how many free throws did wilt have in his 100 point game
Wilt Chamberlain made 28 free throws in his legendary 100-point game.
This historic performance happened on March 2, 1962, when the Philadelphia Warriors crushed the New York Knicks 169-147 at Hershey Sports Arena in Pennsylvania. Chamberlain, known as the "Big Dipper," dominated with 36 field goals out of 63 attempts for 72 points, plus those 28 free throws out of 32 attempts—accounting for the final 28 points and an impressive 87.5% accuracy that night. Remarkably, this was well above his career free-throw percentage of just 51.1%, showing how everything clicked in that triple-overtime thriller played before a small crowd of about 4,000 fans.
Game Breakdown
Here's the box score highlighting Chamberlain's stats:
| Stat | Made | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 36 | 63 | 57.1% |
| Free Throws | 28 | 32 | 87.5% |
| Total Points | 100 | - | - |
| Rebounds | 25 | - | - |
The Historic Context
Chamberlain started hot, hitting 9-for-9 free throws in the first quarter alone as the Warriors built a 19-3 lead. By the fourth quarter, he needed just a few more points to break his own record of 78; he finished with 31 points in that frame (12-for-21 field goals, 7-for-12 free throws). Fans even stormed the court late, but he sealed the century mark with clutch free throws amid chaos—no shot clock, hand-checked defense, and a fast-paced era made it even wilder. No one has come close since; Kobe Bryant's 81 in 2006 is the nearest.
Why It Stands Forever
- Era differences : Slower pace, no 3-point line, and Chamberlain's 7'1" frame made him unstoppable inside.
- Irony of free throws : His career FT woes (under 52%) make the 28-of-32 night poetic—he even switched to underhands later but shone here.
- Modern what-ifs : Steph Curry's quarters max out below 100 combined; defenders today would sag off Wilt's FT shooting.
This feat remains basketball's ultimate "what if" story, verified by radio calls, witnesses, and box scores unearthed over decades.
TL;DR: 28 made free throws (out of 32) fueled Wilt's 100 points on 3/2/62.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.