Listing 5 players with the most 50-point games in NBA history

The NBA has had some sensational scorers over the years. In today's article, we list players with the most 50-plus point games in NBA history

wilt-chamberlain in a file photo (Image credits: Twitter)
By Godwin Matthew | Aug 30, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The NBA has been home to some of the greatest basketball talents across the world. In 75 years since its inception, the league has seen many changes. However, one thing that has remained constant is the emergence of stellar scorers in basketball. The NBA has had players like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlin, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and James, all of whom have been the greatest scorers in the game.

Their records many a times seem to be unreal. In today’s article, we bring to you five NBA players who have the most 50-point games in the history of the league.

5 players with the most 50-point games in NBA history

#5 Elgin Baylor [17 times]

Elgin Baylor is an honorary member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. He was a stellar player who played in the league for 14 years. In his time in the league, Baylor led the Lakers to eight NBA Finals. The team failed to win a championship because of the Boston Celtics dominance during the 60s’. He retired from the game in 1972 due to injury issues. However, the team won the title that season and to honor him the team decided to give him a ring.

In his Hall of Famer career, Baylor made 11 All-Star appearances. He scored over 50 points on 17 occasions. His highest score of 71 in 1960 was the highest by any player at that time. However, just two years later, Wilt Chamberlin broke that record by scoring 100 points.

#4 James Harden [23 times]

James Harden is one of the most professional scorers in the history of the game. He has all the skills in the armory and can wreck defenses if he gets going. The former MVP has won three consecutive scoring titles, which is a clear indication of his domination on the offensive end.

In a career spanning over 13 years, the beard has scored 50 points or more on 23 different occasions. He has a career average of 24.9 PPG and has made ten All-Star appearances. His highest-scoring game in the NBA came against the New York Knicks. The beard scored 61 points on 44.7% shooting from the field. His brilliance on the night helped him tie with Kobe Bryant for the most points for any visiting player at the Maddison Square Garden.

#3 Kobe Bryant [25 times]

Kobe Bryant is regarded to be one of the most tenacious stars in the NBA. His undying passion for the game separated him from the other players in the league. Having played 20 years for the LA Lakers, Kobe won five NBA championships. He was named the Finals MVP on two occasions.

The Black Mamba has one of the most stacked resumes of all time. However, all of that came in after putting in hours of hard work for years in the gym. He scored over 50 points on 25 different occasions in his career. His highest scoring game against the Toronto Raptors. Kobe racked up 81 points on the night, which is still the second-best scoring performance in an NBA game. Another memorable 50-plus point game for Kobe came against the Dallas Mavericks. The Black Mamba scored 62 points in just three quarters to help the Lakers get to a win.

#2 Michael Jordan [31 times]

Michael Jordan is known by many to be the greatest player in NBA history. He helped the Chicago Bulls get to six NBA championships and was the Finals MVP in each of those triumphs. His Airness was an athletic player and had the ability to fly by opponents with extreme ease. He also had one of the best jump shots in the game.

In his stacked resume, Jordan had 10 scoring titles. He scorched defenses on a nightly basis and scored over 50 points on 31 different occasions. Jordan’s career-high scoring night came against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His Airness racked up 69 points against the Cavs on a staggering 62.2 % shooting from the field.

#1 Wilt Chamberlain [118 times]

Wilt Chamberlain is probably a constant name that appears in most of the NBA records. The two-time champion was a dominant force in his playing days. He shattered every scoring record in his 15-year NBA career.

Chamberlain won seven scoring titles in his illustrious career. He scored over 50 points in 118 games, which is looking to be one of the most untouchable records in the NBA. He has his name in three of the five best-scoring performances in the history of the league. The legendary player is also the only NBA icon to score 100 points in a single game.