Wilt Chamberlain was relentlessly pursued by the FBI for ‘heavy gambling’ and was seen at a $9.13 billion casino in Las Vegas

The FBI kept a file on legendary center Wilt Chamberlain to monitor his alleged out-of-control gambling habit.

Wilt Chamberlain is almost an urban legend. His escapades and conquests are so great and powerful that it is extremely difficult to believe in them.

We come from a generation that saw Kobe Bryant lose 81 points in a game. The rarity and difficulty of Bryant’s feat have not gone unnoticed.

But, compared to the numbers and records of Wilt Chamberlain, even 81 of Mamba shrinks. For starters, Wilt’s career averages are better than most regular MVPs. He averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game.

If that’s not mind-boggling enough, Chamberlain once averaged 50.4 points in an entire season. To make things even more ridiculous, he combined his incredible scoring with 25.7 rebounds per game while averaging 48.5 minutes played.

The only man to score 100 points in the game, Chamberlain is as iconic as players of the past. He took his scoring and rebounding to a level unheard of before him or since.

What’s even more impressive, Wilt scored as many points in a game before the dawn of the three-point line. He was such a bully inside the perimeter that he didn’t need the 3-pointer to beat any scorer who played after him.

But despite their legend, the FBI remained skeptical of the Warriors’ legend.

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The FBI kept an unsubstantiated open file on Wilt Chamberlain.

In the late 1960s, Chamberlain was one of the biggest names in the NBA along with Bill Russell and Jerry West.

The grip he had on the fans was stronger than the tightest vise. His athleticism drew hordes of crowds and brought him heaps of fame.

Fame, while great for his career and legacy, also brought unwanted attention from the FBI on him.

FBI file on Wilt Chamberlain betting on NBA games + plane threat he made in 1972. https://t.co/bbqDwnDZ

— Sport is history (@SportsbyBrooks) April 30, 2012

Apparently the office investigated Wilt for three years in a row over rumors that he regularly bets on his own games. The investigation also aimed to find out if the formidable former center also indulged in shaving the ends.

The FBI alleged that Wilt was seen in and around Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, which was and remains one of the largest casinos in the world. The Caesars Entertainment group is worth a whopping $9.13 billion.

This investigation was later abandoned by the Office. Wilt was never found guilty of gambling on any game or shaving points. He has remained a legend even after his death.

Do you think the FBI started the Wilt file out of spite for a successful black athlete?

Also read: Anthony Davis once had a 59-20 game, then we found out Wilt Chamberlain had “61” of those games!