Last Updated on January 4, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Wilt ChamberlainHere’s a detailed profile of basketballer Wilt Chamberlain:

  • Full Name: Wilton Norman Chamberlain
  • Nickname: Wilt the stilt, the big dipper
  • Nationality: American
  • DOB: Born August 21, 1936
  • Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Height: 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters)
  • Weight: 275 lbs (125 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 8 inches (2.34 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: 13 (Lakers), 13 (76ers), 13 (Warriors), 13 (Globetrotters)
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Overbrook High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • College: University of Kansas (Kansas Jayhawks)
  • Draft: 1959, 1st round, 1st pick overall by the Philadelphia Warriors (later Golden State Warriors)
  • Teams Played For
    • Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)
      • Chamberlain was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors and played for the team when they moved to San Francisco.
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
      • Wilt returned to Philadelphia when the Warriors traded him to the 76ers.
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973)
      • Chamberlain joined the Lakers, where he achieved significant success, including winning his second NBA championship in 1972.
  • NBA accolades:
      • Two-time NBA Champion (1967, 1972)
      • Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)
      • 13-time NBA All-Star
      • Seven-time NBA Scoring Champion
      • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978
      • Holds the NBA record for most points scored in a single game (100 points)
      • Holds the NBA record for most points scored in a single season (4,029 points)
      • Holds the NBA record for most rebounds in a single season (2,149 rebounds)
  • NBA Records:
    • Most points scored in a game: 100 points (March 2, 1962)
    • Most rebounds in a game: 55 rebounds (November 24, 1960)
    • Only player in NBA history to average 50.4 points per game in a season (1961–62)
    • Only player in NBA history to play more than 48 minutes per game in a season (due to overtime games)
  • Other Honors:
    • Member of the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980)
    • Member of the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1997)
    • Member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
    • Hall of Fame Induction: 1979
  • College Accolades:
    • Played for the Kansas Jayhawks
    • Led Kansas to the NCAA Championship Game (1957) (lost in triple overtime)
    • Named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1957)
    • 2× Consensus All-American (1957, 1958)
  • Rings: 2 NBA Championships (1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers; 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kids: Wilt Chamberlain had one confirmed child, a daughter named Lana, and there are claims of other children, though they have not been widely documented
  • Siblings: Wilt Chamberlain had two sisters (Rita and Barbara)
  • Retirement Year: 1972-73 (sat out option year 1973-74)
  • Retirement Age: Retired from playing in 1973 at age 36

Player Overview: Wilt Chamberlain is in my top 3 centers of all time. The other two are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal. If judging by who was the best during their era, Chamberlain would be the greatest center of all time. When having them all playing next to each other, I think Shaquille O’Neal was the best because he would have been too strong for the others to deal with in and around the paint. 1/22/2025

Notes:

  • Wilt Chamberlain’s height without shoes was recorded as 7 feet 1 inch (216 cm). With shoes, he often measured slightly taller, at about 7 feet 1.5 inches to 7 feet 2 inches.
  • Wilt Chamberlain’s playing weight varied throughout his career:
    • Early in his career: 250–275 lbs (113–125 kg)
    • Prime years: 275–290 lbs (125–132 kg)
    • Later in his career with the Lakers: 300–310 lbs (136–141 kg)
  • Similar players to Wilt Chamberlain include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bill Russell.