SUMMARY
- Wilt Chamberlain is one of the greatest players of all time.
- The NBA legend once scored 100 points in a single regular season game.
Before the league transformed into what it is today, there was a dominant force that lurked around for a while. This force came in the form of Wilt Chamberlain, an offensive and defensive juggernaut. Before we got to witness certain players take over the GOAT debate over the last few years, nobody came close to what Chamberlain could do.
Popularly known for his incredible strength and agility, the former NBA star played in the league for 14 seasons. And his journey took place before the three-point line and multiple other rules came into existence. By the end of his career, Wilt was at the top of the all-time leading scorers list. But now he ranks 7th with 31,419 points. This may seem almost impossible to achieve without the three-ball in existence, but Wilt still made it possible.
Over 14 seasons, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. During his third season in the league, Wilt put up a staggering 50.4 points, 25.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game during the 1961-62 campaign. It was during this season that the legend recorded 100 points in a single game. Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia Warriors and this game was against the New York Knicks.
Will Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record ever be broken?
Whatever Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain did back then is considered impossible solely because the three-point arc did not exist. The league was known for accommodating players over the current average height. It was dominated by centers just like him. While there is no video proof of it ever happening, there is only an image of the legend holding a piece of paper with 100 written on it.
Since then, nobody has come close to averaging what Chamberlain did throughout multiple seasons. Players like Joel Embiid, James Harden, Michael Jordan, and Devin Booker have averaged between 35 to 40 points per game for under a month. But nobody has averaged those numbers for an entire season.
As for his 100-point record, only a few have come close to breaking it. The closest anybody has ever gotten to Wilt Chamberlain’s record was when Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. And only Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, and Damian Lillard have either touched or crossed the 70-point mark.