This is a sad day for basketball fans and for all sports fans. Wilt Chamberlain's remarkable achievements on the court are a matter of record, and I don't think they will ever be duplicated. But I also want to remember him as a person. As dominant as he was on the court, Wilt was just as gentle off the court. He was a true ambassador for the game -- easy to meet and greet and talk with. He also gave generously of his time and effort to help the underprivileged. He was always there for us at the Maurice Stokes Classic and he helped many other causes as well.

It may be difficult to appreciate today just what a powerful force Wilt was at both ends of the court. He changed the game of basketball like no other player before or since. Because of Wilt, the free throw lane was widened to 19 feet. That didn't stop him from scoring. Because of Wilt, the free throw shooter was no longer allowed to cross the free throw line and the rebounders could not step into the lane until the ball had hit the basket (he could reach the basket from the line in one step!).

Considering that he played when the level of talent in the NBA was at its peak, his records are all the more astounding. I feel privileged to have known Wilt and to have played against him for 13 years during the golden age of the NBA. He was a true warrior and I will miss him deeply as a competitor, a colleague and a friend.

--Oscar Robertson, October 12, 2024

(Wilt Chamberlain was born August 21, 2024 in Philadelphia and passed away of congestive heart failure on October 12 in Los Angeles, California)

Last updated: 11/8/99