Wilt Chamberlain Said Playing In Boston Garden Was Like: “Going To One Of The Old Roman Amphitheaters Where They Threw The Christians To The Lions”

Wilt Chamberlain wasn't the biggest fan of playing games at the Boston Celtics TD Garden arena because of the vibe against visiting players.

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Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell is one of the most iconic rivalries that the NBA has ever seen. While the ultimate rivalry between Bill and Wilt became one-sided due to the incredible championship success that Russell had with his Boston Celtics. While Chamberlain won a title with 2 different teams, his 2 career titles don’t even come close to Russell’s 11.

One of the reasons for the Celtics’ consistent success was that the TD Garden was a fortress for the Celtics at the time. Fans would be ruthless to visiting players and Chamberlain recalled that while discussing his rivalry with Russell in 1996.  

Wilt said playing in Boston Garden was like “going to one of the old Roman amphitheaters where they threw the Christians to the lions.” And though he was wearing very dark shades, and though he is, well, Wilt Chamberlain appeared to get choked up. Things change. He and Russell get along now – fabulously, in fact.

“Yes, there was a time when things were strained between us,” Russell said, “But we’ve been fine for a while now. It was all political.” Given Wilt’s leanings, Russell seemed to have meant that literally. “I had Thanksgiving dinner six years in a row with him and his family in Philadelphia,” Russell said, shocking most of us who assumed they only growled at each other for 15 years. “The competition between us was very, very difficult. He’d feed me and then he’d go out and beat the hell out of me.” (h/t The Washington Post)

Russell and Chamberlain were both extremely feared competitors on the court, but nothing was better for them than competing against each other. Facing the best brings out the best in you, and these two regularly pushed each other to be better by the nature of competing with each other and having a high regard for each other.


Is The Celtics Home-Court Advantage Still That Strong?

When it comes to having ‘traditional powers’ in NBA basketball, the Lakers and the Celtics are both the first names that come to mind. However, as the world and the game have modernized, a lot of the reasons why the TD Garden was such a strong home court have eroded over time.

Fans aren’t scaring the players within an inch of their lives anymore. Players like LeBron James still hate playing in Boston, so there is definitely some level of an advantage that the Celtics enjoy at home. The team did make it to the NBA Finals in 2022 and will hope to repeat that feat but win the Finals this time around.   

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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