Basketball Trivia
The Record Books

One of the favorite topics of any sports fan is the contents of the record book.  Basketball is no different; an avid follower of pro basketball and the NBA in general can spout facts and figures for hours.  If you feel left out of conversation when this banter begins, or if you just want to impress your favorite basketball fan, you should brush up on some statistics yourself.  Here are a few items from the record books to get you started.
Wilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, set many records during his stint in the game.  A few have been broken, but many still stand.  For example, he holds the records for most points in a single game, having single-handedly scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.  Also during that 1962 season, he set the record for most points scored in a single season, with a total of 4,029.
Continuing with ?Wilt Records?, as we?ll refer to them, he also holds two free throw records, both of which were set during the 1962 season (apparently his best on record).  In the game against the Knicks where he set the point record, he also set the record for most free throws made in a single game, with a total of 28 (obviously aiding in the high score).  Another free throw record, this one for most attempts in one game, had been set a bit earlier in the season, when, on February 22 against St. Louis, Chamberlain made 34 free throw attempts.
Let?s look at three other free throw records, two astonishing and the other a bit depressing.  On December 8, 1992, Dominique Wilkins, playing for Atlanta versus Chicago, set a record for the most free throws in a single game, with none being missed.  His total was 23.  The same date eight years later saw one of the worst free throw records ever.  Shaquille O?Neal, playing for the Lakers against Seattle, was given 11 free throw attempts throughout the game ? and made none of them, setting a new record.  Mark Price, who played for Cleveland, Washington, and Golden State over a period of 12 years (1986-1997), has the highest percentage for successful free throws (counting only players who have made a minimum of 1,200).  His percentage is .904, having made a total of 2,135 shots out of a possible 2,362.
Let?s look at one more renowned individual.  Robert Parish holds two records ? not only did he play for more seasons than any other player (a total of 21); he also played the most games over his career, with a whopping total of 1,611.
Sometimes, when flipping through a book of numbers, it?s hard to know where to begin.  However, if you want to be included in the conversation, these figures will get you started, and any fan of basketball will be impressed with your knowledge.