NBA Superstars And Legends Who Never Scored 60+ Points In A Game

There are some phenomenal scorers when looking back at the league’s top players. With that said, we don’t talk enough about how Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in his final game. Bryant was one of the greatest players we have ever seen. Bryant remains the player that came closest to touching Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point scoring record when he scored 81 points in 2006. That display of mastery continued to the final game of his career in 2016 when he scored 60 points in his final game against the Jazz.

Looking back, you would think that there is a larger club that would be with Bryant in the 60-point club. However, 15 players will surprise you. These players own scoring records with franchises, even an all-time scoring record as well. In the end, these players have never scored 60 points in a game.

These are the players that have never scored 60 or more points in an NBA game.

Chris Paul – 43 Points

For all of the accomplishments that Paul has done in the league, he has never scored 60 points. Paul has never scored 50 points. Paul scored 43 points two times, and both were with the New Orleans Hornets. One came in the 2007-08 season and the other time was the following season. Paul’s best performance came during a 118-116 overtime win over the Grizzlies. Paul made 15 of 27 field goals and dished out nine assists. 

Magic Johnson – 46 Points

Johnson was one of a kind when it came to being able to score at a high rate and dish out close to 15 assists a night. While he was a unicorn in his own right, he never scored 50 points in a game. Johnson scored 40 or more points six times in his career. On this night, Johnson nearly recorded a triple-double but came one assist short. He finished with 46 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in a 127-117 win over the Kings.

Kevin Garnett – 47 Points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wub5ZpMyQ8

Garnett scored 40 or more points four times in his career but never made it to 50 or 60 points. Garnett scored 47 points against the Suns in 2005. He also added 17 rebounds on a night where he shot efficiently from the field. Garnett made 19 of 28 shots, as well as 9 of 11 free throws at the line. Thanks to 34 points from Amar’e Stoudemire, the Suns were able to take the win 122-115.

Hakeem Olajuwon – 52 Points

The Nuggets used a balanced scoring attack to get over Olajuwon’s 52 points. Fat Lever and Michael Adams scored 22 and 21 points, respectively. Olajuwon scored 52 points on 21 of 34 shooting, making 10 of 13 free throws at the line. Olajuwon also pulled down 18 rebounds, but his 11 turnovers doomed the team as the Rockets lost 130-127 in 1990.

Giannis Antetokounmpo – 52 Points

Despite Antetokounmpo scoring 52 points, the Bucks dropped a regular season contest to the 76ers in 2019. The finish was a high-scoring affair as the Bucks outscored the 76ers 43 to 41 in the final frame, but the rally was not enough. Antetokounmpo was 15 of 26 from the field, including making three 3-point field goals and 19 of 21 free throw attempts. The 76ers were able to counter with Joel Embiid scoring 40 points of his own in the 130-125 win.

Tim Duncan – 53 Points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_zNuYK5ESg

A 53-point night from Duncan was not enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks in 2001. The 126-123 overtime win spoiled Duncan’s night when Steve Nash hit a game-winning three-point field goal with 0.6 seconds left. Duncan made 19 of 28 field goals and all 15 free throw attempts. He also pulled down 11 rebounds, but the Spurs were outmatched by their Texas rival. 

Dirk Nowitzki – 53 Points

Nowitzki set the Mavericks’ single-game scoring record with his 53 points in 2004. The Mavericks also pulled out the 113-106 overtime win over the Rockets as well. Nowitzki scored 10 of the team’s 20 points in overtime. Dirk shot 15 of 32 from the field and made 21 of 22 shots at the free throw line. Nowitzki had a real shot to score 60 points had he made just a few extra shots.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 55 Points

A young kid in Milwaukee in 1971, Abdul-Jabbar put on a show by beating the likes of John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and the Boston Celtics. With 55 points from Abdul-Jabbar, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Celtics 120-104. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer made 23 of 36 field goal attempts, including 9 of 11 at the free throw line.

Dwyane Wade – 55 Points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N–wnQKTHrw

The New York Knicks were no match for Wade, who nearly scored half of his team’s points in a game in 2009. Wade scored 55 points to lead the Heat to a 122-105 win. Wade made 19 of his 30 field goal attempts. That included shooting 6 of 12 from three-point range and making 11 of his 13 free throws. Wade also pulled down nine rebounds. With Michael Beasley adding 28 points himself, the Heat was able to pull out the win.

Kevin Durant – 55 Points

This past season, Durant had the best scoring game of his career. Durant set a new scoring record for the Brooklyn Nets, but the Hawks ruined the night by defeating the Nets 122-115. Durant made 19 of 28 field goals, including shooting 80% from three-point range. Along with his 8 of 10 shooting from three-point range, Durant also made 9 of 11 free throw attempts. However, the Nets could not get over being outscored 37-20 in the second quarter.

Oscar Robertson – 56 Points

During a regular season game in 1964, Robertson scored 56 points in a 111-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Robertson led the Royals in scoring by shooting 17 of 33 from the field. He also added nine rebounds and 12 assists. Robertson was a triple-double machine back in his playing days. He nearly did it again on this night. A 60-point triple-double would have been something to remember had it ever happened.

Charles Barkley – 56 Points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuR-GbZma1Q

One year after winning the MVP, Barkley kept playing like one of the best in the league in 1994. With 56 points from Barkley, the Suns outlasted the Warriors in a 140-133 win. Barkley made 23 of 31 shots to shoot 74.2% from the field. He also made three 3-point field goals and seven of nine free throw attempts. You couldn’t ask for a more efficient night as he was 75.0% from three-point range and 77.8% from the free throw line.

Reggie Miller – 57 Points

After a 38-point first quarter, fans knew this was going to be a high-scoring game in 1992. The Pacers led the Hornets 76-70 at halftime and eventually won the game 134-122. Miller shot 16 of 29 from the field and 21 of 23 from the free throw line. Miller shot 4 of 11 from three-point range in an off night shooting from outside.

Russell Westbrook – 58 Points

Westbrook had one of the greatest games of his life, but it wasn’t enough for the Thunder to get the win. The Trail Blazers were able to overcome the NBA’s leading scorer with a 126-121 win as seven players scored in double figures in 2017. Westbrook shot 21 of 39 from the field, but he missed 60 points due to a horrid fourth quarter, where he shot 6 of 15 from the field. That included missing his final four shots in the last 1:23 of the game.

Anthony Davis – 59 Points

A regular season night in 2016 featured two below-average teams in the Pelicans and Pistons, but it was an exploratory night for the Pelicans’ star power forward. With 59 points from Davis, the Pelicans were able to hold on to a 111-106 victory. Davis shot 24 of 34 from the field, including making two three-point shots. Davis made 9 of 10 free throw attempts as well. Along with his 59 points, he recorded 20 rebounds. In the end, Davis was just short of reaching the 60-point mark.  

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