Friday, March 2, 1962: Wilt Chamberlain

The Philadelphia Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in his team's 169-147 win over the New York Knicks. The game, played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, was seen by 4,124 people.

Excerpts from an Associated Press story on March 3 (photo, of Chamberlain's last basket of the night, also from AP):

"It's a record I'd hate to try to break myself," says Philadelphia's Wilt Chamberlain of his new 100-point National Basketball Association single game record.

Chamberlain's mark, eclipsing his own record of 78, came last night as the Warriors defeated the New York Knickerbockers, 169-147.

When Chamberlain scored the 78 earlier this year, in a triple overtime game against Los Angeles, coach Frank McGuire predicted, "someday he will hit 100."

The 7-foot-1 giant lived up to the prophecy as he scored 36 field goals, and 28 of 32 foul shots, both NBA records.

When he hit 100 on a dunk shot with 46 seconds left, the fans streamed out onto the court to mob him. The game was held up until the floor was cleared.

* Newspaper box score: @

* Video of Chamberlain on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (March 4, 1962): @

* "Wilt, 1962: The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era" (book by Gary M. Pomerantz): @

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