Which NBA newcomers have recorded the highest point totals in a single game?
The Philadelphia 76ers chose VJ Edgecombe with the third overall selection in the 2025 NBA draft. Four months later, the former Baylor guard recorded 34 points in his NBA debut for the 76ers during a 117-116 victory against the Boston Celtics on the road.
Edgecombe achieved a shooting percentage of 7-for-8 in the paint and was perfect at 5-for-5 on attempts within 3 feet of the basket. His only mistakes of the evening were the two free throws he failed to convert with under 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Edgecombe’s 34 points marked the highest total in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain’s 43 in 1959.
In April 2026, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg set a record as the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a single game.
Below is a list of rookies who have scored the most points in a single game in NBA history:
58 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 129-122 victory at New York Knicks on Feb. 21, 1960
58 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 127-117 win against Detroit Pistons on Jan. 25, 1960
57 – Rick Barry (San Francisco Warriors) in a 141-137 defeat at New York Knicks on Dec. 14, 1965
56 – Earl Monroe (Baltimore Bullets) in a 119-116 loss to Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 13, 1968
55 – Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks) in a 129-125 victory against Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14, 2009
55 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 124-116 win at Cincinnati Royals on Nov. 12, 1959
55 – Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis Lakers) in a 116-96 victory against Cincinnati Royals on Feb. 25, 1959
54 – Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets) in a 122-120 win against Detroit Pistons on Nov. 13, 1968
53 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 126-108 victory against Boston Celtics on Feb. 23, 1960
52 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 126-111 win against Minneapolis Lakers on Jan. 5, 1960
51 – Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) in a 138-127 loss to Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026
51 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks) in a 140-127 victory against Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 21, 1970
50 – Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) in a 125-118 loss at Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12, 1997
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