Olin Chamberlain is gearing up for another night in front of the TV, tuning in to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder, with his phone close by. It's a ritual for him, especially when one of his uncle Wilt Chamberlain's legendary NBA records might be in jeopardy.
Every time a player comes close to breaking one of Wilt's records, the family group chat lights up. This Thursday, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to challenge Wilt's streak of 126 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points-a mark set between 1961 and 1963. Wilt managed to hit at least 20 points in every game of the 1961-62 season with the Philadelphia Warriors.
From his Philadelphia home, 50-year-old Olin-son of Wilt's brother Oliver-takes pride in preserving his uncle's legacy, even establishing a memorial scholarship fund in his honor. If one record falls, Olin isn't worried.
Wilt still holds about five dozen NBA records. "He left such a legacy," Olin says, chuckling.
Wilt's name continues to echo through the NBA, with his 100-point game record from 1962 still standing strong. Just recently, Miami's Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against Washington, setting new records for free throws made and attempted in a game.
This feat once again brought Wilt's achievements into the spotlight, decades after his last season. Kobe Bryant's 81-point game remains third on that list.
"Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy," Adebayo reflected.
Wilt's family remains proud of his accomplishments on and off the court. Michelle Smith, Wilt's niece, recalls how he loved engaging with the community and never shied away from autograph requests. Unlike some legends who might want their records to stand forever, Michelle believes Wilt would cheer for Gilgeous-Alexander and others aiming to break his records.
"His name is there already. It's a chance for somebody to come up and be known for breaking his records," says Smith, whose 90-year-old mother, Selena, was Wilt's sister. "They made him like a God in basketball, so when people break his records, they feel great, like, 'Oh yeah, I'm up next to Wilt now.'"
Many of Wilt's records still seem untouchable in today's NBA. Consider his average of 50.4 points per game in the 1961-62 season, or his 45 games scoring 50 points or more that same season. His career totals of 32 regular-season 60-point games and 118 regular-season 50-point games are staggering.
Sonny Hill, a longtime friend of Wilt and an executive advisor to the 76ers' CEO, remarks, "When people begin to speak about Wilt, they just can't believe all that he accomplished." Hill met Wilt when they were 12, playing in the Philadelphia Baptist Church league, and he likens Wilt to a mythical figure, partly due to the scarcity of video from his playing days. Hill sees current achievements, like Adebayo's game or Gilgeous-Alexander's streak, as ways to introduce Wilt to younger generations.
"It's another way of saying, well there was a Wilt Chamberlain," Hill notes.
Despite some records falling, such as Joel Embiid's 70-point game for the 76ers in January 2024-surpassing Wilt's 68-point record from 1967-Wilt's legacy remains robust. Embiid was in disbelief, asking, "Wilt never did this?" after his record-setting performance.
As Gilgeous-Alexander continues his pursuit, having started this streak with a 30-point game against Portland in November 2024, Olin Chamberlain embraces the excitement. "It keeps the Big Fella's legacy alive when people get close to a record or even break a record," he says. "I'm not one of those people that says, hey, I don't want to see anything broken."
Michelle Smith stays engaged with the lively family chat, where they cheer on players like Adebayo and Gilgeous-Alexander. "We are so proud to have that legacy because everyone doesn't," she says.
"To continue to just have him not being forgotten is key. His legacy and who he was is still out there.
People are still talking about him and want to still talk about him and know about him. That's the key."