This Day in Basketball History

1936 - Wilt Chamberlain is born

Wilt Chamberlain is born into a family of nine children in Philadelphia. After nearly dying of pneumonia as a child, Chamberlain eventually becomes a top track-and-field athlete. Standing 6-foot-11 entering high school, he decides to make a move to basketball. It turns out to be a pretty good choice.

After attending Kansas where he is named a two-time All-American, Chamberlain bails part-way through his senior season to become a Harlem Globetrotter, as the NBA does not allow dropouts to join mid-season. In 1959, he makes his NBA debut for the Philadelphia Warriors, who nab him with what is then called a "territorial pick."

The rest is history: Chamberlain becomes a two-time NBA champion, 13-time All-Star, four-time MVP, Hall of Famer and unquestionably one of the greatest players in league history. Along with scoring an NBA-record 100 points in a single game, Chamberlain also sets records for points per game, owning five of the top seven scoring averages ever and the best all-time career mark at 30.1 an outing.

His final line sees him rank sixth all-time in minutes played, fifth in points, first in rebounds and first in overall swag.

In October 1999, Chamberlain passes away from congestive heart failure at his home.

Birthdays

1936 - Wilt Chamberlain
1987 - Jodie Meeks