NBA History: Top 5 players with most 50-point games ever

#4 Elgin Baylor - 18

One of Baylor's 50-point games included a 71-point total against the Knicks.

In his first two seasons with the Lakers, Baylor averaged 34.8 ppg and 38.3 ppg - eventually proving to be career-best scoring marks. Four of his 18 career 50-point games held scores upwards of 60 points, with one of them being a 71-point belter against the New York Knicks.

"When I saw Elgin Baylor, that was an eye-opener," wrote Hall-of-Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving, in the book "Basketball: A Love Story." "Even till this day, Elgin's game was probably the most influential—strong, rebounding the ball, handling in transition, making plays around the hoop, up and under, left hand, right hand, body control, hang time. Elgin, he was like a guy from another planet."

In retrospect, maybe if Baylor had won even a single championship through the course of his illustrious career, he'd be included in the GOAT conversation alongside Jordan, LeBron and the rest besides. Nevertheless, he was the the first pick in the 1958 NBA draft who ended up being an 11-time All-Star blazing the trail for many that followed.