List of career achievements by Wilt Chamberlain

This article concerns the career achievements of Basketball Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain, who holds numerous NBA records in scoring, rebounding and durability. Among others, he is the only player in NBA history to average 40 and 50 points in a season, score 100 points in a single game, and grab over 2,000 rebounds in a single season. He also won seven scoring, nine 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 500 NBA Players of all time in 2011[5] and #13 in ESPN list "Top North American athletes of the century".[6] In honor of Chamberlain, his jerseys have been retired six times, by Overbrook High School, the University of Kansas, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers franchises.[7]

List of records and feats

Chamberlain holds 71 NBA records, 62 by himself.[8] Among his records are several that are considered unbreakable, such as averaging 22.9 rebounds for a career or 50.4 points per game in a season, scoring 100 points or 55 rebounds in a single game, scoring 65 or more points 15 times, 50 or more points 118 times.[7][9] During Chamberlain's time, defensive statistics like blocks and steals had not been recorded yet. However, according to Jack Ramsay, "Harvey [Pollack] 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".[10]

NBA scoring records

  • Chamberlain also holds the next three spots with 44.8 in 1962-63, 38.4 in 1960-61 and 37.6 in 1959-60.
  • Chamberlain holds the next highest with 3,586 in 1962-63
  • 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 is third with 37 in 1986-87.
  • 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 9-25, 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-March 18, 1964.
  • Chamberlain holds the next 3 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.
  • 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.
  • Chamberlain also holds the second most attempts in an All-Star Game with 15 in 1960.

Other selected scoring facts

  • Chamberlain also holds third place with 32 on March 2, 1962.
  • Wilt Chamberlains is the only player to record at least 50 points in an Elimination game (a feat he accomplished three times).

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.
  • 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 records

  • Wilt Chamberlain also holds the second spot: 31.74 in 1962 season.

Other selected versatility facts

  • On February 2, 1968 against the Detroit Pistons, he logged 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists.[16]
  • 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.
  • The first is Oscar Robertson, with 41 in 1961-62 season.

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.

Other selected durability facts

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 third highest percentage with 68.3% (785 / 1150) 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 awards 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).[7]

References

External links

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