"48 years ago today, Lakers center Elmore Smith blocked an NBA-record 17 shots in a 111-98 win over the Blazers.

Blocking binge: Smith's feat came in the midst of an all-time blocking rampage, recording double-digit blocks in four of seven games between Oct. 23 and Nov. 4.

The big picture: Since blocks became an official stat (1973), only 46 players have recorded at least 10 in a game, and only 18 of them did so multiple times.

Just six players had at least 10 such games: Manute Bol and Mark Eaton (18 times each); Dikembe Mutombo (13); Hakeem Olajuwon (11); Shawn Bradley and David Robinson (10 each). Smith fell just short, with eight such games.

The most recent instance came earlier this year, when Hawks center Clint Capela had a 10-block triple-double in a January win over the Timberwolves.

Of note: Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell likely would have topped the list above, but both retired before the stat became official." Axios


Elmore Smith rises up to block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Photo: Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images

Here are the only blocked shot data that I could find on Wilt and Russell:

I'm pretty sure most of those stats are entries in Wilt's little black book covering a 10 day period in 1969.

True story:

I saw a Clippers game at the old Sports Arena when the Knicks were in town. The players used to leave the Arena in an area fans could gather to greet them, ask for autographs, whatever. It was great! I got to talk to a lot of players. Brent Barry and Loy Vaught would stay as long as it took to sign all the requests, chatting all the while. Lots of visiting players would engage, too.

Anyway, after the game Patrick Ewing came out, but he didn't want to engage fans like most of the rest of the players. Even John Starks came out to endure some kidding about his 2-18 playoff game.

Ewing walks by and goes to this big black Benz limo waiting for him. Getting in along with him: Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo. I guess it was Georgetown night out!

Can you believe these three guys casually going out carousing around LA together in a Benz at the peak of their careers?