Wilt Chamberlain

Wilton Norman Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game on March 2, 1962 — a record so absurd it has stood for over six decades and will likely never be broken. But that one game, legendary as it is, doesn't capture the full scope of Chamberlain's dominance. He averaged 50.4 points per game for an entire season. He once averaged 48.5 minutes per game — more minutes than existed in a regulation game. He holds 72 NBA records.

Born in Philadelphia in 1936, Chamberlain was a track star, high jumper, and basketball prodigy who stood 7'1" and moved with the agility of a guard. He played at the University of Kansas before joining the Harlem Globetrotters and then the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors. His rivalry with Bill Russell defined professional basketball in the 1960s and elevated the sport's popularity.

Chamberlain won two NBA championships, four MVP awards, and was a 13-time All-Star. His statistical dominance was so overwhelming that the league literally changed its rules to try to limit him — widening the lane, adjusting goaltending rules, and modifying free throw procedures. He was also a successful businessman, volleyball player, and author. He remains the most statistically dominant athlete in the history of team sports.