Image via Complex Original
Earlier this week LeBron James reached yet another career milestone by dropping 61 points during the Heat's124-107 victory over the Bobcats. With that total, the King reached not only his career high for most points scored in a single game, but broke the Miami Heat franchise record for most points scored in a game. LeBron’s epic individual show got us thinking, as most great historical sporting achievements do, about where his 61-point performance ranks among the best.
There have been a host of 60-point games, and plenty of triple doubles, but not all are created equal. Some performances have set records, some have clinched scoring titles, and upon closer examination of a stat line, sometimes dropping 64 isn’t just dropping 64. Then you have the rare instances of quadruple doubles, and a certain 100-point performance that everyone thinks of when you talk about the best single-game feats. From T-Mac dropping 13 points in 35 seconds to sink the Spurs to Wilt grabbing 55 boards over Russell’s Celtics, check out where LeBron's 61 Ranks Against the Greatest Single-Game Regular Season Performances of All Time.
RELATED: The 25 Most Badass Playoff Performances in NBA History
25. T-Mac's 62 Against the Wizards
Date: 3/10/2004
Game: Wizards @ Magic
Stats: 62 PTS, 10 TRB, 5 AST, .541 FG%
It's not often that when a player scores 62 points you say he could've done a lot better. However, despite T-Mac's 62 points and 10 boards, he missed his final 10 out of 11 shots in the contest. In addition, he went just 8-14 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter alone. The Magic still won 108-99 but just imagine what McGrady's totals could've been if he had something left in the tank for the final 12 minutes.
24. Tony Parker Writes Himself Into Spurs History
Date: 2/4/2012
Game: Thunder @ Spurs
Stats: 42 PTS, 9 AST, 3 TRB, .552 FG%
On the surface, Tony Parker's numbers just look like a really good day at the office. However, throw into the mix that Parker had his greatest offensive output in three years against one of the league's best teams, and the pot gets a little sweeter. Now realize that with his nine assists, Parker passed Avery Johnson to become the Spurs all time franchise assist leader with 4,477. In typical TP fashion, the point guard also finished with zero turnovers in the 107-96 victory.
23. Agent Zero Drops 60 on the Lake Show
Date: 12/17/2006
Game: Wizards @ Lakers
Stats: 60 PTS, 8 TRB, 8 STL, .531 FG%
So Gilbert Arenas dropped 60 on the Lakers, big deal, right? Well, it was a big deal. Not only did Arenas lead his Wizards to a 147-141 overtime win, but he set an NBA record for most points in an overtime period with 16. Agent Zero's record still stands today, and Kobe was as Kobe as ever with his postgame comments, "Some of the shots he took tonight, you miss those, they're just terrible shots, just awful. You make them and they're unbelievable shots."
22. Rick Barry Scores 64 to Drop the Blazers
Date: 3/26/1974
Game: Trail Blazers @ Warriors
Rick Barry notched his career high 64 points in a 143-120 win over the Trail Blazers. While it may be enough to give Barry love for his 60-plus point performance, one of the main reasons he made this list is because only Wilt Chamberlain has topped his stat of 30 field goals made. That's right, Barry scored 64 points on 30 of 45 shooting. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and fell one assist short of a triple double on his historic night.
21. Kendall Gill Sets an NBA Record For Steals
Date: 4/3/1999
Game: Heat @ Nets
Stats: 15 PTS, 10 TRB, 11 STL, .400 FG%
On the surface, Kendall Gill's numbers just look like any other triple double, not that a triple double shouldn't be celebrated. However, a closer look reveals that Gill set an NBA record with his 11 steals against the Heat. This is a single-game tally that's been equaled by Larry Kenon, but surpassed by none in NBA history. Sixty-point games are awesome, of course, but recording the most steals in a game is clearly a much more unattainable accomplishment.
20. Steph Curry Announces His Arrival With 54 at the Garden
Date: 2/27/2013
Game: Warriors @ Knicks
Stats: 54 PTS, 6 TRB, 7 AST, .643 FG%
Like a few select others who have come before him, Steph Curry entered the world's most famous arena and put on a show the garden crowd would never forget. No matter what the Knicks threw at him, Curry just couldn't be stopped. The Warrior tallied 54 points on 18 of 28 shooting, good enough for his career high, and never looked like missing when it counted. The Knicks actually pulled out the 109-105 win in a thrilling game, but Curry had a career night to remember.
19. The Iceman Tallies 63 Against the Jazz
Date: 4/9/1978
Game: Spurs @ Jazz
Even though George Gervin's Spurs ended up losing to the Jazz 153-132, the Iceman had a career day nonetheless. Thirty-three of his 63-point total came in the second quarter, which set an NBA record for most point scored in a quarter. Carmelo Anthony scored 33 in a quarter as well in 2008, but nobody has surpassed Melo and the Iceman. Even more impressive than the total and the record, was that this performance propelled Gervin past David Thompson to clinch the NBA scoring title that season. Thompson must've been watching this game like, "this some bullshit."
18. Kobe Drops 61 and Turns MSG Into His Personal Practice Court
Date: 2/2/2009
Game: Lakers @ Knicks
Stats: 61 PTS, 3 AST, 1 BLK, .613 FG%
Up until Melo's recent 62-point game, this performance from Kobe Bryant served as the record for most points score in a game at the present Madison Square Garden. See Knicks fans, it's not all bad. This clearly wasn't a good week for the Knicks, though, as their famed arena played host to LeBron's 52 points and near triple double outburst just five days earlier. Kobe did it on 19 of 31 shooting, and the Lakers edged the Knicks 126-117.
17. LBJ Silences Spike and Co. With 52 at the Garden
Date: 2/4/2009
Game: Cavaliers @ Knicks
Stats: 52 PTS, 9 TRB, 11 AST, .515 FG%
Back when LeBron was with Cleveland, and still feeling the love, he entered Madison Square Garden and made it his second home. The King lit up the Knicks to the tune of 52 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, falling just short of a triple double. On that night he joined Jordan as the only visitors with multiple 50-point games at the present Madison Square Garden. You could say LeBron has something of a history against the blue and orange.
16. Melo's 62 is Good Enough for Career and Franchise Records
Date: 1/24/2014
Game: Bobcats @ Knicks
Stats: 62 PTS, 13 TRB, .657 FG%
Amidst an extremely disappointing Knicks season, in which New York's playoff window gets tighter and tighter everyday, Carmelo Anthony managed to give fans a reason to cheer at the garden. Just a few months ago Melo played like a man possessed, as he set a career record by dropping 62 points en route to a victory over the Bobcats. In the process Melo also bypassed the famed Bernard King for the Knicks franchise record of most points scored in a game, and he became the all time leading scorer at the current Madison Square Garden. If this is Melo's last season in blue and orange, at least he can say he left his mark in some way.
15. Alvin Robertson's Quadruple Double
Date: 2/18/1986
Game: Suns @ Spurs
Stats: 20 PTS, 11 TRB, 10 AST, 10 STL
One of just four players to record a quadruple double in NBA history, Alvin Robertson is the only player to complete the feat by racking up at least 10 steals in a game. A quadruple double is one of the rarest records in basketball, and to hold the honor of being the only player to use steals as a category is very cool. Unfortunately for Robertson, life after basketball wasn't nearly as glamorous. The former All-Star was busted for some rather unsavory business regarding a sex slave ring and underage prostitution. Damn, homie.
14. David Thompson Comes Up Just Short With 73 Points
Date: 4/9/1978
Game: Nuggets @ Pistons
The only players to score more in a game, playoff or regular season, are Kobe and Wilt. So you know David Thompson and his 73 points had to be on this list somewhere. Even though Thompson and his Nuggets lost to the Pistons 139-137, his 73 points are a number that few who play the game will ever come close to touching. Despite his 73 points, Thompson lost the season scoring title to George Gervin, who tallied 63 points of his own on the same night. Gervin ended up edging Thompson by .07 PPG for the title.
13. MJ Drops 69 on the Cavaliers
Date: 3/28/1990
Game: Bulls @ Cavaliers
Stats: 69 PTS, 18 TRB, 6 AST, .622 FG%
Michael Jordan recorded his career-high for points in a single game during an overtime win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The GOAT dropped 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting from the field, and he grabbed 18 boards to add to his total. Statistically speaking, this is MJ's best game ever. He didn't have the flu or anything, we don't think, but this is up there with MJ's greatest individual accomplishments.
12. Elgin Baylor's 71-Point Performance Against the Knicks
Date: 11/15/1960
Game: Lakers @ Knicks
With his 71 points during a 123-108 win over the Knicks, Elgin Baylor set the record at the time for most points scored in a single game. His total was soon surpassed by Wilt's unthinkable 100 points, but that should prove what an accomplishment the 71 points really were for Baylor. Dude's have to set records so the next generation know what they're aiming for.
11. T-Mac Scores 13 Points in 35 Seconds
Date: 12/9/2004
Game: Spurs @ Rockets
Stats: 33 PTS, 8 TRB, 5 STL, .414 FG%
One of the coolest games, or rather last minutes of a game, that we've seen in recent years has to be Tracy McGrady's videogame-like finish against the Spurs. T-Mac did it with a couple of three's, one four-point play, an unforced turnover, and a game-winning three to complete the victory over a shocked San Antonio side. Just watch the clip above for the moment in all its glory. It's hard not to jump out of your chair and cheer at the end, right?
10. Elmore Smith Gets Stingy With 17 Denials
Date: 10/28/1973
Game: Trail Blazers @ Lakers
Stats: 12 PTS, 17 BLK
When you think of blocks and denials maybe the first thought you have is of a finger-waving Dikembe Mutumbo. However, Mo doesn't hold the record for most blocks in a game. That distinction goes to Elmore Smith, who recorded an NBA-record 17 swats in a game against the Trail Blazers. Clearly Smith was not feeling very charitable on this night, and the Blazers were the unfortunate recipients of his Scrooge-like performance.
9. Scott Skiles Dishes Out 30 Dimes Against the Nuggets
Date: 12/30/1990
Game: Nuggets @ Magic
Stats: 22 PTS, 6 TRB, 30 AST, .538 FG%
Younger NBA fans—yours truly included—know Scott Skiles as a head coach, most recently with the Milwaukee Bucks. But before Skiles was jumping off the bench to protest a foul call, he was one of the best swingmen in the NBA. During a 155-116 win over the Nuggets, Skiles enshrined his name in history by dishing out an NBA-record 30 assists. It's a record that still stands today, and the only recent player to come close to Skiles is Rajon Rondo, who recorded 24 dimes in 2010. Skiles also chimed in with 22 points in the game, and no matter where he ends up next he'll always have his 30-assist game to look back on.
8. Kevin Love Stars in His Own 30 For 30
Date: 11/12/2010
Game: Knicks @ Timberwolves
Stats: 31 PTS, 31 TRB, 5 AST, .423 FG%
Kevin Love wrote his name into the NBA history books with this performance back in 2010. Love finished with 31 points and 31 rebounds, and in doing so recorded the first 30-30 game the NBA had seen in 28 years. Those numbers are gaudy by any stretch of the imagination, but factor in that K-Love accomplished this feat in the modern era of basketball, and it's almost unthinkable. Sure, he did it against the Knicks, but we gotta show love for one of the coolest and near-unattainable stat lines in NBA history.
7. LeBron's 61 Points Set a Career and Franchise Record
Date: 3/3/2014
Game: Bobcats @ Heat
Stats: 61 PTS, 7 TRB, 5 AST, .667 FG%
In the game that sparked the current conversation, LeBron James set a career and franchise record earlier this week with his 61-point performance at home against the Bobcats. Anyone feel like the Bobcats stay getting clowned on? LeBron will probably break this record by the time he walks off the court for good, but for a guy who seems to have accomplished everything already, it's very cool to write another page into the book of NBA and personal history. LeBron did it on 22 of 33 shooting and ended with a +16 rating, for those of you keeping score at home. Amazing as 61 points is, there's one former player who was left unimpressed with the King's record-breaking performance.
6. David Robinson's Quadruple Double
Date: 2/17/1994
Game: Pistons @ Spurs
Stats: 34 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST, 10 BLK
There have only been four recorded quadruple doubles in NBA history, and in 1994 the Admiral joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Alvin Roberston, and Nate Thurmond as the fourth member of this prestigious club. The rarity of the feat really speaks for itself, but when you compare Robinson's numbers to the other three it becomes that much more impressive. The 34 points are the most by 12, and because Robinson did it most recently, and there hasn't been another in two decades since, it's fair to say that he did it in the most competitive era. We salute the Admiral for his accomplishments.
5. Wilt and the Famed 100
Date: 3/2/1962
Game: Knickerbockers @ Warriors
Despite recording the greatest individual point total in a game in NBA history, Wilt is not No. 1 on the list of greatest single-game performances. Wilt's 100-point night came in an era when he was far and away the most talented player in the league. The run and gun style of play, which also meant no real set offenses, also contributed to Wilt's storied total. We're not taking anything away from the big man, scoring 100 points in a single game is unbelievable at any point in history. However, we're not going to fall under the mystique of the triple digit point total, and we can't give Wilt's performance top spot on this list. There, we said it.
4. Kobe's 81 Moves Him Into Second Place All Time
Date: 1/22/2006
Game: Raptors @ Lakers
Stats: 81 PTS, 6 TRB, 3 STL, .609 FG%
The mamba has pulled off some pretty surreal performances throughout his career, but when he lit up the Raptors for 81 on his home floor we really thought we were watching some dude who got the cheat code for NBA 2K. Whereas a lot of cats who score 50-plus points in a game start out like a house on fire in the first half and then slow down, Kobe showed he's on another wavelength by scoring 55 of his 81 in the final two quarters. This epic performance catapulted Kobe into second place all time for most points scored in a single-game behind Wilt's 100, and it's fair to say that because of the time periods this stat is indeed more impressive.
3. Wilt Grabs 55 Boards Against Russell's Celtics
Date: 11/24/1960
Game: Celtics @ Warriors
What? You're putting a different Wilt Chamberlain performance ahead of his 100-point game? Just hear us out before you throw your computer against the wall. Wilt's 100 is an inflated stat. He did it at a time when he was dominating the league by far in terms of size and talent, in addition to playing in a run and gun style that was prevalent throughout the league. Props on the 100, but it's arguably one of the most overhyped performances in sports history. This game on the other hand is well worth a top spot on our countdown. Yes, there were still a lot of shots being put up, but grabbing 55 rebounds in a game is downright nasty. Doing it against Bill Russell's Celtics is damn impressive. The C's won the game, but Chamberlain clearly stole the show.
2. Kobe's Outscores the Mavs With 62 Points in Three Quarters
Date: 12/20/2005
Game: Mavericks @ Lakers
Stats: 62 PTS, 8 TRB, 3 STL, .581 FG%
We all know that Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game back in 1962, against the Knickerbockers no less, but that stat really has to be taken with a grain of salt. Wilt played with dudes who weren't even close to his abilities, and it was a fast-paced game of shoot, shoot, shoot. We're not taking anything away from Wilt, but let's just be clear that his is not the best single-game scoring performance of all time. Kobe's 62-point performance against the Mavericks. Sixty-two isn't a crazy amount of points, especially by Kobe's standards, but when you do it in three quarters and your opponent has only managed 61 in that time, well, now you see why this performance from the Mamba is do damn impressive.
1. The Admiral Goes For 71 Against the Clippers
Date: 4/24/1994
Game: Spurs @ Clippers
Stats: 71 PTS, 14 TRB, 5 AST, .634 FG%
Scoring 71 points in any given game is an unbelievable achievement in it's own right. Now, add to the mix that David Robinson's performance came during the last game of the regular season and his 71-point outburst was good enough to steal the scoring title away from one Shaquille O'Neal, and you get one of the greatest individual showcases in NBA history. This was also the second-highest point total since 1978, at the time.