The Night of the Only Single-Triple 100 Point Game in NBA History
The record remains to this day. It was almost unnoticed. Few actually know about it. Only Kobe Bryant's 81 point game in 2006 came close.
The Setting
INT: NBA Basketball game in Hershey, Pa. - Night, March 2, 1962
The last place New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia Warriors. Hersey Arena was ghost-like, only 4100 fans, which meant half of the stadium was empty seats. The game began as they all do- a lot of back and forth. This game had virtually no media press wasting their time covering it, why? No TV, a few reporters covering their beat. Even by halftime, the game remained uneventful. At halftime, free salami and cigars were handed out from the games advertisers. The only paid working photographer called it a night out of boredom and left. Things got more interesting in the 3rd quarter a little bit as Wilt the Stilt or Wilt Chamberlain of the Warriors began to score on a very consistent basis and by the end of the 3rd quarter, he had already scored 69 points. This even beat is own average per game of 50 points a game, which is still a NBA record.
The 4th quarter was electrifying. It was as if Wilt had no one opposing him. He was turned on, totally, making 36 of 63 field goals attempts and making many slam dunks. At the free throw line, Wilt made 28 of 32 free throws from between the legs-his trademark. Imagine watching NBA's greatest player, the 7 ft. 1 in., 260 lb, 25 yr. old Chamberlain getting a piece of paper and writing 100 on it, holding up to mark this day in NBA history.
The Knicks were making their last stand for ego purposes but at the end of this game, the Warriors won, 169 to 147, and Wilt had scored a phenomenal 100 points in one game!! It was more than just a game, it ended the NBA's quota system to limit black players from playing the game.
Wilt Chamberlain was a star before, now he was a legend and could be seen water skiing in the Summer of 1967-8 on the Russian river in Healdsburg, CA., in Northern California, where he owned a home. He died in 1999 at age 63.