Wilt Chamberlain may have been a beast on the basketball court, but he had a knack for doing things his own way. His teammates, however, weren’t fans of this unconventional approach. And they didn’t hesitate to voice their disapproval during the 1966 Eastern Division Finals against the Boston Celtics when ‘Wilt The Stilt’ decided to skip practice at a time when the Philadelphia 76ers needed their chemistry to be on point.
Wilt’s teammate wasn’t pleased
1965-66 marked Wilt's first full season with the Sixers. It proved to be remarkable, as Philly not only recorded the best record in the regular season but also led the league in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, and minutes played to rightfully collect his second straight MVP award.
However, going up against the Celtics in the last stage before reaching the NBA Finals, the 76ers faced their ultimate challenge. The latter suffered a resounding 19 and 21-point losses in the first two games. Even though Chamberlain responded with a stellar 31-point and 27-rebound performance in Game 3 to help the Sixers get back into the series, the pressure remained high.
Eventually, in Game 4, the 13-time All-Star felt the pressure and struggled on the offensive end, managing to score only 15 points (he averaged 26.3 points across the first three games). Despite the 76ers being in a precarious position, Wilt opted to miss the team practice. According to Robert Cherry’s biography, ‘Wilt: Larger Than Life,’ one particular teammate didn’t shy away from mentioning how this approach often hindered the team from achieving the best rhythm and irked many in the roster.
"Sure, he should have been here," an unnamed teammate said . "Isn't Wilt just like you and me? Today was the same as it's been all year long. Wilt misses a practice, and it sort of aggravates the guys."
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Chamberlain was instigated by reporters as well
During Game 5, the Big Dipper delivered an impressive performance with 46 points and 34 rebounds. However, his subpar free-throw shooting, converting just 8-of-25 attempts, significantly contributed to the Celtics’ 8-point victory.
Joe McGinnis, a journalist for the Evening Bulletin, also confronted the uber-athletic big man about his absence from practice and whether it hindered his rhythm from the charity stripe. He even speculated that the outcome could have been different had he attended. In response, the 13-time All-Star provided a blunt reply.
"All the ****** practice in the world ain't gonna help me at the line," Wilt responded.
Related: “Please don’t call me Stilt” - Wilt Chamberlain was never fond of his nickname ‘Wilt The Stilt’
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