6 NBA players who scored 70 points in a single game

#3 David Thompson

David Thompson is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and he had a stellar eight-year career in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics.

In his third NBA season, the 1977-78 campaign, 'Skywalker' Thompson had an extraordinary outing against the Detroit Pistons on April 9th, 1978. Thompson scored 73 points and made 28 of his 38 field-goal attempts. He scored 53 points in the first half and then added 20 in the second half in the Nuggets' loss to the Pistons.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

#2 Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of only six players in NBA history with multiple 60-point games, and also one of six with at least 70 points in a single game. Bryant's scoring outbursts during the 2005-06 NBA season were unique, and on January 22nd, 2006, he put up one of his greatest shows against the Toronto Raptors at the Staples Center.

The LA Lakers' legend put up 81 points against Toronto after scoring 55 points in only the second half.

Bryant was on fire en route to the NBA scoring title and was averaging 40.7 points per game in his previous 14 outings, but his 81-point game was incredible to witness and will forever live in NBA fans' memories alongside his legendary career and life.

Bryant made 28 of his 46 field-goal attempts that day, seven of his 13 three-pointers, and 18 of his 20 free throws. Bryant became only the second player in NBA history to reach 80 points in a single game.

#1 Wilt Chamberlain

This report couldn't have been done without including Wilt Chamberlain in the mix. Chamberlain owns most of the NBA records and when it comes to scoring, he will always make the list.

Not only is he one of just six players with a 70-point game in his NBA career, but Chamberlain is also the only player in NBA history with multiple games of at least 70-points (he did it six times).

He also has the most 60-point games in NBA history (32), and 50-point games (118). The closest player in terms of 50-point games is Michael Jordan, and he 'only' had 31.

Chamberlain had 32 of the 77 games of at least 60 points in NBA history, and six of the 11 games of at least 60 points by a player in a single game.

Of course, he holds the record for most points scored in a single game, with 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2nd, 1962, while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors.