Ranking the 10 Most Impressive 40-Plus-Point Outbursts by NBA Old-Timers

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's recent string of 40-plus-point games have him among some elite company of NBA greats who eclipsed the 40-point mark in a game after the age of 32.

While some of his recent games have been no doubt impressive, are they among the game's greatest performances by old-timers?

Here's a look at where Bryant's performance ranks compared to others.

10. Kobe Bryant

Game: vs. Los Angeles Clippers; January 14, 2012

Points: 42

Even though the Lakers lost this game 102-94 to the Clippers, it makes the list because it was an amazing individual performance by Kobe Bryant.

He was able to put together his fourth consecutive 40-plus-point game.

He did so by connecting on 50 percent of his shots from the floor and knocking down 12 of 14 shots from the charity stripe.

9. Shaquille O'Neal

Game: vs. Toronto Raptors; February 27, 2009

Points 45

This was the Phoenix Suns version of Shaquille O'Neal, and he had his best game with them on this night against Toronto.

It was O'Neal's biggest offensive performance in six years, which came a  week shy of his 37th birthday. He made 20 of 25 shots in the 49th 40-point game of his career but the first in four seasons.

He hadn't scored this many since he nabbed 48 for the Los Angeles Lakers against Boston on March 21, 2003.

8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game: vs. Houston Rockets; February 6, 1986

Points: 46

There have been only eight games of 40 points or more by a player in his 16th NBA season or more. Kobe Bryant has four this season, Shaquille O'Neal had one and Abdul-Jabbar had the other three.

All three of his came in the 1985-86 season, but this 46-point outburst against the Rockets was his finest that season and came just one game separated from a 40-point effort.

In this game in particular, Abdul-Jabbar was a spectacular 21-of-30 from the floor.

7. Michael Jordan

Game: vs. Charlotte Hornets; January 1, 2002

Points: 51

Coming off the worst game of his career, Michael Jordan had his best in a Wizards uniform with a 51-point outburst, becoming the oldest NBA player to score over 50 in a game.

At the age of 38 years and 315 days, Jordan made 21 of 38 shots from the field, nine of 10 free throws and scored 24 points in the first quarter in a Wizards win.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon

Game: vs. Boston; January 18, 1996

Points: 51

Approaching the age of 34, Hakeem Olajuwon scored his second-highest total ever in a January game against the Celtics.

His 51-point performance came in a 108-106 loss to Boston, but his 20-of-37 performance from the floor and 11-of-14 performance from the charity stripe to go along with 14 rebounds was dominant nonetheless.

5. Kobe Bryant

Game: vs. Phoenix Suns; January 10, 2012

Points: 48

This was the beginning of Kobe Bryant's run this season and his finest performance in some time.

He showed why he's still the NBA's best closer, scoring 15 of the Lakers' final 17 points to break open a tight game.

It was his fifth consecutive game of at least 25 points, and he finished 18-of-31 from the floor and made 12 of 13 free throws.

4. Karl Malone

Game: vs. Golden State; April 7, 1998

Points: 56

Karl Malone, over 35 years of age at this point in his career, put together the highest scoring game of the 1998 season with a 56-point explosion against the Warriors.

The Mailman did it all on this particular evening, even hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to close the third quarter, a quarter in which he scored 25 points.

What made this game special, though, is that Malone hit a runner with 2.2 seconds left in the game to give the Jazz a 101-99 win.

Putting his 56-point effort into more perspective, the Indiana Pacers scored only 55 as a team a little over a week prior.

3. Bernard King

Game: vs. Denver; December 29, 1990

Points: 52

Many thought Bernard King was washed up, and after being out of the game for a couple years rehabbing, King came back to have a great 1990-91 season and found himself an All-Star again.

His 52-point effort against Denver was memorable, but there was also a 49-point effort at Madison Square Garden against his former Knicks team that will always be one of the more memorable performances of all time.

2. Wilt Chamberlain

Game: vs. Cincinnati; January 26, 1969

Points: 60

You can't have a list of top-scoring games without finding Wilt Chamberlain's name somewhere on it.

Chamberlain had more 40-plus-point games than anyone, but it was this 60-point effort against the Cincinnati Royals that was one of the last big efforts of his career and came as he was close to 34 years of age.

1. Michael Jordan

Game: vs. New York; March 28, 1995

Points: 55

This was all about the stage.

Michael Jordan's comeback. The world's greatest arena. Something special was about to happen, and it did.

Jordan became Jordan again after initially struggling during his comeback and dropped the famous "double-nickle" on the New York Knicks.

Despite his game-high 55 points, it was Jordan's pass to Bill Wennington for an open dunk that gave the Bulls the win and capped a very special night.