The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been a stage for many legendary players who have left their stamp on the history of the sport. Names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James are known by fans worldwide. However, in the 1986-87 season, one player stood out above all others, and he set a record that still stands today. That player was none other than Wilt Chamberlain, and his record-breaking season left an indelible mark on the sport.
Wilt Chamberlain was one of the NBA’s most dominant players in the 1960s, and he continued to be a force well into the 70s. At 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighing over 300 pounds, he was an imposing physical specimen. Chamberlain was known for his incredible strength, quickness, and agility, and he was a natural athlete. He was also a prolific scorer, and his scoring abilities would be on full display through the 1986-87 season.
Chamberlain was playing for the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1960s, and that’s where he set his first scoring record. His 100-point game against the New York Knicks in 1962 is still the single-game scoring record in the NBA. However, in the 1986-87 season, Chamberlain was no longer the 25-year-old player he was in the 60s. He was now 50 years old and retired from professional basketball for 15 years.
But even in his late 40s, Chamberlain was still in good shape, and he was playing in a league for seniors. In 1986, he joined the Harlem Globetrotters for their 60th anniversary tour, and he played in more than 100 games with the team. During that time, he put up some impressive numbers, but nothing like what he would achieve in the latter part of the season.
In March 1987, Chamberlain joined the newly formed United States Basketball League (USBL) as the coach and player of the Pittsburgh Pipers. It was during this time that Chamberlain would have a season unlike any other. He scored an incredible 2,404 points in just 80 games, averaging 30.1 points per game. He would also grab 1,674 rebounds and record 88 blocked shots.
Chamberlain’s scoring record still stands today, and it is unlikely to be broken any time soon. The closest any player has come to breaking it was in the 2015-16 season when Stephen Curry scored 402 three-pointers. However, his total point score was 2,375, 29 points shy of Chamberlain’s record.
In conclusion, Wilt Chamberlain’s 1986-87 season is a testament to his longevity, athleticism, and scoring prowess. It is fair to say that his record-breaking season was unique and unlikely to be repeated. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his name will forever be etched in the history of the sport.