He was a Hall of Famer, never got fouled out and Oscar Robertson said he could have dominated any era

Have you ever thought about what it takes to score 100 points in a single NBA game? Only one player has ever accomplished that feat: Wilt Chamberlain. The Hall of Famer remains the only player in league history to reach the century mark in a game, a record set in 1962. The closest anyone has come since is Kobe Bryant, who dropped 81 points in 2006. That legendary performance is just one reason why Oscar Robertson once said Chamberlain could have dominated in any era.

Born on August 21, 1936, Chamberlain was a once-in-a-generation talent. Standing 7-foot-1, his combination of size, athleticism, and skill, especially during his years with the Philadelphia Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, has led former players to claim he could outshine stars from any era.

That’s why, in a 2024 appearance on All The Smoke, Robertson reaffirmed his belief that Chamberlain would have been dominant regardless of the era. “Wilt carried the NBA that year [1961–62 season]. They don’t say much about it. I think he could play in any NBA era and dominate,” the Bucks legend said, even when comparing Chamberlain to greats like Jordan, James, and Kobe.

Chamberlain’s résumé backs up that claim. He averaged an astonishing 50.4 points per game during the 1961–62 season, something no other player has ever done. And if that stat alone doesn’t speak volumes, consider this: he was one of the few players in NBA history to go an entire season without fouling out.

Former Los Angeles Laker Wilt Chamberlain addresses the media at a press conference before the NBA All-Star Game at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chamberlain’s life beyond basketball

Chamberlain shared a close friendship with Bill Russell. The two spent a great deal of time together off the court, but their relationship soured after a misunderstanding stemming from a playoff game in the late 1960s. Russell initially accused Chamberlain of backing out of the final game in a series, but later learned that the claims were unfounded.

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In 1990, Chamberlain released his autobiography, A View From Above, where he shared personal stories and lesser-known aspects of his life and career. Among the revelations was his exceptional talent for beach volleyball, a sport he pursued passionately after his NBA days.

Records and achievements

Chamberlain wasn’t just a statistical marvel, he was also a winner. He captured two NBA championships and earned numerous individual honors, including four MVP awards (three of them consecutively). He still holds the record for the most rebounds in a single game (55) and remains the only player to score over 4,000 points in a season. For comparison, the next closest was Michael Jordan, who scored just over 3,000 in a single campaign.

Some of his other unmatched records include:

• Most minutes per game in a single season: 45.8
• Franchise scoring leader for the Warriors: 17,783 points
• Anchored the Lakers’ record 33-game winning streak
• Most free throws made in a single game: 28
• Most field goals made in a single game: 36

In addition to his records, Chamberlain earned an impressive list of accolades:

• 13× NBA All-Star
• 7× Scoring Champion
• 11× Rebounding Champion
• 1967–68 Assist Champion
• 2× NBA Champion
• 10× All-NBA selection
• 2× All-Defensive Team
• 1959–60 Rookie of the Year
• 1971–72 Finals MVP