 After the game , many wondered why Chamberlain sat out the final six minutes . At the time of his final substitution , he had scored 18 points ( hitting seven of his eight shots ) and grabbed 27 rebounds , significantly better than the 10 points of Mel Counts on 4 @-@ of @-@ 13 shooting . Among others , Bill Russell didn 't believe Chamberlain 's injury was grave , and openly accused him of being a <unk> : " Any injury short of a broken leg or a broken back is not enough . " Ironically , Van Breda Kolff came to Chamberlain 's defense , insisting the often @-@ maligned Lakers center hardly was able to move in the end . He himself was perceived as " pig @-@ headed " for benching Chamberlain , and soon resigned as Lakers coach . Cherry comments that according to some journalists , that Game 7 " destroyed two careers : Wilt 's because he wouldn 't take over and Van Breda Kolff because he wouldn 't give in " . 
