Wilt Chamberlain was the epitome of brute strength during his NBA days. This was evident from the seven-footer’s dominance in the paint, whether scoring or rebounding. He was the only player to score 100 points in a game and average 50 points during a season.
The Hall of Famer’s statistical records remain unparalleled, as he routinely posted mind-boggling numbers. “Wilt the Stilt’s” incredible physical strength extended beyond the hardwood—one legendary example being his ability to lift the rear end of a Volkswagen Beetle with just one hand.
An eyewitness to these superhuman abilities, Billy Cunningham was left astonished. The former Philadelphia 76ers teammate recounted how the 28-year-old picked up the Volkswagen car with one hand, placing it on the ground at a different angle. He did not spin the wheel with his free hands, to which the Kangaroo Kid responded, “He could have done it.”
Cunningham eventually became a close friend of Chamberlain, given their three-year partnership with the 76ers. The two teammates even won a championship together in 1967.
Gaining the reputation of a weightlifter
Chamberlain focused on adding muscle from the start of his career. Reports indicate that the “Big Dipper” entered the league at 258 pounds as a rookie. By his second season, he bulked up to 290 pounds before eventually trimming down to 275 during the regular season.
Though listed at that, many public records suggest he fluctuated between 290 and 310 lbs. Weight training came naturally to the two-time champion, who was even willing to bet $1000 on the fact that he could deadlift 1000 pounds, something that hadn’t been achieved.
Nonetheless, none of the strength athletes were willing to risk such a big amount. At the same time, Wilt had begun developing a reputation as a solid weightlifter. Blessed with a rare physicality, “The Goliath” did do complete justice to it.
17-year-old Wilt lifted cars with bare hands
The late NBA PR director Haskell Cohen once revealed how a teenage “Wilt the Stilt” helped him change a flat tire without a jack. What happened next left the former executive in complete surprise, as the 17-year-old decided to hoist the car with his bare hands.
“I was afraid the kid would himself Hernia,” recounted Cohen. Certainly, the basketball world had not experienced a powerhouse like Wilt until then, allowing him to destroy the opposition, especially in the paint area.
A seven-time scoring champion and eleven-time leader in rebounds, Wilt is the only player to average 30 points and 20 rebounds in a season. Among his other remarkable achievements, Wilt recorded 55 rebounds in a single game and holds the record for the most 60-point games with twelve. With a reported 72 records throughout his career, the league was forced to change its rules due to “The Big Dipper’s” immense strength.
