Helena Frye
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most points scored in a single NBA game. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 win against the New York Knicks. This record has stood for over six decades, with only one player—Kobe Bryant in 2006—coming within 20 points of Chamberlain's mark. As of March 25, 2025, LeBron James is the leading scorer in NBA history, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the record for the longest time in NBA history—nearly 39 years—from 1984 to 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Player with the most points in NBA history | LeBron James |
| Number of points scored by LeBron James | 50,000+ |
| Player with the second-most points in NBA history | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| Number of points scored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 |
| Player with the most points in a single NBA game | Wilt Chamberlain |
| Number of points scored by Wilt Chamberlain in a single game | 100 |
| Year in which Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points | 1962 |
| Player with the second-most points in a single NBA game | Kobe Bryant |
| Number of points scored by Kobe Bryant in a single game | 81 |
| Player with the most points in NBA playoffs | LeBron James |
| Number of points scored by LeBron James in NBA playoffs | 8,000+ |
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What You'll Learn
Highest-scoring NBA games
The highest-scoring NBA game occurred on December 13, 1983, when the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in a triple-overtime thriller, with a combined score of 370 points. Isiah Thomas led the Pistons with 47 points, while Kiki VanDeWeghe scored 51 points for the Nuggets.
The second-highest combined score in NBA history is 351, achieved by the Sacramento Kings (176) and the LA Clippers (175) in a double-overtime game on February 24, 2023. De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 42 points, while the Clippers' top scorer was Kawhi Leonard with 44 points.
The third-highest combined score in an NBA game is 337, achieved by the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets on January 11, 1993. The Warriors won the game 162-175, with Chris Mullin scoring 38 points, and Orlando Woolridge leading the Nuggets with 37 points.
Some other notable high-scoring games include the Chicago Bulls' 168-161 quadruple-overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks on March 1, 2019, and the San Antonio Spurs' 171-158 triple-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, with George Gervin and Brian Winters each scoring over 40 points.
When it comes to individual performances, Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most points scored in a single NBA game. He scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in their 169-147 win over the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. Chamberlain's record has stood for over six decades, with Kobe Bryant coming closest in 2006 with 81 points.
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NBA single-game scoring records
While Chamberlain's record stands alone, several players have distinguished themselves by scoring 60 or more points in a single game. This exclusive club includes only 36 players in the history of the NBA. Among them, Kobe Bryant stands out, achieving this feat six times throughout his illustrious career. Bryant also holds the distinction of being the oldest player to score 60 points, doing so at 37 years of age.
The young and talented Devin Booker is another standout performer, becoming the youngest player to score at least 60 points in a regular-season game at just 20 years old. Booker's 70-point performance showcases his immense potential and earns him a place in the history books alongside the likes of Bryant and Chamberlain.
Other notable players who have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 60 or more points on multiple occasions include Damian Lillard (5 times), Michael Jordan (4 times), James Harden (4 times), and Elgin Baylor (3 times). Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Dončić, and Stephen Curry have each accomplished this feat twice, rounding out the list of exceptional players who have left their mark on the NBA single-game scoring records.
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NBA's all-time top scorer
As of 2025, the NBA's all-time top scorer is LeBron James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. By March 2025, James had scored over 50,000 points across his NBA career, a feat unmatched by any other player.
James broke the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a game on 7 February 2023, where he scored 38 points, bringing his total to 38,390 regular-season points. Abdul-Jabbar had held the record for 38 years, 10 months, and 2 days (14,187 days) from 1984 to 2023, with 38,387 points in regular-season games.
James has had a highly successful NBA career, spanning 19 years. He is a four-time Olympic medallist, with three gold medals, and has played in four Olympic Games. He was part of the Team USA rosters that won the men's basketball title at Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Paris 2024, and took bronze at Athens 2004. He has scored a total of 358 points in his four Olympic appearances.
In addition to his Olympic success, James also holds the record for the most points scored in NBA playoffs, with 8,023 points as of 2024. He has also been the highest-paid player in the NBA, with total earnings of nearly 130 million U.S. dollars in the 2024/25 season.
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Most points scored in an NBA game by a single player
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA game by a single player. On March 2, 1962, while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain scored 100 points, breaking the previous record of 78 points held by himself. This record still stands today and is considered one of the most impressive feats in NBA history.
Chamberlain's performance in that game was truly remarkable. He made 36 of his 63 shot attempts and an impressive 28 of 32 free throws. He also set records for points scored in a half (59), points scored in a quarter (31), and the highest-scoring triple-double (21 rebounds and 10 assists). This game was the last of a four-game streak in which Chamberlain scored 60 or more points.
Other notable single-game scoring performances in NBA history include Kobe Bryant's 81 points in 2006 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Devin Booker's 70 points in 2017, and Michael Jordan, who scored 60 or more points on four occasions during his career.
While not a single-game record, it is worth mentioning that LeBron James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points. As of March 2025, James has accumulated over 50,000 points in his NBA career, a truly remarkable achievement.
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NBA's best scorers
As of 2025, LeBron James is the NBA's all-time top scorer, with a total of over 50,000 points. James, a four-time Olympic medallist, broke the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a game on February 7, 2023, where he scored 38 points, bringing his total to 38,390 regular-season points. By the end of the 2022/23 season, James had extended his record to 38,652 regular-season points, and he surpassed 40,000 points in March 2024. James also holds the record for the most points scored in NBA playoff games, with over 8,000 points.
Other top scorers in the NBA include Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Shaquille O'Neal. Kevin Durant is a four-time Olympic gold medallist and sits above Carmelo Anthony and Shaquille O'Neal on the all-time scoring list. However, Durant still has a long way to go to reach Wilt Chamberlain, who is in seventh place.
LaMelo Ball of the Hornets is also a notable player, although he missed the 2024-25 season due to injuries.
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Frequently asked questions
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game, setting the NBA's single-game scoring record.
On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain led the Philadelphia Warriors to a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks.
Chamberlain shot 36-of-63 (57.1%) from the field and 28-of-32 (87.5%) from the free-throw line.
Second place goes to Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard, who both scored 71 points in the 2022-23 season. Kobe Bryant is third with 81 points.
Other top scorers include David Thompson (73 points), Luka Doncic (73 points), and Chamberlain himself, who scored 72 points in a different game.
