Man to Man

Seldom in the history of basketball had so much interest been generated in a man-to-man battle. Each is tall as a ceiling, agile as a mongoose. Boston's Bill Russell (6 ft. 10 in., 220 lbs.) has faster reactions and more experience, is going into his fourth season with the champion Celtics. To challenge Russell's franchise among the best of the tree-tall pros, the Philadelphia Warriors' Wilt-the-Stilt Chamberlain offers 7 ft. 2 in., 250 coordinated pounds, and a broad repertory of shots: dunks, long one-handers, a soft, fadeaway jump.

In the first three games of the season, Rookie Chamberlain scored 43 points against New York, 36 against Detroit, and 41 against Syracuse. His presence had converted the Philadelphia Warriors from a listless also-ran into a major power headed for championship contention. With his 41 points, he picked off 40 rebounds against Syracuse, and when his opponents left the floor they were full of strange praise: "He has a lot to learn. He plays a stupid game, but what can you do?" "He's lousy on some things, but I guess he'll turn into the greatest." "He's unbelievable."

In Boston, quiet Bill Russell practiced his weak shooting eye, said nothing, and waited for the big day when the Warriors came to town. Last weekend in the Boston Garden, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain met for their first official contest in the N.B.A.

Russell was shooting at his best (7 for 19 from the floor, 8 for 8 from the foul line), and he out-rebounded Chamberlain 35 to 28. Chamberlain was tense and annoyed with himself for shooting poorly. He took 38 shots from the floor, sank only 12, and missed often from the foul line (6 for 12). But Russell, rated the game's greatest defensive player, could not keep Rookie Chamberlain from ending the evening as the game's high scorer with 30 points.

In the dressing room, Bill Russell was generous. Said he: "Before the year's out, everybody will be saying that Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest basketball player ever."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.