Will Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Point Record Ever Be Matched?

NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain set some unreal records during his basketball career. A lot of his accomplishments have stood the test of time so far. One of the most iconic and highly talked about records of Chamberlain was his single-game points record of 100. No one has come close to some of his achievements, like the 50 points per game average or most points scored in a single season (4029), which seem truly unbreakable. However, a few superstars have shown that there is a possibility of reaching the 100-point mark. But will it be ever matched or broken?

Until 1994, Wilt Chamberlain occupied 6 spots in the top 10 list for single-game points record. He had 4 of the top 5 for himself! After David Robinson’s 71-point game in 1994, there was not much movement on the historic list. Until Kobe Bryant‘s legendary performance in 2006.

Kobe Bryant came close after years of silence

Bryant was like a man possessed against the Toronto Raptors as he scored 81 points to clinch the second-best number behind Chamberlain’s 100. This led to the fans and analysts wondering if there was a prospect of someone breaking the record. However, years of dry spells followed as stars could not enter the top 10. But things changed in recent years with the rise in 3-point attempts and overall scoring efficiency. As the game moved towards this new direction, multiple superstars erupted for huge scores.

In 2017, Devin Booker kicked it off with his 70-point performance against the Boston Celtics despite only making four 3-pointers. Last season, Donovan Mitchell went off for 71 points against the Chicago Bulls. A few weeks later, Damian Lillard matched it with 71 points of his own in just 39 minutes, making 13 3-pointers. With this, both stars broke into the top 10. The trend has continued this season as well.

The stars are lining up, inspired by Kobe Bryant

Ahead of the new year, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 64 points without making a single 3-pointer. In 2024, we have already witnessed two 60-point and two 70-point performances. On Jan. 22, on the anniversary of Kobe’s 81-point performance, Karl-Anthony Towns first made headlines with 62 points. A few hours later, reigning MVP Joel Embiid paid his tribute as he erupted for 70 points in just 37 minutes. He made just one 3-pointer in that game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. With this, he came close to the top 10 single-game scoring record.

A few days later, on Jan. 26, which was Bryant’s death anniversary, Devin Booker dropped 62 points against the Indiana Pacers. Once again, it was a night of stars scoring in bunches. On the same day, Luka Doncic went off for a historic 73-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks. He was also close to a triple-double with 10 rebounds and 7 assists! After the game, he reminisced about Kobe. The basketball world was in awe of Booker and Luka’s outbursts.

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After this, Doncic was tied for the fourth spot with David Thompson and Wilt Chamberlain (who scored 73 twice!). With the stars making waves this season, many have once again started to wonder if a 100-point game is achievable in the modern NBA.

Wilt Chamberlain’s special performance will be emulated

Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962 while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors. He did it against the New York Knicks, who were one of the worst teams at the time. However, it doesn’t take anything away from his incredible achievement and its durability is proof enough. But it was coming. Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds that season! He also had two 73-point games, a 72-point performance, and two 67-point nights that year. Also, Wilt set the record for most points with 78 points the previous year against the Los Angeles Lakers. So, it was indeed coming!

However, scoring 100 points required something special. The Hall of Famer was not a great free-throw shooter. His career average from the charity stripe is 51.1%. His best number from the free throw line came during the same 1962 season at 61.3%. However, that would not have been enough to reach 100 points.

As expected, he was at his usual best, shooting 36-of-63 from the field (57.1%). However, out of the ordinary, he made 28-of-32 from the free throw line (87.5 percent). Chamberlain was determined to score 100 and his improved performance from the line certainly played a part. Had he missed one more, he would have finished with 99!

The game ended 169-147 in favor of the Warriors. That was a very high-scoring game given the league average of 118.8 points per game that year. The league average for the current season is 115.5 points. However, unlike Wilt, none of the active stars we have discussed have been consistently going off for huge numbers. On the other hand, similar to Chamberlain, all it takes for these stars is a special day to come close to the 100-point mark.

For example, Devin Booker, with an improved performance from the 3-point territory, can push his 70-point performances for more. Or if Luka Doncic looked for more shots instead of hitting open teammates. Also, he could have scored more had that game gone overtime. Or an unreal 3-point masterclass from Giannis would be enough! Nevertheless, even if none of the current stars achieve it, the 100-point record will be broken in the near future.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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