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On Jan. 20, 1963, Chamberlain’s 126-game streak of consecutive 20-point games snapped in St. Louis. It’s not that he suddenly became incapable of sleepwalking to 20 points. Rookie official Leo “Red” Oates altered history. Rookie forward Wayne Hightower — who trailed Chamberlain at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, then the University of Kansas, then as a member of the San Francisco Warriors — was whistled for an early foul. Chamberlain, at Hightower’s defense, barked at Oates. The first technical didn’t stop him. Four minutes into what ultimately became a 116-115 Warriors loss, Chamberlain was ejected, believed to be the only such instance in his 14-year career. He left with six points and one rebound. “He must have had a real big beef, Wilt, because he never got thrown out of a game, and he never argued with officials,” 87-year-old Tom Meschery told The Athletic in an exclusive interview. Meschery played 21 minutes that night and started beside Chamberlain for several seasons.
So to better understand the man he was often compared to, the Serbian center did his own research. He looked up Chamberlain's highlights on YouTube. "Of course I did," said Jokic, who broke Chamberlain's records for triple-doubles by a center, although Chamberlain would have had countless more if blocks were an official stat during his career. "But I didn't really focus and study his game, let's say like that. Yeah, just to see how he looked, how he moved. Just to see, to have in my mind." Jokic saw one of the most unique big men to step foot on an NBA floor. Chamberlain was listed at 7-foot-1, 275 pounds and was a track and field star at Overbrook High and Kansas University, competing in sprints, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and setting a Big Eight indoor record in the high jump. "He was definitely athletic. He was definitely athletic," Jokic said. "I think he can definitely play still in this era. [Watching Chamberlain's highlights] was just to see how he's faster, bigger, and stronger than everybody else and still a talent. So, I think he could still play in this era."
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Being a Kansas native and a former Jayhawk, who are some of your favorite players to ever come through the Lawrence program? Gradey Dick: First, I’ve gotta say Wayne Simien Jr. When I was little, he was the first Kansas player I ever really talked to. Then, of course, Conner Frankamp. He was only at KU for a bit, but he’s another Wichita guy, so I still work out with him when I’m back home. And probably after that, Andrew Wiggins.
Former University of Kansas small forward/NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, whose jersey No. 34 hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse, is planning on attending Saturday’s Big 12 battle between KU and BYU.
According to Self, KU hasn’t yet talked to the NBA about the possibility of hosting the NBA Cup championship at Allen Fieldhouse. That said ... “Why wouldn’t they want to come here?” Self said. “Good gosh. If they’re going to try to play in historic college venues, why wouldn’t the NBA want to be here? I know KD (Kevin Durant) said at one time that this was the best place that he’d ever played. So I don’t know if that still holds true, but I would think that would be a great option.”
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Michael Scotto: JUST IN: Former 12-year NBA player, champion, and two-time head coach Jacque Vaughn will forgo current NBA opportunities to return to his alma mater, the University of Kansas, as an assistant coach, he tells @hoopshype.
Terrence Shannon Jr., the University of Illinois men’s basketball star and potential first-round pick in this month’s NBA draft, has been found not guilty of grabbing an 18-year-old woman’s buttocks under her skirt and penetrating her vagina with his finger in September at a bar near the University of Kansas campus.
Kansas head coach Bill Self revealed plenty during an extended sit-down with NCAA reporter Andy Katz on Monday, including what he expects Kansas freshman guard Johnny Furphy to decide after entering the 2024 NBA Draft. Self said Furphy, who arrived late last summer from Australia to enroll as a freshman at KU, outperformed any reasonable expectation, thus playing himself into an invite to the NBA Draft Combine.
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, the junior announced on his Twitter page. “Dear Jayhawk Nation: It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “This magical place has changed my life forever, and I will always be appreciative of my time playing with Kansas across my chest. Through the tough times, and the brightest days, I can always count on God, my family and my forever love for KU. “No matter where life takes me next, I will always have a home in Lawrence.”
University of Kansas guard Christian Braun officially announced on social media that he will chose the NBA over returning for one more season as a Jayhawk. Braun, amongst other KU players participated in the NBA combine and evaluation process, felt that the time is now to take his talents to the next level.
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New York Knicks announced today that the team has acquired the draft rights to guard Quentin Grimes and a future second round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to forward Keon Johnson. Grimes, 6-5, 205-pounds, earned All-America third team honors at the University of Houston last season, after averaging 17.8 points on 40.3-percent shooting from downtown, with 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals over 32.7 minutes in 30 games. The Houston, TX-native played two seasons (2019-21) for the Cougars after beginning his collegiate career at Kansas University (2018-19). He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship after helping lead Team USA to a gold medal.
Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway has announced the addition of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown to his staff as an assistant coach. Brown, who is the eighth-winningest coach in NBA history, is the only head coach to win both an NCAA national championship (University of Kansas, 1988) and an NBA championship (Detroit Pistons, 2004) in his career.
