THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Wilt Chamberlain was a gargantuan force in the NBA (and off the court too, Ask about him). From his early Pennsylvania upbringing to his stint with the Harlem Globetrotters, his 7 ft 1 in 275 pounds presence was always one that captured the show. Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, Chairman of the Boards, or just 10,000 was a dominant offensive force, unstoppable in the paint, yet as fine all-around of an athlete as players half-foot shorter in stature. Wilt had a uncanny pride in developing his all-around skills to compete with all the emerging players in the NBA during '60's specifically Bill Russell and the great Boston Celtics.



Today was a very special day in 1962. A certain player was unstoppable that night in Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. That player was Wilt Chamberlain. On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single-game scoring record by dropping a cool 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks (of course the Knicks). Combined the teams scored 316 points setting what was then a record for the most combined points in a game by both teams. In process, Wilt obliterate his previous NBA scoring record of 78 points set less than three months earlier, Chamberlain shot 36-for-63 from the field and 28-for-32 from the foul line while grabbing 25 rebounds and setting NBA records for most field goals attempted (63) and made (36), free throws made (28) and most points in a quarter (31) and a half (59).

Radio call of the final three minutes of Wilt Chamberlain's historic game..


Guy Rodgers, the point guard for the Philadelphia Warriors who recorded a career high 20 assists later said, "It was the easiest game ever for me to get assists, all I had to do was pass it to Wilt."