Wilt Chamberlain scores record 100 points in NBA game

The legendary center's historic performance was witnessed by only 4,124 fans in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:20am

On March 2, 1962, NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain scored an unbelievable 100 points in a single game against the New York Knicks, shattering the previous single-game scoring record. Chamberlain, who was already averaging a record 50.4 points per game that season, was unstoppable in the paint, hitting 28 of 32 free throws despite being a notoriously poor shooter from the line. The game was never broadcast on television, with only 4,124 people in attendance to witness the historic performance live.

Why it matters

Chamberlain's 100-point game is considered one of the greatest individual performances in the history of professional sports. The fact that it occurred in relative obscurity, with no television broadcast, only adds to the legend and mystique surrounding this record that has stood for over 60 years.

The details

Chamberlain entered the game against the Knicks already averaging a record 50.4 points per game that season. But on this night, he was simply unstoppable, dominating in the paint and even hitting an unusually high percentage of his free throws. By the fourth quarter, the game had devolved into a farce, with both teams intentionally fouling to try to keep the ball away from Chamberlain. He eventually reached the 100-point milestone with 46 seconds remaining in the game, cementing his place in basketball history.

  • The game took place on March 2, 1962 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
  • Chamberlain reached the 100-point milestone with 46 seconds remaining in the game.

The players

Wilt Chamberlain

A legendary 7-foot-1 center who is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. On March 2, 1962, he set the single-game scoring record by scoring 100 points.

New York Knicks

The opposing team that faced Chamberlain and the Philadelphia Warriors on the night of his historic 100-point performance.

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The takeaway

Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962 stands as one of the most iconic and unbreakable records in NBA history. The fact that it occurred in relative obscurity, with no television broadcast, only adds to the legend and mystique surrounding this remarkable achievement that has stood the test of time for over six decades.