The Best NBA Team? Wilt Has an Opinion

The greatest team in NBA history? Statistically, the 1971-72 Lakers are still the best, with an overall winning percentage of .835. That includes playoffs.

The 1985-86 Boston Celtics are next at .820, followed by the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers at .810.

Wilt Chamberlain, who played on both the L.A. and Philly teams, recently was asked by a Philadelphia sportscaster to name the best team ever. Wilt named the 76ers.

The team had Luke Jackson and Chet Walker at forwards, Chamberlain at center, and Hal Greer and Wally Jones at guards. The sixth man was Billy Cunningham, recently named to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the Eastern Conference playoffs that season, the 76ers beat the Boston Celtics in five games, winning the final game, 140-116. In the 11 seasons, from 1958-59 through 1968-69, it was the only time Boston did not win the NBA championship.

Bird Watchers: Said Houston’s Jim Petersen, marveling over Larry Bird’s performance Sunday: “It’s the way he does it. Offensive rebound, go right to the corner, three-point shot, nothing but net. He gets you down and then breaks your back.”

Said Sam Goldaper of the New York Times: “In the final quarter, he even did the work of the officials, pulling down the tangled net before going to the free-throw line.”

Add Bird: Asked about the off-season, he said: “I’ve got some things to work on. I’m not comfortable with my moves to the basket. By next fall, I want four or five moves I can go to. If I do that, I think I’ll be unstoppable.”

Banner at Boston Garden Sunday: “Sampson, you fight like Delilah.”

Idle Thought: If the Celtics get invited to the White House, will Bill Walton and Ronald Reagan have a meaningful political exchange?

Trivia Time: What Hall of Famer led National League outfielders in errors a record seven times and struck out 1,730 times, which is fifth on the all-time list? (Answer below.)

27 Years Ago Today: On June 10, 1959, Rocky Colavito of Cleveland tied a major league record by hitting four successive home runs at Baltimore. Billy Martin and Minnie Minoso also homered as the Indians beat the Orioles, 11-8.

Said French Open champion Ivan Lendl when asked if the crowd cheering for Mikael Pernfors in the third set bothered him: “What do you mean, third set? They started during warmups.”

Former Georgetown forward Grady Mateen, now at Ohio State, stands 6-11 but weighs only 210.

Said Gary Williams, new coach of the Buckeyes: “We’ll definitely lock him in the weight room and throw him some meat every once in a while.”

Trivia Answer: Lou Brock.

Quotebook

Bob Brenly of the San Francisco Giants, on the team’s increased run-production this year: “Last year, a rally for us was a 3-and-0 count.”