Expert: warren shelmidine - 11/28/2009

Question
was wilt chamberlin the first 7 foot player in professional basketball?

Answer
Yes by all true accounts of height Wilt was the first professional basketball player with a height of at least 7'. Wilt was 7'1" by most accounts.

REVISED ANSWER

Walter F. Dukes (Walt, Wally)

Position: Center
Height: 7-0    Weight: 220 lbs.
Born: June 23, 1930 in Rochester, New York
High School: East in Rochester, New York
College: Seton Hall University

Drafted by the New York Knickerbockers in the 1953 NBA draft (territorial selection).


Harvey Wade Halbrook (Wade, Swede)

Position: Center
Height: 7-3    Weight: 235 lbs.
Born: January 30, 1933
Died: April 5, 1988
High School: Lincoln in Portland, Oregon
College: Oregon State University

Drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1956 NBA draft.


both came into the league prior to Wilt


Here is one other who played in the BAA (prior to the NBA

Ralph Paul Siewert (Sky)

Position: Center
Height: 7-1    Weight: 230 lbs.
Born: December 31, 1923
Died: June 1991
College: Dakota Wesleyan University

So ther were thre players in the NBA and prior who playerd professionally and were 7 feet tall prior to Wilt...........with Siewert being the first!