Who has the most 40-point games in NBA history? Top 15 records ever

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The astir 40-point games successful NBA past beryllium to Wilt Chamberlain, who achieved this feat 271 times. Other notable players see Michael Jordan with 173 games and LeBron James with 108. These numbers item their legendary scoring ability. Discover different apical NBA players based connected however often they scored 40 oregon much points.

Wilt Chamberlain (L), Michael Jordan C), and Kobe Bryant (R) person the astir 40-point games successful NBA history

Key takeaways

Wilt Chamberlain leads with 271 40-point games, a grounds that remains unbroken.
Michael Jordan ranks 2nd with 173 40-point games.
LeBron James has achieved 108 40-point games.

Top 15 players with the astir 40-point games successful NBA history

In compiling the database of players with the astir 40-point games successful NBA history, we utilized recorded statistic and achievements arsenic of 2025, acknowledging that rankings whitethorn alteration arsenic progressive players proceed their careers. This database was crafted with information and insights from trusted sources, including StatMuse and Basketball Reference, to guarantee factual accuracy and humanities context.

Rank	Player	Number of 40-point games	Total points scored
1	Wilt Chamberlain	271	31,419
2	Michael Jordan	173	32,292
3	Kobe Bryant	122	33,643
4	James Harden	105	27,687+
5	Elgin Baylor	88	23,149
6	Allen Iverson	79	24,368
7	LeBron James	79	42,184+
8	Oscar Robertson	77	26,710
9	Kevin Durant	72	30,571+
10	Stephen Curry	71	25,386+
11	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	70	38,387
12	Rick Barry	70	18,395
13	George Gervin	68	20,708
14	Jerry West	66	25,192
15	Damian Lillard	60	22,598+

15. Damian Lillard – 60

Damian Lillard warms up earlier Game Four of the Eastern Conference against the Indiana Pacers

Date of birth: 15 July 1990
Place of birth: Oakland, California, United States
Total points scored: 22,598+
Teams played for: Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks

Damian Lillard has established himself arsenic 1 of the premier point guards successful the NBA. He has been selected for aggregate All-Star games and All-NBA teams.

Lillard is renowned for taking implicit games successful captious moments, earning him the nickname "Dame Time." His tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers solidified his estimation arsenic a franchise cornerstone earlier moving to the Milwaukee Bucks.

14. Jerry West – 66

Date of birth: 28 May 1938
Place of birth: Chelyan, West Virginia, United States
Total points scored: 25,192
Teams played for: Los Angeles Lakers

Jerry West was a ascendant unit for the Los Angeles Lakers. He led the Lakers to 9 NBA Finals appearances and secured a title successful 1972.

West was named the NBA Finals MVP successful 1969, contempt his squad not winning the title—a testament to his brilliance. Post-retirement, helium transitioned into an enforcement role, contributing to aggregate title teams and earning 2 NBA Executive of the Year awards. His silhouette serves arsenic the NBA's iconic logo.

13. George Gervin – 68

George Gervin gets down connected defence against the Washington Bullets during an NBA hoops crippled circa successful 1978

Date of birth: 27 April 1952
Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Total points scored: 20,708
Teams played for: San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls

San Antonio Spurs’ George Gervin won four NBA scoring titles (1978, 1979, 1980, 1982), placing him among the elite scorers successful league history.

Gervin's signature digit rotation became 1 of the astir iconic moves successful basketball. His contributions to the crippled were recognised with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

12. Rick Barry – 70

Rick Barry preparing to walk the hoops (L). The subordinate preparing for a escaped propulsion (R)

Date of birth: 28 March 1944
Place of birth: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
Total points scored: 18,395
Teams played for: San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets

Rick Barry was known for his unorthodox underhand free-throw shooting method and prolific scoring. He led the Golden State Warriors to an NBA title successful 1975 and was named the Finals MVP.

Barry's vocation free-throw percent of .900 was the champion successful NBA past astatine the clip of his retirement. His excellence connected the tribunal earned him a spot among the 50 Greatest Players successful NBA History and induction into the Hall of Fame.

11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 70

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wearing a Milwaukee Bucks uniform

Date of birth: 16 April 1947
Place of birth: New York City, New York, United States
Total points scored: 38,387
Teams played for: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time starring scorer, boasting 70 games with 40+ points. He won a grounds six MVP awards and was a 19-time All-Star, making him 1 of the best NBA players of each time.

He secured six NBA championships and was a two-time Finals MVP. His interaction connected the crippled extends beyond his playing career, arsenic helium has been an influential fig successful assorted societal and taste arenas.

10. Stephen Curry – 71

Stephen Curry looks connected against the Minnesota Timberwolves successful the 2025 NBA Playoffs astatine Target Center connected 6 May 2025

Date of birth: 14 March 1988
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, United States
Total points scored: 25,386+
Teams played for: Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry revolutionised hoops with his exceptional three-point shooting, becoming the NBA's all-time person successful made three-pointers. He is simply a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, and has been selected to aggregate All-NBA teams.

9. Kevin Durant – 72

Kevin Durant looks connected during the 2nd fractional against the Houston Rockets successful 2025

Date of birth: 29 September 1988
Place of birth: Washington, D.C., United States
Total points scored: 30,571+
Teams played for: Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant is 1 of the astir versatile and businesslike scorers successful NBA history. He has won 2 NBA championships, earning Finals MVP honors some times, and was named the league MVP successful 2014. Durant is simply a 15-time All-Star and has secured 4 scoring titles.

His planetary achievements see 4 Olympic golden medals, making him the starring scorer successful Team USA's Olympic hoops history.

8. Oscar Robertson – 77

Oscar Robertson successful an progressive stance during a game

Date of birth: 24 November 1938
Place of birth: Charlotte, Tennessee, United States
Total points scored: 26,710
Teams played for: Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks

Oscar Robertson is remembered for averaging a triple-double implicit an full play successful 1961–62, a feat unmatched for decades. He played 14 seasons successful the NBA and won the league MVP successful 1964.

Oscar was a 12-time All-Star and a subordinate of 11 All-NBA Teams. He led the league successful assists six times and finished his vocation with a title successful 1971 portion playing with the Milwaukee Bucks. Robertson was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 1980 and remains 1 of the top guards successful history.

7. LeBron James – 79

Date of birth: 30 December 1984
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, United States
Total points scored: 42,184+
Teams played for: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James is the all-time starring scorer successful NBA past and continues to adhd to his full arsenic an progressive player. He has won 4 NBA championships and 4 MVP awards crossed his stints with 3 teams. LeBron James has appeared successful 10 NBA Finals and earned 13 All-NBA First Team selections.

He is simply a 20-time All-Star and the lone subordinate to scope 40,000 points successful the regular season. He besides won 2 Olympic golden medals and played a cardinal relation successful helping Team USA reclaim planetary dominance.

6. Allen Iverson – 79

Allen Iverson takes a interruption during the NBA crippled betwixt the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers

Date of birth: 7 June 1975
Place of birth: Hampton, Virginia, United States
Total points scored: 24,368
Teams played for: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies

Allen Iverson was 1 of the astir influential players of the 2000s, known for his fearless play and elite scoring. He was the 2001 NBA MVP and an 11-time All-Star. Iverson led the league successful scoring 4 times and successful steals 3 times.

He took the 76ers to the NBA Finals successful 2001, famously scoring 48 points successful Game 1 against the Lakers. According to NBA, Allen Iverson was named to 7 All-NBA teams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 2016.

5. Elgin Baylor – 88

Elgin Baylor successful the mediate of a game

Date of birth: 16 September 1934
Place of birth: Washington, D.C., United States
Total points scored: 23,149
Teams played for: Minneapolis /Los Angeles Lakers

Elgin Baylor revolutionised the guardant presumption with his acrobatic drives and mid-air manoeuvres. He was an 11-time All-Star and made the All-NBA First Team 10 times. Baylor averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per crippled implicit his career.

The jock scored 71 points successful a azygous crippled successful 1960 and acceptable the grounds for astir points successful an NBA Finals crippled with 61 successful 1962. Though helium ne'er won a championship, Baylor played successful 8 NBA Finals and was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 1977.

4. James Harden – 105

Date of birth: 26 August 1989
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Total points scored: 27,687+
Teams played for: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers

James Harden established himself arsenic 1 of the astir prolific violative players of the modern era. He won the NBA MVP successful 2018 and has been selected to 10 All-Star Games. Harden led the NBA successful scoring for 3 consecutive seasons (2018–2020) and led successful assists successful 2017.

He recorded galore 50- and 60-point games, including a career-high 61 points connected 2 occasions. Harden besides won the Sixth Man of the Year grant successful 2012 and ranks among the apical 10 successful made three-pointers and escaped throws.

3. Kobe Bryant – 122

Kobe Bryant drives the shot upcourt during the crippled against the Cleveland Cavaliers

Date of birth: 23 August 1978
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Total points scored: 33,643
Teams played for: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant spent his full 20-year NBA vocation with the Lakers, winning 5 championships and 2 Finals MVPS. He was the 2008 league MVP and a subordinate of 18 All-Star Games. Kobe was named to 15 All-NBA teams and 12 All-Defensive teams.

The NBA subordinate scored 81 points successful a crippled successful 2006, the second-highest successful league history. Kobe Bryant besides won 2 Olympic golden medals and was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 2020.

2. Michael Jordan – 173

Michael Jordan during the NBA lucifer betwixt the Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks

Date of birth: 17 February 1963
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Total points scored: 32,292
Teams played for: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards

Michael Jordan dominated the NBA done the 1980s and 1990s, winning six championships and 5 MVP awards. He earned 10 scoring titles, 3 steals titles, and was named Finals MVP successful each six of his rubric runs.

Jordan was a 14-time All-Star and made the All-NBA First Team 10 times. He besides won Defensive Player of the Year successful 1988. His legendary competitiveness and clutch performances defined his legacy. Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 2009.

1. Wilt Chamberlain – 271

Wilt Chamberlain poses for a representation circa 1957 successful Lawrence, Kansas

Date of birth: 21 August 1936
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Total points scored: 31,419
Teams played for: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers

Wilt Chamberlain holds the grounds for the astir 40-point games, and erstwhile averaged 50.4 points successful a season. He scored 100 points successful a crippled successful 1962 and led the league successful scoring for 7 seasons. Wilt besides led the NBA successful rebounds 11 times and assists erstwhile arsenic a centre.

The American NBA subordinate won 2 championships, 4 MVP awards, and made 13 All-Star appearances. Known for his athleticism and dominance, Wilt Chamberlain set over 70 NBA records and was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 1978.

Who has the astir 40-point games successful the NBA?

Wilt Chamberlain holds the grounds for the astir 40-point games successful NBA history, achieving this feat 271 times. His scoring prowess remains unmatched, making him a legendary fig successful hoops history.

How galore 40-point games does MJ have?

Michael Jordan recorded 173 games with 40 oregon much points during his NBA career. His accordant high-scoring performances solidified his presumption arsenic 1 of the game's greatest.

How galore 40-point games does Carmelo Anthony have?

Carmelo Anthony achieved 40 points successful 40 games passim his NBA tenure. His scoring quality was a hallmark of his playing style.

How galore 40-point games does LeBron have?

LeBron James has amassed 108 games with 40 oregon much points, combining some regular play and playoff performances. His longevity and scoring consistency are testaments to his exceptional talent.

Wilt Chamberlain holds the grounds for the astir 40-point games successful NBA history, a testament to his bonzer scoring ability. These players’ records not lone item their endowment but besides acceptable a benchmark for excellence that continues to animate players crossed generations.

Legit.ng published an informative station astir the players with the astir assists successful shot history. A shot assistance is simply a walk that leads straight to a goal. FIFA archetypal recorded this metric successful 1994, and it's present go 1 of the astir commonly utilized stats successful the planetary game.

From legendary names similar Lionel Messi to Ferenc Puskás, players with the astir assists successful shot past person carved their legacies by assisting and scoring countless goals. Read connected to observe the players with the astir assists successful shot history.

Source: Legit.ng

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