As a life long Celtic fan, I'm so grateful for van Breda Kolff. What a tool!

Sharman wasn't the first coach to successfully persuade Wilt to alter his game.Alex Hannum did the same thing as coach of the 1966-67 Phila 76ers,resulting in their first NBA title.That year,Wilt became the first center to lead the league in assists.

@Amick44

4 жыл бұрын

Wilt really turned his game around about that time. He shot & scored less and became a champion. I'd say it was a combination of several factors. Wise coach, Wilt's natural maturation & better teammates who could share the load with him. It worked wonderfully 1 yr, but Philly panicked & broke up a powerful team too soon.

@charleslu7044

4 жыл бұрын

Mick A, Wilt wanted to date Hollywood actresses and cocktail waitresses...

@alfredmayes5005

3 жыл бұрын

Wilt had the ego, no question but the old school coaches back then had that good ol boy racist mentality. I’m the boss and it’s My way or the highway. Once Wilt had a coach in Sharman who could relate to Wilt and communicate with him, Wilt was fine. All Wilt wanted was to be treated with respect and dignity that he rightfully deserved. But it goes to show that having a good coach who knows his Xs and Os, can communicate with his star players and having a GM who knows how to put the right pieces around star players is critical to team success in any sport.

@postaltraining

3 жыл бұрын

wilt's "first year to lead the league in assists" was not quite as pure as that. he wanted to win FG% a few years later so he shot nothing but dunks = 72.7%. if the man had ever bothered to work on his free throw and get it to 72.7% he would have scored thousands more points in the league. as wilt's career wore on and his accomplishments didn't include the cup, he decided to "prove" he could do any single thing the best (except free throws). wilt was the most physically talented player the game has ever seen. but he didn't bother to keep up the winning ways with more assists or more assists at all. he had three years of increasing dime stats then they fell in half and never moved an inch upward again. he was on to best FG% van breda koff was a tool for not putting wilt back in. coach with a shitty personality and a player with a messianic complex- what a mix

@johnbishop6890

3 жыл бұрын

Wilt could do ANYTHING he chose to do.

The big difference between Wilt and Butch was that the Big Dipper made real sacrifices for the team whereas Van Breda Kolff was unbending. For example, Wilt took a then career low 13.6 shots a game during the 68-69 regular season, and only 9.8 shots a game in the 69 playoffs. Can you imagine Van Breda Kolff asking Baylor and West to shoot less and concentrate on defense? Speaking of defense, Chamberlain was a defensive monster in the 69 playoffs. In 18 playoff games against 3 HOF centers (e.g., Nate Thurmond, Zelmo Beaty, and Bill Russell), Wilt averaged 8.5 blocked shots. After the Lakers defeated the Warriors in the WC Divisional Playoffs, Tommy Hawkins provided Sports Illustrated with the following quotes, "Tom Hawkins, a Laker veteran shook his head in admiration of Wilt. "Wilt has been something else," he said. "You want to know why he's worth so much money? Because he controls the game. He makes the tempo." Wilt still put up a few 20 plus point games in the 69 playoffs, but his main job was to rebound and play defense. 1969 WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS: LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO WARRIORS GAME 1 11 PTS 30 REBS 6 BLKS GAME 2 10 PTS 17 REBS 11 BLKS GAME 3 22 PTS 28 REBS 5 ASTS 7 BLKS GAME 4 11 PTS 14 REBS 9 BLKS GAME 5 7 PTS 27 REBS 10 BLKS GAME 6 11 PTS 25 REBS 15 BLKS CONFERENCE PLAYOFF AVERAGE 12.0 PTS 23.5 REBS 9.6 BLKS 1969 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS GAME 1 15 PTS 29 REBS 6 BLKS GAME 2 23 PTS 29 REBS 10 BLKS GAME 3 17 PTS 22 REBS 6 BLKS GAME 4 25 PTS 19 REBS 13 BLKS GAME 5 16 PTS 29 REBS 7 BLKS CONFERENCE FINAL AVERAGE 19.2 PTS 25.6 REBS 8.4 BLKS 1969 NBA FINALS: LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. BOSTON CELTICS GAME 1 15 PTS 23 REBS 4 ASTS 12 BLKS GAME 2 4 PTS 19 REBS 4 ASTS GAME 3 16 PTS 26 REBS GAME 4 8 PTS 31 REBS GAME 5 13 PTS 31 REBS 10 BLKS GAME 6 8 PTS 18 REBS 4 ASTS GAME 7 18 PTS 27 REBS 7 BLKS NBA FINAL AVERAGE 11.7 PTS 25.0 REBS 7.7 BLKS

@corneliusneil6128

Жыл бұрын

This is great!! How did you get the stats on 'blocks'?!?!? Fantastic!!

@pjtheory

Жыл бұрын

@@corneliusneil6128 Thanks. I obtained the blocked shot statistics from several sources. Those sources include newspaper articles, books, and the late, great Philadelphia Warrior/76er statistician Harvey Pollack.

@DrJohnnyJ

Жыл бұрын

No, that is not true. The previous year, the Lakers had a great offense and, without Wilt, made it to the finals where they lost in 6 games. Wilt wouldn't play the offense. He wouldn't set screens. He wouldn't come to the high post. van Breda Kolff didn't ask him to shoot less, Wilt was unable to score but he insisted on clogging the lane. In game 7 of the finals, Butch was screaming at Wilt to shoot and foul Russell out. Wilt wouldn't. The whole arena heard it.

@felixmadison5736

Жыл бұрын

Which team won the NBA Finals in 1969?

Wilt was the greatest player in the history of the NBA

@encyclopediaamericana7234

4 жыл бұрын

Period!

@raffaballzz

4 жыл бұрын

But Russell was a better team player/winner

@rtosborne3

3 жыл бұрын

@@raffaballzz - yet Wilt played for the 2 greatest teams of all time to that point, the '67 Sixers and '72 Lakers. Maybe, Russell just had the benefit of better team mates most years. At no point in Russell's career did the Celtics have fewer than 5 future Hall-of-famers on their roster, and some years they had as many as 9.

@raffaballzz

3 жыл бұрын

@@rtosborne3 wilt became a team player late in his career, he had good teammates also, dont get me wrong I got love for wilt, the most dominant player hands down

@williammorrison6311

3 жыл бұрын

No, he wasn't.

Coach Bill had the personality to deal with Wilt. A coaching change was all the difference to help win in addition to a line up tweak. Wow!

@SuperAttitudeera

Жыл бұрын

plus there was no Elgin Baylor to hold down Wilt anymore.

@BoosterGoldEarth6

Жыл бұрын

Under Bill Sharman I yhink Elgin and Wilt beef along with Jerry insecurities would been put to the side.

RIP Tommy Hawkins. Just a fantastic story teller.

@nonplayerzealot4

5 жыл бұрын

YES. And a true Laker. He put on his old UNIFORM to watch the game where the Lakes finally beat the ugly Celtics. That was years after he retired.

@drm9979

3 жыл бұрын

agreed. this was fascinating!

@Ipadstands

2 жыл бұрын

I wish I was around to watch him

@uscpat

2 жыл бұрын

@@Ipadstands There are some great videos of Wilt on KZread. Check it out.

The sound of Chick Hearn's voice is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given to me.

Elgin Baylor had the hang time and moves before Dr. J and Michael Jordan. He was a beast.

@jaycrew6967

6 жыл бұрын

If Baylor would have played just one more season with the Lakers; he could have Won his only Title. He is another Great "HOFer" with No Ring.

@jetflyer62901

6 жыл бұрын

Jay Crew But he was actually still given a ring by the Lakers, even though he did not play, if I remember correctly

@MR-wc9lh

6 жыл бұрын

Baylor played nine games for the Lakers 1971 - 1972 title team, retiring during the season. He got his ring.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@@jaycrew6967 Yes, at least he got there (finals) several times. If not for Russell ....

@teddy1234599

5 жыл бұрын

Lex Beltran, there were THREE things that made Baylor's hang-time so special. One was his creativity and consistency - he invented a whole repetoirie of new moves. Two was his physical hang-time - he simply stayed in the air longer than his opponents could (oftentimes below-the-rim hang-time). Three was his wrists - he had extra-ordinarily strong wrists. This last allowed him to still flip the ball up and in when he was most of the way back down to the floor. How might I know this? From the 1959-60 season onwards, he was my favorite player - so I watched every game (whenever it got shown - almost all tape-delayed back then). He was simply amazingly, artistically-beautifully entertaining. (Otoh, he didn't always, especially later in his career, with those bad wheels, he didn't always reconcile his decreased abilities with his shot-attempts.) Which, imo, was no small part of the problems between him and Wilt once Wilt joined the team.

these guys were a great athletes, just when you see their bodies and their movements, you can sense that they were an athletes. But the game has evolved so much , that these guys are all under appreciated.

@austinh9389

2 жыл бұрын

The thing though is that the game has not evolved. Only the rules are no longer enforced. Carrying is not called traveling is not called no defense played

@waldolydecker8118

2 жыл бұрын

@@austinh9389 - quit whining with all the stereotypical same ole complaints.....carrying and traveling are called all the time - maybe not EVERY time, but then you are dead wrong if you think it was called ALL the time before they invented digital replay and 30 cameras covering EVERY game. The Refs today are 100% times more improved over those guys from yesteryear...not even close. Watch a few games online from the 1960's and 1970's...plenty of stupid calls or missed calls from the refs - with no ability to review them or coaches challenges to get them reversed. Likewise, "no defense" being played is an exaggerated lie. Top teams have always been defensive-minded, which is one of the main reasons they win. No, every team isn't defensive, but then every team never was. You are living in the stereotypical phony romantic world of the past, where everything was done better than it is today...yadda, yadda, yadda. Its usually an indication of old age. There are three times as many teams today, so at the bottom end, there is going to be more bad play seen, but the top teams from year to year or generation to generation don't have much differences - that's what puts them at the top.

Ppl were so lucky Wilt Chamberlain was naturally a nice dude both on / off the court..... if Wilt had the demeanor of a Rasheed Wallace or Ron Artest , I think Wilt would’ve scored even more cuz ppl would’ve been way to scared to get even near him ....... lol

@frederickrapp5396

2 жыл бұрын

Wilt was too nice a man. If he had a competitive killer instinct like Michael Jordan, then Wilt could and should have won more NBA titles.

@vernpascal1531

2 жыл бұрын

@@frederickrapp5396 Wilt did plenty. if you average 50 points a game and average 48. 5 minutes per game the same season I think he had a killer instinct.

@yianpap6093

2 жыл бұрын

Or Shaq for that matter. People see the (physical) bully way Shaq played and think he would be too much for Wilt. When in reality Wilt would most probably scare the shit out of Shaq if he didn't hold back.

@ImRacistTowardsBlacks

2 жыл бұрын

They called offensive fouls a lot more often then so Wilt COULDN'T play like Rasheed Wallace or Ron Artest

@maximostiberius2324

2 жыл бұрын

I literally was just thinking Wilt didn't play angry enough. then I read these comments.

I think that if Wilt Chamberlaim never had knee issues and he was wearing the same sneakes that players wear now he'd easily have scored 50,000 and grabbed 30,000 rebounds and blocks would be out of this world stats possibly first tripple double carrer of anyone.

@denistuohy2535

4 жыл бұрын

He’d average a quadruple double

@Chevy-hw6lw

4 жыл бұрын

Damn right he would too !

@charleslu7044

4 жыл бұрын

kalulew, Denis T, March 18, 1968 vs Lakers Wilt goes 53 points, 32 rebounds, 24 blocks, 14 assists, 11 steals.

@curly8029

3 жыл бұрын

Wilt would dominate even more today.

@dct124

2 жыл бұрын

Well had he kept scoring like normal, Wilt normal, he'd of ended with 40k

Videos like these make me miss sitting down and watching espn classic with my dad 😔 I loved hearing his thoughts about the older generations of sports.

All people have to do is look at Van Breda Kolffs won lost record without Wilt and look at Wilt's won lost record without VBK. Wilt was right. VBK was going to get fired for not putting Wilt back in, so he resigned. The Lakers went to the finals 3 more times after that. FYI, Wilt tore his patella tendon 12 games into the next season, so he was legit hurt and STILL wanted to go back in.

Bill Sharman was a championship guard with the Celtics. Sharman won the championship on the first day when he asked Wilt to come talk to him and they set down man-to-man and he asked, not demanded, his help. Wilt was a notorious late sleeper and they adjusted their practices so he got the sleep he asked for. He named Wilt captain of the team that year. For this, Wilt adjusted his game and in a single year had perhaps the greatest single defensive year by any center. The semi-final against Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks was one of the greatest center-vs-center series of all time. In game 4 of the championship game, Wilt broke his hand. He refused to be taken out; he took a cortisone shot and won the MVP and the championship in game 5, scoring 24 points, grabbing 29 rebounds and handing out 4 assists. It all came down to treating Wilt like a man.

@georgewagner2352

5 жыл бұрын

True. The only 2 coaches Wilt respected were Hannum and Sharman. It was no coincidence that he sacrificed his game for them and won championships with them. If he had either one of them for his whole career, he would have won at least 6 titles.

@jdtoddjazz

5 жыл бұрын

I remember watching that game. Watching Wilt was such an awe-inspiring experience. He was just such a tremendous physical specimen, unlike anything I've ever seen.

@mja91352

Жыл бұрын

Easier to say this shorter: Wilt Chamberlain was a choker.

@jacklane7489

Жыл бұрын

@@georgewagner2352 Both USC Sam Barry disciples. Original Triangle Offense. Tex Winter was a disciple as well. USC coach Sam Barry hofer.

@marioarguello6989

Жыл бұрын

@@mja91352 Shorter still, you are a dumbass.

About 18-20 years ago I spotted Jumpin' Tom Hawkins in a hansom cab with a young lady, riding in Central Park, New York City. I recognized him from afar, mouthed his last name (since he could not hear me from such a distance) and he acknowledged. For those of you who do not or cannot remember, Tom was a high-jumping, tough competitor with the Cincinnati Royal and L.A. Lakers. Although considered a "tweener" by todays standards, he was a forward to be respected. He never got the credit he deserved, but he was serious.

@shastealyomeal

2 жыл бұрын

You what

Wilt did say Elgin Baylor was the best player he'd played with. This interview confirms that.

Rip to my friend Tommy the jazz Hawkins....He is deeply missing...

The year the Lakers won 33 in a row and the title, Elgin Baylor retired a few games into the season. Jim McMillan was inserted into the starting lineup and the Lakers took off. It’s too bad Baylor didn’t stay as a reserve because he would have finally won a ring. In any case, Bill Sharman pulled off one of the best coaching jobs in history because the Lakers played fast break, team basketball. Wilt had a great year as a rebounder, defender, outlet passer, etc... and West became the point guard and led the NBA in assists while still scoring 26 pts a game. That was one of the most dominant years I’ve ever seen a basketball team have and it all started with Coach Sharman talking with Wilt and West about playing winning team basketball.

@jingqi9106

Жыл бұрын

@victorwiley3739 Goodrich had a great year in '72.

I don't think winning 33 nba games in a row will ever be broken

Very enlightening production giving me an adult insight on what i witnessed as a child the first years i started watching sports-1968.

This era deserves more voices. The level of disrespect in unbearable.

@postaltraining

3 жыл бұрын

around 2000, the nba made sure that the true legends of the game would never be seen or heard- an edict was laid down by asswipe david stern to only show NBA footage from 1992 forward. mainly because the NBA was embarrassed at how fundamentals had simply slipped out of the game in place of coddling "stars", etc. the bottom line is that elgin baylor made the best 3s and 4s of the 1990s and 2000s look like SHIT. ditto with bill russell and wilt. jerry west, havlichek, oscar, all of the legends. have to delete them because boy do your modern boys look like shit next to that

I would disagree that Wilt's arrival in 1969 hurt Elgin Baylor on offense. Elgin averaged 26.0 points per game in '68, BEFORE Wilt, and 24.8 ppg.- at 34 years old - in 1969 when he and Wilt were teammates. 1.2 points difference.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

I guess (from what I've read) the difference is, Elgin had to settle for more mid range shots, as opposed to drives from his preferred left side.

@Amick44

4 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV didn't help. Read Elgin's bio bout a yr ago. He said Wilt used to go from Philly to DC and they would play pickup games against each other's teams. Elgin claims Wilt's team never won. Even switching teammates. He says Wilt would dominate, but ignore some teammates. He also said "i don't care about stats, but Wilt does." Certainly the last line can't be disputed! Not that he doesn't have company there.

@Amick44

4 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV yeah. Obviously some more than others. Most if not all players care to some degree about stats. Or are at least aware of em. Wilt was much like a Ted Williams, Pete Rose, Frank Thomas in baseball. He knew his stats inside & out. I've read he & Jerry Lucas in particular, used to argue rebound totals with official scorers regularly.

@casualfandestroyer2503

2 жыл бұрын

@@Amick44 “I was the GM in Philadelphia, and Wilt came out to start the second half. In those days, the stats were kept by an individual. As Wilt came out to warm up, he stopped at the table, picked up the stat sheet, and said, “You have me down for 6 assists. I had 9 assists at the half.” The statistician just shrugged. Wilt said, “Nine. Write it down.” Excerpt From Basketball Jackie MacMullan, Rafe Bartholomew

@casualfandestroyer2503

2 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV “I was the GM in Philadelphia, and Wilt came out to start the second half. In those days, the stats were kept by an individual. As Wilt came out to warm up, he stopped at the table, picked up the stat sheet, and said, “You have me down for 6 assists. I had 9 assists at the half.” The statistician just shrugged. Wilt said, “Nine. Write it down.” Excerpt From Basketball Jackie MacMullan, Rafe Bartholomew & Dan Klores

The decision by van Breda Kolff not to put Chamberlain back in the game might be the single dumbest coaching decision in the history of sports. Russell had five fouls! Lakers would have won that game.

@peat381low8

5 жыл бұрын

Well, if a team self destructs like that, then they deserve it.

@charleslu7044

5 жыл бұрын

Wilt’s Achilles was damaged? That’s what he states in the video, but it could have been his knee.

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

Wilt had 5 fouls too. He underachieved in this series and costed LA the title!

@TheLuscious

5 жыл бұрын

Wilt took himself out. He quit so coach was like fuck you

@Heatlifer77

5 жыл бұрын

@@FuShengAlex watch Top 5 reasons you can't blame wilt chamberlain

When you play in 764 regular season and another 96 playoff games in the NBA it's OK to mix up a few stats and quotes from 40 and 50 years ago. The major themes of his memories are correct.

Is it true that Elgin had a curse? The day he quit they went on the 33 game win streak and won the championship. Do I have anything wrong here?

7:55 You know you are superhuman when you injure your knee and it comes with a lightflash...

Great interview! Mr Hawkins is a funny guy also

Starts off with blaming Wilt and labeling him as not being a team guy and lifting the coach up, then end by highlighting a coach willing to coach and treat Wilt like a human being finding a way to help the team win with Wilt willingly sacrificing his potential for the greater good... In those days their were less teams and less opportunities to overcome another team with an advantage in better connections, scouting, and brain power...Celtics. Different day and time...nice look back and history lesson

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

Yep. Auerbach NEVER would have allowed that to happen in Boston. They knew who was in charge and respected it and him. And he knew who did the real work (on the floor). He gave Russell some space and didn't push him in practice. He just wanted Russ to give it his all in GAMES.

This is all before the NBA started letting walking, palming and 3 seconds go! The real game!

@david.tousignant20

7 жыл бұрын

The NBA was saved because of the flamboyance of the ABA (the modern game we are playing now). The NBA found the ABA gimmicky because they played zones, shot threes, allowed people to carry or palm the ball, press, trap or rotate. Don't bring nostalgia please.

@JamesAllenJr

5 жыл бұрын

Dave T... can't you seeeee??? The Acquiescence to the Flamboyance of the ABA is what led to this SHITTY ASS brand of basketball that we have today. This is F...ing All star game basketball now!! 30% shooting and little to no defense. Fu.... this shi...

@pedrofernandez506

5 жыл бұрын

Thought only I thought this way.

@johnperrigo6474

5 жыл бұрын

agree with your assessment.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@@JamesAllenJr Well, I know the all star game USED to quite competitive in both leagues. It was until maybe 10-15 yrs ago. But the D is totally non existent and a truly SAD excuse for any kind of a game.

That was excellent. Thank yiu.

Also Baylor couldnt hit the ocean with the ball,he was cold as russia,Wilt tore his achilles and still wanted back in but coach wouldnt let him

Great video. Tom Hawkins is one of the best people in the game.

Tommy is laughing about it now, but I guarantee you he wasn't laughing back then!

Extremely bad coaches were the causes for the teams of the Lakers and those teams that WILT were a part of for their failure in not winning their share of NBA championships.The players of that era were good(all of them great college" cagers")and the "stars"were FANTASTIC !!!

@frederickrapp5396

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you, to a point. However, Dolph Schayes, Alex Hannum, Joe Mullaney, and Bill Sharman, were not extremely bad coaches. In fact, they were all very good coaches. Still, Wilt could only win 2 NBA Titles with these guys in his final 8 years in the league. Not good enough, in my opinion.

@gunshotlagoon922

Жыл бұрын

@@frederickrapp5396 Dolph Schayes? He had only one winning record as coach and that was with Wilt. Joe Mullaney had the unfortunate luck of coaching Wilt fresh off his knee injury one year, and then losing Baylor and West to injury in the playoffs the following year. The best coaches Wilt had were Frank McGuire, Alex Hannum and Bill Sharman.

Sounds like the Lakers got a better coach and won it all

Permit me to give the DEFINITIVE ANSWER (lol) re: Wilt's supposed selfishness. MY BACKGROUND: Born and raised in New Jersey, I attended many 'Trotters games when they featured this incredible "point guard". What was his name? Oh yeah, Wilt. I "followed" Wilt into the NBA for the 59-60 season; and fell in love with Elgin because of his incredible artistry (his mostly below-the-rim hang time, combined with super-strong wrists - meant he could almost always stay in the air longer than the other guys and still flip it up and in). Almost all of my favorite All-Time dunks were by Dr J. But, imo, the GOAT dunk was this time I saw Elgin floating across the key to dunk; meeting Wilt in mid-air; flipping it to his other hand; and still hammering it home. When Jerry West joined the Lakers, I became an even more RABID Lakers fan for life (59 years so far!). Their bi-racial harmony, TEAM-work and near-equality as players (in an incredibly racist era) changed my life! I had about given up there ever being racial peace in the US - and they showed me it was possible. Because of them I dedicated all my free time for the rest of my life to fighting for peace-justice issues. Between 1965-1975, I worked full time jobs; but, in addition, I worked 40+ hours a week, 50+ weeks a year (20,000+ volunteer hours in total) to help end the US Gov slaughter of 2-3 million INNOCENT people in Vietnam. I haven't stopped similar activities since. ------- I saw Wilt play (LIVE a number of times (in Philly, NYC & Boston - where I went to a 4-year high school; 30 miles from Boston); and on mostly "tape-delay" TV MANY, MANY times). He WAS basically everything everybody from that period says he was: the FASTEST guy in the League (truly world-class speed); the STRONGEST (truly world-class strength. Arnold Shwarzennegger testified to this. I SAW Wilt lift up two BIG NBA players, one with each hand, to stop a fight *); the QUICKEST (he COULD pick up a coin off the top of the backboard; and was a world-class high-jumper). BUT, the MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT WILT WAS HIS GUTSY ALTRUISM OFF THE COURT. We all KNEW back then what Wilt was doing off the court. It was so new that it regularly made the newspapers. It truly can be said that he SINGLE-HANDEDLY integrated first one city, then one entire region of the US. How? First with college team-mates; then, increasingly on his own. Imagine sitting in 100% segregated places; where those who didn't like "Negroes" often enforced their opinions with guns. Wilt LITERALLY risked his bleeping life MANY, MANY, MANY times. So, when people CLAIM that he was SELFISH ON THE COURT - I find that incredibly hard to believe. What I SAW / READ / LIVED was of a world-class UN-selfish human being ON and OFF the court. P.S. ME AND WILT: I actually "met" Wilt once. I was at the San Diego Sports Arena and he was in attendance in an aisle seat (iirc, this was the year after he "retired" - he had wanted to play in the ABA but the Lakers legally prevented him from doing so. btw, this puts paid to the CLAIM that he retired because he didn't want his career scoring average to go below 30 ppg!). His was so bleeping tall that SEATED he was almost my height standing. He smiled his classic friendly smile. And I ... and I ... I blew the chance of a lifetime. I couldn't open my mouth in shock and awe. I swore I'd never do that again. ME AND BIG RED, THE MOUNTAIN MAN, BILL WALTON: But it DID happen again! This time, I was running long-distance in Balboa Park, San Diego (I ran at least 2.5 hours a day for 34 years). I almost collided with this giant Red Head on a bicycle that he dwarfed. It was Bill Walton! (btw, Frankly I always felt like Walton was taller than he / NBA claimed (6'11"). I've since heard that he was actually 7'4" - that wouldn't surprise me; when I "met" him he seemed decidedly taller than Wilt had when I met HIM.) And wouldn't you know it, once again, I couldn't get a word out. (Seeing as this is rather embarrassing, perhaps you-all can believe that it's true). * Wlt was famous back then for breaking up fights in the NBA (and back then there were quite a few). Why would a supposed ego-maniac do that - it didn't do anything for him personally? But he WAS a gentle giant.

@MickyTubbs1985

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so very,very,much for giving a thoughtful,factual insight and remembrance of 3 professional basketball stars and a poignant slice of"AMERICANA"when things were definitely "not that great at all.As it was then,it has remained true today;one's P.O.V.is predicated on who and what one happens to be.

@teddy1234599

5 жыл бұрын

@@MickyTubbs1985 You are most welcome (thanx for the compliments too). A bit more historical background: 1) VICIOUS RACISM IN THE US's DEEP SOUTH: My dad / folks took us south (from New Jersey) 3-4 times a year to the American Deep South. Each and every time, he'd take me, his eldest son, off to the side, just prior to the trip, and he'd say, "Son, you KNOW this drill but here it is again. We are gonna witness a lot of really evil stuff. But YOU WILL NOT say anything, much less do anything, or you'll get us all killed. So, either you give me your word right now; or you won't be making this trip with us!" And what did we see? a) GANG-BANGS: Many, many, many "gang-bangs" (and not of the sexual type); where 2-3 bullies would beat up on one black guy; or 5+ would beat up on 2-3 black guys. b) NEAR-"UNIVERSAL" RACIST NAME-CALLING: "Nigga!" was "normal". c) THE 3-BATHROOM "SYSTEM": Perhaps, the worst of all was what I came to call the "3-Bathroom System". There'd be: ] i) 1 Bathroom marked, "Men"; ii) 1 Bathroom marked, "Women"; and iii) 1 absolute abomination marked, "Colored". This last would-be "bathroom" NEVER had running water, nor electricity and was never cleaned. For this reason, it was typically situated as far away from the other bathrooms as was physically possible - in the far corner of the lot. But you could still ALWAYS tell where it was: there was this immense dark, cloud (of flies); and, the STINK - well, you-all can guess. 2) NASTY RACISM ELSEWHERE IN THE US; IN BOSTON, for example: BUT THE DEEP SOUTH WAS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM "AREA". I went to a 4 year high school some 30 miles northeast of Boston (most liberal - progressive large city in the US). I was not tall and had "negative vertical leap" - so I never made the varsity b-ball team; but I played "intramural" ball 2-3+ hours 7 days a week. And I attended ALL our team's games. When they were away games, the most amazing thing happened: When a WHITE PLAYER from the opposing team scored; ALL the WHITE cheerleaders and WHITE FANS would rise up and shout. When a BLACK PLAYER from the opposing team scored; ALL the BLACK cheerleaders and fans would rise up and shout. It was simply OBSCENE, disgusting, revolting. 3) NASTY RACISM EVEN AT THE BOSTON GAAAADEN: And then there were the NUMEROUS times I went to the Gaaaden for Celtics' games. The C's fans were just vicious; endlessly calling the Great Bill Russell the "N" word. The resulting racial tensions were so bad that you literally risked life-and-limb going to the bathroom there. This is what turned me FROM a C's fan into a life-long anti-C's fan - I'd root for any and every team to beat them. That is how IT WAS back in the 1960s in the (never-"Great") USA.

@coachwane

3 жыл бұрын

Wow

@kenlucas7025

3 жыл бұрын

@@teddy1234599 WOW X 2!!

Butch van douche a kolff! Who wouldn't put Wilt Chamberlain back in a Finals game 7. At least humanity evolved a little bit since '69.

Great stuff. Interesting as hell. I've heard much of this before, Hawkins being there confirms it. Of course, it was easier for Wilt to respect Sharman, a former star with Boston and a Hall of Famer himself.

@jetflyer62901

6 жыл бұрын

Victor LionsTV And he is the one who made that trade involving Gail Goodrich.

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah Alex Hannum was a HOF coach and Wilt physically threatened his ass too. Wilt had problems with coaches long before VBK

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV yeah and yet the 67-68 Lakers before Wilt arrived were 52-30 with the #1 offence in the NBA. All they needed was a dominant C to deal with Boston it was thought. But noooooo....Wilts underachieving proved their undoing in the Finals.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@@FuShengAlex But Wilt respected Hannum.

@casualfandestroyer2503

2 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV warriors had meschery arizin gola attles Rodgers and wilt they weren’t loaded?? They were a superior offensive team but Boston was better defensively than warriors offensively

Much Gratitude

Fact check at 1:23 - Hawkins claims that the night Baylor scored 71, that he and Elgin combined for 86 points. The reality is that in that 11/15/60 game, Baylor scored 71 points in the Lakers 123-108 win over the Knicks. He also grabbed 25 rebounds. And Hawkins scored 7 points. Maybe Tommy is confusing himself with Rudy LaRusso. Rudy is the one who scored 15 points for the Lakers that night. This is per the box score in the basketball reference website. It was a long time ago, so we can forgive Tommy for not remembering. I enjoyed listening to someone who was actually playing in the games speak about some of the experiences on those great Lakers teams. Thanks for posting.

@bobbytrask7421

7 жыл бұрын

Ooo , well done ^ ^.

@bd001217

7 жыл бұрын

John yes, good point... over the years, we've heard about 1969 game 7 from all of the major players. .. wilt, russell, west, auerbach, van Breda kolff. .. but it's interesting to hear what some of the 'role players' have to say about the 69 laker team .

@corbinmcnabb

6 жыл бұрын

Fair enough. But his main point was Baylor's night. He likely forgot his own scoring, after all, 82 games per season (not counting post season) times how ever many years he played, getting mixed up is not an unexceptional event.

@jacklane7489

Жыл бұрын

Roughhouse Rudy

Really shows how much of a impact the coaches make in the success or failing of a team.

Tommy's memory is a bit off. He scored 7 points, not 15 in the game Elgin had 71. Also, his concern that Wilt took too many shots is wrong. Wilt averaged 13.6 FGA/game in '68-69, which was fewer than the main guy they traded to Philly for him, Archie Clark, who took 16.2 FGA/game the previous year. Wilt's presence really did not effect Baylor either, who averaged 26.0 PPG the previous year and 24.8 Wilt's first year. Any decline in Baylor was primarily due to his knees and advancing age. Also, Elgin averaged 38.3 PPG in '61-62 when Wilt averaged 50.4, not 34.8, which was the previous year.

I was a Laker fan since 1964. My favorite player was Elgin Baylor. I sat right in front of Tommy Hawkins at a Lionel Ritchie concert at Universal in 1983 or ‘84, I regret not saying hello to him. I met Chick Hearn and Keith Erickson at a Spurs game while on vacation in S. A., Chick was so gracious and even introduced me to KErickson as he was I believe his first “color man” on the radio. I no longer follow the Lakers nor the NBA ever since LaBron became the “Colin Kaepernick” of the NBA.

Rip tommy just died today sad

The Big Dipper, GOAT.

@williammorrison6311

3 жыл бұрын

No

1:38 was that a euro step 🧐?

Wilt always had problems getting along with his coaches in the NBA. Coach Bill Van Breed A Koff was probably the worst. The Wilt trade to the Lakers was horrible for the 76ers. They got nothing like equal value from LA, and should have insisted on either West or Baylor as part of the package along with Clarke, Chambers, and Imhoff. Sixers should probably have kept Wilt, given him a fat new contract as befits the best player in the league, and made him player coach. If Wilt refused Sixer’s offer, then management should have said: “Thanks for the memories Wilt. You are now officially retired.”

@casualfandestroyer2503

3 жыл бұрын

Frederick rapp best player in the league doesn’t blow a 3-1 lead

@frederickrapp5396

3 жыл бұрын

@@casualfandestroyer2503You make an excellent point. All I can say is: Wilt was MVP of the NBA from 1966-68. He should have won more titles in Philly besides 1. He bears responsibility for this. Other factors in blowing a 3-1 lead in 68: Billy Cunningham’s season ending wrist injury, and Martin Luther King’s murder.

@casualfandestroyer2503

2 жыл бұрын

@@frederickrapp5396 you don’t think MLK bothered the Celtics who had just as many black players as the 76ers? Wilt never really cared for politics I don’t know why people bring up MLK when Wilt stood away from being an activist and stuff like that

@frederickrapp5396

2 жыл бұрын

@@casualfandestroyer2503 I’m sure that many of the the Celtics were very, very, upset by MLK’s tragic murder. However, they did not have as many black players as the 76ers who were reported to be all “devastated” by the events of April 4, 1968. All 5 of the 76er starters were African-American. (Wilt, Greer, Walker, Jackson, Jones). Celtics had several white stars, (Don Nelson, Larry Siegfried, John Havlicek), including Mississippi boy Bailey Howell, who reportedly was confounded by all the fuss over King’s death because “he wasn’t President.”

@gunshotlagoon922

Жыл бұрын

​@@frederickrapp5396 Half of Philly's roster was playing injured in 68, they weren't even expected to survive the Knicks in the previous round. They lost two other bench players to injury besides Cunningham. Wilt injured his right leg in Game 4 against Boston and was hobbling for the rest of that series. It's amazing they lost by only 4 points in the seventh game against a healthy fully manned Boston team.

Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest Player ever in basketball history period some people don't like him but they are just ignorant I think like the experts they pick wilt Chamberlain is basketball God

@Mistachill

6 жыл бұрын

Bobby Madera - ...or perhaps some people can look beyond numbers and aren't blinded to Wilt's shortcomings just because he posted such incredible numbers. I think the ignorant folks are the people who thinks it's only about stats.

@Mistachill

6 жыл бұрын

The Last Call - Can you imagine a hockey team having the opportunity to get Gretzky in his prime and the players saying, "Ahh...no thanks." That's what happened to Wilt and the Lakers the first time he was traded. The Laker players voted that they didn't want him.

@johnstitt3717

5 жыл бұрын

Kurt Rambis is a close second.

@porkfrog2785

5 жыл бұрын

' he wasn't a team player.' you're half right...check his FGA thru his career...they drop drastically halfway thru www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01.html If Wilt was truly as selfish as his rep, Jordan doesn't edge him by a tenth of a point for highest career PPG. By his 8th year, his shot attempts fall to mostly the low teens, with his last 2 years less than 10 attempts a game Wilt actually sacrificed his whole style for his team and adopted more of a Bill Russell, rebounding and defense first role hey, if you can't beat'em...

@Mistachill

5 жыл бұрын

PorkFrog - did he take fewer shots for the sake of making his team better or did he do it for the sake of his reputation as a selfish player? Even when trying to be unselfish he was being selfish. Remember when he became enamored with piling up assists to prove he was unselfish. Checking with the scorers table to dispute how many assists he was credited with? He was doing that for Wilt NOT for his team. Just about everything Wilt did was for the sake of Wilt.

It is amazing that the Lakers made it that far, divided. The Celtics were united as far as we know

Fascinating.

Lakers history is rich and never boring

What kind of an a-hole coach holds it against a player for being injured? That’s the kind of shit Wilt had to deal with. Imagine Wilt being coached by Red Auerbach? Celtics would have been perennial champs for as long as Wilt continued to play.

Wilt was the most amazing athlete in NBA history, but he was also a highly intelligent man who spoke well. Early films show a man who was faster down the length of the court than anyone else. A man that averaged more than 50 pts a game when he played against good big men, was a terrific rebounder and tenacious shot blocker. Read some articles and watch 5-6 videos of this guy in his prime. He was unstoppable.

Elgin was never the same after a knee injury in 65 i believe ...he was certainly better than kb pre injury

@williammorrison6311

3 жыл бұрын

40% shooter

Rest in peace tommy.

Two points lol. First, Hawkins played against Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain and with West & Chamberlain. Yet he and Satch Sanders say Elgin Baylor was the greatest player ever! The other point is he confirmed what I already knew about the '69 Lakers. No way in the world they should have lost that series. But they had poor chemistry. Even with Wilt out in the 4th quarter and Jerry West on fire, several Lakers took very bad shots instead of giving the ball to West. It was like other players wanted "glory." Meanwhile, Boston played like the team they were with everyone contributing. I understand Van Breda Kollf didn't get along with Wilt. But for crying out loud, Bill Russell had five fouls. Couldn't he have swallowed his pride and played Wilt and won the game?

@Amick44

7 жыл бұрын

The (knee) injuries and passage of time are the only reasons Elgin is too often not mentioned with Magic, Larry and Mike. And of course a different era. He BELONGS, folks.

@choward5430

7 жыл бұрын

He belongs.

@hasanx4637

7 жыл бұрын

Lakers should have fired his ass earlier in the season. 1 more ring for the Celtics.

@Amick44

7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, they realized that a little too late.

@Mistachill

6 жыл бұрын

C Howard - the Lakers were down 9 when Chamberlain got hurt, they lost by 2. van Breda Kolff justified the decision by saying the Lakers were playing better without him and they were chipping away at the lead. Not saying I agree with his logic and that move was certainly more personal than anything else. Just saying, people act like the move was so outrageous but you can make a reasonable justification, though I disagree with it. He should've played Wilt if he said he was ready to play, especially since they had begun cutting into the lead with Wilt on the floor. However, people certainly can't say it cost them the game given the score when Wilt left and how close the Lakers ultimately cut the lead.

Boston’s win in 1969 was a big surprise. The Celtics barely made the playoffs that year. If I remember correctly, there were only eight teams in the playoffs. Four from each conference. The Celtics were fourth in the east, and were 42-40. The Lakers had the best record in the NBA. I’m going by memory. Yet, Russell and his guys pulled off a great upset. By the way, the latest the playoffs went was the beginning of April, and not June like today.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

- Boston was 48-34 that year.

@wilrobles5392

5 жыл бұрын

I stand corrected.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@@wilrobles5392 Nonetheless, they certainly weren't the favorites that year.

He spoke of 34 and 50 ppg as similar lolol

Yes, Wilt and Goodrich put up a ton of points, with Goodrich cutting to the basket and Wilt getting offensive rebounds if Goodrich happened to miss, after Wilt's passes to him. There were some really nice plays.

2:06 may have been the sweetest layup I’ve ever seen. Smooth. Edit, I had to bump the time back a few seconds.

In concept the team was tremendous, but in practice there was obvious division at least at that time.

Class act.

There's a KZread that breaks down Wilt's team success by head coach. Sorry for not linking. When Wilt had HOF coaches like Hannum and Sharman he not only won championships, but Philly set the NBA record by winning 68 games. Wilt's LA Lakers upped that record to 69. Consider, had Van Breda Kolff put Wilt back in the game. Had the Lakers won. Wilt would have 3 rings in 5 years. Now we see him in the championship class of a Magic or Bird and stop seeing, "but he's not a winner" when looking at Wilt. Seriously, any talk about Wilt's greatness is tied to this coaching decision with 3 minutes left. They lost by 2. Wilt was 7 of 8 shooting. Mel Counts, his replacement, was 4 of 13.

As a kid, I was AT that Game 7. We were close enough to plainly see what was happening. My dad was cussing up a storm.

If you were around at that time, like I was , watching Elgin Baylor destroy the SF warriors for most of his career. you'd. have seen a guy literally reinvent the way a basketball player drove to the basket, and you'd agree with Hawkins about Baylor being the Charlie Parker of basketball. I play jazz, so I get the reference. For you rockers, Baylor was the Jimi Hendrix of basketball. He literally, and very artistically re-invented driving to the hoop moves. Athletic genius. As with Parker, and Hendrix,and all the rest that came after them and played music, so it was with Dr J, Magic, Michael, Kobe. They all followed in his footsteps. Wouldn't be no J or Michael without Elgin having showed the way. He played and moved SO differently from any player of his day. Graceful, floating. inventive, improvised, beautiful, effective, genius basketball moves. The creator of the most DEADLY, cool to watch style, effective putting it into practice . Like Parker and Jimi, Baylor was a genius.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you double K for some facts. Elgin set the tone and way for Hawkins, Barry, Erving, Billy C, Dr J, MJ and many others. This game owes Elgin much gratitude.

What I don't understand about Hawkins' story at 8:28 is why would Wilt ask him to talk to VBK when Wilt is sitting right next to the coach? (8:40). The story that has always been told is that when Wilt asked VBK to put him back into the game, the coach said "We're playing better without you".

@charleslu7044

8 жыл бұрын

Wilt was not speaking to Butch even tho he was sitting right next to him.

@bobbytrask7421

7 жыл бұрын

Ya John , the coach DID say that. I think the full sentence was , "You can tell him we don't need him , we are playing better without him." Ultimately , however , The go F yourself was either implied or simply added to what he said.

@JomoDaMusicMan

7 жыл бұрын

Tommy Hawkins was sitting right on the bench and he said coach said tell Wilt go fuck himself, but u, a thousand miles away, know, verbatim, what coach said, so u go fuck yourself

@JAWrightonline

6 жыл бұрын

"We're playing better without you." Translation: "Go f--- yourself." Of course, Wilt's name for VBK: Jackass Van Breda Kolff

@jaycrew6967

6 жыл бұрын

Watch your mouth!!

I never understood the NBA Coaches, from back in the 1960's until now in the 2020's. There is no coach, and I mean no coach that's greater than the team. I loved Phil Jackson, he won as a player and as a coach, but he wouldn't have more than 2 rings without MJ., Scottie, Shaq and Kobe. Pat Riley the same thing, except for his lone championship as a player with the Lakers he wouldn't have any rings without Magic, Kareem, Wade and Shaq. The biggest beneficiary was Red Auerbach, that Boston team that he coached had nothing but Hall of Famers on it. The players have and will ALWAYS determine the Championships, coaches simply have the best seat in the gym.

LoL @ "The year Wilt averaged 50 Elgin averaged 34..." SO!?! I get he is trying to praise his favorite guy, but stop...

@jetflyer62901

6 жыл бұрын

King In My Own Mind It was actually 38 points a game, and not that many people average that much nowadays. Sure it is no 50 per game average, but it is still really good.

@zroysum

5 жыл бұрын

They were not on the same team and wouldn't be for around 8 years. Also Baylor averaged 38 that year but he only played about half the season because he was in the army.

@jetflyer62901

5 жыл бұрын

zroysum Okay then.

@zroysum

5 жыл бұрын

I love Elgin Baylor I think there is a real case that he is the greatest small forward ever. I have him right even with Bird and Lebron. I definitely wouldn't take him over Wilt though. He may have been better for his size but Wilt was like hercules or superman. GOAT in my opinion.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@@jetflyer62901 And one is a 6'5 guy, other 7'1. As Nate Thurmond said "there is a great differnce in Rick (Barry, 6'8) scoring 50 and Wilt scoring 50. "

Damn great story

I grew up watching those Celtics teams of Russell, Havlicek, etc., and they were something else. Bill Russell was by far the best defensive player of all-time.

@mikestewart5194

5 жыл бұрын

Russell was a great high jumper in high school. In San Francisco. However he was 2nd to his nemisis- JOHNNY MATHIS who was invited to the Olympics. Did u know that Kurt Russell played 7 years of double A minor league baseball?

@nebur59

Жыл бұрын

Look at the number blocks Wilt had in one of the comments on this video. Wilt was a defensive monster. I believe there was one game where he had 13 blocks and in the playoffs in the late 60’s averaged nearly 10 blocks per game. Russell was great but Wilt could have been greater. I’m not talking about championships.

@marioarguello6989

Жыл бұрын

Is that why Wilt grabbed 55 rebounds against him? FIFTY, FIVE.

@felixmadison5736

Жыл бұрын

@@marioarguello6989 Too bad Wilt is no longer here to tell you about all the losing his teams did vs. Russell and the C's. You could look it up. Rebounds don't have anything to do with defense by the way.

@felixmadison5736

Жыл бұрын

@@mikestewart5194 As a Kurt Russell fan I knew about him playing baseball and his father Bing owning a minor league club. I also knew about Johnny Mathis being a pretty darn good track man!

RIP Tommy

Eventually, the 1969 balloons did get released. The janitors released them the next day.

All I know is those Laker teams and Oscar & Kareem kept my Love- Chet- Sloan- van Lier Bulls team from 1 or 2 championships 1970- 75 What powerhouses

Wait....coming to blows......with Wilt Chamberlain? Stop. Just stop.

@oluhamilton2121

5 жыл бұрын

VBK was crazy enough to TRY

@nellbowie7986

5 жыл бұрын

Yep BVK was nuts

@encyclopediaamericana7234

4 жыл бұрын

The coach was a Marine Sergeant.....

@ChessJourneyman

3 жыл бұрын

@@encyclopediaamericana7234 So you're saying he was dumb enough to actually do something like that, cool.

Sounds like Wilt not only was battling the Celtics to tarnish his legac but his own freaking coach! Seriously...2 rings is ok, but 3 much better and it would have put a blemish on Russell's resume. All because a coach was too proud and stubborn. What a colossal prick.

I was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1969 during the NBA Playoffs, just before shipping out to Vietnam. There was another soldier who was from California, and kept talking trash about the Celtics and how the Lakers were going to kick their ass. Being that I grew up in Massachusetts, a life long Celtics fan, I told him to put his money where his mouth was. So, we decided on a twenty-dollar wager, which was big money when your making what we made in the army back then. Needless to say, my C's and my favorite player, the late, great, John 'Hondo' Havlicek came through for me.

Glad Hawkins clarified that it was dumbo van Breda Kolff who kept the most dominant player out of the 4th quarter of a 7th game championship. No coach today, would even attempt to pull such a stunt, but 1969 was still the era where many coaches still thought they were bigger than the players. Most managers/coaches during this period were probably paid more than the players and if Wilt's contract to come to LA paid him more money than the coach - you have an immediate jealously issue with van Breda Kolff. Any coach today pulling van Breda Kolff's stunt would literally be fired on the spot as soon as the word got out that he was playing personal vendetta games, because the public and social media outcry would rightfully be overwhelming.

THEY ALL KEPT TRYING TO TELL WILT HE DIDNT NEED TO SCORE. SO HE KEPT CHANGING HIS GAME UNTIL HE FINALLY REACHED LAKERS HE WAS STRICTLY DEFENSE. MIRACULAOUSLY HE CARRIED THE LAKERS TO THE 72 CHAMPIONSHIP AND MADE 3 MORE JUST BEING A DEFESNIVE STAPLE.. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF HE WQOULD HAVE KEPT THE SAME MENTALITY AS HIS OTHER TEAMS THEN THE LAKERS WOULD HAVE 4 OUT OF 5.. BUT WILT WAS SO NICE AND DIDNT WANT TO BE VIEWED WHAT THE MEDIA PORTAYED.. IT COST HIM RINGS... BUT SENSE WE KNOW THE TRUTH. HIS 2 COUNT AS 5 OR 6...IT IS JUST TRUE

@blueblur2273

11 ай бұрын

What a maroon!

at 0:28 Elg seems to mouth off "sh_t"!... just about sums up what happened in that game...

Years later, when coach Van Breda Kolff passed away, his Obituary in the L.A. Times read: "He Benched Wilt".

why did he say "pardon the year" about 1959???

First "euro step" 1:37

Funny thing about Tommy Hawkins is that he was known to a generation of fans as just somebody who hosted Dodger Confidential on radio. He was never a media personality for the Lakers or the NBA.

How was Elgin's defense as compared to MJ or Kobe? Absent the "d" question, Elgin was the very best

@oluhamilton2121

5 жыл бұрын

The NBA's first FREAKY player, all respect to Cousy.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

For the most part, most say Elgin was a decent, though not an exceptional defender. But Tom Heinsohn, who played against him many times said "of all the forwards who could be considered the best, Elgin was by far the best defensive player."

@Amick44

4 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV it's in a book he wrote a while back.

@Amick44

4 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV it may have been in "give em the hook."

Ppl talk about players quitting but coaches like van Breda koff cost teams a potential championship

@blueblur2273

11 ай бұрын

How? Lakers were down huge when Wilt was on the court and made a comeback with Wilt on the bench. The offense was flowing better and his team was hot. So naturally he was riding with the guys on the court. Wilt was hurt and would have changed the style of play if he was put back in. Not to mention he's a liability down the stretch with his poor free throw shooting.

I always thought Van Breda Kolff was the wrong coach for the Lakers. He could be very volatile at the worst possible times. I remember one incident where Jerry West blew up at him! Something happened on the floor that didn't go the Lakers way. It might have been a bad call by the refs. Van Breda Kolff jumped up off the bench yelling and started to come onto the court. Jerry West looked at Van Breda Kolff, threw up his arms and screamed something at the coach. Van Breda Kolff immediately turned and went back to the bench. I never saw West so mad at a coach or player before or after.

Good interview but that music is so distracting

when ever you get it .... launch it. lol RIP Tommy "The Hawk" Hawkins

Jack Kent Cooke owned racehorses and a major part for promoting the Ali vs Frazier fight one. he would know what to do with these Lakers as opposed to the stooge Jennie buss.

Gosh, even as a 11 year old, I knew that Butch van Breda Koff was NOT the right coach for the Lakers. He delayed Showtime for a decade and was one of the reasons for the decline of NBA until Bird and Magic. .

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

He led a 52-30 team before Wilt arrived. Lmao Wilt fans trying to let him off the hook for his underachieving play and point the finger

@bordertown

5 жыл бұрын

Everyone in LA back then knew Van Breda Kolff was a hack of a coach. Lakers won 52 games on the roster talent alone. His coaching record after LA speaks for itself.

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

@@bordertown oh so what was LA's record before VBK arrived? 36-45. Oh ok yeah West n Baylor missed some games, but they weren't exactly setting the NBA on fire even if they were playing. VBK wasn't even the first coach Wilt had issues with. He was a problem for nearly every coach he had before LA. He tried to physically assault Hannum when he played in Philly.

@bordertown

5 жыл бұрын

@@FuShengAlex Not only did West and Baylor miss a lot but so did their All-Star big man Rudy LaRusso who was out for half that season. Truth is Butch never liked the Wilt trade from day one and if he wasn't trying to prove a point in the Finals then LA would have swept Boston.

Elgin Baylor was the greatest player ever. Cannot really argue with that. He was way ahead of his time. A small forward who averaged 13.5 rebounds a game.

@axelsohn1454

2 жыл бұрын

Hey, don't forget Larry Bird, who was not only a great player with lesser physical skills than the others but a brilliant basketball mind- and his post playing career, i.e., as a coach and GM confirms it.

@johnwingate8799

2 жыл бұрын

Was Baylor better than Earving and Rick Berry?naaa

@Amick44

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnwingate8799 he was. Both we're great, but Elgin was greater in more areas than Rick or Doc.

Coaches always knows better .🤔

I wouldn't be surprised if the Boston Celtics were in their locker room celebrating another NBA Championship, and at the same time thanking the Lakers coach for his stubbornness and downright STUPIDITY for refusing to put Wilt back in the game. The final outcome could have been very different with Wilt in there. Like the late Tommy Hawkins said of Wilt Chamberlain, Wilt had the ability to CONTROL the game.

I think it sucks that the 2nd best team in an entire sport for that season are considered losers.

All due respect to Mr. Hawkins but the notion that Wilt was still the same I gotta score 50ppg to win player is asinine. Exhibit A He lead the league in assist total at Philadelphia 76ers and his ppg total was under 30ppg in his time there and he won a ring making that sacrifice. Exhibit B he only scored over 25ppg once and that was an inflated stat season because he only played 12 games. As I study up more about Wilt the selfish individualistic moniker that is attached to him becomes less true.

As a thought experiment... you swap Russell and Chamberlain that season, what would happen? My guess is that the Lakers would have been an absolute juggernaut and unbeatable. Russell would have figured out right quick what exactly the team needed and how he had to play for making the team better. He would have enhanced the inherent qualities of the team not demanding that they accommodate his preferred style of play. His individual statistics would not have been as impressive as Wilt's but he would come out on top.

@blueblur2273

11 ай бұрын

Agreed. For starters Russell wouldn't have taken away from Baylor's game like Wilt did. He would just fit in seamlessly while providing things they do need like rebounding and shot blocking.

@blueblur2273

11 ай бұрын

​@victorwiley3739 A. Worthy was a rookie and would have only boosted their offense slightly. He wouldn't have helped them in the areas the Sixers hurt them in like rebounding and interior defense. B. 83 ain't the first time Moses outplayed Kareem. By 78, Moses was in the conversation for best Center in the league.

I call bs on Hawkins saying that Wilt was a selfish shooter. Wilt averaged only 13.6 fga in the first year he was with the Lakers and as a Laker he averaged 11.5 fga and 4.3 apg. He wasn't a ballhog. His fga was never higher than 3rd on any Laker team he played for.

The reason why the Lakers did Not beat the Celtics n Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals was Not cause Wilt got injured or cause of Van Brenda Kolf and Wilts mutual dislike, it was cause the Celtics were the Better team. Bill Russell who was the player/coach got wind of the Lakers celebration plans and took it personal. He knew he was going to retire, so why Not retire with a Bang! Healthy Wilt or Not, the Lakers will Not going to Beat the Celtics. Wilt was a far Better player than Russell but Russell was the Greatest winner, coach, Team player.

@FuShengAlex

5 жыл бұрын

Wilt played like garbage that's why LA lost. He averages anywhere near his regular season scoring that year instead of that paltry 11.7ppg they win easily.

@Amick44

5 жыл бұрын

@james83925 Tell it, James. Though some schmucks will say Bill was on great teams and didn't have to go through as many series (as today). No matter, you can hardly do better than he did. And while he was on strong teams, it's not like others didn't have equal or better talent. I'm talking historically, not just in his day.

@coachwane

3 жыл бұрын

@@VictorLionsTV 24.9 and 24.5 Are Wilt and Russell rebound averagaes in the playoffs. Not really a big margin.

Thanks mr. Blong...I've been saying that for years......they travel, 3 seconds (speciality of Dennis Rodman) and palming that the NBA calls hesitation dribble......all accepted to give the offense an advantage to keep selling those tickets to the sucker fans who love sports as nothing more an entertainment spectacle that it has become....yup, another disney product

For those who point to Wilt supposedly quitting rather than supposedly have his ppg dip below 30 ppg; what about MJ who quit rather than play one more year - sure his average would have dipped below both 30 and below Wilt. MJ was still capable of playing good ball. btw I loved em both. My GOAT list: N.B. My #1 criteria is number of "Great Years" = ALL-NBA/ABA/NBL 1st-Teams then 2nd-Tms. Also, in every descending set of 5 GOAT spots, I have one player each per position. 1) KAJ (67% more Finals & WSs than MJ; #1 most unstoppable & clutch shot: Sky Hook) 2) LAbron (He's been moving up one GOAT spot per year; GOAT #2 TEAM-mate) 3) MJ (GOAT #1 assassin; NOT best TEAM-mate; quit on team twice; "only" 11 Great Years)* 4) Magic (GOAT #1 TEAM-mate; career cut short by disease) 5) TD (GOAT Top 5 TEAM-mate; complete) 6) Wilt (GOAT #2 C: not counting Mikan in a super-weak era, Wilt = most era-dominant ever) 7) Dr J (GOAT #2 SF: I have him just above Bird; his ABA years were phenomenal) 8) Kobe (GOAT #2 SG: if stays with Shaq; 8 Chips, 4fMVPs; they'd be GOAT #1a and #1b) 9) O (GOAT #2 PG: I have him just below Magic; triple-double over a 5 year period) 10) K. Malone (GOAT #2 PF: just behind TD; machine-like efficiency & consistency) 11) Shaq (GOAT #3 C: if stays with Kobe; 8 Chips, 4fMVPs; they'd be GOAT #1a and #1b) 12) West (GOAT #3 SG: Curry's range; better defender; so far, longer career) 13) Bird (GOAT #3 SF: GOAT Top 5 TEAM-mate; career cut short by injury) 14) Stockton (GOAT #3 PG: 2 unbreakable? All-Time records:assists(offense);steals (defense) 15) Pettit (GOAT #3 PF: 10 Great Years) 16) Bill Russell (I can't put him higher when he was dominated at his own position during his own era (In the 9 years they both were voted ALL-NBA, Wilt had 7 1st-Team selections to Russ's 2!). * For those who may want to claim that I'm an MJ-hater; let me put it this way: I've been ecstatically married for 32 years to a truly one-in-a-million woman. The ONLY time I ever even raised my voice to her was when she tried to get me to babysit our kids when MJ was playing in the Finals.

@amostlyreasonableguy

5 жыл бұрын

I don't know if you're a hater but you're certainly a babbling narcissist who somehow finds a way to make every story about you. But do tell us more about your full-time, life-long dedication to nobly standing for peace & justice while maintaining your successful marriage and fatherhood with steadfast emotional restraint and moralistic virtue. It's sooo interesting and your life is really important and relevant to history, umm... yeah... sure. Definitely.