Fifty years after participating in his last NBA game, Wilt Chamberlain: “This is Paul Bunyan.”

Fifty years after participating in his last NBA game, Wilt Chamberlain: “This is Paul Bunyan.”

Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA career came to an end with a dunk, which was promptly followed by the New York Knicks’ triumphant celebration. After 14 seasons, 4 MVP honors, 13 All-Star selections, 2 titles, and a final curtain call on May 10, 1973, at the Forum in Inglewood, California, the journey came to an end.

Fifty years ago today, 17,505 people watched as Chamberlain’s Lakers lost Game 5 of the NBA Finals 102-93. And on the other side of the court, Chamberlain stood by himself, fatigued and frustrated after a taxing 48 minutes of play, taking it all in as the Knicks celebrated their second title.

The enormous center, who thrilled the crowd with 31,419 points, 23,924 rebounds, and other records in 1,205 regular-season and postseason games combined, wasn’t having the best of times on that Thursday. And although though he, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and the rest of the Lakers were unable to win the league again, in many respects, Chamberlain’s NBA career came to a close and a new chapter began.

Wilt Chamberlain’s childhood buddy and veteran announcer Sonny Hill stated that Chamberlain had more than 100 NBA records when he retired. He simply moved aside. An additional phase of his existence.

Chamberlain departed from the NBA a few months shy of turning 37 years old in October 1999, when he passed away at the age of sixty-three. For the ninth time in his career, he had the highest field-goal percentage in the league. In addition, he had won eleven league titles for rebounding. Physically, he still had something left in the tank, but Chamberlain’s decision, according to Hill, went beyond that.

“I can only look into Wilt’s head at that specific moment, and I believe that frustration led to what happened,” Hill stated. The physical, mental, and emotional toll that it had on him, as well as the criticism he endured. Furthermore, I believe that only he truly knew his plans for the game’s aftermath.

“I believe that losing in the championship round had simply become too much to bear.” Consider all the pressure the trip entailed. He didn’t say something like, “I need to think about my next paycheck.” He was affluent. Rich, that is.