NBA Highest Scoring Individual Games of All Time

About This Dataset

The highest individual single-game scoring performances in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game against the New York Knicks on 2 March 1962 is the most iconic statistical achievement in basketball history — a record so far beyond anything since that many consider it permanently untouchable.

✨ AI Insight

The data reveals a significant gap between Wilt Chamberlain's unmatched 100 points and Kobe Bryant's 81 points, illustrating how rarefied the upper echelons of scoring are in the NBA. Chamberlain dominates the list with four entries, including 78 and 73 points in 1961 and 1962, respectively. The emergence of modern players like Devin Booker and Joel Embiid, who both scored 70 points in recent years, suggests a shift in scoring potential, yet they still fall short of the historical benchmarks set by Chamberlain. This trend may indicate evolving offensive strategies and the influence of three-point shooting, but the sheer magnitude of Chamberlain's record remains a formidable challenge for future players.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Wilt Chamberlain leads with 100 in 2023.

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Wilt Chamberlain declined most: -7.7% from 1961 to 1962 (78 → 72).

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Average value in 2023: 70 · median: 70.

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1962 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.

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Gap in 2023: Wilt Chamberlain is 1.4× larger than Joel Embiid.

NBA Highest Scoring Individual Games of All Time

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Data Insights Below

Data Insights

Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart

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Data Points

5 categories · 6 years

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Top Value

100

Wilt Chamberlain

Points in a Single Game · 1962

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Metrics

Points in a Single Game

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Period

1961 – 2023

6 years of data

Rankings & Full Data

8 records · Points in a Single Game · ranked by 2023

✓ 8 sourced

#	Category	1961	1962	1978	2006	2017	2023	Change
🥇	Wilt Chamberlain	78	100	—	—	—	—	-7.7%
🥈	Kobe Bryant	—	—	—	81	—	—	—
🥉	David Thompson	—	—	73	—	—	—	—
4	Devin Booker	—	—	—	—	70	—	—
5	Joel Embiid	—	—	—	—	—	70	—