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Lot # 1190: 1967-68 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers Most Valuable Player Award

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 5 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Winter Classic",
which ran from 2/25/2024 10:00 AM to
3/16/2024 10:00 PM



"The NBA Guide reads like Wilt's personal diary," said Billy Cunningham, Wilt Chamberlain's teammate on the Philadelphia 76ers. Displayed is a trophy presented to Chamberlain, by Philadelphia's WCAU Radio, as the 1967-68 Philadelphia 76ers' MVP. Chamberlain was a 7'1" center, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who played 14 seasons in the NBA: Philadelphia Warriors (1959-60 to 1961-62), San Fransisco Warriors (1962-63 to 1964-65), Philadelphia 76ers (1964-65 to 1967-68), Los Angeles Lakers (1968-69 to 1972-73). Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia in 1936, and he stood 6'0" tall by age 10. After playing at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, at Kansas University, and for the Harlem Globetrotters while waiting to be eligible for the NBA, Chamberlain began his professional career as a territorial pick of the Philadelphia Warriors. He was a 13-time All-Star, a 7-time scoring champ, a 2-time NBA Champion, and a 4-time NBA MVP. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, scored a still-single-game record 100 points in a win against the New York Knicks. In that same season, the amazing Chamberlain averaged a still-record 50.4 PPG. Wilt was nicknamed "Wilt the Stilt," a name he hated because he said that it sounded like a giant bird. He was also nicked "The Big Dipper," a name he liked. For his NBA career, Chamberlain averaged 30.1 PPG and 22.9 TRB. He led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1966-67 NBA Championship, but the 1967-68 season was his last pro season in Philadelphia, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1968-69 campaign. In 1967-68, Chamberlain averaged 24.3 PPG and 23.8 TRB. Because he had been criticized by some in the media for not passing enough, the determined Chamberlain decided to silence his critics by winning the NBA Assists Championship that season; a feat he accomplished by achieving 702 assists and becoming, then and now, the only center to ever lead the NBA in assists. Also, that season, on March 18th against the Los Angeles Lakers, Wilt achieved an almost unbelievable feat, an astounding quintuple-double: 53 points; 32 rebounds; 14 assists; 24 blocks, and 11 steals. In the 1967-68 season, the 76ers reached the NBA Finals, losing the NBA title to the Boston Celtics. The offering, if fully assembled, stands approx. 27.5" high. At present, the trophy is in three separate pieces, and some parts of the trophy are broken. The trophy's wooden base is 12.5x4.0x0.75". The first tier of the trophy is separate from the connected second and third tiers. The plaque on the base reads, "PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 1967-68 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER/WILT CHAMBERLAIN/WCAU RADIO." A 5.4" metal figurine, holding a torch, is present in the offering, but not attached at the middle of the base. On the top of the trophy, the approx. 4.5" basketball player metal figurine has part of each arm broken off, with the separate broken right arm piece, holding a basketball, included. Part of a corner of the stand of the third tier is broken off. The metal areas of the trophy show some rusting, tarnishing, and some loss of surface coating. The wood portions of the trophy exhibit some scratching, chips, and surface wear. The three separate pieces of the trophy weigh 7 lbs., 4 ounces as a unit. The trophy is a fine remembrance of Wilt Chamberlain at his peak, achieving his third straight NBA MVP in his final season for his hometown team.

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