Lakers Nation Wishes Happy Birthday to Wilt Chamberlain

After acquiring the next great center in Dwight Howard, the Los Angeles Lakers have secured the future of the franchise with another dominance force in the middle. With the arrival of a new monster in the paint, we pay homage to the late great Lakers center in the form of Wilt Chamberlain.

On August 21, 1936, perhaps one of the greatest players ever to play the game of basketball was born. Once Wilt picked up a basketball he was hooked and forever changed the sport as a result.

During his Hall of Fame career in the NBA, the two-time NBA champion played for three different teams including the San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and finishing with the Lakers in 1973.

Over the course of his career, Wilt dominated the competition with his the Boston Celtics Bill Russell being the only other player in the league to give “Wilt the Stilt” a run for his money in his prime.

As perhaps his most famous accomplishment, Wilt was the first and only player to have ever scored 100 points in a game back in 1962. Kobe Bryant came 19 points shy of Wilt’s record back in 2006 with 81 points at the expense of the Toronto Raptors.

At the age of 63, Wilt died suddenly due to congestive heart failure leaving behind an unmatched legacy that has yet to be rivaled by any other player to follow. Although he left a lasting impression on the 76ers organization, Wilt will forever be remembered in purple and gold with his No. 13 jersey hanging in the rafters of Staples Center.