Why does Wilt Chamberlin hold so many records?

Question

I want to know how different the game was back then, I am a Kobe Bryant fan and every time he brakes a record the say that Chamberlin is number one for that record. Was he like the only good player in the NBA at that time or what.

Answer 1

I look at all these answers and I have to ask: How many of you answering this question have seen Wilt play? I did.

As one person said, Wilt was a freak of nature. You don't get that many 7 foot athletes who can run the 100 yard dash in 10.9 seconds, can put the shot 56 feet, and triple jump over 50 feet, even today. You most of today's centers don't start their professional career as a guard for the Harlem Globetrotters.

No, the league wasn't made up of short, slow guys at that time. Besides Bill Russell, there was Nate Thurmond, Mel Counts, Willis Reed, Zelmo Beatty, LeRoy Ellis and a host of other guys who were 6'11" or taller.

No, he was not the only good player in the league. That would be an insult to Bill Russell, JoJo White, Jerry West, John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, Oscar Robertson, Bob Petit, Rick Barry, and most of the guys above (and many I've left out).

Wilt holds most of the scoring records because he was a phenomenal athlete who could play basketball. Wilt's game would be dominant in any era.

Answer 2

It was not that he was the only good player durring that time, it was one of the biggest players durring that time for his position. Anyone else who has that big durring those days were players like Russell that did not play offense really. Wilt took advantage of his height the way that Yao should be taking advantage of his height. It would be like me at 6'4'' playing a bunch of people that are 5'7''. I should have 100 pts at least once in my career and probably get at least 10 rebounds a game. That is my reason for it, and by the way Kobe is the best player in the NBA today. God bless KB24

Plus remember that the NBA was just forming with the ABA and many things were going on in the league. That NBA was not as set in stone at that time. Right now players have many other players to lookup to , many of the early ballers didn't eventhink about a 360 dunk, or behind the back passing( in the ABA they did). So Wilt came in with ideas about how to play the game that knowone thought about. That also helped his game.

Answer 3

During his playing days there were may great centers in the league, Bill Russell, Willis Reed, George Mikan, Walter Dukes, Walt Bellamy, and later on Lew Alcinder. He was a beast on the floor when he played but his weakness was free throw shooting. He was horrid at that. One season he led the league in assists. When Wilt set his mind to it he was unstoppable. The greatest record he held was average per game for a whole season with 50.4 points a game. To me that was as great as his hundred point single game record made in that same year. Then look at this list of his single game playing records:

All-time 60-point games in NBA history
Points Player, Team Opponent Date
100 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 3/2/1962
81 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Toronto 1/22/2006
78 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/8/1961 (3OT)
73 David Thompson, Denver Detroit 4/9/1978
73 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 11/16/1962
73 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 1/13/1962
72 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 11/3/1962
71 David Robinson, San Antonio LA Clippers 4/24/1994
71 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers New York 11/15/1960
70 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Syracuse 3/10/1963
69 Michael Jordan, Chicago Cleveland 3/28/1990 (OT)
68 Pete Maravich, New Orleans New York 2/25/1977
68 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/16/1967
67 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 1/11/1963
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 2/25/1962
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/17/1962
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 3/9/1961
66 Wilt Chamberlain, LA Lakers Phoenix 2/9/1969
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 2/7/1966
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/27/1962
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/13/1962
64 Michael Jordan, Chicago Orlando 1/16/1993 (OT)
64 Rick Barry, Golden State Portland 3/26/1974
64 Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Boston 11/8/1959
63 George Gervin, San Antonio New Orleans 4/9/1978
63 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Philadelphia 11/26/1964
63 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 12/14/1962
63 Jerry West, LA Lakers New York 1/17/1962
63 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Philadelphia 12/8/1961 (3OT)
63 Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Indiana 2/10/1949
62 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Dallas 12/20/2005
62 Tracy McGrady, Orlando Washington 3/10/2004
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Philadelphia 3/3/1966
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 11/15/1964
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 1/29/1963
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 1/21/1962 (OT)
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 1/17/1962 (OT)
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Boston 1/14/1962
61 Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers LA Clippers 3/6/2000
61 Karl Malone, Utah Milwaukee 1/27/1990
61 Michael Jordan, Chicago Atlanta 4/16/1987
61 Michael Jordan, Chicago Detroit 3/4/1987 (OT)
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco St Louis 12/18/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Syracuse 12/11/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 11/21/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 2/28/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/22/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/9/1961
61 George Mikan, Minneapolis Rochester 1/20/1952 (2OT)
60 Gilbert Arenas, Washington Los Angeles 12/17/2006 (OT)
60 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Orlando 2/12/2005
60 Tom Chambers, Phoenix Seattle 3/24/1990
60 Larry Bird, Boston Atlanta 3/12/1985
60 Bernard King, New York New Jersey 12/25/1984
60 Wilt Chamberlain, LA Lakers Cincinnati 1/26/1969
60 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/29/1961
60 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/1/1961

Answer 4

Wilt was something of a freak of nature. Most seven-footers in the 50's and 60's were on the clumsy side. Wilt was a true athlete, fast and agile. He was several inches taller than most of the competition. There were really only a couple of centers who had a chance at guarding him -- Bill Russell being the obvious one -- and Russell certainly had his hands full.

Wilt also averaged more than 48 minutes per game one year (overtime), so he was durable. Add it up, and he averaged 50 points per game. AVERAGED! Talk about a force. Obviously, he wouldn't dominate today like he did then, as people have gotten bigger. But he'd still be great.

Answer 5

i am also a KB24 fan, but Wilt Chamberlin is unique, he is tall, there were still good players in those times such as kareem jabbar, but he is unstable cuz he loves the game

Answer 6

I never saw Wilt play, but he was dominant due to his dominant height and bulk. The league had vry few men of his size who were capable of defending him. He was just so much bigger then other centers at the time. Bill Rusell was one of the few who could match up, but at this time.

Answer 7

dont know for sure but a lot. wilt was theonly dominate one. he wasnt really a good scorer. the guard threw him the ball and he just layed it in all the time. thats how he got so many points

Answer 8

He played against a bunch of short slow white guys until Boston got Russell.

Answer 9

well lets see...an athletic 7 foot black guy playing against all short unathletic white guys...put kobe back then and he would hold all those records...or most any of todays better players...

Answer 10

HE WAS A GREAT PLAYER. THERE WERE OTHER GREAT PLAYERS.

THURMAN
RUSSEL
BELLAMY
REED
LANIER
UNSELD
PETIT
HAYES
J. LUCAS

PLEASE PEOPLE LEARN THE GAME , THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GOOD/GREAT MEN IN WILT'S DAY.