Mark Madden's Hot Take: Basketball's best ever? Give me Wilt Chamberlain

This past Thursday was the 61st anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points in an NBA game.

That game had a lot of quirks, not least Chamberlain hitting the century mark.

It was a neutral-site game played in Hershey. That was the state of the NBA then: A game played between New York and Philadelphia, two major markets, took place in Hershey in front of 4,124 spectators. At least 10 times that number later claimed to be there.

There were lots of points besides those scored by Chamberlain: His Philadelphia Warriors beat the New York Knicks, 169-147. The total of 316 set a since-broken NBA record. Five of Chamberlain’s teammates hit double digits.

Chamberlain got his 100 without benefit of being able to shoot 3-pointers. In the NBA, that opportunity didn’t come till 1979.

Chamberlain was usually horrific at free throws. On that night, he was 28 for 32 from the line.

Chamberlain scored 50.4 points per game that season. It’s the only time any player averaged 50 or better. He averaged 30.07 points for his career, fractionally second-best behind Michael Jordan at 30.12.

Chamberlain was 7-foot-1. But he wasn’t just big. He could play. Chamberlain led the NBA in assists in 1967-68, the only center to ever do so.

Any debating of who basketball’s best player ever is that doesn’t seriously consider Chamberlain is ludicrous.

Jordan’s career high was 69. That’s 31 less than Chamberlain’s.

Kobe Bryant had 81, second-best ever. That’s 19 less than Chamberlain. (Bryant hit seven 3-pointers that game, by the way.)

Chamberlain is third-best at 78. Fourth- and fifth-best, too, with 73 twice.

Chamberlain has six of the 10 highest-scoring games.

The best LeBron James ever did was 61 points. Chamberlain did better 29 times.

The basket is 10 feet off the floor. All things being equal, give me a supremely talented player that’s closest to it. Give me Chamberlain.