"Wilt came up with the next 30 shots, and they were nothing but dunks" - When Wilt Chamberlain got mad during the pickup game

wilt-chamberlain

An athletic freak of nature, Wilt Chamberlain is considered one of the most dominant players in league history. Perhaps the last thing opponents wanted to do against him was provoke him on the basketball court. When he was still a teenager, Connie Hawkins learned that the hard way and faced the late legend in a pickup game at Harlem’s famed Rucker Pro Tournament.

Hawkins shared that he had a teammate, Jackie Jackson, who could jump really high. They devised a tactic where Jackson would provide help defense and block Chamberlain’s shot. It worked, but they made the mistake of celebrating excessively. After Wilt called a timeout, he put the opponents in their place.

“After the timeout was over with, Wilt came up with the next 30 shots, and they were nothing but dunks,” Hawkins said, as published in the March 2000 issue of SLAM Magazine. “He dunked it every way you could go. One time, he dunked the ball so hard the ball went through the basket, hit the ground, and it went over the 15-foot fence.”

“Somebody went to get the ball, and when they brought the ball back, the basket was still shaking. That’s how strong the guy was. He was just a dominating guy.”

Chamberlain in tip-top shape

Many people say Bill Russell was the only opponent who could contain Chamberlain. Although the Boston Celtics legend did get the better of his former rival in the wins department, thanks largely to a superior supporting cast, “The Big Dipper” still managed to put up elite numbers against him.

Some might say the sole reason Wilt could exert his authority over opponents on the basketball court was genetics. That was only partly true because he also complemented his natural talents with hard work and dedication.

For instance, even after he retired, there were still stories of him being in optimal physical condition.

Larry Brown once told of the time when Chamberlain took part in a pickup game at UCLA, whom the Hall of Fame coach had helmed at the time. The contest was said to be organized by Magic Johnson and featured pros in their prime against Wilt and Bruins players. Brown recalled “Wilt the Stilt” taking over.

“Magic used to run the games, and he called a couple of chintzy fouls and a goaltending on Wilt,” Brown shared. “So Wilt said, ‘There will be no more layups in this gym,’ and he blocked every shot after that. That’s the truth, I saw it. He didn’t let one [of Johnson’s] shots get to the rim.”

It’s unclear when the game took place, but considering that Brown coached UCLA from 1979 to 1981, Chamberlain was likely in his mid-40s and at least six years removed from playing in his last NBA contest when he gave a relatively young Magic a rude awakening.

Chamberlain could have played a few more years

Given how well the four-time MVP could still play at an advanced age, perhaps he could have spent more years in the NBA instead of leaving the Association in 1973. His production in his 14th and final season proved that he could still go up against the league’s best, as he averaged 13.2 points and 18.6 rebounds per contest while shooting a career-high 72.7% from the field playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unfortunately, Chamberlain had issues with the Lakers stemming from the organization not wanting to renegotiate his contract after winning the 1972 title and looking for ways to acquire Bill Walton in the following offseason before the UCLA standout decided to stay in college.

Because of his contractual dispute with the Purple and Gold, the two-time champion was never able to play pro ball again. Fortunately, he still got to play from time to time in pickup games. He also dabbled in other sports, including volleyball and running.