Why was there a 20-year silence between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell?
Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell are two names that are frequently mentioned together. This is due to a few factors. One reason is that everyone’s list of the best centers has Russell and Chamberlain at the top.
Both Russell and Chamberlain were excellent rebounders, and they would undoubtedly rank first and second on that list if blocks had been counted in the 1960s.
The main reason their names are frequently mentioned together is because, in the 1960s, they were fierce competitors on the court. In the regular season, the two faced off 94 times, and in the postseason, they faced off 49 additional times.
Chamberlain was dominant on an individual basis in these games, averaging 29.9 points and 28.1 rebounds per contest. Russell averages 14.2 points and 22.9 rebounds a game in contrast to this.
For Chamberlain, the issue was that Russell’s squad was winning more than 60% of the time. Russell’s Boston Celtics defeated Chamberlain’s teams in 59% of their postseason games.
The most notable distinction was that Russell’s club set an NBA record with 11 NBA titles. However, Chamberlain’s teams only brought home two titles.
However, the question remained: were the two rivals friends? Yes, they had a close friendship. In fact, when they played each other, they would frequently pick each other up at the airport.
In addition to picking each other up, Russell would frequently spend the night before Chamberlain’s team played at his house.
In a 1997 interview with Bob Costas, Wilt remarked, “I mean, he’d come past my house on Thanksgiving, eat my food, sleep in my bed, and the next day whip my butt.” “Now, Wilt, we shouldn’t feed Bill so well the next time,” my mother would add.
This bond remained strong all the way up to the 1969 NBA Finals, Game 7.
Game 7 Causes Friendships To Break
The Boston Celtics, coached by an elderly Wilt Chamberlain, were the underdogs against the formidable Los Angeles Lakers. All except Russell thought the “old” Celtics would prevail in Game 7.
Over the Lakers, the Celtics jumped off to a commanding lead. The Celtics led 91-76 after three quarters of play. Then, when grabbing a rebound with roughly 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, Chamberlain injured his knee.
The Lakers would quickly reenter the contest and bring it close. The Lakers attempted a comeback, but Chamberlain would not play again, and the Celtics held on for a 108-106 triumph.
Russell had won a record eleven titles by the time the season ended. Russell was heard criticizing his pal in a harsher tone later that year.
While attending the University of Wisconsin, Russell asserted that Chamberlain had “copped out” of the match. “Any injury short of a broken leg or broken back isn’t good enough,” he continued.
Regarding Chamberlain’s departure in Game 7, Russell wrote the following in his second memoir, Second Wind:
The loss of Wilt was akin to a misspelled word at the conclusion of a treasured book. We had a lot of friction that evening because of my rage at him.
Russell’s comment had such an impact on Chamberlain that he didn’t speak to him for many years. It was a sad day for basketball enthusiasts as their once close friendship ended.
In 1987, Chamberlain responded to remarks made by Russell in an interview:
