Who has the most 50 point games in NBA history? Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan lead full list of all-time player leaderboard

Scott Rafferty

Who has the most 50 point games in NBA history? Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan lead full list of all-time player leaderboard image

Wilt Chamberlain once averaged 50.4 points per game for an entire season, so it should come as no surprise that he has the most 50-point games in NBA history.

It's not close, either.

Over his legendary 14-year career, Chamberlain recorded a total of 118 50-point games in the regular season. Michael Jordan has the next-most all-time with — are you ready for this? — 31 50-point games.

Only 11 players in NBA history have recorded 50 points in 10 or more games in their career. Four of those players are active.

MORE: The top-15 scoring games in NBA history

Who has the most 50-point games in NBA history?

Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for most 50-point games in NBA history with 118. Michael Jordan ranks second with 31 50-point games, followed by Kobe Bryant (25), James Harden (23) and Elgin Baylor (17).

Among active players, Damian Lillard is the closest to cracking the top five. He currently ranks sixth all-time with 15 50-point games in his career.

Most 50-point games in NBA history (Basketball Reference)
Rank Player 50-point games
1. Wilt Chamberlain 118
2. Michael Jordan 31
3. Kobe Bryant 25
4. James Harden 23
5. Elgin Baylor 17
6. Damian Lillard 15
7. LeBron James 14
  Rick Barry 14
9. Allen Iverson 11
  Stephen Curry 11
11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10
12. Kevin Durant 9
13. Bernard King 8
14. Dominique Wilkins 7
15. Kyrie Irving 6
  Giannis Antetokounmpo 6
  Adrian Dantley 6
  Pete Maravich 6
  Bob Pettit 6

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Who has the most 50-point games among active players?

James Harden has the most 50-point games among active players with 23, putting him behind only Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history.

In addition to Harden, Damian Lillard (15), LeBron James (14) and Stephen Curry (11) are the only active players with 10 or more 50-point games in their careers.

Kevin Durant is one 50-point game away from joining the exclusive group.

Most 50-point games among active players (Basketball Reference)
Rank Player 50-point games
1. James Harden 23
2. Damian Lillard 15
3. LeBron James 14
4. Stephen Curry 11
5. Kevin Durant 9
6. Kyrie Irving 6
  Giannis Antetokounmpo 6
8. Bradley Beal 5
  Anthony Davis 5
  Russell Westbrook 5
  Devin Booker 5
  Jayson Tatum 5
  Luka Doncic 5
14. Carmelo Anthony 4
  Joel Embiid 4
  Klay Thompson 4

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.