NBA's 72 "Greatest" Moments: Wilt Depantses the 1961-62 Knicks
This qualifies as one of the 72 “Greatest” Moments in NBA History
Mention the 1961-62 NBA season and Wilt Chamberlain probably comes to mind. He averaged 50.4 PPG. Played 48.5 minutes per game. Just an overall menace to the league, which was simply magical that year.
Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors had a titanic playoff series against Boston that ended in a last-second jumper from Celtic Sam Jones to win Game 7 of the Eastern Division Finals. Boston then won another titanic playoff series in the NBA Finals outlasting the Los Angeles Lakers in an overtime Game 7. Bill Russell had 30 points and 40 boards in that finale, while Elgin Baylor had 61 points in Game 5 of the series.
Walt Bellamy was Rookie of the Year averaging 31.6 PPG and became the first NBA player to connect on over 50% of his field goal attempts in a season. Oscar Robertson posted the first season of triple-double averages (30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 11.4 APG). Jerry West, in his second season like Robertson, rocketed up to 30.8 PPG himself after just 17.6 PPG his rookie year.
Just lots of wholesome fun story lines.
And then there were the lowly New York Knicks.
Sure, Bellamy’s Chicago Packers held the NBA’s worst record, but they were an expansion team. The NBA’s first expansion team in fact. Their 18-62 record was atrocious, but not unexpected.
The Knicks meanwhile were 29-51, tied with the St. Louis Hawks for second-worst record in the league. But the Hawks had just appeared in four of the previous five NBA Finals winning the title in 1958. Furthermore, they bounced back to 48 wins in 1963. So, the 1962 season was just an aberration for the Hawks.
The Knicks stinking wasn’t no fluke. Between 1956 and 1967, New York made the playoffs just once (1959). From 1960 to 1966, they finished at the bottom of the Eastern Division every single year.
Returning to the ‘62 season, they did have some firepower in guard Richie Guerin (29.5 PPG, 6.9 APG) and forward Willie Naulls (25.0 PPG, 11.6 RPG), but the situation dropped off dramatically thereafter. Al Butler and Johnny Green were fine players, but if they were the best of your supporting cast in the 1962 season, you weren’t going far.
Worst of all for New York was that their front line was completely unequipped to handle Wilt Chamberlain. Sorry, Phil Jordon, just stating facts.
Oh sure, Wilt pummeled everyone that season. Even the NBA’s best defensive team, Russell’s Celtics. In 12 games versus the Philadelphia Warriors, Boston surrendered 41.7 PPG to Chamberlain. When a dude “only” averages 41.7 PPG against you and you can crow about it, you know that dude is a bad mutha.
But the Knicks were a whole ‘nother story with absolutely nothing to crow about.
In their first meeting against the Warriors on October 21, 1961, the Knicks were battered, 132-95. Chamberlain set the tone for his 12 games that season versus NY with 53 points and 35 rebounds.
After a couple subpar games in the fall (34 and 39 points), Chamberlain detonated again on the Knicks on Christmas Day with 59 points. Just two days later, he put up 53 points on New York in a rematch. A month later, January 30, 1962, the Big Dipper had 55 points vs. the Knicks.
Chamberlain finally relented somewhat in early February. In the span of 10 days, the Warriors and Knicks played three times. Wilt had 35, 59, and 42 points in those contests.
Then came the real ass whoopings as far as uncontrollable scoring went.
On February 25, Chamberlain issued 67 points on the Knickerbockers. Nonetheless, the Knicks salvaged a hefty win, 149-135, over Philly. Then on March 2, Chamberlain delivered the granddaddy of them all. 100 points on the hapless Knicks centers in a 169-147 win for the Warriors. Just two days later, Wilt pasted the Knicks for another 58 points in a super tight, 129-128 win.
So in the span of a week, the Knicks surrendered three 50-point games to Chamberlain that totaled 225 points (75 PPG). Unsurprisingly, the center’s field goal percentage was through the roof as he connected on 85 of his 142 FGAs (.599).
What was surprising was Wilt’s free throw percentage.
Much has been said over the years about Wilt making 28 of 32 free throws in the 100-point game. And that truly is some ridiculous shit, considering Chamberlain in his career held a .511 FT%. However, the 1962 season was his career-high (.613) from the foul line, which still ain’t close to good.
Yet against the Knicks in these three games, he had the 87.5% shooting display in the 100-point game. In the 67-point game, he made 17 of his 22 free throws (.773). And in the 58-point finale, he made 10 of his 16 free throws (.625).
So all told, he made 55 of his 70 free throws (.786) in that stretch. Unbelievable for Wilt.
When it was all said and done, Chamberlain averaged 54.5 PPG and 26.4 RPG that season against the Knicks, who were thankful to be done with the miserable experience.
PS — Chamberlain’s single-game high for the next season was 73 points against… the New York Knicks. 29-43 on his FGAs and 15-19 on his FTAs. Just no breaks for New York when Wilt strolled in.
Really sad that Wilt's 100-point game was not televised. Got to see him as a San Francisco Warrior at the Cow Palace.