Wilt Chamberlain 100 Points Game
One Hundred Points: The Unbreakable Standard Set at Hershey
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors delivered the most singular scoring performance in professional basketball history against the New York Knicks at Hershey Sports Arena. While Chamberlain would later become a defining figure of the Lakers' legacy through his championship runs and rivalry with Bill Russell, this specific record was set during his Philadelphia era. It stands as an unbreakable monument to individual dominance, marking the only time a player has scored 100 points in a single NBA game.
- Player
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Team at Time
- Philadelphia Warriors
- Opponent
- New York Knicks
- Final Score
- 169-147
- Location
- Hershey Sports Arena, Pennsylvania
- Status
- Unbroken NBA Record
Lore & Background
Chamberlain’s dominance was absolute, operating at a level that drained the opposition physically and mentally. By the end of the contest, he was reportedly so fatigued he could barely walk off the court, yet he had single-handedly outscored an entire team's starting lineup multiple times over. This performance cemented Wilt as a force of nature, a reputation that would define his tenure when he eventually joined the Los Angeles Lakers.
In Their Own Story
The air in Hershey was thick with humidity and the squeak of sneakers on polished wood. Wilt didn't just play; he occupied space like a hurricane. Every time the ball found him near the basket, it vanished into the net before a defender could even blink. The scoreboard ticked past 80, then 90, but the crowd's roar grew strangely muted, as if they were witnessing something too impossible to fully comprehend. In the final minute, with the score already astronomical, Wilt drove for yet another layup, his eyes locked on the rim, driven by a singular, insatiable hunger that no one else in the arena could match.
Reader's Guide
The 100-point game stands as the pinnacle of individual scoring achievement in NBA history. On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain achieved this feat while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. The game took place at the Hershey Sports Arena, a neutral site chosen due to scheduling conflicts, which ironically contributed to the event's obscurity compared to games played in major cities.
Chamberlain finished with 100 points on 36-of-63 shooting and a perfect 28-of-28 from the free-throw line. The final score was 169-147, reflecting an offensive explosion that has never been replicated. While many players have approached the 70-point mark in subsequent decades, no one has come close to doubling it. The record is so entrenched in basketball lore that it is often cited as the statistical ceiling for human performance in team sports.
Although Wilt Chamberlain later became a legend of the Los Angeles Lakers, winning championships and earning MVP awards with them, this specific record belongs to his era with Philadelphia. It remains a testament to his unique physical gifts and the different pace of play during that era. For Lakers fans, it serves as a reminder of the sheer magnitude of talent Wilt brought to the franchise in 1968, even though this particular historic night occurred before his arrival.
Did You Know?
- There is no official video footage of the game; only still photographs exist.
- The announcer lost track of Chamberlain's score during the fourth quarter, so the exact timing of his 100th point is unknown.
- Chamberlain made all 28 of his free throws, a perfect percentage that has never been matched in such a high-volume game.
- The game was played in front of only about 4,124 fans, making it one of the smallest crowds for an NBA record-breaking performance.