Most 40-Point Games in NBA History
by Jayasree D
Updated Mar 27, 2024
NBA Game
The full form of the NBA is the National Basketball Association (NBA). it is a professional basketball league in North America Composed of 30 teams. NBA is one of the Major professional sports leagues in Canada and the United States.
It is also considered the premier professional basketball league in the words. This was founded on 6th June 1946, which is 77 years ago as BAA. The first season of this took place in 1946–47.
Most 40-Point Games in NBA History
9) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Rick Barry (70)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Rick Barry scored 40 points in 70 games in different ways. Barry is known for his Flashy Drives and outside shooting, and Abdul-Jabbar was impressed with his unstoppable moves.
Rick Barry is famous for his drives to the basket and he is famous for his ability to make shots from a distance. He is also well known for shooting free throws in a unique underhand style. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was dominated near the basket, he is very skilled at using his Signature Move, the Skyhook, and scoring points over defenders.
8) LeBron James (75)
LeBron James is currently standing at No.8 in the NBA’s all-time, he scored 40 points or more in a single game. After a big performance, he reached his milestone after his big performance which was against OKC Thunder on Saturday Night. He was more impressive when he did it against the same team where he had previously set a record. LeBron James went 5 for 5 from 3-point range.
7) Oscar Robertson (77)
Oscar Robertson had games of 77 in his NBA career in which he scored 40 or more points. Another important thing is Oscar Robertson he wasn’t just a scorer but also he was well known for being one of the best all-around players in the league.
Oscar Robertson often got triple-doubles, which means he reached double digits in 3 different categories like points, assists, and rebounds in a single game. LeBron James had a chance to move to fifth place on the time list of the NBA players. Among the players, Oscar Robertson is one of the players who is passed by LeBron.
6) Allen Iverson (79)
There is a debate going on about which position Allen Iverson played at the time of his NBA career. Allen Iverson finished his career with 79, with 40 points games. This was in the top 5 list. James Harden quickly rose the ranks scoring 50 points in a single game, this was during rookie year.
5) Elgin Baylor (88)
In the early NBA Elgin Baylor was the best to ever play the position 3. In his career, he tallied 88 40-point games. Before LeBron James who changed how we see the small forward position in basketball, there was Elgin Baylor.
4) James Harden
James Harden had a big turning point in his career when moving to Houston. He went at the time when he was a key player for OKC Thunder. He played alongside stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC Thunder. He went on to become a superstar for the Houston Rocket.
In Houston, he regularly started scoring 40 or more points in games. James Harde’s highest-scoring games all took place while he was playing for Houston. He was the only player who scored 60 points in a game while getting a triple-double.
Currently, Harden is playing for the LA Clippers, with other top scorers like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the team. During this time people are wondering about James Harden and whether he will be able to score the same 40 points in a game as easily as before.
3) Kobe Bryant (122)
Bryant has completed his career with 122 40 points which was a blast. The other important thing is he made a special thing in that he ended his career with another 40 points game, in fact, he also scored 60. James Harden Could still Catch Kobe Bryant at no. 03 in the games list Of NBA’s all-time 40 points.
2) Michael Jordan (173)
In Jordan's career, he played and hit a total number of 173 with 40 points in games. All of that is while trying to solve the “ Michael Jordan Rules” and all the other defensive stuff that was thrown at him. He is the game’s greatest pure scorer. For the above-mentioned reason, many people argue that Michael Jordan is the NBA’s Goat.
1) Wilt Chamberlain (271)
Wilt Chamberlain was unstoppable down low as evidenced by an NBA all-time high 271 games with 40 points or more. At some point in time, in some point of time, Chamberlain combined his height with remarkable athleticism, which was unusual for someone as tall as him. This made him a very frightened player on the court.
