If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Similarly, if Wilt Chamberlain had a bunch of blocks and no one could record them, did it really happen?
These are the questions that arise after the pair of performances chamberlainesque of Joel Embiid during the weekend. After a relatively modest start to the 2022-2023 season, the NBA’s most dominant center has announced his arrival with force.
First was Saturday’s appetizer: He had 42 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a win over the Atlanta Hawks. Then came the Sunday main course, which he served 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocks.
Sunday’s special in Philadelphia had the NBA world in a frenzy and the NBA community wondering what the hell they had just seen. If you’re struggling to remember the last time you saw something like this, you’re forgiven for one simple reason.
Since blocks became official in 1973-74, Joel Embiid is the first player in NBA history to record 50+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ blocks in a game. https://t.co/xtwTgbCmmC
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) November 14, 2022
Also. Of course, the devil is in the details, and in this case, “NBA history” only refers to “since 1973-1974”, when the blocks became official.
It was also the year after Wilt Chamberlain retired, providing a convenient “post-Wilt” era. But although the official record books do not recognize Big Dipper When it comes to blocks, those who have seen him play know that Chamberlain’s defensive feats match or even surpass his scoring prowess.
Thanks to nbastats.net’s precious game records – which include all of his games at Kansas and even his NBA preseason games – we have a much more complete picture of his career than is preserved in the record books.
Take, for example, Embiid’s accomplishment on Sunday.
Officially, it was the first game in NBA history in which a player had at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocks. Unofficially, we know that Chamberlain himself did it 22 times… at least!
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That’s not the only way Embiid evokes memories of Wilt.
Two parties. Two days. 101 points, 21 rebounds. 14 assists Nine plugs. Not bad for 24 hours! We haven’t seen this kind of performance in consecutive days. in more than 50 years. In fact, according to Stathead, Embiid became the first player with at least 100 points and 20 rebounds on two consecutive days since Chamberlain in 1967.
Embiid is only the third player to do so even once. Elgin Baylor did it three times. Chamberlain, because of course he did, chained 35 such instances.
When it comes to scoring 100 points in any two-game stretchregardless of the days between them, Embiid is only the fifth pivot to do so., featuring DeMarcus Cousins, David Robinson, Bob McAdoo and — you guessed it — Chamberlain. While Cousins, Robinson and McAdoo each did it once, Chamberlain He didn’t do it once, twice, or thrice…but 85 times!
None of this is meant to throw water on Embiid’s domain. The NBA’s leading scorer last season and two-time runner-up MVP is finally finding his groove, which scares the rest of the NBA.
But if last weekend proved anything else, it’s this all NBA records can be officially – and unofficially – traced back to Wilt Chamberlain.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
