Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance, the second-highest scoring effort in NBA history, against the Washington Wizards on March 10 generated massive media coverage, and deservedly so. At the same time, on that day and since then, more than a few fans and social media users began to portray themselves as Wilt Chamberlain experts, especially about his NBA record 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. And more than a few self-proclaimed experts have downplayed Wilt’s amazing feat or questioned its legitimacy.
But voices of clarity and accurate contemporary accounts of Chamberlain’s historic accomplishment do exist, including from Tom Meschery, a rookie forward on the 1961-62 Philadelphia Warriors.
Meschery wrote about Wilt’s most famous game in his memoir.
In a recent email inquiry, Meschery also responded to questions about circumstances surrounding the first, and only, triple-digit scoring effort in league history.
A longtime colleague suggested I include the following item in my inquiry: In the wake of Adebayo’s 83-point game, I have heard people saying, the Warriors kept fouling the Knicks in Wilt’s 100-point game to get him the ball, too. The thing is, I don’t ever remember hearing or reading that anywhere.
A few hours later, Meschery replied to my email.
“Lots of conspiracy crap about Wilt’s game,” wrote Meschery, who turned 87 in October 2025. “Here’s what the story: The Knicks stunk; the Wizards stunk. No need to foul with a 24-second clock. Knicks kept fouling Wilt, and Wilt kept making free throws proving there is a God.
“Wilt asked Coach (Frank) McGuire to take him out of the game midway (through the) fourth quarter. Coach had predicted Wilt would score 100 in his first public statement after being hired. So Coach told Wilt, ‘No.’ McGuire’s ego. Wilt, of course, didn’t argue.”
Contrast that game with Adebayo’s career-high outburst. (His previous highest-scoring game was 41 points.)
“Bam stayed in and Coach (Erik) Spoelstra did everything he could to get Bam that record,” Meschery stated.
“Did Bam look to be fouled? Absolutely.
“Did Wilt? Heck no. He hated free throws.
“Did all of Wilt’s teammates feed him the ball. You bet.”
After three quarters, Chamberlain had 69 points against the Knicks in that game 64 years ago.
After three quarters on March 10, Adebayo had 62 points.
Although McGuire kept Chamberlain in the game from start to finish, the coach emptied his bench in the closing minutes of the Warriors’ 169-147 triumph.
“Only one starter, Guy Rodgers, was on the court at the end, our nifty point guard and top assist player. All very similar. Except for this: In Wilt’s case only two points were allowed; Bam got to 83 with the help of 3-point shots (7-for-22) and a timeout by Spoelstra to get the last points. Why not, at that point, for a member of your team? Apples and oranges.”
A few additional statistics: Chamberlain was 36-for-63 from the floor and 28 of 32 from the free-throw line. Adebayo made 20 of 43 field-goal attempts and sank 36 of 43 foul shots in Miami’s 150-129 win. As a result, the former University of Kentucky surpassed Kobe Bryant‘s 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
Ed Odeven Reporting 