Billy Cunningham, the former NBA MVP and champion, knew all too well the struggles that came with being a basketball legend like Wilt Chamberlain. While the public image of Chamberlain was that of an athletic icon, adored by fans and surrounded by fame, his life behind the scenes was far more complicated than it appeared.
At a glance, Chamberlain’s life was a testament to success. Towering over his peers at 7 feet tall, he dominated the NBA with his unparalleled skills, earning 13 All-Star appearances and four MVP awards. He was known for his larger-than-life personality, and his popularity extended beyond basketball, with a reputation as a ladies’ man and a constant presence in the media. However, Cunningham, who played alongside Chamberlain and witnessed his life up close, observed that being ‘Wilt the Stilt’ wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed.
From a young age, Chamberlain’s height set him apart. By the time he reached high school, he had already surpassed 7 feet, a physical stature that made him an outcast of sorts. Despite his remarkable talent, being that tall came with its own set of challenges. Wilt had to adjust to a world that wasn’t designed for someone of his size. He often slouched to avoid drawing attention and even had to duck under doorways in public spaces. His family and friends, seeing the toll this took on him, began calling him ‘Dippy’ as a nickname that reflected his discomfort with being different.
Despite his towering height and physical prowess, Wilt struggled with self-confidence as a teenager. His family friend, John Chaney, remarked that Wilt’s height was not something he embraced early in life. “It was a terrible, terrible thing to be tall because people would pick at you,” Chaney said. This sense of discomfort with his physicality carried into Wilt’s early adult life, where he often found himself overwhelmed by the attention his size attracted.
However, Chamberlain’s confidence grew during his time at the University of Kansas, and later as he played with the Harlem Globetrotters. When he entered the NBA, he quickly became one of the league’s most dominant forces, leading the league in scoring for the first six seasons of his career. His on-court success was unmatched, but the fame that came with it was not something Wilt relished. The constant attention from fans and the media became overwhelming, and to cope, Wilt often took long road trips across America, sometimes making as many as 20 cross-country drives. He also moved residences frequently, seeking to escape the spotlight.
Billy Cunningham, who saw all of this unfold, understood just how difficult it was to live in Wilt Chamberlain’s shoes. “I would never have wanted to be Wilt Chamberlain,” Cunningham said. “There was no place to hide.” Despite being one of the most talented players in NBA history, Chamberlain’s fame and success came with the heavy burden of being constantly in the public eye. It was a life of relentless attention that left no room for privacy—a challenge that Cunningham, despite his own successes, was grateful to avoid.
