List of career achievements by Wilt Chamberlain

This article concerns the career achievements of NBA Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain, who holds numerous NBA records setting yardsticks in scoring, rebounding and durability categories. Among others, he is the only player in NBA history to average both 40 & 50 points in a season and score 100 points in a single game. He also won 7 scoring, 9 field goal percentage, and 11 rebounding titles in addition to an assist title.[1]

With an assortment of fadeaway jump shots, his favorite one-hand finger-roll and powerful dunks in the low post,[2][3] he scored 31,419 points, grabbed 23,924 rebounds, averaging 30.07 points (second best all-time behind Michael Jordan) and 22.9 rebounds (all-time leader) and was also very durable, standing on the hardwood an average 45.8 minutes.[4]

For his feats, Chamberlain was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, elected one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, ranked #2 in SLAM Magazine's Top 50 NBA Players of all time in 2009 and #13 in ESPN list "Top North American athletes of the century".[5] In honor of Chamberlain, his jerseys have been retired six times, by respectively Overbrook High School, the University of Kansas, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers franchises.[6]

Contents

Chamberlain-Russell rivalry

From a historical NBA perspective, the rivalry between Chamberlain and his perennial nemesis Bill Russell is cited as the greatest on-court rivalry of all time.[6] Its significance is documented by the 2005 book The Rivalry by sports journalist John Taylor. It was somewhat lopsided, as Russell’s Celtics won 7 of 8 playoff series against Chamberlain’s Warriors, Sixers and Lakers teams, and went 57-37 in the regular season and 29-20 in the playoffs against them.[7] Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 14.2 per game and outrebounded him 28.2 to 22.9 in the regular season, and also in the playoffs, he outscored him 25.7 to 14.9 and outrebounded him 28 to 24.7.[8]

However, Russell and Chamberlain were best friends in private life. Russell never considered him his rival and disliked the term, instead pointing out that they rarely talked about basketball when they were alone. When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain’s nephew stated that Russell was the second person he was ordered to break the news to.[9]

Rule changes

Chamberlain's impact on the game is also reflected in the fact that he was directly responsible for several rule changes in the NBA, including widening the lane to try to keep him farther away from the hoop, instituting offensive goaltending and revising rules governing inbounding the ball and shooting free throws (such as making it against the rules to inbound the ball over the backboard).[1][10] Chamberlain, who reportedly had a 50-inch vertical leap[11], was physically capable of converting foul shots via a slam dunk without a running start (beginning his movement at the top of the key).[12] When his dunks practically undermined the difficulty of a foul shot, the NBA banned his modus operandi.[1][10] In basketball history, pundits have stated that the only other player who forced such a massive change of rules is 6'10" Minneapolis Lakers center George "Mr. Basketball" Mikan, who played a decade before Chamberlain and also caused many rule changes designed to thwart so-called "big men".[13]

The 100-point game

Main article: Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game

On March 2, 1962, in a 169-147 Warriors victory over the New York Knicks at Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain scored 100 points in a standard regulation game, 59 in the second half alone, mainly victimizing Knicks reserve center Darrall Imhoff. He became the only NBA player in history to score 100 points.[14] No video footage exists of this achievement because the game was not televised, although there is an audio recording of the game's radio broadcast. For the game, Chamberlain went 36-of-63 from the field and an uncharacteristic 28-of-32 from the free throw line. Chamberlain also grabbed 25 rebounds in that game.[14]

Reputation

Although racking up some of the most impressive statistics in the history of Northern American professional sports, but winning "just" two NBA championships, and losing seven out of eight playoff series against the Celtics teams of his on-court nemesis and best friend Bill Russell, Chamberlain was often called "selfish" and a "loser".[15] Frank Deford of ESPN said that Chamberlain was caught in a no-win situation: "If you win, everybody says, 'Well, look at him, he's that big.' If you lose, everybody says, 'How could he lose, a guy that size?' "[8] Chamberlain himself often said: "Nobody roots for Goliath."[15]

Similar to later superstar Shaquille O'Neal, Chamberlain was also a target of criticism because of his bad free throw shooting. He connected on an abysmal .511 average, including a career low of .380 during the 1967-68 season.[4] Countless suggestions were offered; he shot them underhanded, one-handed, two-handed, from the side of the circle, from well behind the line. Once, Sixers coach Alex Hannum suggested to him to shoot his famous fadeaway jumpshot as a foul shot; but Chamberlain was too scared to bring even more attention to his one great failing.[2]

Furthermore, Chamberlain damaged his reputation in an April 1965 article with Sports Illustrated. In an interview entitled "My Life In A Bush League", he criticized his fellow players, coaches, and NBA administrators.[16] Chamberlain later commented that he could see in hindsight how the interview could have been instrumental in hurting his public image.[16]

However, contemporary colleagues were often terrified to play against Chamberlain. Bill Russell regularly feared being embarrassed by Chamberlain,[3] Walt Frazier called his dominance on the court “comical”,[17] and when 6 ft 11 in 250-pound (in his early years)[18] Hall-of-Fame center Bob Lanier was asked about the most memorable moment of his career, Lanier answered: “When Wilt Chamberlain lifted me up and moved me like a coffee cup so he could get a favorable position.”[2]

List of records and feats

Chamberlain is holder of 72 NBA all-time records, 63 of which he holds by himself.[19] Among his records are several that are regarded as unbreakable, such as averaging 22.9 rebounds for a career or 50.4 points per game in a regular season, scoring 100 points or 55 rebounds in a single game, scoring 65 points or more 15 times, 50 or more points 118 times.[15][6] During Chamberlain's time, defensive statistics like blocks and steals had not been recorded yet. However, according to Jack Ramsay, "Harvey said he used to tell one of his statisticians to keep track of Wilt's blocks in big games...One night, they got up to 25".[20]

NBA scoring records

See also: List of National Basketball Association top individual scoring season averages
See also: List of National Basketball Association top rookie scoring averages
See also: List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game
See also: List of individual National Basketball Association scoring leaders by season
  • Chamberlain also holds the next two highest with 44.8 in 1962-63 and 38.4 in 1960-61.
  • Chamberlain holds the next highest with 3,586 in 1960-61
  • Chamberlain holds the next most with 30 in 1962-63. No other player has had more than 10. Only Michael Jordan (39 including playoffs) and Kobe Bryant (25 including playoffs) have more than 20 in their careers.
  • Chamberlain holds the next most with 52 in 1962-63. Michael Jordan holds third with 37 in 1986-87.
  • Record shared with Michael Jordan.
  • Kobe Bryant is in second place with 5.
  • Michael Jordan is in second place with 31.
  • Michael Jordan is in second place with 173.
  • Chamberlain also holds the next three longest streaks with 6 in 1962, and 5 in 1961 and 1962.
  • Chamberlain also has the next most with 10 from November 9, 1962 through November 25, 1962.
  • Chamberlain holds the next two longest streaks with 31 in 1962 and 25 in 1960.
  • Chamberlain holds the next most with 92 from February 26, 1963 through March 18, 1964.
  • Michael Jordan, at 620 games, took the second fewest games.
  • Michael Jordan, at 782 games, took the second fewest games.
  • Shared with Michael Jordan
  • Chamberlain holds the next three spots with 1,463 in 1962-63, 1,251 in 1960-61, and 1,204 in 1963-64
  • Chamberlain holds the next four highest with 2,770, 2,457, 2,311, and 2,298.
  • Chamberlain holds the next highest with 31, and is tied with Rick Barry at third with 30
  • Chamberlain holds the next two most with 62 and 60.
  • Chamberlain also holds the next four spots with 1,113, 1,054, 1,016, and 991.
  • Chamberlain also holds second place with 32 on March 2, 1962.
  • Pulled down a rookie playoff record 35 rebounds in the same game.
  • Chamberlain also scored 50 as a rookie against the Boston Celtics on March 22, 1960.
  • Record shared with Rick Barry
  • Chamberlain also holds the second most attempts in an All-Star Game with 15 in 1960.

Other selected scoring facts

NBA rebounding records

See also: List of National Basketball Association top individual rebounding season averages
See also: List of National Basketball Association top rookie rebounding averages
See also: List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game
  • Chamberlain also holds the next two highest averages with 27.0 in 1959-60 and 25.7 in 1961-62)
  • Chamberlain and Bill Russell occupy the top 18 spots on this list (9 each).
  • Chamberlain also holds the next six highest totals.
  • Besides Bill Russell (11 times, including 3 playoff games, max of 51) only two players, Nate Thurmond (42) and Jerry Lucas (40) have ever gotten at least 40.
  • Chamberlain, as a rookie, also grabbed 43 rebounds in one game, 42 in two others, and 40 in another.
  • Game 3 victory in the Eastern Division finals.
  • Also an NBA Finals record.
  • Also an NBA Finals record for a 6-game series.
  • Scored a then-playoff record 53 points (still a rookie record) in the same game (a game 5 victory).

Other selected rebound facts

  • Chamberlain's 1961-62 season stat line: 4,029 points (50.4 ppg) and 2,052 rebounds (25.7 rpg).

NBA versatility record

Other selected versatility facts

  • On November 4, 1959, Chamberlain, in his third game in the NBA, scored 41 points and grabbed a then-rookie record 40 rebounds against the Syracuse Nationals.
  • On January 15, 1960, Chamberlain, as a rookie, scored 44 points and grabbed 42 rebounds against the Boston Celtics.
  • On January 25, 1960, Chamberlain, as a rookie, scored an NBA rookie record 58 points and grabbed 42 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.
  • On February 6, 1960, Chamberlain, as a rookie, scored 44 points and grabbed an NBA rookie record 45 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.
  • On December 8, 1961, Chamberlain scored a then-record 78 points and collected 43 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA durability records

  • Bill Russell is second at 42.3
  • Chamberlain also holds the next four most with 3,836 in 1967-68, 3,806 in 1962-63, 3,773 in 1960-61, and 3,737 in 1965-66
  • Chamberlain holds the top 7 spots in this category
  • Chamberlain's 3,882 minutes played out of the team's possible 3,890 left an average of six seconds of rest per game.
  • A regulation NBA basketball game is 48 minutes long.

NBA accuracy records

See also: List of National Basketball Association top individual field goal percentage seasons
  • Tied with Shaquille O'Neal
  • Chamberlain also holds the second highest percentage with 68.3% in 1966-67
  • Chamberlain also holds the next two most with 16 (March 19, 1967) and 15 (January 20, 1967)
  • Chamberlain also missed the second most free throws in a single season at 528 in the 1961–62 season.

Other selected accuracy facts

Accolades

In addition to his many statistical accomplishments, Chamberlain also had a successful career. He is a two-time NBA Champion (1967, 1972) and a six-time NBA Finalist (1964, '67, '69-'70, '72-'73), was voted NBA MVP 4 times (1959-60, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68 seasons) and NBA Finals MVP once (1972), was elected to 7 All-NBA First Teams (1960-'62, '64, '66-'68) and 3 All-NBA Second Teams ('63, '65, '72) and is with Wes Unseld one of two players to have won the Rookie of the Year and the MVP award in the same year. In addition, he was voted NBA All-Star Game MVP 1960 and also made two All-Defensive First Teams (1972, '73).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d espn.com (2007-02-10). "Chamberlain towered over NBA". http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1012/110493.html. 
  2. ^ a b c Deford, Frank (2007-02-10). "Just doing fine, my man". CNN. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/1999/10/12/wilt_at_50/. 
  3. ^ a b Lazenby, Roland (2007-02-14). "Big Norman". http://www.hoopshype.com/articles/wilt_lazenby.htm. 
  4. ^ a b basketball-reference.com (2007-02-14). "Wilt Chamberlain Statistics". http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chambwi01.html. 
  5. ^ "ESPN: Top North American athletes of the century". 2007-03-05. http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/athletes.html. 
  6. ^ a b c d hoophall.com (2007-02-10). "Wilt Chamberlain Biography". http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Chamberlain.htm. 
  7. ^ Hall-of-Famers who played with Chamberlain -- Warriors: Paul Arizin, Tom Gola; Sixers: Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham; Lakers: Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich; however, Baylor had a crippling career-ending injury when Goodrich came
  8. ^ a b Schwartz, Larry (2007-02-10). "A revolutionary force". http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00131528.html. 
  9. ^ Russell, Bill. "Chat Transcript: Celtics Legend Bill Russell @ celtics.com". http://www.nba.com/celtics/chat/russell_050228.html. Retrieved 2006-12-01. 
  10. ^ a b Sheridan, Chris (2007-02-10). "Until his dying day, Wilt was invincible". http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1012/110842.html. 
  11. ^ DuPree, David. "Wilt Chamberlain: A Tribute". nba.com. http://www.nba.com/warriors/history/Dupree_Chamberlain.html. Retrieved 2010-08-20. 
  12. ^ Ostler, Scott (February 12, 1989). "The Leaping Legends of Basketball". Los Angeles Times. 
  13. ^ Lawrence, Mitch (2007-02-10). "Chamberlain's feats the stuff of legend". http://static.espn.go.com/nba/columns/lawrence_mitch/110858.html. 
  14. ^ a b espn.com (2007-02-14). "Wilt Scores 100!". http://static.espn.go.com/nba/columns/lawrence_mitch/110858.html. 
  15. ^ a b c Schwartz, Larry (2007-02-10). "Wilt battled loser label". http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014133.html. 
  16. ^ a b bookrags.com (2007-02-15). "Wilt Chamberlain". http://www.bookrags.com/biography/chamberlain-wilt-1936-sjpc-01/. 
  17. ^ espn.com (2007-02-10). "Reaction to a basketball legend’s death". http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1012/110738.html. 
  18. ^ basketball-reference.com. "Bob Lanier Career Statistics". http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/laniebo01.html. 
  19. ^ nba.com/history (2007-04-22). "Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA Records". http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/wilts_records.html. 
  20. ^ Heisler, Mark: "Giants: Big Men Who Shook the NBA", page 14. Triumph Books
  21. ^ ProBasketballNews.com
  22. ^ Triple Doubles
  23. ^ nba.com. "Calderon seems perfectly aligned to set free-throw mark". http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/04/08/calderon_record.numbers.game.20090408/index.html. Retrieved April 9, 2009. 

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