He Never Wanted to Foul Up the Team

The feats of Wilt Chamberlain are amazing. Only four NBA players have scored at least 70 points in a game, and he did it five times, including his record 100-point game.

He had an NBA-record 55 rebounds against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics in a game in 1960 as a Philadelphia Warrior. And he had a double triple-double -- 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists against Detroit in 1968 as a Philadelphia 76er before the NBA kept track of such things.

So what was Chamberlain’s greatest accomplishment in his 14 NBA seasons? Bill Sharman says it may be that Chamberlain never fouled out of a game.

Sharman recalls that after he became coach of the Lakers in 1971, Chamberlain’s third season with the team, he asked him why he never fouled out.

“He said to me, ‘Bill, I’ve learned I can’t help the team sitting on the bench,’ ” Sharman said.

Comparative numbers: Russell, who played 13 seasons, fouled out 32 times. Shaquille O’Neal, now in his 12th season, has fouled out 42 times.

Trivia time: Who are the other three NBA players to score at least 70 in a game?

Trivia II: Who did the Lakers trade to the 76ers to get Chamberlain in the summer of 1968?

Incredible strength: George Kiseda, a former Times staffer who covered Chamberlain as a beat writer for the Philadelphia Bulletin, said one of the most impressive things he ever saw Chamberlain do was palm a bowling ball that had no holes.

Shaky first impression: Sharman said his first meeting with Chamberlain as coach and player was over lunch in Marina del Rey in 1971. One thing Sharman wanted to do was convince Chamberlain a morning shoot-around before games was worthwhile.

Things were going well until Sharman reached for his wallet to pay the bill. His wallet wasn’t there. They had gone to lunch in Chamberlain’s car, and Sharman’s wallet was in his car at the Forum.

“Wilt says, ‘You invite me to lunch and tell me I’m going to have to get up early in the morning on game days,’ ” Sharman said. “ ‘Now you tell me you have no money. You’re full of good news.’ ”

Fortunately for Sharman, the manager of the restaurant picked up the tab.

Trivia answer: David Thompson 73, Elgin Baylor 71 and David Robinson 71.

Trivia II answer: Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff.

And finally: Reader Burt Sirota of Ladera Ranch was among dozens who e-mailed to point out a typographical mistake in Morning Briefing this week regarding a 1961 (not 1971) triple-overtime game between the Lakers and Philadelphia Warriors in which Chamberlain, then with the Warriors, scored 78 points and grabbed 43 rebounds.

Sirota also pointed out, “Critics said the Lakers would need three basketballs for Baylor, Chamberlain and Jerry West to play together. Ironic since critics of today’s Lakers said they would need four basketballs.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.