The 20 Best Games by Active NBA Players

On Mar. 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. He grabbed 25 rebounds for good measure. It is regarded by some as the best individual game ever played. Others say that he was fed the ball to get to the total. 

I got to wondering, what were some of the greatest games played by active players? The rules have changed to the point that a 100-point game may never happen again, but there have been some pretty amazing games. 

I used a formula I've devised for previous occasions to determine the 100 best games by active players. Following are the 12 best by unique players, 

The formula alots 1.05 points per possession, as that is the league average. Things which result in the team gaining a possession (rebounds, steals and blocks) are awarded 1.05 points, things which cost the team a possession (missed field goals and turnovers) are penalized 1.05 points. A missed free throw is considered "half a possession." One point is given for a point and 1.5 points for an assist. 

The formula looks like this. 

PTS + 1.5*AST+1.05*(REB+BLK+STL)-1.05*(TO+(FGA-FG)+(.5*(FTA-FT)

I also awarded a "bonus" for getting a triple-double. 

The number following the players name is the score he received for that game based on my formula. 

The following are the best unique performances. I chose the unique performances to get a little more diversity. Players that would have more than one appearance are noted on their slides though. There are some expected results and a couple of surprising ones.

If you enjoyed this article you might want to take a look at this one too. The Last 25 Years of Triple-Doubles and Huge Stat Stuffing Games

20. Baron Davis, 57.8

On November 11, 2006, Baron Davis had the best game of his career.

Davis scored 36 points and passed for another 18 assists. He also had eight rebounds and three steals. He was 12-for-20 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 from the line.

As a result of his effort, the Golden State Warriors were able to beat the Sacramento Kings, 117-105. 

19. Tony Parker, 57.9

Tony Parker has got to be one of the most underrated players in the league.

How many people even realize he is wearing three championship rings? His placement on this list should come as a surprise to some that shouldn't be a surprise at all. 

On Nov. 5, 2008, Parker scored 55 points, dished 10 assists and grabbed seven boards in a fantastic performance. As a result of his game, the Spurs were able to knock off the Minnesota Timberwolves, 129-125. 

18. Tim Duncan, 58.0

It's impressive enough that Tim Duncan scored a career-high 53 points on Dec. 26, 2001. What makes it even more impressive though is that he did so going 19-for-28 from the field and hit on all 15 of his free-throw attempts. He grabbed 11 boards for good measure. 

He didn't get much help from his team, though, as no other Spurs scored more than 13 points, and San Antonio fell to in-state rival Dallas, 126-123. 

17, Antonio McDyess, 58.0

For those who forgot, before his career was derailed by injury, Antonio McDyess was one of the dominant big men in the game. On Feb. 28, 1999, he established the best game of his career, scoring 46 points, grabbing 19 boards and blocking four shots. 

In spite of the fact that no one else on the Nuggets scored more than 12 points, the Nuggets were able to beat the Vancouver Grizzlies, 116-112, as a result of McDyess's effort. 

16. Chris Paul, 58.6

Chris Paul had a thoroughly impressive performance against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 10, 2006. His 25 points, 18 assists, 11 rebounds and five steals filled up the stat sheet and made fantasy owners happy. 

Unfortunately, it didn't help the Hornets win, though. Chicago beat them 131-128. The leading scorer for that game, Rasual Butler, is now a Chicago Bull. 

15. Ramon Sessions, 58.6

On Apr. 14, 2008, Ramon Sessions had a surprisingly good game and makes the most shocking appearance on the list. His 20 points came on just 12 field goal attempts, but that's not the reason for his lofty place here. It's the 24 assists he passed for—third most by any active player.

It was, unfortunately, not much good for the Bucks, as in spite of his huge effort, the Bucks were still pretty much destroyed by the Chicago Bulls, 151-135.  

14. Dwight Howard, 59.2

On Feb. 27, 2009, Dwight Howard posted the best game of his career to date.

He scored 45 points, grabbed 19 boards and blocked eight shots in nearly getting a massive triple double the hard way.

Thanks to Howard's game, the Magic were able to top the Charlotte Bobcats, 107-102. 

13. Kevin Garnett, 59.3

Kevin Garnett's ring might have come with the Boston Celtics, but his best game ever came when he was a Minnesota Timberwolve.

In a losing effort, Garnett had 47 points on just 19 attempts and added 17 boards and four assists. 

The Phoenix Suns were too much, though, and Minnesota fell 122-115. 

12. Rajon Rondo, 59.9

Rajon Rondo's game from Jan. 5, 2011 is one of two games from this list that happened this season. He had the second-highest assist total of his career with 23 and added 10 rebounds, 12 points and six steals. 

Rondo's triple-double helped his team to a win, as the Boston Celtics beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-103. 

11. Gilbert Arenas, 60.5

This serves as something of a reminder that there was a time when Gilbert Arenas showed that he might be worth his massive contract. On Dec. 17, 2006, Arenas had a massive game, scoring 60 points and adding eight assists along with eight rebounds. 

In a high-scoring affair with the Los Angeles Lakers, Arenas led the Wizards to victory 148-141. In that same game, Kobe Bryant had a nearly as impressive game, scoring 45 points, dishing 10 assists and grabbing eight boards. Bryant's game ranked 48th on the list.

The game was the only one featuring two of the top 50 performances among active players.  

10. Manu Ginobili, 60.6

On Feb. 13, 2008, Manu Giniobili had the best game of his career when he scored 46 points on 15-of-20 shooting and added eight assists and five rebounds. As a result of his effort, the Spurs were able to beat the LeBron James-led Clevland Cavaliers 112-105. 

It is worth mentioning that Chris Bosh is not on this list from the Miami Heat's Big Three. Also, neither Paul Pierce or Ray Allen are on this list. The only team with all three of their big three represented are the San Antonio Spurs. 

The Duncan/Parker/Ginobili combo doesn't get as much regard as the other two trios in spite of the fact they've actually won three championships to Boston's one and the Heat's none. Just thought I should throw that out there. They just don't get the love they deserve, particularly Parker and Ginobili. 

9. Dirk Nowitzki, 60.7

A "dirk" is the German word for a dagger. It's appropriate as Dirk Nowitzki was the dagger against the Miami Heat during the finals. He falsely got the reputation as clutch at that time. I say it's false because he was actually far more clutch than people credit him as being before that. 

Exhibit A is his game from Dec. 12, 2004,  when Nowitzki scored 53 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and went 21-of-22 form the charity stripe.

Monster games are nothing new from Dirk. 

8. Antawn Jamison, 62.2

Yes, it's true. Antawn Jamison was once a Golden State Warrior, although that seems like a lifetime ago. His career game came while with the team on December 6, 2000.

Facing the Lakers, Jamison scored 51 points, hauled in 13 boards and passed for five dimes. 

Because of his performance, the overmatched Warriors were able to delight the hometown fans, sending home the Lakers with a 125-122 beating. 

7. LeBron James, 63.3

Well, you knew LeBron James was going to be on this list somewhere, right? I was somewhat surprised to see that James' best game of his career so far came this year with the Miami Heat.

He scored 51 points on 17-of-25 shooting, passed for eight assists and grabbed 12 boards when the Heat beat the Magic. 

James has 13 of the 100 best games among active players. 

6. Dwyane Wade, 65.5

Dywane Wade's best game is better than LeBron James best game. In fact, Wade's two best games were better than James, but how appropriate is it that their places are so close on this list? 

Wade's second-best came on Dec. 12, 2007, against (drum roll please) the Orlando Magic! This occurred because what we really need in the NBA is more parallels between LeBron and Wade. Wade scored 48 points, had 11 assists and seven boards. Defensively, he had three steals and three blocks each. 

In Wade's best game, though, the Heat lost. 

In his best game, he faced the Chicago Bulls on Mar. 9, 2009. In that effort, Wade scored 48 points, had 12 assists and six rebounds. This time, it was enough to win, as the Heat beat the Bulls 130-127 in double overtime. 

5. Tracy McGrady, 66.3

Of all the careers that "could have been," two come to mind first. One of those two players is Tracy McGrady. There were times when he was looking like he could be in the conversation with Kobe Bryant as the best player in the league during the first part of the decade. 

In fact, McGrady had five of the best games among all active players during the first half of the decade; Bryant only had three. 

Two things separated them, though: health and winning. 

If you're guessing, McGrady's best game was not his 62-point game. Rather, it came on Feb. 23, 2003, when he scored 46 points, dished 13 assists and grabbed 10 boards in getting a triple-double. T-Mac was also 11-of-13 from the stripe and 16-of-27 from the field in a highly efficient scoring night. 

The Magic beat the New Jersey Nets thanks to his efforts. Jason Kidd also secured a triple-double in that game, scoring 26 points, passing for 15 assists and hauling in 10 rebounds. 

4. Vince Carter, 68.1

Remember the two names that came to mind when I think of what could have been? Well, here's the second name. Vince Carter's explosiveness was never the same after his ankle injuries. 

His greatest game came as a New Jersey Net, though, after his injuries. On Apr. 7, 2007, Carter scored a triple-double, draining 46 points,  grabbing 16 boards and passing for 10 assists. Thanks to his effort, the New Jersey Nets beat the Washington Wizards 120-114. 

And, as with Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd secured a triple-double of his own during that game. He passed for 18 assists, grabbed 16 rebounds himself and scored 10 points. 

Just in case all of this has you wondering, Jason Kidd's best game came on Apr. 5, 2009, when he scored 19 points, had 20 assists and only four boards. 

3. Amar'e Stoudemire, 68.5

Amar'e Stoudemire had some impressive games in his inaugural season in the Big Apple, but the best of his career came while he was with the Phoenix Suns.

On Nov. 5, 2008, he scored 49 points on lights out 17-for-21 shooting. He was also a perfect 15-for-15 from the line. On top of his scoring, he added 11 boards, six assists, five steals and two blocks. 

As a result of his stat sheet filling, awesome shooting performance, the Suns beat the Pacers 113-103. 

2. Shaquille O'Neal, 69.2

Technically, he "retired," but since he played last season, I included him on the list. Shaq had several of the best games of active players. He had three of the top 10, seven of the top 25 and 13 of the top 100. 

His career best, though, came on Mar. 6, 2000. It was a performance as gargantuan as he is.

He scored 61 points, going 24-for-35 from the field, and grabbed 23 boards. The game wasn't even close, as Kobe Bryant chipped in another 22 and the Lakers blew out the Clippers 123-103.  

1. Kobe Bryant, 71.4

I'm certain this surprises absolutely no one.

On Jan. 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points—the most by anyone other than Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. Kobe was 28-for-46 from the field. That's a .609 field goal percentage.

I point this out because some people have tried to dismiss the feat by pointing out that he took so many shots. If you're shooting 60 percent from the field, you can shoot as much as you want. Bryant was also 18-of-20 from the stripe and 7-of-13 from the arc. His true shooting percentage for the game was a surreal .739. Shoot away Kobe, shoot away. 

The magnitude of this is just beyond impressive. When you take 46 shots, you're going to get some defensive attention, and by some, I mean a lot. When you command a .739 TS% in spite of that, there's only one word to describe the accomplishment—unstoppable.

Kobe Bryant has 29 of the top 200 games played by active NBA players and 43 of the top 250.