NBA's Greatest Players in History: Wilt Chamberlain

• Scored 100 points in a single game, an NBA record that still stands today
• Averaged 50.4 points per game for an entire season in 1961-62
• Won two NBA championships and was named league MVP four times

Wilt Chamberlain was a transformative force in basketball, dominating the sport with unprecedented physical gifts and statistical achievements that may never be matched.

Overview

Wilt Chamberlain's impact on basketball was immediate and revolutionary. Standing 7-foot-1 with exceptional strength and athleticism, "The Big Dipper" towered over opponents both literally and figuratively. His combination of size, skill and stamina allowed him to put up staggering numbers that redefined what was possible on a basketball court.

Career snapshot

Chamberlain entered the NBA in 1959 after a dominant college career at Kansas. He made an instant impact, averaging 37.6 points and 27 rebounds as a rookie. Over his 14-year NBA career with the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers, Chamberlain rewrote the record books. He is the only player to score 100 points in a game and average 50 points for a season. He led the league in scoring seven times and rebounding 11 times. Chamberlain captured two NBA titles (1967, 1972) and was named league MVP four times.

Playing style

Chamberlain's physical dominance was the foundation of his game. His strength allowed him to overpower defenders in the post, while his agility and stamina let him run the floor and play heavy minutes. But Chamberlain was more than just a physical marvel - he developed an array of offensive moves including fadeaway jumpers, finger rolls and bank shots. Later in his career, he focused more on passing and defense, leading the league in assists in 1967-68.

Why Wilt Chamberlain is on our list

Few players in any sport have been as utterly dominant as Wilt Chamberlain was in his prime. His statistical achievements border on mythical - the 100-point game, the 50-point season average, the 55-rebound game. He forced rule changes and redefined how big men could play. While his rivalry with Bill Russell often ended in playoff defeats, Chamberlain's individual brilliance is unmatched in NBA history. He remains the standard by which dominant big men are measured.

Five Fast Facts

1. Holds the NBA record for most rebounds in a game with 55
2. Never fouled out in 1,205 regular season and playoff games
3. Won seven straight scoring titles from 1960-1966
4. One of only two players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season
5. Averaged over 48 minutes per game in the 1961-62 season, playing every minute of every game including overtimes

Career Highlights Timeline

1959: Enters NBA as territorial draft pick of Philadelphia Warriors, averages 37.6 points and 27 rebounds as a rookie

1962: Scores 100 points in a single game against New York Knicks on March 2

1965: Traded to Philadelphia 76ers

1967: Leads 76ers to NBA championship, ending Celtics' 8-year title streak

1968: Traded to Los Angeles Lakers

1972: Wins second NBA title as member of Lakers' record 33-game win streak team

1973: Retires as NBA's all-time leading scorer with 31,419 points

Wilt Chamberlain's legacy as one of basketball's most dominant and transformative players is secure. His combination of physical prowess and skill produced achievements that seem almost mythical decades later. While the game has changed, Chamberlain's impact endures as the standard of individual brilliance and statistical dominance in NBA history.

NBA's Greatest of All-Time List: Click the player's name to read their profile