Wilt Chamberlain

Part 1: Early Life

Wilt Chamberlain was a famous basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, USA. Wilt was very tall. As a child, he grew fast. By age 10, he was already 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall!
Wilt liked many sports. He played basketball, but also volleyball and track. In school, he was very good at basketball. Many people saw that he was special.

Part 2: High School and College

In high school, Wilt became a star player. His team won many games. People came from far away to watch him play. He scored many points in each game.
After high school, Wilt went to college. He played for the University of Kansas. In college, he was still the best player. Other teams found it hard to stop him.

Part 3: Professional Career
Wilt started playing professional basketball in 1958. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters for one year. Then, he joined the NBA (National Basketball Association).
In the NBA, Wilt played for three teams:

Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Wilt was amazing in the NBA. He was very strong and fast. He could jump high and score easily. He also got many rebounds (catching the ball after a missed shot).

Part 4: Records and Achievements

Wilt set many records in basketball. Some of his records are still unbroken today. Here are some of his amazing achievements:

He scored 100 points in one game. This is the most points ever scored by one player in an NBA game.
In one season, he averaged 50.4 points per game. This means he scored about 50 points in every game that season.
He never fouled out of a game. This means he never had to leave a game because of too many fouls.
He won two NBA championships (in 1967 and 1972).
He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) four times.

Part 5: Playing Style

Wilt was 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) tall. He was much taller than most other players. He used his height to his advantage. He could shoot the ball over other players easily.
But Wilt was not just tall. He was also very athletic. He could run fast and jump high. He was strong too. This made him hard to stop.
Wilt was good at many things in basketball. He could:

Score many points
Get many rebounds
Block shots (stop other players from scoring)
Pass the ball well

Part 6: Life After Basketball

Wilt stopped playing basketball in 1973. But he stayed active in sports. He played volleyball and was very good at it. He also liked to run.
Wilt wrote books about his life. He appeared in movies and TV shows. Many people recognized him because he was so tall.
Wilt never married or had children. He had many friends and enjoyed his life after basketball.

Part 7: Legacy

Wilt Chamberlain died on October 12, 1999. He was 63 years old. People remember him as one of the best basketball players ever.
Many current NBA players look up to Wilt. They try to break his records, but it's very hard. Wilt changed the way basketball is played. He showed that big players can do many things on the court.
Today, you can see Wilt's name in the Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a special place that honors the best basketball players in history.

Vocabulary List

Here are some important words from the article:

Legend - a very famous person
Professional - doing a job for money
Record - the best or highest number or score
Achievement - something good that someone has done
Average - the usual amount
Foul - a mistake in a game that goes against the rules
Championship - winning first place in a big competition
Advantage - something that helps you
Athletic - good at sports
Rebound - catching the ball after a missed shot
Block - to stop something
Legacy - how people remember someone after they die
Hall of Fame - a place that honors great people in a field

Questions about Wilt Chamberlain

Part 1: Early Life
1. When was Wilt Chamberlain born?
2. How tall was Wilt when he was 10 years old?
3. What sports did Wilt like as a child?

Part 2: High School and College
4. Was Wilt good at basketball in high school?
5. Which university did Wilt play for in college?

Part 3: Professional Career
6. What was the first professional team Wilt played for?
7. Name two of the three NBA teams Wilt played for.

Part 4: Records and Achievements
8. How many points did Wilt score in his most famous game?
9. What was Wilt's average score per game in his best season?
10. How many times was Wilt named Most Valuable Player (MVP)?

Part 5: Playing Style
11. How tall was Wilt Chamberlain?
12. Name two things Wilt was good at in basketball.

Part 6: Life After Basketball
13. What sport did Wilt play after he stopped playing basketball?
14. Did Wilt get married?

Part 7: Legacy
15. When did Wilt Chamberlain die?
16. Where can you see Wilt's name today?

Vocabulary Practice
17. What does "legend" mean?
18. What is a "rebound" in basketball?
19. What is the "Hall of Fame"?
20. What does "athletic" mean?