 Statistically , Chamberlain was again outstanding , posting 34 @.@ 7 ppg and 22 @.@ 9 rpg for the second half of the season . After defeating the Cincinnati Royals led by Oscar Robertson in the 1965 NBA Playoffs , the Sixers met Chamberlain 's familiar rival , the Boston Celtics . The press called it an even matchup in all positions , even at center , where Bill Russell was expected to give Chamberlain a tough battle . Indeed , the two teams split the first six games , and because of the better season record , the last game was held in the Celtics ' Boston Garden . In that Game 7 , both centers were marvelous : Chamberlain scored 30 points and 32 rebounds , and Russell logged 16 points , 27 rebounds and eight assists . In the final minute , Chamberlain hit two clutch free throws and slam dunked on Russell , bringing Boston 's lead down to 110 – 109 with five seconds left . Russell botched the inbounds pass , hitting a guy @-@ wire over the backboard and giving the ball back to the Sixers . Coach Schayes called timeout , and decided to run the last play over Hal Greer rather than Chamberlain , because he feared the Celtics would intentionally foul him because he was a poor foul shooter . But when Greer attempted to inbound the ball , John Havlicek stole it to preserve the Celtics ' lead . For the fifth time in seven years , Russell 's team deprived Chamberlain of the title . According to Chamberlain , that was the time that people started calling him " loser " . Additionally , in an April 1965 issue of Sports Illustrated Chamberlain conducted an interview entitled " My Life in a Bush League " where he criticized his fellow players , coaches , and NBA administrators . Chamberlain later commented that he could see in hindsight how the interview was instrumental in damaging his public image . 
