Who has the most points in one half in NBA history? Full list of players including Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant
The NBA has seen many talented strikers have hits that make opposing coaches shake their heads and shrug. There’s simply nothing a group of defenders can do except hope the next shot doesn’t find its way through the bottom of the net.
Well, sometimes those hot streaks just keep repeating until the whistle blows. Goals of that nature are usually reserved for Celebs like Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, but sometimes a lesser-known talent can make its way into the record books alongside greats. best of all time. (Hello, Brandon Jennings!)
Which players have the highest number of innings in NBA history? Let’s run down the list.
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Most points in one inning in NBA history
Chamberlain stood alone in the lead with his 59 halves, which was part of his record-setting 100-point run (more on that below). Bryant wasn’t far behind, as he scored 55 points in the second half of the 2006 game, finishing with 81 points overall.
David Thompson and George Gervin notably both scored 53 points in one half on the same day in 1978. Gervin totaled 63 points to claim the win. The race for the tightest scoring title in NBA history.
| Player | Point | Day | Half |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 59 | March 2, 1962 | Second |
| Kobe Bryant | 55 | January 2, 2006 | Second |
| David Thompson | 53 | April 9, 1978 | The first day |
| George Gervin | 53 | April 9, 1978 | The first day |
| Devin Booker | 51 | March 24, 2017 | Second |
| David Robinson | 47 | April 24, 1994 | Second |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 45 | November 16, 1962 | The first day |
| Rick Barry | 45 | March 26, 1974 | Second |
| Brandon Jennings | 45 | November 14, 2009 | Second |
(via Elias Sports Bureau)
Wilt Chamberlain’s giant half gets him 100 points
“The Big Dipper” dropped 100 points in 48 minutes of work on March 2, 1962, when the Philadelphia Warriors beat the New York Knicks 169-147 on aggregate. In leading the Warriors to victory, Chamberlain broke his own record of 78 points in a single game set on December 8, 1961, against the Los Angeles Lakers, a game that included a lot of extra time.
Chamberlain finished with 100 points with 36/63 free throws (57.1%) and 28/32 free throws (87.5%). Keep in mind that Chamberlain has shot 51.1% of the touchline in his career, so getting close to 90% of his free throws in a single game is somewhat of an anomaly. Just missed an additional free throw, and he’s stuck at 99. (Not impressive at all!)
Along with all the accolades, Chamberlain also racked up 25 rebounds and found time to make two assists. The NBA didn’t record tackles until the 1973-74 season, so it’s likely he has a few of them, too. Heck, Chamberlain could have posted a 100-point double.
The only thing more absurd than Chamberlain’s 100-point match was his stat line for the entire 1961-62 season. Seriously, just take a moment and think about this: 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game with 50.6 percent from the field and 61.3 percent from the rope (by the way (by the way) , a career high). Chamberlain managed to score nearly 40 goals and take 17 free throws per game.
But that’s not the best part. Chamberlain averaged 48.5 minutes per game. If you’re scratching your head, yes, NBA games are only 48 minutes long. However, the Warriors also played 10 extra innings that season, and Chamberlain scored 3,882 out of a possible 3,890 minutes.
It’s safe to say we won’t see any NBA players eclipse those season numbers – or his famous 100 points total – anytime soon.
