Wilt Chamberlain, one of the NBA’s greatest players, is remembered for his extraordinary feats on the basketball court. Most famously, he scored 100 points in a single game on March 2, 1962, and still holds the record for the most points per game in a season (50.4). Known for his incredible athleticism, Wilt also set the record for the highest rebounds per game in a season at 27.2. As a two-time NBA champion, Chamberlain’s basketball legacy is unmatched in many ways.
However, Wilt Chamberlain’s life off the court was just as eventful. Beyond basketball, he had other passions, including volleyball after retiring from the NBA. He was also known for his relationships with women, famously claiming to have slept with over 20,000 women during his lifetime. But perhaps the most controversial of his interests was gambling, which would eventually draw the attention of the FBI.
While gambling was a common hobby for many athletes, Wilt’s involvement reportedly went beyond casual play. The FBI, suspicious of his activities, began to investigate whether Wilt was gambling on basketball games he played in, which would have been a serious violation of the NBA’s rules. The FBI allegedly kept detailed reports on Wilt’s gambling habits, including claims that he might have been involved in point-shaving — a practice where players deliberately underperform to influence the outcome of a game for betting purposes.
One particular game, where Wilt supposedly played poorly with a “twisted knee,” raised suspicions. According to the FBI, this could have been an excuse to explain his lackluster performance. The suggestion was that Wilt may have intentionally played badly to help him win money on a bet, though there was no concrete evidence to support this theory.
The FBI also investigated a game between Wilt’s Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics on November 4, 1966. Despite scoring 26 points and grabbing 23 rebounds, Wilt’s 76ers lost the game 105-87, their first loss of the season. The FBI’s report implied that Wilt might have placed large bets on the outcome, possibly even betting against his own team. However, there was no clear evidence that Wilt threw the game or that his performance was affected by gambling.
Further fueling the FBI’s suspicions, Wilt was reportedly seen frequenting Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a known hotspot for high-stakes gamblers. While there is no law against gambling at a casino, many have speculated that the FBI’s interest in Wilt went beyond his personal gambling habits. Some believe the agency’s surveillance was part of a broader effort to keep tabs on prominent Black figures like Wilt Chamberlain, much like what happened with Muhammad Ali during the same era.
In the end, no charges were ever filed against Wilt Chamberlain, and no concrete evidence was found to prove that he had ever thrown a game or engaged in illegal gambling activities. The FBI’s investigation ultimately went nowhere, and Wilt’s reputation remained untarnished by these allegations. Whether Wilt was guilty of the accusations or whether the FBI was simply trying to bring him down remains a topic of debate. What is clear, however, is that Chamberlain’s impact on basketball and his place in history remain unshaken.
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