The history of the NBA is shaped by players who could take over a game with pure scoring force. Some did it with size, some with skill, some with range, and some with sheer competitive drive. Here is a clear look at the top 15 players in career 40-point games, moving from 15 to 1, along with context that shows why each scorer’s peak performances still stand out, based on StatMuse.
15. Damian Lillard
40-point games: 60
Lillard’s 60 such games add up to 2,713 points, averaging about 45 points, nearly 5 rebounds, and more than 7 assists. His scoring runs come from deep range, strong free-throw accuracy, and high-usage playmaking, which make him one of the most dangerous late-game scorers of his generation.
14. Jerry West
40-point games: 66
West totaled 2,891 points across his 66 games, averaging roughly 44 points with heavy minutes and excellent free-throw accuracy. The numbers match his reputation for reliable scoring in pressure situations.
13. George Gervin
40-point games: 68
Gervin’s 68 games produced 2,982 points, about 44 per outing, with efficient midrange scoring. His field-goal percentage remained high on large volume, showing how smoothly he attacked defenses without relying on the three-point line.
12. Rick Barry
40-point games: 70
Barry’s 70 games combined for 3,165 points and included strong rebounding, playmaking, and elite free-throw shooting. His scoring bursts often came with an all-around impact, reflecting the completeness of his offensive game for a wing.
11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
40-point games: 70
Abdul-Jabbar produced 3,073 points in his 70 such games, averaging close to 44 points while scoring almost exclusively inside the arc. His efficiency highlights how dominant his skyhook and interior scoring were long before the advent of modern spacing.
10. Kevin Durant
40-point games: 72
Durant’s 72 games total 3,143 points at about 44 points per contest with strong rebounding and assists. His shooting splits show efficient three-level scoring, making his big nights feel controlled rather than forced.
9. Stephen Curry
40-point games: 74
Curry has 3,352 points in 74 games, averaging around 45 points with elite shooting from deep and the line. His efficiency at high volume underscores how much his range and off-ball movement tilt defenses.
8. Oscar Robertson
40-point games: 77
Robertson’s 77 games produced 3,288 points, paired with near double-digit rebounds and assists. His big scoring nights almost always came inside a full statistical profile that foreshadowed modern guard expectations.
7. Allen Iverson
40-point games: 79
Iverson matched 79 games, producing 3,507 points with strong assist totals and high steal numbers. His scoring came from relentless drives, a high shot volume, and constant pressure on defenses, despite his size.
6. LeBron James
40-point games: 79
LeBron’s 79 games add up to 3,517 points with nearly 9 rebounds and more than 7 assists on average. His numbers indicate a balanced offense, rather than pure shot hunting, as he blends scoring with playmaking, even in explosive performances.
5. Elgin Baylor
40-point games: 88
Baylor produced 3,995 points in 88 games, averaging about 45 points with strong rebounding. His output stands out, given the era’s pace and lack of a three-point line, demonstrating his advanced scoring abilities as a forward.
4. James Harden
40-point games: 107
Harden’s 107 games total 4,854 points with more than 7 rebounds and 8 assists per outing. His scoring comes from step-back shooting, free-throw volume, and orchestrating an entire offense through isolation and pick-and-roll reads.
3. Kobe Bryant
40-point games: 122
Bryant’s 122 games produced 5,501 points, about 45 per game, along with solid rebounding and assists. His shot creation, difficult makes, and extended scoring runs helped define his long prime with the Lakers.
2. Michael Jordan
40-point games: 173
Jordan generated 7,813 points in his 173 outings, averaging roughly 45 points with strong playmaking and defensive numbers. His efficiency and impact in high-leverage games helped shape his legacy as the standard for scoring guards.
1. Wilt Chamberlain
40-point games: 271
Chamberlain’s 271 games produced 13,458 total points, averaging about 27 points and 20 rebounds inside nearly 50 minutes per night. The scale of his output shows unprecedented durability and dominance, setting marks that remain far beyond reach.
The legends who redefined scoring power
Scoring 40 in an NBA game requires a rare combination of talent, confidence, and opportunity. Doing it dozens or even hundreds of times places a player among the sport’s most unstoppable forces. From era-defining bigs to modern sharpshooters, these 15 players reshaped the league through their ability to take over a game, shift momentum, and rewrite the record books one explosive performance at a time.