In the world of basketball, few feats are as iconic as Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game, which he achieved on March 2, 1962, against the New York Knicks. While Chamberlain’s achievement remains one of the most impressive individual records in the history of the NBA, one of the league’s most influential figures, Red Auerbach, had a unique take on the record. Auerbach, the Hall of Fame coach of the Boston Celtics, always believed that while Chamberlain’s 100 points were remarkable, it wouldn’t stand forever—especially when the competition involved Bill Russell, his own Celtics superstar.
Auerbach, known for his candid assessments and fierce competitive spirit, made his thoughts clear in an interview following Chamberlain’s monumental game. He acknowledged the remarkable accomplishment but also suggested that with the evolving nature of basketball, new, more skilled shooters were emerging and would eventually break such records. “Bigger, better shooters are coming into this league all the time. Somebody will hit 100 points sooner or later,” Auerbach remarked, giving a sense of inevitability to the idea that Chamberlain’s record might eventually be surpassed.
Despite recognizing the potential for future records, Auerbach made it clear that one thing would stand in the way of Chamberlain repeating his 100-point performance: Bill Russell. “But Chamberlain will never do it against our Bill Russell,” Auerbach boldly declared, pointing to his Celtics center as the ultimate challenge to Chamberlain’s dominance.
Russell, known for his unmatched defensive abilities and leadership, was Chamberlain’s primary rival during the 1960s, a rivalry that helped define the era of basketball. While Chamberlain was a scoring juggernaut, Russell’s game was rooted in defense, rebounding, and team play—qualities that were often able to neutralize Chamberlain’s individual brilliance. Auerbach’s comment was not only a testament to Russell’s importance to the Celtics but also to his belief in the power of defense over individual scoring prowess. In Auerbach’s eyes, Chamberlain’s record would not be as easy to achieve with Russell in the paint, blocking shots and controlling the game’s tempo.
Auerbach’s words were prophetic in some ways. While the 100-point game stands as an unbroken NBA record to this day, the evolution of the game has indeed brought about more versatile and capable shooters—players like Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry, who have redefined what is possible in scoring. Yet, as Auerbach predicted, Chamberlain’s record remains unbroken, and it’s hard to imagine anyone replicating it in the same manner.
In the end, Red Auerbach’s comments not only reflect his confidence in Russell’s defensive prowess but also his deep understanding of the game’s evolution. Chamberlain’s 100-point game may be an enduring piece of basketball history, but Auerbach always believed that defense—and Bill Russell—would be the true measure of a championship team.
