SGA Nears Wilt Chamberlain’s 20-Point Streak: A Scoring Duel Across Eras
The spotlight shines bright on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as he approaches one of Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring records.
After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s mark for the most points scored in NBA history in April 1984, Chamberlain was gracious in congratulating Abdul-Jabbar. Yet, he later expressed frustration that such a significant event was celebrated while his own record-setting achievements hadn’t received the same level of recognition during his playing days. He even quipped that he didn’t receive a “popsicle” compared to the motorcar gifted to Abdul-Jabbar. Chamberlain’s comment touched on a broader point about the recognition afforded to pioneers.
“If I had known you were going to break my record,” Chamberlain said, “I would have put it a lot farther out of reach.”
That sentiment might resonate now as Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the brink of matching, and potentially surpassing, another of Chamberlain’s impressive scoring feats. From , through – a span of 14 months and a season and a half – Chamberlain scored at least 20 points in 126 consecutive games. Gilgeous-Alexander is now days away from that mark; if he scores 20 or more points on against Golden State, he can tie Wilt’s record against Denver on and claim it as his own against Boston on . All three games are at home for the Thunder.
While the streak hasn’t garnered the same attention as Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in baseball, or even some of Chamberlain’s other records like his 100-point game, it’s a remarkable achievement. No other player in NBA history has reached a 100-game streak of 20-point performances. Oscar Robertson reached 79, Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant topped out at 72, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar managed 71, Kobe Bryant hit 63, and LeBron James’ 49 ranks 21st.
Unstoppable force vs. King of the counters
The contrast between Chamberlain and Gilgeous-Alexander as scorers is stark. Chamberlain was a physically dominant force, bigger and stronger than his contemporaries. At 7-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he overpowered opponents with his size, athleticism, and skill. His dunking was feared, and he possessed a reliable jump shot and a variety of post moves. His struggles from the free-throw line – where he averaged 11.35 attempts per game, shooting 51.1% – were a rare weakness.
Bill Russell, widely considered the greatest defender, acknowledged Chamberlain’s dominance, stating, “Wilt was the greatest offensive player I have ever seen…his talents and skills were so super-human, his play forced me to play at my highest level.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, is a modern scorer, relying on ball-handling, elusive moves, a strong mid-range game, and a knack for drawing fouls. LeBron James noted in December, “You gotta keep him off the free throw line, which is hard…He uses these angles, he knows how to manipulate the game.” Gilgeous-Alexander himself stated earlier this season, “If they stop something, I have a few counters. And if they stop those, I have a few more counters.”
The nature of the streaks likewise differs significantly. Chamberlain averaged 49.2 points during his 126-game run, far exceeding the 20-point threshold. He scored 30 or more points in 120 of those games, with 65 games of at least 50 points, 22 of 60, and five of at least 70, including his historic 100-point performance on .
Chamberlain’s streak ended abruptly on , when he was ejected just four minutes into a game after arguing a foul call on a teammate, finishing with only six points. He quickly started another streak of 20-point games on , which lasted 92 games.
By the numbers
Through his first seven seasons, Chamberlain scored at least 20 points in 528 of 543 games, winning scoring titles each year and recording double-doubles in 968 of his 1,045 career games.
Gilgeous-Alexander, in 514 games across eight seasons, has scored at least 20 points in 365 games, with five games of 50 or more points, 18 in the 40s, and 84 with at least 30. He has only twice kept the streak alive by scoring exactly 20 points.
During his current streak, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 32.5 points, totaling 4,030 points compared to Chamberlain’s 6,193. He has averaged 8.13 points from 9.08 free throw attempts, while Chamberlain averaged 1,247 made free throws on 2,048 attempts.
One notable difference is the team success during the streaks. Oklahoma City is 100-24 during Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak, while Chamberlain’s Warriors were 66-60. The streak has been a positive factor for the Thunder, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s work ethic and consistency have earned the respect of his teammates.
Coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander, saying, “He is ruthlessly consistent in the invisible spaces that I see…It’s no accident – he has chiseled himself into this player.”
While a 20-point streak may not have the same prestige as Chamberlain’s 30-point streak (65 games) or his 50-point streak (7 games), it represents a remarkable level of consistency. Chamberlain’s other records, such as his 50.4 points and 48.5 minutes per game in 1961-62, his 4,029 total points, 55 rebounds in a single game, and 124 games with at least 30 points and 30 rebounds, remain largely unmatched.
Chamberlain’s later acknowledgment of Abdul-Jabbar’s achievement suggests he would appreciate Gilgeous-Alexander’s pursuit of his record. He stated in 1994, “The important records are the ones that take an athlete many games or years to amass. Anyone can have a great game, but having 1,000 good games has more significance.”
Or, in this case, 127.