“I said, ‘Hi Wilt.’ He cusses me” Red Auerbach discusses what destroyed his and Bill Russell’s friendship with Wilt Chamberlain

“I said, ‘Hi Wilt.’ He cusses me” Red Auerbach discusses what destroyed his and Bill Russell’s friendship with Wilt Chamberlain.

Red claimed that a single remark made by Wilt’s head coach altered everything.

Wilt Chamberlain might have been regarded as the greatest winner of all time as well as the most dominant scorer if it weren’t for Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics. But Wilt only had two NBA Championships when he retired because the storied Boston team denied him several victories.

At first, Chamberlain got along well with Bill Russell and the other important players on the Celtics. But Wilt changed his strategy after hearing something from his head coach.

Auerbach’s opinions toward Chamberlain
During a 1991 interview with Bob Costas, Auerbach claimed that Chamberlain was informed that his many losses to the Celtics were due to his excessive kindness towards Russell and him. The 7’1″ center changed his mind as a result.

I said, ‘Hello Wilt,’ when he entered the game the following day. He swears at me. ‘Who needs you,’ I asked. So, furious, I turn and walk away. “Russell is crazy,” Red remembered.