stringtranslate.com

List of career achievements by Wilt Chamberlain

This article concerns the career achievements of Wilt Chamberlain, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer 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 and 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 into the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He was ranked No. 13 in ESPN's list "Top North American Athletes of the Century" in 1999,[5] and No. 2 in Slam's top 500 NBA players of all time in 2011,[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 72 NBA records, 68 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. 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] (The first season blocked shots were officially recorded in the NBA was 1973/74, the season after Chamberlain retired as a player. The official NBA record of 17 blocks in a single game was set by Elmore Smith in 1973.)

NBA scoring records

  • Also holds the next three spots with 44.8 in 1962–63, 38.4 in 1960–61 and 37.6 in 1959–60.
  • Also holds the second-highest record with 3,586 in 1962–63.
  • Kobe Bryant is second with 81.
  • Kobe Bryant is second with 55.
  • Chamberlain holds the next most with 30 in 1962–63. No other player has had more than 10.
  • Chamberlain holds the second-most with 52 in 1962–63. Michael Jordan is third with 37 in 1986–87.
  • Chamberlain also holds the next three longest streaks with 3 in January 1962, 2 in December 1961 and 2 in December 1962.
  • Chamberlain is the only player to ever score 60 points in back-to-back games.
  • 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.
  • James Harden is second with 32 in 2018-19 season. Chamberlain also is third with 31 in 1962.
  • Chamberlain holds the next most with 92 from February 26, 1963 – March 18, 1964.
  • Rick Barry is second with 57.
  • Frank Selvy is second with 35.
  • 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.
  • Rick Barry is second with 21.
  • George Gervin is second with 34.
  • 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

  • Jordan scored 581 three-point field goals, which didn't exist during Chamberlain's time. If his three-pointers were turned into two-pointers, his career scoring average would be of 29.58.
  • Chamberlain also holds third place with 32 on March 2, 1962
  • All of Chamberlain's performances came in regulation time; two of Jordan's 50-point games came in overtime. Both of them scored a maximum 56 points in 48-minute playoff games;
  • All of Chamberlain's performances resulted in team wins; two of Jordan's 50-point games ended in a loss;
  • Chamberlain is the only player to score at least 50 points in two different Conference/Division Finals games;
  • Chamberlain is the only player to score at least 50 points in an elimination game (a feat he accomplished three times).
  • When considered only Playoff regulation games, this is the 2nd highest scoring performance, and the record belongs to Elgin Baylor, with 61 in 1962.

NBA rebounding records

  • 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.
  • Chamberlain also has the second-most, with 437 in 1967 Playoffs.
  • 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

Distinction also held by Bill Russell
Distinction also held by Bill Russell
  • Chamberlain's 1961–62 season stat line: 4,029 points (50.4 ppg) and 2,052 rebounds (25.7 rpg).

NBA versatility records

Other selected versatility facts

  • Chamberlain also holds the third spot: 31.74 in 1962 season.
  • On February 2, 1968, against the Detroit Pistons, he logged 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists.[19]
  • 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 43 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 Syracuse Nationals.
  • On January 21, 1961, Chamberlain scored 56 points and grabbed 45 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • On December 8, 1961, Chamberlain scored a then-record 78 points and collected 43 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • On October 26, 1962, Chamberlain scored 50 points and grabbed 41 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.
  • On November 22, 1964, Chamberlain scored 50 points and grabbed 40 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.
  • All the other NBA players combine to 32 games.[20]
  • Chamberlain also had a field goal percentage of 62.5% (70/112) during that series.
  • Chamberlain is one of only two centers among the first 17 names, the other being Nikola Jokic.

NBA durability records

  • 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

  • the oldest is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38 years, 1 month, 23 days old in 1985) and the Second is LeBron James (35 years, 9 months, 11 days old in 2020)
  • the oldest is Kobe Bryant (scored 60 points at age 37 years, 7 months and 20 days)
  • Chamberlain remains the oldest player to score more than 60 points in a game.
  • Chamberlain is also the third- and fourth-oldest player to score at least 60 points in a game.

NBA accuracy records

  • Chamberlain also holds the next three most with 16 (March 19, 1967), 15 (January 20, 1967) and 14 (March 11, 1969)
  • Chamberlain also holds the next three highest averages.
  • Chamberlain also holds the next six highest totals.

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, 1967, 1969–70, 1972–73), was voted NBA MVP 4 times (1959–60, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68) and NBA Finals MVP once (1972), was elected to 7 All-NBA First Teams (1960–62, 1964, 1966–68), 3 All-NBA Second Teams (1963, 1965, 1972) and also made two All-Defensive First Teams (1972, 1973). Along with Wes Unseld, he is one of two players to have won the Rookie of the Year and the MVP awards in the same year, being the only one to add NBA All-Star Game MVP to this list.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Chamberlain towered over NBA". ESPN.com. October 14, 1999. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Deford, Frank (October 12, 1999). "Just doing fine, my man". CNN. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  3. ^ Lazenby, Roland (February 14, 2007). "Big Norman". Archived from the original on January 3, 2008.
  4. ^ "Wilt Chamberlain Statistics". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. February 14, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  5. ^ "ESPN: Top North American athletes of the century". ESPN.com. October 29, 1999. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "SLAM 500 Greatest NBA Players of All Time". Slam. June 19, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Wilt Chamberlain Biography". Hoophall.com. February 10, 2007. Archived from the original on April 4, 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  8. ^ nba.com/history (2007-04-22). "Wilt Chamberlain's NBA Records". NBA.com.
  9. ^ Schwartz, Larry (February 10, 2007). "Wilt battled loser label". Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  10. ^ Heisler, Mark: "Giants: Big Men Who Shook the NBA", page 14. Triumph Books
  11. ^ ProBasketballNews.com Archived 2007-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ @ESPNStatsInfo (26 January 2019). "James Harden has now led all players in scoring in 22 straight games.According to Elias Sports Bureau, the only l…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @nbastats (26 January 2019). "#JamesHarden (35 PTS on Friday) has been the outright leading scorer (for both teams) in each of his last 22 games.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @EliasSports (3 March 2019). "James Harden has outscored each of his teammates in each of his last 40 regular-season games. That's the 6th-longes…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/11/09/duncan-earns-800th-career-double-double/
  16. ^ "NBA: Is Wilt Chamberlain the Most Undersold Superstar in NBA History?". Bleacher Report.
  17. ^ "ESPN - Elias Says: Sports Statistics - Stats from the Elias Sports Bureau - ESPN". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  18. ^ "NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating".
  19. ^ Triple Doubles
  20. ^ "Dwight Howard becomes just eighth player to grab 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game". TheGuardian.com. 22 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Spurs vs. Grizzlies - Game Recap - May 25, 2013 - ESPN".
  22. ^ nba.com. "Calderon seems perfectly aligned to set free-throw mark". NBA.com. Retrieved April 9, 2009.

22.https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/per_season.html

External links