Every NBA Team’s Oldest Player To Score 40 Points In A Game

Scoring 40 points in any NBA game is a feat that should be celebrated for any player, especially if that performance leads to victory for that player’s team. Defying the odds and doing it at a certain age is also a feat in itself, highlighting that even as time goes on, an NBA player can get his buckets at any age.

Below, we have compiled a list and ranked every NBA franchise’s oldest 40-point scorer in history. We will relive these tremendous feats through highlights and recaps while also breaking down how each performance entered the history books. These are truly the performances that have and will continue to withstand the test of time as some of the best the game has ever seen.

1. Washington Wizards – Michael Jordan – 43 Points (40 Years, 4 Days Old)

Kicking things off on our list is none other than the GOAT himself, Michael Jordan. In his later years with the Wizards, Jordan recorded eight 40-point games after turning 38 years old. Four days after his 40th birthday, he would have his most impressive performance with 43 points against a Nets team that would advance to the 2003 NBA Finals later that season. In this game, Jordan would get his 43 points on 18-30 shooting while also adding 10 rebounds and 4 steals in an 89-86 win. He is still the only 40-year-old in NBA history with 40 points in a game.

2. Utah Jazz – Karl Malone – 42 Points (39 Years, 231 Days Old)

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz comes in next on our list thanks to a 42-point performance on March 12, 2003. Malone is the only player in Jazz history to score 40 points past the age of 35. In this contest, Malone led the Jazz to a 111-108 win with 40 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals on the road. Malone shot 12-19 from the field and 16-22 from the foul line to reach the 40-point mark.

3. Phoenix Suns – Jamal Crawford – 51 Points (39 Years, 20 Days Old)

Jamal Crawford’s 51-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 is historic for many reasons. Not only is he the oldest player in Suns history to score at least 40 points but he also became the oldest player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game. Crawford’s elite night against Dallas happened in just 38 minutes of play off the bench in a 120-109 loss. Crawford would shoot 18-30 overall and 7-13 from three while adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists in this historic performance that will not soon be forgotten.

4. Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James – 40 Points (38 Years, 358 Days Old)

LeBron James continues to defy the odds in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform even in 2023-24. In the 2022-23 season, just one week shy of his 39th birthday, James entered the Lakers record books forever. In a nine-point win over the Thunder, James would score 40 points in 37 minutes, shooting 13-20 from the field, 5-5 from three, and 9-9 from the foul line. James added 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks as well and the Lakers moved to 16-14 on the season.

5. Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki – 40 Points (37 Years, 275 Days Old)

With 20 seasons under his belt with the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki’s fingerprints are all over the team’s history books. On March 20, 2016, Nowitzki entered those history books yet again with a 40-point performance just a few months shy of his 38th birthday. Nowitzki would help lead the Mavericks to a victory over the Trail Blazers with 40 points on 16-26 shooting and 3-5 shooting from three. Dallas would come away with a 136-120 win in one of Dirk’s most iconic moments.

6. Denver Nuggets – Walter Davis – 41 Points (36 Years, 61 Days Old)

Walter Davis is most known for his days with the Phoenix Suns where he became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. However, he also set records as a member of the Nuggets like in his 41-point game on November 9, 1990, against the Seattle SuperSonics. At just over 36 years old, Davis would go for 41 points on 18-32 shooting from the field and 2-2 from three. Unfortunately, his performance was not enough to defeat Seattle and the Nuggets fell 136-129 in their fifth straight loss to open the 1990-91 season.

7. Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry – 42 Points (35 Years, 230 Days Old)

Stephen Curry being the oldest player in Warriors history to score at least 40 points in a game is a record sure to be broken, but only by himself. Curry achieved this feat just two and a half months ago at the beginning of the 2023-24 season against New Orleans. On October 30, Curry led the Warriors to a blowout of the Pelicans 130-102 with 42 points on 15-22 shooting overall and 7-13 shooting from three. He also added 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the blowout victory.

8. Houston Rockets – Clyde Drexler – 43 Points (35 Years, 136 Days Old)

Clyde Drexler may be synonymous with the Portland Trail Blazers but he achieved a ton of success with the Houston Rockets later in his career as well. Just three seasons after helping Houston win an NBA title in 1995, Drexler became the oldest player in Rockets history to score at least 40 points in a game. The feat occurred on November 5, 1997 against the Clippers when Drexler scored 43 points on 15-25 shooting which included 3-5 shooting from three in a 124-110 over the Clippers.

9. Boston Celtics – Larry Bird – 49 Points (35 Years, 99 Days Old)

Larry Bird’s legendary performances with the Celtics could make up this entire article and then some. On this particular day, Bird was just a few months past his 35th birthday when he claimed the Celtics record for oldest player with 40 points in a game. On March 15, 1992, Bird would go for 49 points in a 152-148 double-overtime victory over the Trail Blazers. In the contest, Bird would shoot 19-38 overall and just 2-8 from three. What made it even more special is Bird would make it a triple-double with 14 rebounds and 12 assists while also adding 4 steals to lead Boston to victory just as he had so many times before.

10. Indiana Pacers – Reggie Miller – 41 Points (35 Years, 76 Days Old)

Indiana Pacers legend and three-point marksman Reggie Miller became the oldest player in team history to record at least 40 points on November 8, 2000, against the Milwaukee Bucks. In his 14th season, Miller went off for 41 points in an 11-point win over Milwaukee shooting 13-21 from the field overall and 7-11 from three. Miller was also 8-8 from the foul line and a +19 on the floor for the Pacers in just their fourth game of the 2000-01 season.

11. Chicago Bulls – Michael Jordan – 44 Points (35 Years, 60 Days Old)

Surprise, Surprise, yet another appearance by Michael Jordan on this list. During the Last Dance 1997-98 season, Jordan went on a tear during the month of April with 40-point games on three different occasions. On this particular evening, Jordan took on a familiar foe in the New York Knicks on the final day of the regular season. Jordan recorded 44 points on 11-24 shooting overall and 22-24 from the foul line to lead the Bulls to a 111-109 win for their 62nd win of the year.

12. Atlanta Hawks – Richie Guerin – 41 Points (34 Years, 250 Days Old)

Richie Gerin’s record as the oldest player in Atlanta Hawks history to score at least 40 points is one that has stood for 57 years. Guering achieved this feat on February 3, 1967, against the Boston Celtics. In the contest, Guerin would go 14-17 from the field and 13-15 from the free throw line to lead the Hawks to an upset victory over the 41-13 Celtics. Guerin had also had another 41-point game just one month prior to this against the Pistons, breaking his own record against Boston.

13. San Antonio Spurs – LaMarcus Aldridge – 40 Points (34 Years, 157 Days Old)

I know fans were expecting either Tim Duncan or Davis Robinson to be the record-holder for the Spurs but it is another former San Antonio big man making his way onto our list. LaMarcus Aldridge became the oldest player in Spurs history to record 40 points in a game on December 23, 2019, against the Memphis Grizzlies. In this contest, Aldridge went off for 40 points on 17-25 shooting overall and 3-5 from three-point land. He also added 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a 30-point blowout victory.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder- Gary Payton – 40 Points (34 Years, 134 Days Old)

The Oklahoma City Thunder record for the oldest player in team history to score 40 points was never a member of the Thunder at all. Gary Payton accomplished this feat in December 2002 against the Indiana Pacers. On this night, Payton would score 40 points in 46 minutes in a three-point loss to Indiana. Payton would get his 40 on 19-30 shooting while adding 10 assists and 3 steals in the overtime defeat.

15. Brooklyn Nets – Kevin Durant – 44 Points (34 Years, 97 Days Old)

Just weeks before his shocking trade to the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant would break his own record as the oldest player in Nets history to record 40 points or more in a game. Durant actually holds the 10 oldest 40-point games in team history with just two other players reaching 40 points after turning 32. On this particular night, Durant would drop 44 points in a nine-point loss at the hands of the Bulls, shooting 15-22 from the field, 9-9 from the foul line, and 5-10 from three-point range.

16. Los Angeles Clippers – Dominique Wilkins – 42 Points (34 Years, 94 Days Old)

By the time Dominique Wilkins joined the Clippers, he was far from the Human Highlight Reel we had all come to know and love with the Hawks. On this night, Wilkins would turn back the clock with a performance for the history books. In a 1994 contest against the Lakers, Wilkins led the rival Clippers to a five-point win with 42 points on 16-30 shooting from the field. He also added 11 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead the crosstown Clippers to just their 27th win of the season.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Julius Erving – 42 Points (33 Years,351 Days Old)

Just two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, Julius Erving would become the oldest player in 76ers history to score 40 points in a game, breaking the previous mark by Hal Greer set 15 years earlier. Erving would go for 42 points in 42 minutes in a 118-107 home win over the Rockets. To earn this record, Erving went for 42 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks while shooting 15-25 from the field and 10-11 from the foul line.

18. Portland Trail Blazers – Andre Miller – 52 Points (33 Years, 317 Days Old)

Andre Miller’s place in the record books ahead of Damian Lillard in this case is the exception and not the rule. Lillard owns the next 13 oldest 40-point games in Portland history but Miller’s 52 points on January 30, 2010 still reigns supreme. Miller went off for 52 points in a 114-112 overtime win on the road against the Dallas Mavericks. Miller would shoot 22-31 from the floor with just one three-pointer made and attempted and just 7-8 shooting from the foul line.

19. New York Knicks – Patrick Ewing – 41 Points (33 Years, 167 Days Old)

Patrick Ewing is arguably the greatest player in Knicks history, giving 15 seasons to the team and earning the top spot in most statistical categories. On one particular night in January 1996, Ewing entered the record books again with 41 points in a three-point win over the SuperSonics. At 33 years old, Ewing would score 41 points in 45 minutes as the game went into overtime to decide a winner. Ewing shot 18-28 from the field, adding 16 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks to the performance and needed just 5-7 shooting from the foul line to get there.

20. Milwaukee Bucks – Damian Lillard – 40 Points (33 Years, 157 Days Old)

Damian Lillard has been a member of the Milwaukee Bucks for all of three-plus months after being traded from Portland, and is already in their history books as the oldest player in franchise history to score 40 points in a game. Lillard earned his place among Milwaukee legends just three weeks ago on December 19 against the Spurs. In this contest, Lillard would score exactly 40 points on 14-22 shooting and 7-12 shooting from three in a 132-119 win. Lillard led the team as a +26 on the court that night, needing just 5-5 shooting from the foul line to reach the 40-point mark.

21. Sacramento Kings – Connie Dierking – 45 Points (33 Years, 143 Days Old)

To find the oldest 40-point performance in Sacramento Kings history, we have to go back to 1970 and Connie Dierking to get there. Back in 1970, the Kings were still the Cincinnati Royals and Oscar Robertson was in his final year with the team. In a 20-point rout of the 76ers at home, Connie Dierking erupted with 45 points and 15 rebounds on 14-22 shooting overall and 17-21 shooting from the foul line to earn the record. The only player to come close since is Mitch Richmond in 1997 at 31 years old.

22. Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James – 44 Points (33 Years, 97 Days Old)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2PkOHEbNs

LeBron James joins Michael Jordan as the only two players to hold this record for two different teams. James achieved this feat with the Cavaliers in 2018 before leaving for the Lakers the following season. In a two-point loss to the 76ers, James would record 44 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists on 17-29 shooting overall and 4-8 shooting from three. Of course, James and the Cavaliers would advance to the NBA Finals and lose later that season before he decided to go West and join Los Angeles.

23. Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade – 40 Points (33 Years, 71 Days Old)

Dwyane Wade is arguably the greatest player in Miami Heat history and he proved it once again with a remarkable 40-point performance at just over 33 years old in 2015. On this particular night against the Pistons, Wade would lead Miami to a 109-102 win with 40 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists at home. Wade would shoot 14-27 overall from the field and 12-13 from the foul line to break his own record he set three months earlier in a 42-point game against the Utah Jazz.

24. Orlando Magic – Vince Carter – 48 Points (33 Years, 13 Days Old)

Vince Carter had some incredible performances throughout his NBA career over the years but one in particular stands out. Playing with the Orlando Magic in the 2009-10 season, Carter would go off for 48 points in 38 minutes in a 123-117 win over the Hornets at home. In this game, Carter would erupt with 48 points on 19-27 shooting overall and 6-10 from three-point range to lead Orlando to the win. He also added seven rebounds and was a +19 on the court, leading Orlando in more ways than one to the victory.

25. Detroit Pistons – Adrian Dantley – 45 Points – (32 Years, 266 Days Old)

Two-time scoring champion Adrian Dantley was a scoring machine during the 1980s. During the 1987-88 season with the Pistons, Dantley inserted himself into the record books three months shy of his 33rd birthday. Dantley scored 45 points in a 144-132 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls shooting 13-17 from the field and 19-22 from the foul line in the close contest. Dantley also added 6 assists to his 76.5% shooting night in one of the many chapters of Michael Jordan vs. The Bad Boys we have seen over the years.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Mo Williams – 52 Points (32 Years, 25 Days Old)

Mo Williams is the oldest player in Timberwolves history to score at least 40 and 50 points in a game with a memorable performance from the 2014-15 season. In a 110-101 win against the Indiana Pacers, Williams would turn back the clock with a 52-point game 19-33 shooting overall and 6-11 from three. Williams’ performance broke Minnesota’s previous record held by Kevin Garnett who was just 30 when he scored 44 points in a game in 2007 against the Suns.

27. New Orleans Pelicans – CJ McCollum – 42 Points (31 Years, 102 Days Old)

CJ McCollum originally joined this list on December 22, 2022, against the Spurs with a 40-point game. Eight days later, he would break his own record with 42 points against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 126-117 win. In the latter contest to set the record, McCollum would go for 42 points on 13-20 shooting overall and a scintillating 11-16 from three. Along with his 5 assists and 2 steals, McCollum’s record will stand for quite some time considering how young the Pelicans currently are in 2023-24.

28. Memphis Grizzlies – Marc Gasol – 42 Points (31 Years, 362 Days Old)

Just three days before his 32nd birthday, Marc Gasol would break the Memphis Grizzlies record for the oldest player with 40 points in a game previously set by his brother Pau in 2008. On this particular night in 2017, Marc would have one of the best games of his career with 42 points in 38 minutes against the Raptors. Gasol would reach 42 points on 14-25 shooting, 5-10 from three, and 9-10 from the foul line in a close 101-99 win over Toronto.

29. Toronto Raptors – Kyle Lowry – 40 Points (31 Years, 301 Days Old)

The record for the oldest player in Raptors history to score 40 points in a game is none other than Kyle Lowry who played with the team from 2013 through 2021. Lowry achieved this feat during the 2018 season, scoring 40 points in a 115-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lowry reached his 40 points on 14-25 shooting and 6-10 shooting from three in the loss. He also added 5 rebounds and 5 assists but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 51 points from Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

30. Charlotte Hornets – Stephen Jackson – 43 Points (31 Years, 282 Days Old)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxwM0V91frQ

We have to go back to the early 2010s when the Hornets were still known as the Bobcats and Stephen Jackson was on the team to find their oldest player to score 40 points in a game. That player was Jackson who went off for 43 points in an eight-point win over the Rockets. Jackson shot 15-22 from the field, 3-5 from three, and 10-11 from the foul line in the win. Gordon Hayward is the only other player in team history to score over 40 points past the age of 31 for the franchise.