Ranking Every NBA Game Of 40 Points or More So Far This Season

In 2022-23, NBA players absolutely smashed the all-time record for 40-point performances in a single campaign. Altogether, the players managed 203 40-point outings that season.

The previous record, set in 1961-62 (when Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points by himself), was 142.

Well, less than a week into the 2025-26 campaign, the league's stars have already totaled 12 individual games of at least 40 points. They're on pace for a whopping 351.

Of course, the chances of this pace holding steady are slim, but this is a potential record we'll have our eyes on all season.

In the meantime, let's take a closer look at each of the 12 performances that have hit the 40-point threshold so far, and rank them by an unscientific combination of numbers, visuals and subjectivity.

12. Cam Thomas, October 26 Against the Spurs

40 points, two rebounds, -7 plus-minus, 24.5 game score, +7.5 box plus/minus

On Sunday, Cam Thomas had about as "Cam Thomas" a game as you can get.

He went for 40 points on 11-of-25 shooting, giving him one of the three games on this list with a sub-50 field-goal percentage (though he did have a 65.1 true shooting percentage). He had zero assists (though he did have eight potential assists).

And ultimately, despite his volume scoring, the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets lost by double-digits to the San Antonio Spurs.

On a team as reliant on young talent as Brooklyn is, we're likely to see a few more games this season in which Thomas works his way into 20-plus shots and 40-plus points.

11. Jaylen Brown, October 26 Against the Pistons

41 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, -1 plus-minus, 27.3 game score, +8.2 box plus/minus

In another volume scoring night that ended in a loss, Jaylen Brown imposed his will (at least as a scorer) on a Detroit Pistons squad that features several high-end defensive playmakers.

Like Thomas, Brown failed to hit half his field-goal attempts, but making seven threes and going 12-of-15 from the line earned him a 64.9 true shooting percentage.

Without Jayson Tatum in the mix, Brown should have plenty of nights like this one, with scoring opportunities spread throughout the game.

10. Anthony Edwards, October 22 Against the Trail Blazers

41 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, +9 plus-minus, 25.3 game score, +0.6 box plus/minus

This game came with roughly the same scoring efficiency that Thomas and Brown's performances gave us. And, as you can see, Anthony Edwards only mustered one more assist that Thomas' zero.

But Ant gets bumped up a couple spots for a few reasons.

First of all, his Minnesota Timberwolves won. That's factored into the unscientific formula. Second, Edwards was a huge part of the comeback. He dropped 23 of his points in the second half. And finally, there's a certain swagger that comes with any of Ant's performances that's almost unparalleled.

Maybe it's just nostalgia for someone who grew up during the era of Michael Jordan, but there's still something about a dominant 2-guard taking over a game. And nobody at that position does it quite like Edwards.

9. Tyrese Maxey, October 22 Against the Celtics

40 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, +3 plus-minus, 32.5 game score, +14.2 box plus/minus

As fun as the Joel Embiid era might have been for Philadelphia 76ers fans, the team may be on the verge of a new and more exciting stretch led by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Both are explosive, dynamic guards who can score inside and from beyond the three-point line. Edgecombe can routinely finish above the rim. Maxey has near unrivaled end-to-end speed.

And in their season-opener against the Boston Celtics, they combined for a whopping 74 points.

The leader, though, was Maxey, who looks more than ready to assume the "face of the franchise" mantle for one of the NBA's oldest and most storied organizations.

8. Aaron Gordon, October 23 Against the Warriors

50 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, -1 plus-minus, 44.2 game score, +22.6 box plus/minus

You almost have to wonder if Nikola Jokić (who went 2-of-13 from deep and looked generally disengaged for much of the Denver Nuggets' season opener against the Golden State Warriors) apologized to Aaron Gordon on Thursday.

The star forward long known for his highlights around the rim put any doubt about his recent shooting development to rest in this performance, when he went a scorching 10-of-11 from deep and set a career high in points.

The Nuggets wound up losing this one in overtime, but it took a magical Stephen Curry night to get to that result, and Denver wouldn't have been in the game without Gordon's red-hot shooting.

7. Luka Dončić, Opening Night Against the Warriors

43 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, -8 plus-minus, 38.9 game score, +15.9 box plus/minus

We have another losing effort to discuss here. And again, we have the Warriors to blame for that.

But on the first night of this young NBA season, Luka Dončić went absolutely ballistic on his way to a near triple-double.

After an offseason packed with discussion on Luka's new, slimmer physique, he looked as laterally explosive as he has in years. And as long as LeBron James is out with sciatica, monster stat lines like this are likely to keep piling up for Dončić (assuming he returns from his own finger sprain within the next couple weeks).

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, October 23 Against the Pacers

55 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, +9 plus-minus, 43.1 game score, +12.4 box plus/minus

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has NBA scoring down to a science.

Interrupted by occasional bursts to the rim or his favorite mid-range shots, SGA methodically winds his way all over the floor, seeking his favorite spots and goading defenders (and often referees) into sending him to the free-throw line.

His method worked brilliantly on Thursday, when he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a double-overtime win over the Indiana Pacers and went 23-of-26 from the charity striple.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, October 26 Against the Cavaliers

40 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, -5 plus-minus, 43.1 game score, +24.5 box plus/minus

This performance only tumbled so far because it ended with the Milwaukee Bucks losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Still, there's a good argument to have it higher. Giannis Antetokounmpo's 40-pointer features the best box plus/minus on this list. He went 14-of-20 from the field, made his only three-point attempt and shot 11-of-16 from the line.

And on this night, Giannis gave us a vivid reminder of how consistently he brings it on every single night. Regardless of opponent or the roster around him, Antetokounmpo plays with immense effort in each game.

And after this performance, it's probably time to start thinking about the potential of a third MVP for his trophy case.

4. Stephen Curry, October 23 Against the Nuggets

42 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, +15 plus-minus, 38.1 game score, +17.1 box plus/minus

Even at 37, no one in the NBA puts on a show quite like Stephen Curry.

On Thursday, his Warriors trailed the visiting Nuggets for much of the game. As already mentioned, Gordon was torching Golden State from deep. And through the first half, Curry only had seven points.

But he heated up in the third (as he often did during that historic 2015-16 campaign), scored 13 in that frame and set Denver up for heartache.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets still had a 92.9 percent win probability, but Curry obviously didn't care. He drilled late triples that would've been terrible shots for anyone else. Twenty-two of his 42 points came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

And by the end of the win, it was easy to start thinking about the potential for his fifth championship ring.

If Curry is still capable of taking over like this, the Warriors have a chance against anyone in a seven-game series.

3. Luka Dončić, October 24 Against the Timberwolves

49 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, +18 plus-minus, 42.0 game score, +16.7 box plus/minus

Dončić has only played in two games this season. They're both on this list. And unlike the Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves were helpless against Skinny Luka's bombardment.

Against a team with loads of defensive versatility on the wing, Dončić coyly worked his way to whatever spots he wanted. He never looked sped up. He manipulated on-ball and help defenders with his fakes and changes of pace. He went 9-of-11 on two-point attempts. And he had near complete control of the blowout win.

Unfortunately, he also suffered his finger injury in this contest. But if he's back soon and clears the 65-game threshold required for individual awards, it looks like Luka will be on the very short list of legitimate MVP candidates.

2. Austin Reaves, October 26 Against the Kings

51 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals +22 plus-minus, 49.6 game score, +21.8 box plus/minus

With Luka and LeBron both out on Sunday, Austin Reaves had his opportunity at the controls of L.A.'s offense against the Sacramento Kings.

And he was genuinely spectacular in the role.

The line above got him the highest game score ("...a rough measure of a player's productivity for a single game") on this list. It earned him the third highest box plus/minus. And it led the shorthanded Lakers to a win over the Kings.

Like SGA, Reaves has an almost preternatural sense for how to draw whistles from referees. He was 21-of-22 from the line in this one. But three-point volume is part of his shot diet too.

And while he's not going to threaten Gilgeous-Alexander or the other MVP candidates for that award, this performance could certainly be a showcase for his agent when he's negotiating Reaves' next contract this summer.

1. Victor Wembanyama, Opening Night Against the Mavericks

40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, +31 plus-minus, 37.6 game score, +21.7 box plus/minus

Yes, there are a handful of performances so far this season that produced better advanced numbers. Yes, there are several with more total points.

But no one (and no single game) has captured the attention and imagination of both fans and analysts as thoroughly as Victor Wembanyama's opening-night masterpiece against the Dallas Mavericks.

This rank goes well beyond the numbers. Wembanyama is here because what he did was truly unlike anything we've ever seen. Players who stand 7'4" shouldn't be able to move the way he does. They shouldn't be able to handle the ball or shoot like he does.

His wealth of skill, in concert with the size and athleticism, makes him some kind of impossibly gifted combination of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.

And if that leads to many more performances like this one, Wemby could snag his first MVP in his age-22 campaign.