This Date in NBA History (Nov. 22): Wilt Chamberlain records 50-point, 40-rebound double-double

Author Photo
Wilt Chamberlain

On Nov. 22, 1964, Wilt Chamberlain had a game for the history books. 

Representing the San Francisco Warriors, Chamberlain scored 50 points on 21-for-39 shooting from the field and grabbed 40 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons, however, overcame his monster numbers with a collective effort.

As many as six Detroit players scored in double figures, led by Dave DeBusschere's 19 points. Meanwhile, Donnie Butcher was the team's biggest contributor with his near triple-double stat line of 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. 

Chamberlain's 50-40 game is one of only five in NBA history. Chamberlain is responsible for all five of them. In fact, he is also responsible for all eight 40-40 games in NBA history. 

This game is one of many "unbreakable" scoring and rebounding records that Chamberlain owns, the most well-known being his season averages of 50.4 points in 48.5 minutes per game in 1961-62. A few other striking ones include: most 50-point games (118), most consecutive league scoring titles (seven, tied with Michael Jordan), games with 50 or more points in a single season (45) and most rebounds in a single game (55).

For all records held by Chamberlain, click here.

Other notable events on Nov. 22

  • In 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers played the lowest-scoring game in NBA history. The Pistons defeated the Lakers 19-18 in Minneapolis. 
  • In 1961, Bob Pettit connected on all of his 19 free-throws, then an NBA record, in a 141-121 loss to the Boston Celtics.

Rick Adelman

  • In 1992, Rick Adelman recorded his 200th coaching victory as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Pistons, 115-90. At the time, he was the quickest to reach 200 wins in NBA history - 288 games.
  • In 1994, Don Nelson became the first individual in NBA history to participate in 2,700 career games as a player or coach (both regular season and playoffs). Later in the 1994-95 season, Lenny Wilkens passed Nelson for most NBA appearances ever as a player and coach combined. 

Recent game-winning buzzer-beaters on Nov. 22

Harrison Barnes vs. Memphis Grizzlies in 2017

Kevin Garnett vs. New York Knicks in 2009

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.

Author(s)