circle, take off from behind the line and dunk. They outlawed that, but I wouldn't have done it in a game, anyway. I was a good free throw shooter in college."



Below we can see Chamberlain dunking not quite from the foul line, more like 8-10 ft. out.


http://i.imgur.com/3B2Vs.png

[millwad]

Hmmm...the NBA OUTLAWED the DUNKING of FT's BECAUSE of Chamberlain. And the Internet is PLASTERED with links claiming just that...

Wilt was responsible for MULTIPLE Rules Changes...

And IF ONLY we had MUCH MORE footage of ANYTHING that Chamberlain did.

All I'm asking for is one actual clip or any kind of footage that proves that Wilt even could dunk from the FT-line. I'm not even talking about how it looked when he was going to "shoot" them FT's, in general, when did Wilt ever dunk from the FT-line? And no quote...

[millwad]

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain

"When I was a freshman, I fooled around with shooting free throws this way: For some reason, I thought you had to stay within the top half of that free-throw circle, so I would step back to just inside the top of the circle, take off from behind the line and dunk. They outlawed that, but I wouldn't have done it in a game, anyway. I was a good free throw shooter in college."



Below we can see Chamberlain dunking not quite from the foul line, more like 8-10 ft. out.


http://i.imgur.com/3B2Vs.png

Yeah, quoting Wilt Chamberlain is really something you can believe in since this is the same dude who claimed he slept with more than 20 000 women and that picture could just as well have been a lay-up and that is no where close the FT-line anyway.

The dude even in same quote calls himself a "good" FT-shooter incollege..

[Fatal9]

Found footage of Wilt's no step free throw dunks !!!!!


















































http://i51.tinypic.com/2hyzz7t.jpg

[millwad]

Found footage of Wilt's no step free throw dunks !!!!!

















































http://i51.tinypic.com/2hyzz7t.jpg

HAHAHA!:applause:

[wally_world]

But it really wasnt that far from going in, just a tad too strong.

[4 Inches]

Found footage of Wilt's no step free throw dunks !!!!!

















































http://i51.tinypic.com/2hyzz7t.jpg
:applause: