5 highest scoring games of LeBron James' career

LeBron James is not known primarily as a scorer but did you know he as many as 11 50+ point games so far in his career? That includes a 60-point game. Given his extraordinary talent to pass the ball at his height and the assist numbers he racks up, scoring wasn't ever known to be his primary talent.

Yet, for his career, one that spans more than 15 seasons and more than 1000 games, he averages around 27 points per game while shooting more than 50% from the field (at the time of writing). Last night, James put on another magnificent scoring performance in Washington to avoid a fifth straight loss for the team.

His 57 points were neither his career-high or the franchise record. That begs the questions - What were the highest scoring games of his career? We share the top 5:

#5 52 points - twice

LeBron James recorded a near 50-point triple-double at the Madison Square Garden back in 2009

When and Where: February 4th, 2009 (New York) and December 10th, 2005 (Milwaukee)

Long before Russell Westbrook became the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record a 50-point triple-double last season, James was just one assist shy of achieving that in 2009 at the Mecca - Madison Square Garden. He put up 52 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists on 17-of-33 shooting in 44 minutes in a win over the New York Knicks.

James' other 52-point game is bizarre or maybe not. Here's how it's weird - he played 43 minutes, scored 52 points along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists yet the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. And how often does a player score 52 points and end up on the losing side?

Having said that, this scoring outburst came in James' third year and the team wasn't very competitive so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they lost.

#4 55 points

LeBron James driving to the lane

When and Where: February 20th, 2009 (Milwaukee)

Just over a fortnight after dropping a near 52-point triple-double over the Knicks, James recorded his second career 50+ point game against the Bucks. This time, however, he made sure the team won. He put up 55 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds on 16-of-29 shooting in 40 minutes of action.

His two 50-point games that year coupled with the Cavaliers winning 66 games in the regular season resulted in James being named the league MVP for the first time in his career.

#3 56 points

LeBron James against the Toronto Raptors

When and Where: March 20th, 2005 (Toronto)

If James scoring 55 points in his third season was astounding, how about this? He scored 56 in just his second season. Against the Toronto Raptors, James exploded for 56 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals but couldn't steer his team to victory despite playing all 48 minutes of the game.

At the time of his outburst, he was the youngest player to score 50+ points (20 years, 80 days). Brandon Jennings, later in 2009, beat his record by scoring 50 himself at 20 years and 52 days. James' 56 points were also the previous franchise record before Kyrie Irving scored 57 against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014-15 season.

#2 57 points

LeBron last night against the Wizards in Washington

When and Where: November 3rd, 2017 (Washington)

Last night's performance was really James saying enough is enough. He had tried to play the right way and help everybody on the team get into a rhythm but it was simply not working, and there was no way James was going to lose five games in a row.

So he put everybody on his back and scored 57 points on a super-efficient 23-of-34 shooting, while also recording 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 42 minutes of action. A game, that was considered to be a test of Washington's rise, James made sure everybody stopped taking his greatness for granted.

James' 57 points performance was not only a season-high for the King but it also tied the Cavaliers' franchise record for scoring.

#1 61 points

LeBron James was donning the mask during his career-high 61 points.

When and Where: March 3rd, 2014 (Miami)

Lot of unique things about LeBron James' career-high.

It is only 50+ point game he recorded on his home court, which at that time was the American Airlines Arena in Miami. All of his other ten 50+ point games had come on the road whether it was with the Heat or the Cavaliers.

That game, along with 61 points, he also recorded 7 rebounds and 4 assists but what was amazing about this onslaught was its efficiency. He shot 22-of-33 (66.7%) from the field and 8-of-10 (80%) from beyond the arc while only recording two turnovers in 42 minutes of action.

If all this greatness wasn't enough, how about picking another anecdote from the image. Yes, James was wearing a mask that day, a protective measure for his broken nose.