“Sustained Excellence” is a periodic series looking back at the 50th anniversary of Bill Russell’s coaching debut season, and at the Celtic dynasty in general.
Before there was even such a thing as a Triple Double – and with all due respect to the great Oscar Robertson – Wilt Chamberlain was inventing new ways to get one.
On the heels of the Philadelphia 76ers first defeat of the season three nights earlier in Boston, Wilt chose to perform as the Big Deterrent rather than the Big Dipper on the Big Stage of Madison square Garden. In the opener of an NBA doubleheader against Detroit, Wilt posted a modest 18 points (on 8-for-13 shooting) and four assists.