If the legendary Wilt Chamberlain managed to score 100 points in an NBA game in 1962, this mark which seemed unattainable is no longer possible with today’s triggers.
All records are made to be broken. That of Wilt Chamberlain established 62 years ago, on March 2, 1962, with 100 points scored in a game (against the New York Knicks with the Philadelphia Warriors) is still relevant today. Will it fall one day?
This is the big question that is becoming more and more relevant. Others have come close like the late Kobe Bryant (81 points with the Lakers against Toronto on January 22, 2006), David Thompson (73 points with Denver against Detroit on April 9, 1978). Finally, the most contemporary player who most panicked the stats in a scoring match is Luka Doncic. The Slovenian also catapulted 73 points (including 41 in the first period!) with Dallas against Atlanta on January 26.
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73 points for Doncic on January 26
The leader of the Mavericks broke the franchise record with the number of points scored in a match (previously 60 achieved by himself). Doncic also becomes the first European to pass the 70 point mark in a match. It also equals the fourth best performance in history in this area.
It’s also the most points scored since Kobe in 2006 against the Raptors. Besides Doncic, there is no shortage of powerful current offensive triggers with Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard authors of 71 points in 2023 or Joel Embiid of 70 points this year or even Giannis Antetokonmpo with 64 points in 2023.
We won’t tell you about Jack Taylor from Grinnell University, author of 138 points on November 20, 2012 in the NCAA, or about former Le Mans coach Erman Kunter, author of 153 points with Fenerbahçe in a match against Izmir on March 12, 1988. , an absolute record in a professional match, or the anonymous Boris Klimek who scored 100 points in a Polish championship match in 2014… Indicators can nevertheless suggest that Chamberlain’s record is in danger even if Chris Singleron beIN SPORTS consultant, is doubtful.
“I think it will be extremely difficult. But if it were to happen, it would be now! Because we have never seen an NBA with so many points scored, with so many individual performances. It’s not that rare to see players score 70 points. Except that between 70 and 100 points, there is still a small margin. »
« We also clearly see that the referees whistle a lot of fouls. This allows many players to score a lot of points. Ten, fifteen, twenty years ago, it didn’t happen this way at all. At that time, a player who scored 70 points was a pure feat. Today, when I see 50 points, 60 points, I don’t even blink. »
« It’s a small success, it’s an evening at the office (sic), but these are not feats strictly speaking. Talking about 100 points, however, seems much more complicated to me. Of course, in modern basketball, it doesn’t defend that much, there are also very great attackers but, honestly, I still don’t see a player scoring 100! We saw Kobe score 80 (81, Editor’s note), but hey… When a player exceeds 65, 70 points, we are already entering into something very unusual. Scoring 100 points in 48 minutes I really wonder. »
« We would then have to stay on the pitch all the time, monopolizing the ball for a very long time. The player in question would also need to be on a team that allows him to take 45 to 50 shots. Are there teams built like this these days? I don’t think so… Or it would take huge tanking in front, or even play against Atlanta or the Pacers (smile). In their match, he’s the first to get to 150, so who knows…”.
Never say never. According to the 2010 NBA champion (with Kobe Bryant) Ron Artest, “Wembanyama will be the first player to score 101 points in a match”. The appointment is made!
Chamberlain, Wemby before his time!
There are dates and exploits that cannot be forgotten. March 2, 1962. Wilt Chamberlain does the unthinkable. The Philadelphia native was known for his devastating dunks and his controlled arm rolls but, that day, he simply delivered the most legendary performance in NBA history. In one match, this exceptional pivot set the racket on fire by scoring 100 points on the Knicks with the Philadelphia Warriors (169-147):
“Chamberlain was truly above, con-firme le consultant beIN SPORTS Chris Singleton. There weren’t the same patterns at the time either. The rackets were not filled in the same way. However, Chamberlain walked because he had this unusual technique. He was a bit Wemby of his time. He was tall. VShamberlain shot a lot outside. He was so above the rest and so physically sharp. »
« There was such a gap between him and the others that it no longer exists today. If we take the examples of Booker and Irving, there is indeed a small difference, but it is not that big. In this NBA, there are many players who are a little stronger than others. However, you can put 20, 25 players in the order you want without it causing a scandal.”
In his time, however, it was very complicated to find a great rival to Wilt Chamberlain in terms of level (his rivalry with Bill Russell nevertheless remains one of the most notorious in the history of the NBA). This is also why his record still stands.
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2024-05-18 08:50:45
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