Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain managed to corral an NBA-record 55 rebounds alongside 34 points and 4 assists against the Celtics, and Boston still found a way to win the game against his (then) Philadelphia (now, Golden State) Warriors when the game's final buzzer went off.
The historic rebounding night, which went down in a 132-129 win for the Celtics on Philly's home court, has yet to be beaten since, with the man sometimes called the Big Dipper (Chamberlain hated the nickname 'Wilt the Stilt') setting a record for the ages on that night despite not coming away with the win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I got 55 rebounds against the Boston Celtics in one particular game," related Chamberlain in a clip posted by social media user TodayInSports3.
BOSTON - 1964: Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the San Francisco Warriors shoots a jumper against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1964 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1964 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)"The thing that I remember the most about the 55 rebounds was, when the game was over, I was probably more tired than I've ever been in my entire life," he added.
"I was also probably as happy as I've ever been because not only did it help us to win a game (editor's note; it seems Wilt's memory is off here), but it was against the best rebounder I ever knew of, and against the best team to ever play the game of basketball. I knew that this is what I was supposed to do if I wanted to dominate the game -- was to rebound."
"There also was something very gratifying about it; you go up there, and you grab that ball, and you squeeze it and say, 'It's mine,'" explained Chamberlain.
Birthdays
It is also the birthday of retired Celtics play-by-play man Mike Gorman, born this day in 1945 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Gorman began calling Celtics games with Boston icon Tommy Heinsohn in 1981 after a career as an aviator for the U.S. Navy in the 1970s, forming the industry's longest-tenured duo until Heinsohn's passing (rest in peace). A Hall of Famer and five-time Emmy award-winner, Gorman also covered NCAA basketball and the Olympics.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe shares that birthday with former Boston forward Brandon Hunter, who came into this world on this day in 1980 in Cincinnati, Ohio. An alum of Ohio University, Hunter was drafted 56th overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Celtics, and play 36 games for them in his rookie (2003-04) season. He would be left unprotected by Boston in the 2004 NBA expansion draft that was held in part to populate the newly-formed Charlotte Bobcats (later, Hornets), who took the Ohio native and dealt him to the Orlando Magic. Hunter averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a Celtic.
Keith Sliney (Boston Celtics)Ex-Celtic guard Dave Bing was born today as well, in 1943 in Washington, DC. Playing his college ball with Syracuse, Bing was taken sixth by the Detroit Pistons in the 1966 NBA Draft and played stints with that team and the (then) Washington Bullets (now, Wizards) before signing with Boston as a free agent. It was the final season of his career, in which he averaged 13.6 points, 2.7 boards, 3.8 assists, and a steal per game. Bing, many years later, became the mayor of the city of Detroit after retiring.
Finally, former Celtics forward Shavlik Randolph was born today too, in 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Signing with the Philadelphia 76ers after going undrafted in 2005, and also played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, and abroad before signing with Boston in 2013 for the first time, went back abroad, then returned in 2015. In 21 games over two seasons, the Duke alum averaged 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game with the team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Wilt's 55; Gorman, Hunter, Bing, Randolph born
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