Lakers Star Disputes Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game Achievement…
More than 60 years ago, on March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain made history by scoring 100 points in a single NBA game against the New York Knicks. Despite this, Austin Reaves has doubts about the event’s authenticity. Recently, on *BustaJack Golf*, he and co-host Mason Nutt shared their skepticism regarding Chamberlain’s legendary performance.
Mason Nutt asked, “Do you think Wilt actually scored 100?”
Austin Reaves responded, “No.”
Mason Nutt added, “That’s my NBA conspiracy… I 100% do not believe he scored 100.”
Reaves agreed, saying, “Yep, I don’t either.”
Nutt concluded, “So I think Kobe’s (Bryant) 81,” to which Reaves replied, “Is the most ever!”
This conspiracy theory has been gaining popularity on social media, with more people questioning whether Chamberlain actually scored 100 points, suggesting that the NBA might have fabricated the event. The skepticism mainly arises from the absence of video footage from the game.
At that time, the NBA wasn’t as popular, and many games weren’t televised. While key matchups were broadcast, Chamberlain’s record-setting game was considered insignificant, as his Philadelphia Warriors played against a struggling Knicks team with a 27-45 record, leading to it not being aired.
The claims
Consequently, the only visual proof from that night is a photo of Chamberlain holding a piece of paper with “100” written on it. For many, this image lacks convincing evidence, fueling the belief that the NBA concocted the story to generate excitement and attract more fans.
Another point often raised is that we don’t have a complete recording of the game’s radio broadcast—only the fourth-quarter audio exists, where play-by-play announcer Bill Campbell notes Chamberlain hitting the 100-point mark.
Additionally, the game took place in Hershey, Pennsylvania, instead of Philadelphia, which raises eyebrows. However, it was not uncommon at that time for teams to host some home games in different locations to draw in new fans. This particular game had an attendance of only 4,124, which fuels further speculation about its legitimacy, despite the Warriors winning 169-147.
The 100 point case
While many suggest this event might be fabricated, I truly believe Chamberlain scored 100 points that night. None of the Knicks players involved have hinted at any conspiracy in the years since, despite their frustration over the loss.
Chamberlain had already scored over 70 points twice earlier that season, so his reaching 100 doesn’t seem far-fetched to me. In fact, during his 78-point game against the Lakers, he shot 16-31 from the free-throw line, indicating he could have easily approached 90 points with a few more successful foul shots.
In the game against the Knicks, Chamberlain had an impressive performance, shooting 36-63 from the field and 28-32 from the free-throw line. Even players known for struggling at the line can have a standout night, and Wilt simply had one of those nights during this game.
