Los Angeles Lakers x Wilt Chamberlain [1971-1972]

Welcome to a special edition of Jersey Sunday. I know it's Monday, but I'm making an exception because I was waiting for this to come through the mail and since the post office is closed on weekends, I'm letting it slip. Also, it's my blog and I do what I want. But to the jersey, on hand is a gem I won on eBay at the final second. This is a player I have always wanted for a long time and even though it doesn't fit very well, I'm still stoked to add it in my collection. Here is my Los Angeles Lakers Wilt Chamberlain jersey made by Mitchell and Ness.


Any jersey of "The Big Dipper" would be appropriate, whether it's his Warriors, Sixers, or even Globetrotters. But when I saw this Lakers item going for a very reasonable price, I was not hesitant at all placing my bid. The materials, detail, and construction are admirable with stitched double layer tackle twill making up the letters and numbers.


The jock tag at the bottom displays his best season in Tinsel Town. Although he has had a tremendous career with his previous teams, this entry will be more focused on his years wearing the gold and forum blue.


Born as Wilton Norman Chamberlain on 21 August 1936 in Philadelphia, PA, he attended Overbrook High School before playing with the Kansas University Jayhawks [1956-58]. In 1959, after spending a season with the Harlem Globetrotters, the Philadelphia Warriors selected the 7'1" 250 lbs center as a territorial draft pick. He would go on to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, the first athlete to obtain those honours in the NBA. In the 1961-62 season, he averaged an unimaginative 50 points per game, and on 2 March 1962, he scored the untouchable 100 points against the New York Knicks in Hershey, PA. Roughly attended by 4, 000 people, the untelevised event only lives on through radio broadcast and eyewitness accounts.


In 1963, the Warriors franchised moved to San Francisco, CA. However, he would move back to Philadelphia in a trade with the 76ers. In 1967, Wilt Chamberlain would win hist first NBA Championship along with his second MVP trophy. The 60's would be a memorable decade for basketball fans as they witnessed a great rivalry between "Goliath" and Boston Celtics' center Bill Russell.


Before the 1968 season, Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, making it the first time a reigning MVP was sent to another team. Although his numbers fell, he helped provide leadership amongst his squad with future Hall-of-Famers Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. They would advance to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, a team coached by the first African-American in league history; Bill Russell. In a controversial decision, Coach Van Breda Kolff benched his starting center in the final minutes of Game 7 in The Forum and would lose again to his counterpart. At the end of that season, he average 20.9 PPG and 21.1 RPG.


In the 1969-70 season, Wilt was limited to only twelve games due to injury. He averaged 27.3 PPG and 18.4 RPG, respectively, and rejoined just in time for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Lakers would lose in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in one of the greatest comebacks in league history as the injured Willis Reed made an unexpected return to the starting lineup inspiring his team to win the title.


In the 1971 season, he averaged 20 PPG and 18 RPG leading the league in rebounding once again and helped the Lakers into the post-season. Although they coasted through the playoffs, they lost in the Western Conference Championship series to the eventual Milwaukee Bucks, led by the younger Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.


The 1971-72 season would be a staple year for Wilt Chamberlain. His Lakers won 33 consecutive games, a record which still stands to this day. He also became the all time leader in rebounds grabbing 21,772 boards. While averaging 15 PPG [the lowest of his career], he collected his 10th rebounding title with 19 RPG and took his team to another playoff run. In one of the greatest matches of all time against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles eliminated them in 6 games en route to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. In 5 games against the Knicks, he averaged 20+ PPG and 20+ RPG, a performance that earned him his second NBA Championship and the NBA Finals MVP Award, which was inaugurated into the league just 5 years earlier.


The next season would be his last as a player. While averaging 13 PPG and 19 RPG, he collected his 11th and final rebounding title. However, he would average an outstanding .727 FG%, beating his own record 8 years earlier. It remains a league record to this day. He would also play in his last NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, but would unfortunately lose in 5 games. After that season, he would jump ship to the rival American Basketball Association as a coach for the San Diego Conquistadors. After a losing season with The Qs, he completely retired from the game of basketball at the age of 37.


In October 1999, Wilt Chamberlain passed away at the age of 63. A great loss mourned by all in the basketball community, he left behind an unmatched legacy 54 years after his professional debut. He is still remembered greatly through his colleagues, writers, teammates, and friends.


Career Highlights and Achievements:
1, 045 games played, 31, 419 total points [30.1 PPG], 23, 924 total rebounds [22.9 RPG], 4, 643 total assists [4.4 APG]
Rookie of the Year [1960]
2x NBA Champion [1967, 1972]
NBA Finals MVP [1972]
4x MVP [1960, 1967-68]
13x NBA All-Star [1960-69, 1970-73]
NBA All-Star Game MVP [1960]
7× NBA scoring champion [1960–66]
11× NBA rebounding champion [1960–63, 1966–69, 1971–73]
NBA 35th Anniversary Team
NBA 50th Anniversary Team
Scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on 2 March 1962
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee [1978]
College Basketball Hall of Fame [2006]
His #13 is retired by the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
More of his records and feats can be found here.

“Everything is habit forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.”
- Wilt Chamberlain