Wilt Chamberlain Kansas Jersey Retirement Ceremony

[@tonycapt1]

This is a wonderful ceremony. Wilt was sick here, and passed away about a year later. I'm glad he got to experience how much the Kansas fans and organization appreciated him. He was one of kind. RIP big fella.

[@Braglemaster123]

tonycapt1 R.I.P. Big Wilt

[@lloydkline6946]

❤ wilt

[@Braglemaster123]

Look how big he was “

[@larryaldama1673]

😔🏀🙏🏽🥲

[@paul_devos]

yeah. could definitely see he was fading here... wild. Russell outliving him by 25+ years already. Watching Hubie Brown (also 88 like Russell) still super sharp do NBA game commentary is quite amazing to see as not many given such great health of mind and money into those ages.

[@seldenkid48]

Best man to ever play the game. Wilt Chamberlain

[@robertlapinski1559]

I had never seen this entire ceremony. Saw Wilt as a kid, when he was with the Lakers. One of the truly nicest and most misunderstood athletes in history. You could tell the emotion he had for KU and he always felt the loss to Carolina was the start of the narrative of how he could never win the big game. Any one with a pair of eyes though could see that any person 7 feet plus, that could run the 100 in 9.7 or so, and could jump out of the gym, was an athlete with once in a generation talent. There's only one Wilt. Rip.

[@vernpascal1531]

Great man. Greatest Basketball player ever. This is so moving. He's the one guy in my life that you actually believed he was Superman. He was so far beyond anyone else in the fifties, and would still be the best today.

[@Rockcroc2000Rm1wE3erWmNfkL]

You never thought it was possible for him to eventually die, he is the best professional athlete to ever play any sport, no doubt. He was not human, what shocked everybody more than any of his records? His death, a sad sad day.

[@thalmusscantlebury9696]

Never forget the day you saw a GOAT cry

[@lloydkline3265]

@@vernpascal1531 black superman

[@rockchalker]

I will never forget that afternoon. What a powerful, moving speech. The greatest basketball player who ever lived. Still holds over 50 NBA records, and even led the NBA in ASSISTS in 1967! One of the greatest all around athletes as well. Coach Self said it best recently: "nobody we recruit will ever become the greatest to play at the University of Kansas, because Wilt played here."

[@RahulSingh-ou6se]

90 Records

[@jackson5781]

As someone who was coached by Larry browns graduate asst and brown played against him in that 57 title game. I always admired Wilt , Everytime I see this I get choked up. Even in his after life he tells me turn that damn thing on and take a look at who I am . Lol.

[@cyburai13]

I can't help but get a bit teary eyed when watching this. He had so much regret not being able to win the title that year and thought people would react negatively to him but once he saw how much love and support he was receiving, it was a weight off his shoulders for sure. Also the crowd felt his regret too as you can hear a lot of them saying "aww" while he's giving his speech. In my opinion Wilt is the greatest of all time. We may never see anyone even close to his talent again.

[@lexbeltran1354]

Jotaro Platinum Wilt is a once in a lifetime player people will never see again, just an extraordinary talent.😆

[@sabman]

Damn Jordan, Magic, Bird all I can say is none of those guys will ever touch Wilt Chamberlain. He is really the Greatest and most Dominant player ever in the game.

[@Braglemaster123]

sabman absolutely

[@bobbymadera3234]

HA HA YOU RIGHT KID THIS WAS THE MEN MR NORMAN WILTON CHAMBERLAIN THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER EVER STEP IN 🌎

[@shiro9112]

Wilt Chamberlain GOD of NBA hes goat

[@shiro9112]

Wilt Chamberlain GOD of NBA lol olajuwon is goat? ur wrong wilt is the greatest the best ever

[@danno131305]

I was there. Wilt signed a poster for me and shook my hand. The FIELDHOUSE has never been louder than it was that day.

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

If Wilt had to choose between Lakers, 76ers, Warriors or Jayhwaks, he would join the Jayhawks the 1st. His mom wanted his son to join that University because of the programme of study.

[@mjsuperstar26]

Eh, I would say Philly. He was born and raised there.

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

Matt K No, he would choose Kansas, I'm a very big fan of Wilt since years ago, the only team that made him cry was the Jayhwaks. I will tell you more, he would join the Lakers before joining the 76ers.

[@Rockcroc2000Rm1wE3erWmNfkL]

He would choose the Lakers before the 76ers, he was a Jayhawk first, a Laker second.

[@lloydkline6946]

Lucky, I got a couple of wilt books 📚 to ❤ wilt

[@kuwinsitall]

I remember feeling so lucky to be there that day. As a student at the time, we were all trying to get tickets to it. People were crying all around me. Such an amazing moment. Wilt will be forever be seen as the greatest player in KU history, hands down.

[@phillysportsfan99]

it will always kill me that i never got to see him play live

[@Braglemaster123]

Bob Long I saw him many times. He could do it all, and scary 💪 strong

[@Poloskii]

@@Braglemaster123 is it true that he average over 14 blocks a game in his prime?

[@jackson5781]

I grew up 10 miles away from that stadium. And my coach's father played against wilt in that championship game. I am a lifelong Jayhawk Fan, and I have always admired Wilt. Even after his death. Wilt was special and a special individual who always accepted people for who they were. We miss you Big Dipper

[@cyburai13]

Made a comment here 5 years ago and now I’m back since KU and UNC are meeting in the championship again after 65 years and hopefully we can avenge Wilt and the rest of the 1957 team :) EDIT: WE DID IT! WHAT AN AMAZING GAME AND COMEBACK!

[@stubronson8718]

Wilt was looking down smiling. Down 15 at halftime

[@boxersdrule]

Tears to my eyes...

[@dusk6159]

One of the most powerful and moving ceremonies ever, thanks Wilt, sorely missed all-timer.

[@erics9754]

Sad he looked so sick and he was tired made my heart break such a special man .RIP the greatest basketball player and a good man Wilt Chamberlain.

[@drinkabledebo]

I got to shake his hand here, I didn't know who this guy was...man...if only I had been older and wiser.

[@Raphaeldelaghettoo]

Wilt the Stilt... Rest in Peace!

[@lloydkline3265]

Wilt lives forever on KZbin

[@swishymcjackass]

brings tears to my eyes every time. excellent video.

[@ronbonora7872]

Both the college and NBA GOAT!

[@Braglemaster123]

Look at size of Wilt, so strong.

[@frostjackMP]

He was arguably the greatest Basketball player of all time. A true legend, who will live on forever in the rafters of Allen Field House, and wore the crimson and blue Rock chalk Jayhawk...

[@Johnadams20760]

it should not be "arguably" he just simply IS the greatest hand down and it isn't even remotely close

[@kuwinsitall]

My brother was there that day (I didn't start at KU til 2000, so missed it...) and he has his game ticket framed with Wilt's autograph. What a great memory!

[@nickajk1]

As a jayhawk fan it is great to know the best basketball player of all time played for your school he was moved that day I think he had forgotten how much people still loved him

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Just think, you have Joel Embiid also. Don't know if he'll ever top Wilt Chamberlain, but he'll certainly go down as another one of the all-time great big men in NBA history if he can stay healthy for another 5 years.

[@nickajk1]

@@ShaunPhillipsAV Shawn he couldn't stay healthy even at Kansas he missed the NCAA tournament

[@nickajk1]

@@ShaunPhillipsAV I think he's going to be one of those guys that you talk about 10 years from now what he could have been if he stayed healthy

[@Your_Majezty]

Man looking back the old times, it really resembled cartoons in a way, very colorful and lively. RIP Wilt the real GOAT

[@bobbymadera3234]

YOU'RE RIGHT THE ONLY REAL GOAT

[@ddenuci]

It's ironic that the name on the banner (3:56) next to Wilt's is Clyde Lovelette. When they were both in the NBA, Clyde (who was a few years older than Wilt) sucker punched Wilt, pushing his teeth into his jaw, and causing him problems decades later. Wilt got his revenge in the 1964 NBA finals when he decked Lovelette with one punch. p.s. Great clip. Wilt was the greatest.

[@andante005]

And if you have no heart.........this will mean nothing to you. the only stated reason he did not come back, was because he felt "he let everyone down", and couldn't face them, his university, his fans. My word, look at his reaction to this all. Just love it

[@pmount07]

Glad that KU finally retired his number! Wonder why it took so long? I think this was the beginging of the end for Wilt. He look visibly sick and it seemed as though he was sweating profusely😞 RIP Wilt!

[@nickajk1]

Don't you bass will sweat on any sickness he was wearing a letterman jacket and Allen fieldhouse on a good day is 100 degrees give me a break

[@nickajk1]

I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt to Allen fieldhouse and I've sweat worse than Wilt did wearing a letterman jacket and pants

[@redfanrod]

Okay... I just checked and found out that Kansas did not start retiring jerseys until 1992... Wilt's was retired in 1998, over 40 years after playing his last game at KU. About darn time, Jayhawks...

[@stubronson8718]

They were waiting for him to come back...

[@redfanrod]

@@stubronson8718 I forgot that I commented on this 14 years ago. Thanks.

[@gamewizardks]

Absolutely Touching. RIP Wilt The Stilt!

[@jpilch7895]

This is a very special moment. Thanks for posting.

[@HKships4TeresaTeng2]

KU also has a place in my heart. I went there for my undergraduate degree in the early 1970's.

[@scottab140]

Great speech showing some KU love and receiving it in return.

[@Raphaeldelaghettoo]

Some may say that he was the most amazing basketball player to ever play the game... EVER!

[@Braglemaster123]

Shashwat P. Baxi 100 %

[@MrZackavelli]

"Some may say" In other words, the ones that know what they're talking about

[@deloreswillis9224]

Awwwww…… GOD BLESS. WILT CHAMBERLAIN 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@Blink182lover99]

That's so cool, I would totally want a basketball signed by him. I'm the only girl at my school who knows who he is, and I can't talk to any of them about it because they aren't spots ppl. That's amazing thay you have a basketball signed by him

[@TheRealNinjaRoach]

If you heard stories about what other teams did to him, you'd understand. This was 1950's America. Wilt walked away largely because he was tired of being abused.

[@youtuber3328]

i did and do really love wilt chamberlain

[@Justdoit000]

"Rock Chalk Jayhawk."

[@markmauk8231]

He looked so much worse in 98 than in 97...does anyone know what happened to him? I mean, I know it was the heart...but why so damn suddenly?

[@user-fl8ng9np7v]

Lovellete!

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Wilt Chamberlain was hit in the mouth with an elbow by Clyde Lovellette during a game against the Boston Celtics. The elbow was vicious, and intentional. It rammed Chamberlain's teeth up into his jaw, and he had problems with that for his entire life. He was constantly battling infections in that area. In the weeks before he died the problem had gotten bad again and he wasn't eating right as a result. That elbow to the mouth indirectly led to Wilt Chamberlain's death years later.

[@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN]

Wilt had congestive heart failure. Wilt had been dealing with heart issues since his mid 20s. If you notice, Wilt looks heavier here than he did the year before. He was retaining fluid and his weight climbed from about 270 to 320.

[@leoderosia9279]

@@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN I think stds caused the heart virus that killed him...read Dr Gabe Mirkin.

[@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN]

@@leoderosia9279 Yeah, I have heard that theory as well. I tend to believe it.

[@dpkvwells]

i believe you.....no one even in his class

[@Pronzini1]

Yes, Kareem was definitely in Wilt's class.

[@Braglemaster123]

Thanks for posting

[@baller0213]

he was a cool grandpa

[@connplayer22]

Wilt Chamberlain in 1957 lost the game to UNC in the championship by only 1 point in 3 OT's... he felt it was his fault and did not go back to lawrence kansas till this day... he passed away just years later... WE WONT FORGET YOU WILT R.I.P

[@mikewrasman5103]

Wilt was also an excellent track and field athlete as well!

[@KyleRohde]

@Owl Bay, Wilt thought KU fans blamed him for the '57 loss to UNC and did not come back to Lawrence for a very long time, unfortunately.

[@Mikepleith]

Did you notice he mentioned he felt he let the university and his teammates down - no mention about the fans. I think he did feel he let the fans down but wouldn’t admit it...

[@jackson5781]

Rest in Peace Big Fella. Everyone in Kansas still love ya

[@ddenuci]

@d820m I've now found a few newspaper articles, and it confirms that the punch was thrown in Game 2. From Associated Press 4/21/1964 " SF's Wilt Chamberlain floored Boston's Clyde Lovellette with a punch in the nose last night, but the Celtics floored the Warriors 124-101 and took a two-game lead in the final NBA playoffs. The Lovellette-Chamberlain incident, at the foul line in the fourth period, touched off a near riot"

[@4517onlyglory]

The real greatest of all time

[@arravYT]

Holy shit thats like looking at Larry and Magic right now. (40 years difference)

[@daveforgot127]

Thank you Wilt

[@clubinsky33]

creeped my wife out when I started clapping for him not even realizing that he couldn't hear my applause.

[@Johnadams20760]

you can defintely see who was not well. like people said this is less than a year before he died. not only did his eyes look bad, but his hair , and he was even sweating for no reason. so sad. i think i had seen him interviewed even less than a year before this and he looked so much healthier

[@zeuschowie7473]

Awesome!!! I'm so proud to be a Kansas Fan

[@jimsutter149]

Wilt you were the greatest.

[@alexnavarro9732]

So proud to be a Jayhawk. Rock chalk!!

[@Kumzle]

Very humble a man.

[@GuiBu-m7w]

The real GOAT...

[@hanawoldu9181]

rip legend greatest athlete ever he died like a year after that

[@mikewrasman5103]

Too bad that Wilt didn't have much time to enjoy those momentos. RIP, Wilt.

[@CrownMe13]

GOAT Jayhawker easily

[@d820m]

@ddenuci Terry Pluto's book Tall Tales says that this happened in the 5th and final game of the series, Clyde was throwinig elbows and Wilt basically told him to cut it out or he was gonna deck him

[@ddenuci]

@d820m Sports Illustrated's website has an archive section, and so I went to the 5/4/64 issue. There is a relatively small article on the NBA finals, and it mentions nothing about the punch. Can you believe it? The NBA was really not considered a major sport back then. The finals didn't even make the cover ! There are articles claiming the punch happened in the 2nd game, and others claiming the 5th. The nba(dot)com encyclopedia, in a section called "Legendary Rivals" says it was the 2nd.

[@remybecute]

I once saw Wilt tip one in off a jump ball (when they had those mid-game) ! A jump ball !!!!!!...15 feet against the Chicago Bulls. Unbelievable player.

[@johnalsdorf1240]

thats one big dude

[@Braglemaster123]

John Alsdorf Huge

[@dravendfr]

You can tell his health was declining rapidly by the time this video came around. It is sad to see.

[@bobbym.2130]

ROCK CHALK!

[@TeamF8L1]

100 point game

[@artbeitchman9399]

Wilt The Goat!!

[@thalmusscantlebury9696]

Remember the day you saw a GOAT cry

[@jayhawkedits]

Its beyond amazement how Wilt never won a National Championship at Kansas

[@Ghtthomps]

bsballerz19 He was so much more dominating. He had to carry the team with 4 opposing players on him. He just needed one outside shot from one team member to win.

[@DXSINGER]

RIP Dipper ♡. You will always be the best in my book!!!☆☆☆☆☆

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

When they raised Wilt Chamberlain's Jersey to the rafters, if you look just to the right of it you'll see the jersey of Clyde Lovellette. In an NBA playoff game against the Boston Celtics, Clyde Lovellette slammed Wilt Chamberlain with an intentional elbow to the mouth. That blow rammed Chamberlain's teeth up into his jaw. He battled infections there for the rest of his life. In the weeks before he died, the infection had gotten bad again and Chamberlain stop eating as a result. his health deteriorated badly over the last couple weeks of his life. He was scheduled to go back into the dentist just before he died. That elbow to the mouth, delivered 35 years earlier, indirectly led to the death of Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain was so angry at the elbow at the time that he did something he had never done before or since. He punched a fellow basketball player. Witnesses said at the time that Chamberlain smacked Clyde Lovellette with a vicious jab punch to the head. The punch only traveled a little more than a foot, but was so powerful that Clyde Lovellette was knocked completely unconscious and had to be carried off the court on a stretcher. The referees felt that Clyde had it coming. He was known as a dirty player. Wilt Chamberlain was not thrown out of the game. In fact he wasn't even an assessed a technical or personal foul on the play. Boston Coach Red Auerbach went ballistic. He was beside himself at how the referees could allow Wilt to punch a man, knock him completely unconscious, and not even get a technical or personal foul. While Auerbach was complaining to the referees, a still angry Chamberlain told Red to shut the hell up or you'll be next. Red Auerbach said to the referees, "did you hear what he said? Why don't you tell him to pick on somebody his own size"? The referee responded by telling Red Auerbach, "if any of the big men on your team want to volunteer to fight Wilt, send him on out". Red Auerbach stood there in stunned silence for a moment, then retreated to the bench without saying another word. True story!!!

[@leoderosia9279]

Clyde had that coming. Wilt was easily strongest player in NBA history as well as most dominant. Stds caused a heart virus that eventually killed him, read Dr mirkin. Wilt and Larry Legend are my 2 fave NBA players, Celtic fan. I like Russell too but he was a dink to the fans just like Kareem was

[@lmbscriptsharcs2044]

Was that the night Russell stepped in and told Wilt, “If you want Red, you’ll have to go through me first.”

[@Charlesky]

great players play triple double, the greatest player here only need one triple.

[@KLUJICS]

GOAT!

[@ZenBiker]

The best who has ever done it

[@ShawnC.T.]

He is/was the "8th Wonder of the 🌎"...

[@sergiomanchester1109]

#RIP Mr. Chamberlain.

[@frostjackMP]

"KU!!!!!"

[@Tartaggz]

Ok but that pencil marking at the end of the vid hits hard

[@ddenuci]

In Wilt's rookie season, Lovellette elbowed Wilt in the jaw pushing his two lower teeth backward. In the '64 finals, Lovelette was near the end of his career and he was sent in late in Game 2 for Russell. With 25 seconds left in the game, he elbowed Wilt. That's when Wilt punched Clyde in the jaw.

[@encyclopediaamericana7234]

The biggest thing about the man was his heart.

[@d820m]

@ddenuci...btw....anyway you could post the article?

[@d820m]

@ddenuci i mentioned that because what wilt told him "Look Clyde, you guys are the champs, we just want to get out of here, so cut that crap out or I'll knock you out....."

[@MrZackavelli]

It's a shame they didn't retire his jersey earlier; he definitely looks a little sickly here. Kind of remind me of Ruth having his number retired at the old Yankee Stadium.

[@hurdan3907]

jayhawk represent 😃

[@aabdel20]

Pete Maravich is the best to ever play college basketball. The guy is very underrated. Infact Maravich averaged 45 points in one season (without 3 point lines) with 3 point line they say he could have got 60 points a game.

[@14691]

I don't think he looks ill. Just old, he was 62.

[@Braglemaster123]

No he suffered from heart issues there ‘

[@ddenuci]

@ddenuci THe fight started after Clyde fouled Wilt. Believe it or not, after Wilt punched Clyde and bloodied his nose, the refs did not call anything on Wilt ! Wilt calmly went to the free throw line and sank his free throw.

[@johntheprofessional5039]

What took them so long to retire his number?

[@apefilms7221]

I'm guessing it was getting Wilt Chamberlain to show up for the ceremony. The Philadelphia 76ers had the same problem when they wanted to retire his number. They didn't want to do it unless he was there. I'm guessing Kansas felt the same way. It took decades until the 76ers retired his number as well.

[@basketball1652]

🐐

[@tyleredwards1016]

The Dipper!

[@d820m]

@ddenuci Pluto's book says that Red Auerbach wouldn't continue the game until Wilt was thrown out, but Earl Strom just said, "Red, get this stiff(Lovellette) out of here so we can finish the game" Red said the game wouldn't continue until Wilt got tossed, whereupon Wilt tapped Red on the shoulder and told Auerbach that if he didn't shut up he would be on the floor with Lovellette...Red allegedly told Wilt to pick on someone his own size....

[@Ghtthomps]

Darrian Mitchell Lovellette was the man clapping in glasses with the cap on. They were teammates at Kansas but tough rivals in the NBA.

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Red Auerbach told the referee, " why don't you tell him to pick on someone his own size"? The referee responded by asking Red if any of the big men on his team would like to volunteer to fight Wilt? Red Auerbach stood there in stunned silence for a moment, then retreated to the bench without saying another word.

[@torchred99]

GOAT

[@CJL1567]

RIP DIP

[@petegobeckli1386]

WILT & thr KU JAYHAWKS got a raw deal in that '57 NCAA CHAMPIOSHIP. Jayhawks were to have won that handily. 3 ot's? Please. Dipper became a marked player because he didn't attend a Collegiate school in the state of PENNSYLVANIA after leaving OVERBROOK H.S. in PHILADELPHIA.

[@Braglemaster123]

Look how big he was “

[@geraldcox3573]

Always BEING WINNERS FOREMOST AS A KANSAS JAYHAWK HAS REALLY SPOILED ME AND THE REST IF THE JAYHAWK NATION BUT WHEN WE TAJE A OUR LOSSES ON THE CHIN AND GO ON WITH LIFE KEEPING EMOTIONS INSIDE NOT BEING LIKE COWARDS DO AND COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN ABOUT LOSING!! KANSAS UNIVERSITY JAYHAWKS WILL ALWAYS BE OVER THE TOP!!!😅😅😅THANKS DAD FOR BEING A JAYHAWK AND TURNING REST IF FAMILY AS YOUR JAYHAWK NATION!! THE GERRY JAYHAWK COX LAZY D RANCH

[@leoderosia9279]

You could see he started failing in 1998. I think stds caused a heart virus that eventually killed him...just 4 years earlier he was still robust and strong as hell. What a legend and a huge loss even after 20 years, RIP to the real greatest...Celtic fan

[@pertburton5586]

Bullshit tell me how std's cause heart virus?

[@ddenuci]

Zagy, no sorry I didn't mean to imply a clip of the fight exists. However, it really did happen. It's discussed in a couple of the Wilt books that I have. Also, May 8, 1964 Time magazine (article on 1964 NBA Championship Game 2): "In the second game frustration finally got the better of Wilt: without warning, he hauled off and floored Celtic Clyde Lovellette with a whistling right to the jaw."

[@theredbaronlives9889]

very happy for wilt this was so cool to see. tremendous athelete and very bright.admire he always though for himself and not group think.supported Republican Nixon in 72 and Got crap from muslim abdul-jabbar for it. just wow! the crowd.

[@problyzuited9828]

BOTH WILTS REGULAR SEASON RECORD AND HIS PLAYOFF RECORD FOR REBOUNDS CAME AGAINST HIS RIVAL.BILL RUSSEL BTW HE BEAT BILL THAT YEAR TO GO ON TO WIN THE TITLE. BECOMING THE ONLY TEAM/PLAYER TO INTERRUPT THE CELTCS STREAK. THE NEXT TWO YEARS THE CELTICS BEAT WILT IN GAME 7'S TO WIN IT ALL AGAIN BUT WILT SHOULD HAVE WON. HIS TEAMMATES AND COACHES LET THE TEAM DOWN NOT WILT. BUT CONGRATS TO BILL AND THE CELTICS

[@jongib369]

:O

[@drinkabledebo]

@beagleman123456789 7 years old. :( No knowledge of sports. Alas, I remember a tall man and my stepdad telling me it was REALLY important.