Top 10 Players with the Most 40 point games in NBA history

The NBA has evolved more into an offensive machine from the perimeter than the paint offense in the past. That's why it is easy for modern-day players to put up volume numbers on the board. However, some of the legends from the good old days were so good that they are still leading the league in terms of volume scoring. For example, Goliath's single-game 100 point record is still a milestone that the NBA players have not achieved in any era, despite the ease of regulations on point scoring.

Similarly, scoring 40 points in an NBA game is a feat that is considered prestigious since it shows that the player is in the zone, and such games are often high-scoring, with weak teams. But to maintain that consistency in offense is what matters. That's why we will be giving an honorable mention to the ball legends who played or are still playing basketball and have marked their place on the list of the Top 10 players with the most 40-point games in NBA history.

Who Has the Most 40-Point Games in NBA History?

The players with the most 40-point games in NBA history are mostly those who have already registered their presence as the league's Hall of Famer so far. They are the players who have already retired or are still adding to their legacy, like GOAT Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and modern-day super star ballers like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Kevin Durant.

We have curated a list of the top 10 players who had the most 40-point games in NBA history, including the above greats of the sport, as per the Statmuse data. More than anything, these all-around players are known for their scoring abilities, which is more dominant on the hardcourt for them.

Top 10 Players with the Most 40-Point Games in the NBA

Considering the list of greats, we will be shedding more light on such players with the most 40-point games in the NBA. Where they stand in the league, how much their presence has meant to the teams, and how much they have earned on the team as well as the individual level with their offensive prowess on the court. So let's move ahead with it.

#10: Stephen Curry (71 40-Point Games)

He is regarded as one of the best shooters that the NBA has ever witnessed, and he does it happily on the court with the nickname of Baby Faced Assassin. Stephen Curry is the future great of the game who has already secured his place as a Hall of Famer in the league. Despite so many seasons as a Golden State Warriors player and losing his key buddy from the squad, Klay Thompson, Curry is still lethal from the perimeter as he was before, since his knack for shooting is just getting better and better.

His volume scoring brought him about 71 40-point games. In the 2024-25 season, he is currently raking up 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6 assists as a point guard. His three-point shooting percentage is slightly close to the 40 percent mark.

Key Achievements: 11x All-Star, 4x NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP (2022), 2x NBA Three-Point Contest Champion, 2x NBA Scoring Champion.

#9: Kevin Durant (72 40-Point Games)

Kevin Durant, often known as KD or the Slim Reaper, is another legend in modern basketball who has been active on the NBA hardwood for the last 18 seasons. He is a player with sharp reflexes who can shoot from any point on the court in any of the most abnormal poses. The basketball is not all about the textbook shots for him. Rather, he keeps his creative mind active to inculcate any type of shot or movement to tackle the defenders and get the ball into the bucket.

In the 2024-25 season, he is averaging about 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a power forward for the Phoenix Suns squad. Even during the last season, his points average was more than 27 points and 5 assists at this point in his career.

Key Achievements: 2x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 1x NBA MVP, 15x NBA All-Star, 4x NBA Scoring Champion.

#8: Oscar Robertson (77 40-Point Games)

The 6-foot-5-inch tall Oscar Palmer Robertson, also known as the “Big O,” was the one who founded the stat padding with his ability to score according to his will. That's why he was able to maintain a whole season of triple-doubles, way before the modern inclination of NBA players for such stats. That's why he has 77 40-point games under his portfolio. He was just a poor kid in early childhood for whom the only way to get out of the cycle of poverty was to make it to the pros and earn some money through it.

On his journey to success, he moved so high that he was later inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. He played the point guard position and was versed in keeping opponents at bay with his raw strength.

Key Achievements: 1x MVP, 12x All-Star, 1x NBA Champion, first player to average a triple-double in a season.

#7: Allen Iverson (79 40-Point Games)

Allen Iverson, who is also known as The Answer or Bobba Chuck during his childhood, was the bridge who kept the thrill of the game alive between 1996 and 2011 in the NBA. He played two positions of shooting guard and point guard and dominated both in his career while prominently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. His playing style was not flashy, but it was fast enough to baffle the defenders while they were busy making a strategy. Just like Harden, he used to score in isolation and during clutch moments.

That's how he was able to score 40 points or more in 79 fixtures of the NBA. During his long 14-year career, he also attained multiple league accolades that can be mentioned as follows.

Key Achievements: 1x MVP, 11x All-Star, 4x Scoring Champion, Hall of Famer, 3x NBA Steals Leader.

#6: LeBron James (79 40-Point Games)

The NBA record books cannot miss the name LeBron James, who is arguably one of the greatest all-around players in NBA history. He has been active in the basketball scene for a long time and completed two decades of NBA basketball last season. He is still adding to his stats since he has tallied 79 40-point games in his pro-basketball career so far. Moreover, he has not given up on the sports yet and is tallying 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in the current season.

He is referred to as King James in the pro-basketball world due to the amount of time he has ruled the court after Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, with several players who came and passed the league swiftly. Yet, LeBron is still there making statements to the ballers with his athleticism during the forties.

Key Achievements: 4x NBA Champion, 4x MVP, all-time leading scorer in NBA history.

#5: Elgin Baylor (88 40-Point Games)

Before LeBron James, it was Elgin Baylor who dominated the small forward position and made it prestigious like no other. That's how he was able to score 40 or more than 40 points in a game for 88 matchups in his career. He was an acrobatic marvel who could do it all, whether it be rebounding, shooting, or passing. Especially, shooting was in his genes since he could hang more than anyone on the court in the air and complete his iconic jump shot in the air. Due to his mid-air maneuvers, it was not easy to block his high curve shots to the buckets, and it was a hassle for defenders during that era.

He played 14 seasons in the league with first Minneapolis Lakers who later became the Los Angeles Lakers later. He also became one of the greatest of all time to play the game due to his skills, along with his clarity in shot execution.

Key Achievements: 11x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, Hall of Famer, NBA All-Star game MVP(1959).

#4: James Harden (105 40-Point Games)

James Harden, the three-point machine and the volume scorer, is also known as one of the greats of the game. It has been sixteen years since he has been active in the sport and is still competing. That's how he was able to accumulate 105 40-point games in his career. However, he has put an end to his pro-ball career, so we might expect more dynamite performances from the Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard until he finally bids adieu to the game.

He might not be as explosive or heavy scorer like he used to be before Covid-19, yet he is tallying 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in his career at the twilight of his career. With his consistency, it seems he might last longer than LeBron James on the court.

Key Achievements: 1x MVP, 6x All-NBA First Team, 3x Scoring Champion, 2x NBA Assists Leader.

#3: Kobe Bryant (122 40-Point Games)

Kobe Bryant is considered the most skilled basketball player ever due to the efforts he put into inventing or performing almost every iconic move on the court from the textbook of basketball. He was a living legend, and his approach to victory without any deviation was known as the Black Mamba mentality. Unfortunately, he died in a helicopter crash with his daughter after his retirement from the league. But he had already made a big impact in the league since he also had 122 40-point games along with 81 points in a single game, which is still just next to the Goliath's highest number of points in a single game.

Kobe was more of a clutch performer since he would go on a rampage in the end of the fourth quarter, increasing the margin by double digits against the opponents. That's why he was one of the most feared opponents in the NBA on the court while defending.

Key Achievements: 5x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 18x All-Star, 2x Finals MVP, 2x Scoring Champion.

#2: Michael Jordan (173 40-Point Games)

Michael Jordan ruled the court for whatever time he was in the game. He tallied over 30 points per game in his career, along with more than six rebounds and five assists. He was an all-around player and considered a naturally gifted athlete who utilised his abilities to their full potential. He etched the Chicago Bulls in NBA history with eternal glory, with the six championships and the trio that he formed with Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman on the court. Under Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan scored about 173 40-point games in his career.

It was his mid-range game that was lethal for the defenders. He won't cut too deep or go for shots from the arc. Rather, he would dive in and dig out the opportunities to score the two-pointers from the mid-range during that era. But that's not it; he could maintain the same explosiveness and athleticism throughout the game without any exhaustion.

Key Achievements: 6x NBA Champion, 5x MVP, 10x Scoring Champion, 14x All-Star, widely considered the GOAT.

#1: Wilt Chamberlain (271 40-Point Games)

Wilt Chamberlain was one of his kind who was born to bless the sport of basketball as well as the NBA with his presence. He was a track and field athlete at the start. However, when his life moved him toward basketball, he took the league by storm. For a center as tall as Goliath, it was rare to hold that explosive amount of athleticism that he was equipped with.

Moreover, teams had to double-team or appoint three players to defend him. Yet he was able to score 40 or more points in a game and did the same for about 271 games during his career in the NBA. Not to forget, he is the only player in NBA history to hit the 100-point threshold in a single game.

Key Achievements: 2x NBA Champion, 4x MVP, 7x Scoring Champion, holds numerous unbreakable scoring records.