Meet Bill Chamberlain: UNC’s 2nd Black Scholarship Basketball Player
Keeping It Heel sits down with Bill Chamberlain, UNC Basketball’s second African-American player, to talk Dean Smith, UNC Basketball and his career.
Charles Scott is the “Jackie Robinson of college sports” in the South because he was the first black scholarship athlete. Bill Chamberlain was the second black scholarship basketball player for the University of North Carolina. For this reason, you can call him the “Larry Doby of UNC Basketball.”
Camberlain attended UNC from 1969 to 1972. Like Scott, Chamberlain was not a token black player who Dean Smith recruited. Smith desired only the best players, regardless of race. This was true about Chamberlain. He was an all-ACC conference team member, played professional basketball and coached basketball at the collegiate level.
Recently, I had the honor pleasure of speaking with Bill Chamberlain about his basketball career and life in general.
KIH: Where are you from?
Bill Chamberlain: “Harlem, New York. I lived a few blocks from Charles Scott. There weren’t too many good goals in Harlem, which is why guys in New York City go to the hole when playing basketball.”
KIH: Did Charles Scott play a role in your decision to attend North Carolina? If so, why?
Bill Chamberlain: “Charles Scott went to high school with my brother, John, at Peter Stuyvesant High School, an esteemed educational institution. Scott’s decision made it easier for me. I had over 120 scholarship offers. I chose Carolina because my parents loved Dean Smith’s Christian heart. Dean Smith stood up for all blacks’ rights.”
KIH: What position(s) did you play at UNC?
Bill Chamberlain: “Small forward.”
KIH: What is your favorite memory of Dean Smith?
Bill Chamberlain: “There are so many. After having tonsillitis, Coach Smith told me that I had to make the team again. Run the mile under five minutes. I did this to get back in shape after being hospitalized.”
KIH: What was your relationship with Dean Smith?
Bill Chamberlain: “I was closer with Smith more after college life than when I was a player. Smith sensed I got the big head as a senior because I was getting noticed. I had 32 pts, went 14-28 from the field in a team game. I was proud of what I did. In the locker room, Coach Smith told me, “Too many shots.” I fired back, “I shot 50%.” That was a bad approach. Coach Smith made UNC a lot more about basketball. He wanted us to play as a team.”
Dean Smith
Chamberlain spoke very highly of Dean Smith. Chamberlain discussed Smith’s philosophy that “no one man was above the team.” The team concept continues to resonate with Chamberlain. He was very humble during this interview. He praised his coaches and teammates more than talking about himself. Smith taught the team these philosophies: “Work harder than your opponent and be tougher than your opponent,” “Be clean but be tough, never be overworked,” and “Play as a team.”
Chamberlain was a member of the Black Student movement. During this time, there was a total of 58 black undergraduate students. After a cafeteria worker hurt himself, he was sent home and later fired. Bill Chamberlain and others heard about this situation. When they investigated this incident and several others, Chamberlain and his colleagues found that many of the Black workers on campus worked 39.5 hours, but did not have a compensation package. Chamberlain presented this to head coach Dean Smith. Dean Smith was the first person to sign the petition. Lenoir Dining Hall was closed for three and half weeks due to a strike on behalf of the cafeteria workers. After the strike was over, the cafeteria workers were rewarded a benefit package.
Roy Williams
In the 1968-1969 season, Chamberlain was on the freshman team along with current head coach Roy Williams. The nickname of the team was “The Tarbabies.” This was Bill Gutheridge’s first team. This freshman team won the Big Four Freshman Tournament in Fayetteville, North Carolina that season.
College basketball memories at UNC
In 1971, North Carolina was picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC. However, this was not the case. UNC finished the 1970-1971 season with a 27-6 record and won the NIT. During that season, UNC beat UMass, who had a basketball player by the name of Julius Erving (later he earned the nickname, “Dr. J”); the score was 90-49. They beat Providence by 19 the next game. In the 4th game, UNC beat Duke by six points (fourth time they played Duke). Finally, UNC beat Georgia Tech in the NIT championship, thanks in large part to Chamberlain’s 34 points.
During his senior year at UNC, Chamberlain was a preseason All-American in 1972. In addition, he was the MVP of NIT. The 1972 starting lineup consisted of George Karl at the point guard position, Steve Previs at the shooting guard position, Chamberlain at small forward, Dennis Wuycik at power forward and Bob McAdoo at center. In the low post, Chamberlain played alongside Bob McAdoo (1975 NBA MPV with 34.5 ppg and 14 rpg and current Miami Heat assistant coach) and Bobby Jones (won first ever NBA Sixth Man award in 1983 along with NBA championship for Philadelphia 76ers). UNC lost to FSU in the Final Four. Chamberlain didn’t start because he was late meeting the team since he was riding around town with Charles Scott. Chamberlain continues to blame himself for Carolina’s loss to FSU in the Final Four. During the game, Al McGuire and the media blamed Dean Smith for the loss because he did not start Chamberlain. The team knew why he was benched. Smith taught the basketball team that the only thing that should be on their minds the day of the game is the team event.
Career Achievements
After graduation from UNC in 1972, Chamberlain spent time playing professional basketball. His first pro basketball experience came with the San Diego Conquistadors. Chamberlain played for head coach Casey Jones, who ended up becoming the coach for the Boston Celtics. Chamberlain averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds.
His next team was the Kentucky Colonels along with Artis Gilmore (who he played against at Gardner Webb in college). While playing the Greensboro Cougars, Chamberlain injured a few vertebra while playing pro basketball. He was injured due to exposed ice in the Greensbo
ro Coliseum since the gym was also used as a skating rink.
After a stint with the Colonels, he was traded to the Memphis Tams of the ABA. Later, he signed to play in Yugoslavia where he averaged 37 points a game. During this time, he was signed by the Phoenix Suns. He finished his professional basketball career in France in 1976.
Chamberlain coached at Duquesne University from 1976 to 1978. He shared that Duquesne’s athletic department did not have weights. Chamberlain convinced the athletic director to allow his Duquesne basketball team to workout at Steelers weight room. His basketball team had the opportunity to workout with the most dominant NFL team in the 1970s.
Currently, Chamberlain serves as the Training Officer of Division of Emergency Management under the Department of Public Safety. He works with first responders to make sure individuals are in place during an emergency.
Today, December 16th, is Bill Chamberlain’s birthday. Happy Birthday and thank you for your accomplishments on and off the basketball court. Mr. Chamberlain represents one of many assets to the Carolina family and nation.