Wilt Chamberlain was the prototype for the big man in the NBA. During his legendary career, Wilt put up numbers and performances that were truly remarkable. Chamberlain holds several records in the NBA, including that of most points in a game.
So it comes as no surprise that he was idolized by several big men that came after him in the NBA. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar considered Wilt his hero before their relationship took a turn for the worse in later years.
Chamberlain was a legendary figure in the NBA. While his championship tally is not remarkable by any means, it was his play on the court that still stood the test of time. Chamberlain showed exactly why a solid big man is so important in the NBA.
After retiring from the game, Chamberlain made sporadic appearances throughout the NBA. One such time was during a New York Knicks vs Orlando Magic game.
Wilt came out to the court to greet several players, including two dominant bigs of that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgfz8ynvjqo
Wilt met and greeted Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Ewing, and even stood with them for a photo op. When meeting them, Wilt noticeably gave Shaq a little reminder of who he was.
Wilt extended his hands to Ewing, who shook his hands with great respect. As for O’Neal, Wilt went in for a handshake but shook it quite strongly.
The big trio stood together before the game to take a picture before Wilt threw the ball up for a ceremonial tip-off.
That sequence between the three players was a true moment in time. Many at the time even construed it as a passing of the torch from Wilt to O’Neal. O’Neal would go on to have a legendary career, becoming one of the most dominant players in NBA history.
