In the summer of 1953, a 17-year-old Wilt Chamberlain found himself working as a bellhop at a resort in the Catskills, not far from the glitz and glamour of New York City. At 6 feet 10 ½ inches tall, Wilt was already a force on the basketball court, a high school star from Overbrook High in Philadelphia. His remarkable talent had caught the eye of Haskell Cohen, who was handling public relations for the NBA at the time. Cohen knew the NBA could benefit from a player like Wilt and decided to set him up with a unique opportunity—working a summer job at a resort while playing basketball on the side.
It may seem strange, but for young players in those days, these summer jobs were like a precursor to the AAU circuit, where college players and up-and-coming talent could work during the day and play basketball after hours. Wilt, still in high school, was holding his own against college players, which was no small feat. But there was one person who wasn’t exactly impressed: Red Auerbach, the legendary coach of the resort’s summer team.
Auerbach, known for his sharp mind and even sharper tongue, wasn’t enamored with Wilt’s approach to defense. Wilt recalls how Red, always with a cigar in hand, would constantly challenge him, criticizing his habit of defending players from behind rather than head-on. “Don’t you think, Chamberlain,” Red would growl, “that it might be sort of a good idea to defense your man from in front of him instead of behind him?”
Despite Red’s gruff coaching style, Wilt didn’t back down, and during one memorable game against Shawanga Lodge, Red saw the opportunity to teach Wilt a lesson. Shawanga Lodge had B.H. Born, an All-American from Kansas, on its team, and Auerbach made a bold prediction. He announced that Born would “make chopped chicken liver out of you,” a challenge Wilt took to heart. By halftime, Wilt had scored over 30 points, while Born had managed just two. Wilt strutted into the locker room, full of confidence, only to be met by Red’s unflinching stare.
At that moment, Auerbach recognized Wilt’s incredible potential, but he also knew that the young player needed humility and a team-first mindset. After a tense silence, Red began his halftime speech with a change in tone: “Now, Mr. Chamberlain, may I please have your attention for a moment?” Wilt, suddenly humbled, listened, and over time, began to play defense the way Red had taught him.
Auerbach, always the strategist, knew this was his chance to build a relationship with Wilt. Over poker games at night, Red would offer Wilt drinks and cigars, further developing their connection. And eventually, Auerbach made his move, suggesting Wilt attend Harvard so that the Celtics could draft him. Wilt, however, chose to play for Kansas under Phog Allen, later making his way to the Philadelphia Warriors and the Lakers.
Though Wilt never played for the Celtics, his time with Red Auerbach in those summer months was pivotal in shaping the future of one of basketball’s greatest players. The lessons learned under Auerbach’s watch were far more than just tactical; they were about character, humility, and the importance of team play—values that Wilt would carry throughout his legendary career.
