Dolph Schayes said 76ers players resented him for giving Wilt Chamberlain special treatment: "I got in trouble with the team because Wilt lived in New York"

Dolph Schayes said 76ers players resented him for giving Wilt Chamberlain special treatment: “I got in trouble with the team because Wilt lived in New York” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

In 1963, the late Dolph Schayes went straight from a 15-year Hall of Fame career to become the Philadelphia 76ers’ player-coach.

Expectations were high, but like many ex-athletes before and after him, it didn’t take long for the former 12-time All-Star to learn a hard truth: success on the court doesn’t automatically carry over to the sidelines.

Schayes’ early struggles are certainly noteworthy because, on paper, he had the perfect setup. Remember, Wilt Chamberlain — a once-in-a-generation talent — anchored the Sixers’ roster at the time. While this might sound like a dream start for any basketball coach, the 2004 book “Wilt: Larger Than Life” reveals the challenges behind it.

Chamberlain’s impact

In the early NBA years, it was almost impossible to find a bigger superstar than Chamberlain.

Joining the league in 1959 as Philadelphia’s territorial pick, the former Harlem Globetrotter made an immediate impact, winning MVP and Rookie of the Year, earning All-Star honors and leading the league in scoring (37.6 points per game) and rebounds (27.0 per game) as a first-year.

But Chamberlain’s dominance on the court wasn’t the only thing that drew attention — his off-court stories did, too, ultimately boosting his superstar status.

Chamberlain, known for his larger-than-life persona and rumored to have been with over 20,000 women, fully embraced the spotlight and became a cultural force beyond basketball.

Wilt’s star allure tested team chemistry

The towering 7’1″ center stood out on Schayes’ roster — not just for his height, but for his star power, the kind of status that often came with special treatment.

It’s certainly a double-edged sword that can create friction within a team. Of course, that’s not always the case — some former MVPs, like Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan, kept a low, grounded profile and were beloved by their teammates. But Chamberlain, who won the award four times during his storied 14-year NBA career, wasn’t wired that way.

He gladly accepted the extra perks that came with his heightened status in the league and within the Sixers organization. If anyone deserved them, it was him. Still, other players on the team resented it — especially when success was hard to come by.

Schayes was caught in the middle

Schayes, who had to manage it all, recalled key moments when this challenging dynamic came to a head.

“I got in trouble with the team because Wilt lived in New York,” the 1966 Coach of the Year admitted. “One of the conditions, I think, for Wilt to come back to Philadelphia from San Francisco was that he could live in New York. Wilt was a night person. I think Wilt felt he wasn’t as noticeable at night. He didn’t like to practice in the morning. The guys wanted to practice early, to get it over with, so they had the rest of the afternoon off. But because of Wilt, we’d practice late in the day, at 4:00. The guys held it against me.”

Ultimately, his hands were tied. Schayes recalled team owner Ike Richman telling him to side with Chamberlain, saying, “There’s no other way,” likely fearing the fallout for the franchise if their cornerstone player decided to walk away.

Tensions flared again during the 1965 playoffs against the iconic Boston Celtics. After winning Game 3, Dolph called for practice, but Wilt, citing fatigue, stayed in New York City.

Boston took Game 4 in overtime, putting Philadelphia on the brink of elimination. Before Game 5, the Big Dipper missed another morning practice.

While frustration ran high, the 76ers’ head coach publicly defended his star player.

“Wilt killed himself yesterday. He played a great game. So I excused him from practice… Before Tuesday night’s game we’re going to hold a strategy session. And Wilt will be there,” he said.

However, not every Sixer shared that support, as one anonymous player disclosed to the press.

“Sure, he should have been here [at the practice]. Isn’t Wilt just like you and me?” he was quoted. “Today was the same as it’s been all year long. Wilt misses a practice and it sort of aggravates the guys.”

Ultimately, basketball is a team game. No matter how dominant a player is, no one wins alone, making team cohesion essential for sustained success.

It’s clear the Sixers lacked that unity in 1965, which played a major role in their 4-3 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals.

Afterward, Boston’s superstar Bill Russell, known for his leadership and locker room presence, highlighted that very issue.

“This may sound trite, but it’s very true,” the NBA icon explained. “I think this is a team game. I’m not saying anything bad about Wilt Chamberlain. He had a great and I voted for him for Most Valuable Player. But any time you take this game out of the team realm, you foul up your team.”

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

Dolph Schayes said 76ers players resented him for giving Wilt Chamberlain special treatment: “I got in trouble with the team because Wilt lived in New York”

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