On March 2nd in sports history, one significant event occurred in 1962 when Wilt Chamberlain, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, scored an astonishing 100 points in a single NBA game against the New York Knicks. This incredible feat took place at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in front of a crowd of just 4,124 spectators.
Chamberlain's performance was nothing short of remarkable. He made 36 of 63 field goals and an impressive 28 of 32 free throws. His 100-point game shattered the previous single-game scoring record of 78 points, which he had set earlier in the same season.
The Warriors won the game with a final score of 169-147, and Chamberlain's teammates actively helped him reach the historic milestone by intentionally fouling the Knicks players to stop the clock and give Chamberlain more opportunities to score in the final minutes.
Interestingly, no video footage of the game exists, as the NBA had not yet begun regularly televising games. However, a radio recording of the game's fourth quarter was discovered in 1988, providing a fascinating glimpse into the excitement surrounding Chamberlain's achievement.
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game remains one of the most iconic and enduring records in basketball history. It showcases the incredible skill and dominance of one of the greatest players ever to grace the court, and it continues to inspire and captivate fans more than six decades later.
