Throughout NBA history, a player scoring 60 or more points in a single regular season NBA game feat has been accomplished 90 times by 36 different players. No surprise, Wilt Chamberlain leads this elite group with an astounding 32 games of 60 or more points, including his record-setting 100-point game in 1962. Second on the list is your favorite NBA player’s favorite player Kobe Bryant with six games of 60 points or more.

No shade but we were surprised (again!) to see Damian Lillard much higher on this list than most would expect. He’s third on the list behind Kobe with five 60-point games and ahead of Michael Jordan and James Harden (4 times each).

Every NBA Player That Scored 60 Points in a Game

We did a little digging and organizing and you can see our work below; a comprehensive table detailing the players who have scored 60 or more points in an NBA regular-season game, the number of times they’ve achieved this milestone, and the teams they represented during these performances:

Wilt Chamberlain’s ridiculous record of 32 games of 60+ points remain untouchable, with no other player even remotely close to reaching double digits. Wilt’s dominance. unmatched size coupled with athleticism and  less sophisticated defenses, came together to make his records—including the iconic 100-point game—virtually unbreakable.

So Why Does It Seem Like More Players Are Scoring 60 Points?

Does it seem to you like more players are scoring reaching the 60 point plateau? That’s because they are. Of the 90 times that a player has scored 60 or more points in a game, 19 of them occurred in the last five season from 2020 season to the 2024 season. If you’re the betting type, I’d recommend MightyTips –  experts in sports predictions — to put some money on this current decade surpassing the 1960-69 stretch for the most 60+ point games in NBA history. Look at this breakdown of 60+ games by decade and you’ll see it’s a pretty safe bet.

Keep in mind that the NBA has been around for more than 75 years, but approximately a fifth of the 60+ point games happened in the last 4-5 years – what gives? Lots of opinions are out there, but here’s the several factors have contributed to this scoring explosion, including rule changes, increased three-point shooting, and an overall shift in offensive philosophy.

Enter Freedom of Movement

The rise in 60-point games can largely be attributed to rule changes that allow of a player’s “freedom of movement,” the three-point revolution, increased pace, and superstar usage rates. Over time, hand-checking restrictions, transition take-foul changes, and a general favoring of offensive players have allowed NBA players’ skillsets really shine; we’re talking handles, counter moves, getting to the rim, and layup packages. At the same time, the explosion of three-point shooting has transformed scoring efficiency and created more space for players to work —players like Steph Curry and Damian Lillard can reach 60 points with fewer shot attempts by relying on deep threes rather than mid-range jumpers and free throws.

Additionally, the NBA’s faster pace has created more possessions per game, giving scorers more opportunities to put up historic numbers. In the early 2000s, teams averaged 90-95 possessions per game, but today, that number has risen to 100-105, leading to higher-scoring contests. And points per every 100 possessions have reflected that – going up approximately 10 points in the last ten years. Finally, superstar usage rates have increased, with offenses now revolving around one or two primary scorers. Ball-dominant players like Harden, Luka Dončić, and Joel Embiid carry massive offensive loads, often taking 30+ shots per game, a level of offensive freedom that was uncommon in previous eras. These factors combined have led to the recent surge of 60-point performances across the league. And if the rules stay the way they are, the three point remains the same distance, look for more 60 point games in the foreseeable future.