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.
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, LeBron James is the closest to cracking the top five. He currently ranks sixth all-time with 14 50-point games in his career.
The 2022-23 season marks James’ 20th in the league, but he averaged 30.3 points in 2021-22 and recorded not one, but two 50-point games. He became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points in multiple games after turning 35 years old in the process.
| 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. | LeBron James | 14 |
| Rick Barry | 14 | |
| 8. | Damian Lillard | 12 |
| 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 |
| 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, LeBron James (14), Damian Lillard (12) 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.
| Rank | Player | 50-point games |
| 1. | James Harden | 23 |
| 2. | LeBron James | 14 |
| 3. | Damian Lillard | 12 |
| 4. | Stephen Curry | 11 |
| 5. | Kevin Durant | 9 |
| 6. | Kyrie Irving | 6 |
| 7. | Bradley Beal | 5 |
| Anthony Davis | 5 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 5 | |
| Devin Booker | 5 | |
| 9. | Carmelo Anthony | 4 |
| Joel Embiid | 4 | |
| Jayson Tatum | 4 | |
| 12. | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 3 |
| Klay Thompson | 3 | |
| Luka Doncic | 3 |
