Highest scoring games in NBA history: Every player to score 60 points

Is 60 the new 50? Here’s a quick look at the history of 60-point games in the NBA, with every player to achieve the feat.

The NBA’s recent explosion in scoring has made the once-heralded accomplishment of scoring 50 points in a single game seem pedestrian. At the time of this writing (February 2023), there have been 19 games in which a player scored over 50 points, with 12 different players accomplishing this. That’s all before the All-Star Break. In total, there have been 668 50+ point games in NBA & ABA history, combing regular season and playoffs, and as evidenced above, that number is snowballing.

Let’s face it: 50-point games are becoming routine, commonplace, and expected. With that in mind, should we consider 60 as the new 50?

In all of NBA & ABA history, only 87 times has a player scored 60 points in a game. Only twice has it been accomplished in the playoffs.

Sports fans love nice and neat round numbers, but if 50 is no longer the standard-bearer for a dominant individual performance, maybe we should consider 60 the new 50?

Let’s take a look at every player in NBA and ABA history to score 60 points in a regular season or playoff game, including the three players to achieve the feat this season (Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, and Damian Lillard)

Wilt Chamberlain

67 points – March 9, 1961
60 points – December 1, 1961
78 points – December 8, 1961
61 points – December 9, 1961
60 points – December 29, 1961
73 points – January 13, 1962
62 points – January 14, 1962
62 points – January 17, 1962
62 points – January 21, 1962
65 points – February 13, 1962
67 points – February 17, 1962
61 points – February 22, 1962
67 points – February 25, 1962
65 points – February 27, 1962
61 points – February 28, 1962
100 points – March 2, 1962
72 points – November 3, 1962
73 points – November 16, 1962
61 points – November 21, 1962
61 points – December 11, 1962
63 points – December 14, 1962
61 points – December 18, 1962
67 points – January 11, 1963
62 points – January 29, 1963
70 points – March 10, 1963
62 points – November 15, 1964
63 points – November 26, 1964
65 points – February 7, 1966
62 points -March 3, 1966
68 points – December 16, 1967
60 points – January 26, 1969
66 points – February 9, 1969

37 percent of all 60+ point games in history were scored by the most dominant pure scorer in the league’s history: Wilt Chamberlain.

Of course, we all know about the 100-point game from March 2, 1962, but that was just one of several history-altering performances from Chamberlain during his most dominant scoring seasons. Beginning March 9, 1961, with a 67-point performance against the New York Knicks, Chamberlain unleashed a scoring fury the likes of which the NBA had never seen before. As the 1961-62 season kicked off, Chamberlain put his high-powered scoring into overdrive and scored 60+ points 15 times during the season, including the previous 100-point game against the New York Knicks in March as well as a 73-point game in January against the Chicago Packers. Chamberlain would end that season averaging 50.4 points per game, a record that likely will never be broken.

Chamberlain’s scoring average dropped the following season to a pedestrian 44.8 points per game in the 1962-63 season, and he “only” scored 60+ points nine times. Still, interestingly enough, he scored over 70 three times, one more than he had during his record-setting season.

Chamberlain would sprinkle a few more 60-point games over the remainder of his career, including two in 1964, two in 1966, and one in 1967, then cap off his career with two more in 1969 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant

62 points – December 20, 2005
81 points – January 22, 2006
65 points – March 16, 2007
60 points – March 22, 2007
61 points – February 2, 2009
60 points – April 13, 2016

Chamberlain’s 32 60+ point games seem like they come from a different planet when you consider that Bryant’s six 60+ point games are the 2nd most for a player in league history.

Bryant’s 81-point performance on January 22, 2006, will always be remembered as the closest anyone has come to matching Wilt, but we shouldn’t ignore Bryant’s other breakout scoring games. What began in December 2005 against the Dallas Mavericks (62 points) carried Bryant into a multi-year run of scoring dominance.

Arguably more famous than his 81-point game, though, was Bryant’s final 60-point game and, well, final game period. On April 13, 2016, Bryant bid adieu to the NBA with the most Kobe Bryant performance imaginable: Bryant took 50 shots in his final NBA game scoring 60 points and, more importantly, put a bow on his career with a 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz.

Michael Jordan

63 points – April 20, 1986
61 points – March 4, 1987
61 points – April 16, 1987
69 points – March 28, 1990
64 points – January 16, 1993

Jordan having only five 60+ point games is surprising to some, given his immense talents, but what made Jordan become the winner we all know him as today was evolving his play away from being a pure scorer into a more well-rounded, team-oriented leader. Jordan is 2-3 all-time in games where he scored over 60 points! Four of Jordan’s five 60+ point games occurred before Jordan, and the Chicago Bulls ever won a championship. Only one (Jan. 16, 1993) came during either of the Chicago Bulls’ three-peat runs.

Jordan’s most famous 60-point performance came in a playoff loss to the Boston Celtics in which the young Jordan scratched and clawed the hapless Chicago Bulls to double overtime with one of the NBA’s all-time great teams.

Damian Lillard

60 points – November 8, 2019
61 points – January 20, 2020
61 points – August 11, 2020
60 points – January 25, 2023

During the legendary Trail Blazers career, Dame Time has come four times as Lillard tied Elgin Baylor and James Harden for all-time 60+ point performances. Lillard’s first — Nov, 8, 2019 — came in a heart-breaking 119-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Since then, Lillard has not lost a game in which he scored 60+, including this season when Lillard’s Trail Blazers defeated the Utah Jazz 134-124 on the back of Lillard’s 60-point game that saw the dynamic guard shoot over 72 percent from the field.

Elgin Baylor

64 points – November 8, 1959
71 points – November 15, 1960
63 points – December 8, 1961
61 points – April 14, 1962

In the age of dominant centers, Baylor emerged as the NBA’s trail-blazing scoring guard helping the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers return to prominence post-George Mikan. Baylor set the stage for today’s scoring outbursts with his then-record 71-point game on Nov. 15, 1960, against the New York Knicks. Shooting 28-48 from the field, Baylor dazzled the Madison Square Garden audience with what everyone thought would be the most remarkable performance in the league’s history. Of course, Chamberlain would score 100 not long after and lay waste to the record books. But we should recognize what Baylor accomplished that night, as his performance is more akin to what we’re seeing from today’s scoring explosions than Chamberlain’s low-post dominance.

Baylor would score 60+ three more times in his career, his first coming in 1959, followed by 63 on December 8, 1961, in a three-overtime win against Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors, and finally, 61 points in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals, a series that ended, like most, unfortunately, did for Baylor, in a Boston Celtics championship.

James Harden

60 points – January 30, 2018
61 points – January 23, 2019
61 points – March 22, 2019
60 points – November 30, 2019

The combination of then-Houston Rockets guard James Harden, and head coach Mike D’Antoni created one of the most dominant scoring guards in the league’s history, a run that nearly ended in the Rockets winning an NBA championship. While the Rockets could never get over the Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green-sized hump in front of them, Harden did notch his name in NBA history with four 60+ point performances starting Jan. 30, 2018, with 60 points in a win over the Orlando Magic. During the 2018-19 season, Harden scored 61 points twice and capped off his 60+ point career with a 60-point game on Nov. 30, 2019, in a 158-111 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

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Thirty-two other players in NBA history scored over 60 points in a game. Here is a list of all those who have done so, with some notable facts about each.

Allen Iverson

60 points – February 12, 2005

Iverson’s 60-point game came late in his Philadelphia 76ers tenure in a 112-99 win. A far cry from today’s 60+ point outputs, Iverson shot only five threes the entire game (making two)

Bernard King

60 points – December 25, 1984

Bernard cemented his status as King of New York with this masterful Christmas Day performance. Interestingly, King’s Knicks lost to the Nets that day 120-114.

Bradley Beal

60 points – January 6, 2021

Beal’s Wizards lost to the 76ers 141-136, but Beal still put in his best all-time performance shooting 20-35 from the field, including 7-10 from three.

Carmelo Anthony

62 points – January 24, 2014

Anthony led the New York Knicks to a 125-96 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. In addition to his 62 points, Anthony also grabbed 13 rebounds.

David Robinson

71 points – April 24, 1994

On the final night of the regular season, embroiled in a battle for the NBA scoring title with Orlando Magic dynamo Shaquille O’Neal, Robinson put in the performance of a lifetime scoring 71 points while also grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out five assists. Needless to say, Robinson was your 1994 NBA scoring champion.

David Thompson

73 points – April 9, 1978

Fittingly these two games feature back-to-back as Thompson, like Robinson, went all out in the final game of the regular season to try and win a scoring title over Spurs star George Gervin. While Thompson did tie Gervin’s yearly scoring average of 27.2 points per game, Gervin won the tiebreaker via total points.

Devin Booker

70 points – March 24, 2017

The oddest 70-point scoring game in history saw the young Phoenix Suns guard hoisting up 40 shots, and 11 three-point attempts as his team tailored their game plan—in a 10-point loss, mind you—to letting Booker achieve this feat.

Donovan Mitchell

71 points – January 2, 2023

It took overtime to get it done, but Mitchell dazzled the NBA world on the second day of 2023 with a 71-point performance that also saw Mitchell dish out 11 assists, tied with James Harden (January 30, 2018) for the most ever in a 60+ point game.

George Gervin

63 points – April 9, 1978

David Thompson scored 73 points on April 9, 1978, to win the NBA scoring title from George Gervin. The only problem, Gervin was also playing that night, and he just so happened to drop 63 points to help him win the total points tiebreaker and the scoring title.

George Mikan

61 points – January 20, 1952

The 2nd-ever 60+ point game in the history of the NBA came in January 1952 when Mikan led his Minneapolis Lakers to a 91-81 double overtime win over the Rochester Royals. Mikan scored 61 points and also was a force on the boards to the tune of 36 (!) rebounds.

Gilbert Arenas

60 points – December 17, 2006

The dynamic Wizards guard scored 60 points in a 147-141 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jayson Tatum

60 points – April 30, 2021

Our run of overtime 60+ point games continues with Tatum helping his Celtics to a 143-140 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Jerry West

63 points – January 17, 1962

“The Logo” made scoring history in January 1962 with a masterful 63-point performance against the New York Knicks that saw West go 22-36 from the field and 19-22 from the free-throw line.

Joe Fulks

63 points – February 10, 1949

The very first 60+ point game in NBA history. “Jumping” Joe Fulks, a pioneer of the jump shot and one of the NBA’s first high-powered scoring forward, scored 63 points on 27-56 shooting to help his Philadelphia Warriors to a 108-87 win.

Julius Erving

63 points – February 14, 1975

It took four overtimes and 66 minutes played (the most of any 60+ point game) but “Doc” scored 63 points in February 1975. Notable as well that Erving also grabbed 23 points and dished out 8 assists in the game.

Karl Malone

61 points – January 27, 1990

The bruising big man from Louisiana put together his all-time great performance in a 144-96 drubbing of the Milwaukee Bucks. Malone had 61 points and 18 rebounds in the game.

Karl Anthony-Towns

60 points – March 14, 2022

KAT went to town in March 2022 with a 60-point game that also saw the versatile big man grab 17 rebounds.

Kemba Walker

60 points – November 17, 2018

Walker’s 60-point game, unfortunately, came in a 122-119 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, but Walker’s performance spoke for itself as he went 21-34 from the field, 6-14 from three, and a perfect 12-12 from the line.

Klay Thompson

60 points – December 5, 2016

With only 29 minutes played, Thompson has the lowest minutes played of any 60-point game in NBA history. Thompson achieved the feat by shooting lights-out from deep (8-14) and 10-11 from the free-throw line.

Kyrie Irving

60 points – March 15, 2022

Irving helped the Brooklyn Nets blow the doors off the Orlando Magic in a 150-108 win that saw the guard score 60 points on 20-31 shooting.

Larry Bird

60 points – March 12, 1985

In this legendary dual against Atlanta Hawks superstar Dominique Wilkins, Bird emerged victorious (126-115) and etched his name in history with his lone 60-point game.

Larry Miller

67 points – March 18, 1972

Unfortunately, Miller is a lesser-known star of the short-lived ABA who never made it to the NBA proper. Miller scored 67 points for the Carolina Cougars without making a single three-pointer (he only took one).

LeBron James

61 points – March 3, 2014

The NBA’s all-time scoring leader (DEPENDING ON WHEN THIS IS PUBLISHED) added his name to this legendary list on March 3, 2014, when he scored 61 points in a 124-107 Miami Heat victory. James had one of his career-best long-distance shooting games, going 8-10 from three.

Luka Dončić

60 points – December 27, 2022

The most well-rounded 60+ point game in the history of the NBA came in the final days of 2022 when Dončić scored 60 points in a 126-121 overtime victory over the Knicks. Dončić’s late-game heroics combined with the first 60-point triple-double (60 points, 21 rebounds, ten assists).

Pete Maravich

68 points – February 25, 1977

“Pistol” Pete was known for his dynamic scoring in college, but only once in his NBA career did the dazzling guard eclipse 60 points. Maravich scored 68 in a late February game against the Knicks, shooting 26-43 from the floor while converting 16-19 from the free-throw line.

Rick Barry

64 points – March 26, 1974

Barry’s 64 points in March 1974 were a career-high for the legendary guard. He very nearly had the first 60-point triple-double 48 years before Doncic would do so, as he had 64 points, 10 rebounds… and just nine assists.

Shaquille O’Neal

61 points – March 6, 2000

Given O’Neal’s dominance inside the paint during the late 90s and early 2000s, it’s amazing he doesn’t have more of these games. On this night in March 2000 against cross-town “rivals” the Los Angeles Clippers, Shaq exploded for 61 points on 24-35 shooting while also grabbing 23 rebounds. As was often the Achilles heel of O’Neal, this would’ve been an even-more legendary performance if he could shoot better than the 13-22 he did from the line.

Stephen Curry

62 points – January 3, 2021

That Curry only appears once on this list is surprising, given his game-breaking shooting ability. Curry went for 62 in January 2021 against the Portland Trail Blazers and interestingly only made eight threes (8-16). His 18-19 mark from the free-throw line undoubtedly helped.

Stew Johnson

62 points – March 6, 1971

Like Larry Miller, Johnson isn’t as well-known to modern NBA fans as the ABA star who never got a chance to ply his craft in the merged league. On March 6, 1971, Johnson exploded for 62 points to help his Pittsburgh Condors put away The Floridians 142-129.

Tom Chambers

60 points – March 24, 1990

The master of the double-pump dunk, Chambers employed all of his skills on March 24, 1990, when he went from 60 points in a 121-95 win for his Phoenix Suns. Chambers shot a remarkable 22-32 from the field and hit 16 of his 18 free throws.

Tracy McGrady

62 points – March 10, 2004

T-Mac scored 62 points in Orlando’s 108-99 victory over the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2004. McGrady added his name to the record books despite shooting poorly from the free-throw stripe (17-26).

Zelmo Beaty

63 points – February 21, 1972

The Hall of Fame center carved out a solid NBA career before defecting to the new ABA. After an injunction from his name team forced him to sit out a year, Beaty picked up right where he left off. In February 1972, Beaty had his career-best performance scoring 63 points and adding 15 rebounds to help his Utah Stars defeat the Pittsburgh Condors 149-140.

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