"Never saw any evidence of racial prejudice" - When Bob Cousy called Wilt Chamberlain the 'biggest complainer ever to hit the NBA'

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At 7'1" and 275 lbs, Wilt Chamberlain seemed insurmountable even by 1960s standards. Yet, opponents persistently attempted to outmuscle him on the court. This physical play irritated 'The Big Dipper,' despite him winning the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in his rookie campaign after leading the league in scoring and rebounding.

Moreover, Wilt contemplated 'race' to be a huge part of this perceived excessive physicality, and as a result, he contemplated retiring. However, Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy showed little empathy towards Chamberalin's concerns, bashing him for unnecessarily bringing racial issues into the mix and labeling him the 'biggest complainer ever to hit the NBA.'

Cousy on Chamberlain

Though Chamberlain experienced no racial bias within the San Francisco Warriors organization, he believed that his frequent physical encounters on the court could lead to negative consequences for both himself and his race if they escalated into fistfights. Cousy strongly criticized 'Wilt The Stilt' for promoting such unconventional theories.

To counter Chamberalins' claim, the six-time NBA Champ pointed out that Wilt shot the most free throw attempts (991) in the 1959-60 season, emphasizing how nearly every instance of contact against him resulted in the 7'1" center being sent to the charity stripe.

"In my ten years in the NBA, I never saw any evidence of racial prejudice. There are over one hundred Negro players who have either tried out or made positions with clubs in the league, and I have never heard such a similar complaint from them," the 6'1" point guard said. "The guy has only averaged thirty-six points per game, broken rebound records, and had more foul shots than anyone else. How easy does he want it? Wilt is the biggest complainer ever to hit the NBA."

Wilt persisted in highlighting racial issues, asserting that he would have been more receptive to such criticism had it come from a fellow Black player like Bill Russell. He argued that Cousy, being a white guard, could never truly comprehend the challenges faced by black athletes.

Wilt never retired

The two-time NBA Champ's brief retirement saw him touring Europe with the Harlem Globetrotters. Then, he rejoined the Warriors for his sophomore year, signing a lucrative three-year contract that was among the most substantial in professional team sports.

Furthermore, after returning, Chamberlain explained that after consulting with his family, friends, and leaders, he concluded that continuing his NBA career would allow him to 'do more good for my race' than retiring.

While racial barriers persisted in high school sports, Cousy seemed to underappreciate Chamberlain's efforts to address racial issues in the NBA. This stance was at odds with the league's broader efforts to move past racial divisions.