Every NBA fan knows about Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, and Michael Jordan’s 1997 “flu game” in the NBA Finals where he dropped 38 points in a 90-88 win over the Utah Jazz. A simple Google search will uncover these impressive performances.
However, not many basketball fans are aware of some of the league’s more obscure individual game achievements. You’ll need to take a deep dive into the archives of NBA history to discover what you’re about to learn.
Scott Skiles Goes Crazy With the Assists
When talking about the NBA’s greatest passers, names like Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Steve Nash often come to mind. Heck, Stockton’s 15,806 career assists is nearly 4,000 more than second-place Jason Kidd.
Despite the accolades of some of the NBA’s greatest players, Orlando Magic point guard Scott Skiles holds the record for most assists in a game. On December 30, 1990, he dished out 30 assists in a 155-116 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Tony Delk Drops 53 Points Without Making a Three-Pointer
When you think of 50-point games, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and James Harden come to mind. Well, how about former Kentucky Wildcat shooting guard Tony Delk.
On January 2, 2001, as a member of the Phoenix Suns, Delk scored 53 points against the Sacramento Kings. He shot 20 for 27 from the field and made 13 of 15 foul shots. He also didn’t make a single three-pointer. Not too bad for a career scoring average of 9.1 ppg.
Wilt Chamberlain’s Flawless Triple-Double
While Wilt Chamberlain is not an obscure NBA player, the following stat line isn’t well known among NBA fans and analysts. With 78 career triple-doubles, Chamberlain ranks sixth all-time in the NBA.
However, he’s the first player in league history to record a triple-double without missing a shot from the field. On February 24, 1967, Chamberlain went 18 for 18 for 42 points, snagged 30 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists.. Of course, Russell Westbrook took it a step further by recording his own perfect triple-double making all of his free throw attempts. During Chamberlain’s historic game, he went 6 for 14 from the charity stripe.
Larry Bird’s Near Quadruple-Double
There have only been four players in NBA history that have achieved double figures in four separate stat categories during a single game. Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon accomplished this feat twice.
Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird just missed joining the exclusive club on February 18, 1985, with a state line of 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and nine steals. Here’s the kicker, he sat out the entire fourth quarter.. Not only could he have achieved the elusive quadruple-double milestone if he had played just another minute, he almost pulled it off in three-fourths a game. Mighty impressive!
Rick Barry Scores 64 Points, Making Just 4 Free Throws
Golden State Warriors small forward Rick Barry is arguably one of the NBA’s most underrated players. He had a career average of 25 ppg, was a 12-time All-Star, and scored 40 or points in 70 games.
One of his greatest performances, however, was on March 26, 1974, in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He scored 64 points, tying Michael Jordan’s second-highest scoring total. He went 30 for 45 from the field and 4 for 5 from the free throw line.. Without a three-point line, Barry scored 60 of his points either off the dribble or spotting up for a jump shot. The only other NBA player to have 30 or more made field goals in a game is Wilt Chamberlain.