Who Has the Most Points in an NBA Game?

Ever wonder who has the most points in an NBA game? Check out our blog post to find out!

Wilt Chamberlain

On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain set the NBA single-game scoring record by tallying 100 points against the New York Knicks. He accomplished the feat in Hershey, Pennsylvania, during a game in which the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Knicks 169–147. Chamberlain shot 36 of 63 from the field and made 28 of 32 free throws.

100 points in a game

On March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks, thereby becoming the first and only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game. The contest was played before a sold-out crowd of 4,124 at Hershey Sports Arena, with millions more watching on television as Chamberlain’s feat was telecast on a tape-delayed basis by ABC.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, who played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, is the NBA player with the most points in a game. Kobe scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Wilt Chamberlain holds the second-most points in a game with 72, and Michael Jordan is third with 69.

81 points in a game

Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers. Bryant is an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons, and ranks third on both the league’s all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. He holds the NBA record for most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Bryant became one of the youngest players in NBA history when he started as a rookie at age 18 during the 1996–97 season. He was voted rookie of the year by media outlets, but lost out to Minnesota’s Malik Sealy. In his second season, Kobe played a major role as Shaquille O’Neal led the Lakers to their first championship since 1988. Kobe was named to the All-Star team for his first time in 1998; he would eventually be selected to play in 18 All-Star games, which is second only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 19 appearances. After losing in the 2000 NBA Finals, O’Neal and Bryant helped lead Los Angeles to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, securing a three-peat with a victory over New Jersey Nets in 2002. In 2003 and 2004, Kobe took on more of a leadership role for O’Neal, who was sulking over a change in his contract and was traded following another Finals loss to Detroit in 2004. With O’Neal gone,issues that had plagued them came to a head during disagreements over how team should be run; this culminated into an infamous “trade request” by Kobe that demanded he be dealt away from Los Angeles

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is a former American professional basketball player who is widely considered to be the greatest of all time. In his storied career, Jordan won six NBA Finals MVPs and five NBA MVPs. He was also a 14-time NBA All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection. Jordan is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 32,292 points.

69 points in a game

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His biography on the official NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick. He quickly emerged as a league star and entertained crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from relative close range, earned him nicknames such as “Air Jordan” and “Sky Jordan”. He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, followed by titles in 1992 and 1993. Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the beginning of West-Finals against Orlando Magic to pursue a career as a baseball outfielder, he rejoined Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins duringthe 1995–96 season. He retired for a second time in January 1999 but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of Wizards.

Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor held the record for the most points scored in an NBA game for nearly 50 years. He scored 61 points against the New York Knicks in a 122-115 victory on November 15, 1960. Baylor’s record stood until Kobe Bryant scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks on December 20, 2005.

64 points in a game

On November 15, 1960, in a game against the Detroit Pistons, Elgin Baylor set the NBA record for most points scored in a game when he dropped 64 on Detroit. The previous record of 63 had been jointly held by George Mikan and Richie Guerin. Baylor’s record would stand for nearly five years until it was eclipsed by Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point effort in 1962.

David Robinson

On April 24, 1994, David Robinson became the only player in NBA history to score 71 points in a game and grab 10 rebounds. It was a performance for the ages as Robinson led the Spurs to a 112-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. His 71 points are still the most any player has scored in a game since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.

71 points in a game

David Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robinson is widely considered one of the greatest centers of all time. In 1997, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Robinson was born in Key West, Florida, and later raised in Woodbridge, Virginia. He played three years of college basketball for the United States Naval Academy, before serving two years in the United States Navy. Robinson graduated from the academy as a member of the Class of 1987 and became only the second player from a service academy to play in the NBA, after Zelmo Beaty. He was commissioned as an ensign and spent almost two years stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in the Pacific Ocean before being released from active duty.

Robinson’s basketball career began when he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. In his rookie year, Robinson averaged 24.3 points per game and 12 rebounds per game en route to being named NBA Rookie of the Year honors. He quickly became one of biggest stars in basketball while setting numerous records during his 14 seasons with Spurs.

In 1994–95 season, Robinson averaged 27.6 points per game and 10.8 rebounds en route to leading Spurs to first ever playoff appearance since joining NBA in 1976–77 season as well as their first ever Mid-Season Classic appearance. In 1995–96 season following Hip injury that held him out for most second half games, Robinson came back strong by averaging 27 points per game while leading Spurs to second ever 60 win season culminating into their first ever NBA Finals berth where they eventually lost to Chicago Bulls 4 games to 2 thus beginning their infamous “Titleless” streak that eventually ended when they finally won their first ever title 20 years later in 2014 beating LeBron James led Miami Heat 4 games to 1 following near perfect Finals performance by then future Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard who plays for Toronto Raptors now along with Leonard’s current teammate Danny Green who was then a Spur like Leonard at that time

Robinson’s best statistical year came during 1997–98 season where he averaged 29 points on 51% shooting from field 8 rebounds and 4 assists while also winning his only regular season MVP trophy following 67 win season culminating into second ever trip to NBA Finals where they eventually lost to Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls 4 games to 2