Chamberlain's exploits are well-documented in the record books. He was the first player in NBA history to score 4,000 points in a single season. He set NBA single-game records for most points (100), most consecutive field goals (18), and most rebounds (55). He also holds several offensive and rebounding statistics that have never been broken.
But did you know that he had attempts blocked by one defender eight times in the 1954-55 season? Or that he averaged nearly 50 percent from the floor, 90 percent from the free throw line, and shot better than.500 from downtown during his final season? Or that he led the Philadelphia Warriors to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with them?
Wilt Chamberlain played in the NBA from 1955-60. During that time, he scored 100 points seven times, including a league-record 306 in 1959-60. He also averaged more than 30 minutes a game five times, including a career-high 38 in 1958-59.
After leaving the Warriors, he started his own team, the Los Angeles Lakers, but they were a failure on many levels. Not only did they not bring in enough money to survive, but also Chamberlain had many personal problems with co-owner George Mikan after being given control over basketball operations. In 1964, he returned home to Kansas City to play for the Warriors again.
He became the only player in history to amass 4,000 points in a season by averaging 50.4 points per game. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain established a record that may last for the rest of time. He was joined in the record book by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Chamberlain's average is more than 10 points higher than his next highest season average (39.8). In addition, he scored 100 or more points seven times during the season, including five games with at least four baskets made.
Why do they call it a "season"? Because back then, players didn't play more than 82 games in a year. If you added up all of Chamberlain's minutes, they would equal one full game!
In addition, if you counted his minutes relative to today's standards, they would be even higher. For example, according to basketball-reference.com, Chamberlain played 1,079 minutes in 1961-62, which would be the third most played this season by today's standards.
Finally, let's look at some other numbers related to Chamberlain's record. He averaged about half of his records-breaking season while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
His single-game rebounding record on November 24 isn't even his most amazing. In a game against the New York Knicks in March 1962, he scored 100 of his team's 169 points, more than any NBA player had (or has) ever scored in a single game. Chamberlain also came in second place in a...
On March 2, 1962, he set the record for most points in a game, scoring 100 in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain will be permanently connected with this remarkable effort, which is regarded as one of the greatest achievements in basketball history. The previous record was 95, scored by Bob Pettit in 1957.
Chamberlain's amazing performance took place only three years after the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a dominant force on the court, averaging nearly 50 minutes per game and nearly 20 points per outing. The Philadelphia 76ers player had already become the league's top scorer when he reached 100, and he is still the all-time leader in that category.
Walt "Clyde" Frazier was an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Philadelphia Warriors and Chicago Zephyrs/Zags. At 7' 1", he was at the time of his death the largest player ever to compete in the NBA. Clyde managed to score 100 points during a March 2, 1962, game against the New York Knicks. He accomplished this feat in just under 50 minutes on the court. Clyde was also the first player to score 100 points in a single game since Bill Sharman did so in 1955. It should be noted that back then, there were no three-point shots in basketball; thus, every shot attempted by Clyde was either free throws or two-pointers.
Chamberlain was a member of the NBA All-Star team 13 times throughout his 14-year career (he missed one year due to injury). In his career, he averaged 30 points and 22 rebounds a game and won the scoring title seven times. During that time, he suffered from numerous injuries that prevented him from playing ball. He had two surgeries on his right knee, three on his left knee, and had eight teeth removed due to trauma caused by falling into basketball goals.
Wilt Chamberlain played in only 62% of the games over his first five seasons in the NBA. The remaining 38% of the games he played were due to injury. He broke his right hand in four places during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in October 1960 and missed six weeks of play. A month later, he injured his left shoulder while attempting a dunk and was sidelined for three months.
During his final season in 1975-76, Chamberlain scored 100 points or more in nine games, including seven games with at least 10 points per game. However, he also had 16 games where he failed to score any points due to injury. Overall, he appeared in just 54% of the regular season games he started during his final season. His average minutes per game increased from 50 to 58 as a result of all these injuries.
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