NBA: Wilt Chamberlain Almost Changed History With One Major Decision

NBA icon Wilt Chamberlain almost changed the history with one major decision during his prime.

After all the NBA records he had set during his plating years, Chamberlain definitely belongs to the NBA’s GOAT list. However, there was something in Chamberlain’s game that kind of hindered him from making more history.

Chamberlain played for 14 seasons in the league. He also made the All-Star team 13 times and only missed one due to injury. Overall, the Laker legend averaged 30 points and 22 rebounds per game. He was also a four-time league MVP and secured two championships across his name.

While all those numbers were truly impressive, Chamberlain’s free-throw shooting is something that is not part of his legacy. In his prime, Chamberlain shot 51 percent from the free-throw line. However, he also had seven seasons where he shot under 50 percent.

After figuring out a way to improve his free-throw shooting, Chamberlain changed his shooting form and shot his free throws “underhanded.” To everybody’s surprise, the underhand tactic worked and in the 1961-62 season, the dominant big man shot 61 percent from the charity stripe.

As a result, not only did Chamberlain’s free throw percentage improved, but he also averaged over 50 points per game in that specific season, which was his career-high and an NBA record.

The following year, Chamberlain went back to shooting free throws normally and his percentage dropped down slightly to 59 percent. Gradually, it went back to his normal low 50’s to high 40’s range.

As for the reason why he decided to go back to his normal shooting form, only Chamberlain knows. However, it is a bit evident that he probably didn’t want to be remembered for such an awful looking shot. More importantly, he didn’t want basketball fans to make fun of him for the rest of his career.

Looking back, Chamberlain could have put up 50 points per game during his prime for a couple more seasons if he had only settled for the underhanded shot.

Nevertheless, Chamberlain still holds the record for most points in a game after scoring 100 in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. He also regarded in all NBA as the most notable rival of another NBA icon Bill Russell.

Chamberlain and Russell battled each other during the formatting years of the NBA and to this day, both of them are considered as the first professional basketball superstars in the world.