Five details about Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game that you may not have known…
The NBA is home to many incredible records, but as time passes, they are always surpassed and replaced by even more incredible feats. However, Wilt’s 100-point game is unbroken and may remain unbroken for eternity.
With a 27-45 record going into the game, the New York Knicks were among the poorest teams in the NBA on March 2, 1962, when Wilt and his Philadelphia Warriors took on them. Even worse, his center-field replacement experienced “flu”-like symptoms and was only able to play 20 minutes, forcing Cleveland Buckner, a 6-9 rookie, to cover Wilt. It was the makings of a historic evening.
Wilt led the team in scoring with 41 points in the first half, but his ridiculous 50.4 point per game average during that season did not really stand out. He frequently went for games with 50 or 60 points. He wanted more from this game, too, so his teammates started shoving the ball in his direction. With the crowd in a frenzy, he scored his last point 46 seconds before the game ended.
He ultimately recorded the most bizarre stat line in history, scoring 100 points on 36-63 field goals, pulling down 25 rebounds, and dishing out two assists. He made 28 out of 32 free throws, or almost 90%, which was equally astounding. A player with a career field goal percentage of 51.1 had quite the shooting night.
I think that was the most dominant season any player has ever had in history. Chamberlain averaged 48.5 minutes per game and concluded the season with an average of 50.4 points, 25.7 rebounds, and a 50.6 field goal percentage (his Warriors played ten overtimes that season, while Chamberlain played 3,882 of a possible 3,890 minutes). It is safe to say that Wilt’s records are off limits for the time being.
