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The NBA has seen some exceptional players play point guard positions in its 75-year history. It is indeed one of the most difficult positions to play because of various factors.
Not many point guards have size on their side, and have to innovate their game to compete against taller opponents. They also have to be good ball handlers, passers and scorers to create a great deal of positive impact on their team's performances.
Nevertheless, several players from the past and present have mastered the art of being the point guard for their teams, polishing multiple aspects of their games with sheer hard work and determination.
Some of them have also been their team's primary scoring options and creators in offense. These stars have posted some insane game-high scores in their careers. On that note, here's a look at the five point guards who have recorded the most points in a single NBA game.
#5 Russell Westbrook - 58 points
The LA Lakers' newest recruit Russell Westbrook is fifth on the list of point guards with the most points in an NBA game. Brodie has been an exceptional all-around player throughout his entire career. Despite being a point guard, the former OKC Thunder talisman is leading the all-time charts for the most triple-doubles in NBA history.
He can score, assist and rebound better than many players in the NBA, thanks to his unreal athleticism. Westbrook scored a career-high 58 points during his MVP winning season in 2016-17. It came against the Portland Trail Blazers in a regular-season match at the Chesapeake Arena.
He shot 21 of 39 from the floor, including three 3-pointers during the game. Westbrook's effort went in vain, though, as the Trail Blazers won the contest 126-121.
#4 Kemba Walker - 60 points
Kemba Walker developed into one of the best point guards in the NBA during his stint with the Charlotte Hornets. One can only imagine how great the former All-Star could have been if not for injuries proving to be a stumbling block for him in the prime of his career.
The former Hornets guard had a career-high season during the 2018-19 campaign, when he also recorded his career-best score of 60 points in an NBA game. That came against the Philadelphia 76ers when he was playing for the Hornets.
Walker shot 21 of 34 from the field, including six of 14 from beyond the arc that night. However, he ended up on the losing side, as the Sixers won the game by three points (122-119).
It was indeed one of the best regular-season performances in a losing cause in the NBA. Walker broke multiple franchise records for the Hornets with his only 60-point game
#3 Damian Lillard - 61 points
One of the best shooters to ever play in the NBA, Damian Lillard has been at the peak of his scoring prowess for several years now. The Portland Trail Blazers star has had as many as twelve 50-point games since 2016, including three 60-point outings.
Lillard scored a career-best 61 points twice in his career. Both games were during the 2019-20 NBA season. The first time he recorded that haul was against the Golden State Warriors in January 2020.
He also had ten rebounds and seven assists to go along with his 61-point game. Lillard shot 11 threes in that game on 20 attempts and 17 of 37 overall from the field. The Trail Blazers won that clash 129-124.
The second time Damian Lillard recorded a 61-point game was in the 'Orlando Bubble' against the Dallas Mavericks. His monumental effort proved to be key, as the Trail Blazers defeated the Mavs 134-131 in a closely contested match. He achieved the feat on a 53/53/100 shooting split.
#2 Stephen Curry - 62 points
Stephen Curry is widely regarded as one of the best point guards to play in the NBA. Curry recorded one of the best seasons of his career in the 2020-21 NBA campaign. He tallied three 50-point games, including one 60-point outing.
That 60-point game turned out to be his career-best to date. It came against the Portland Trail Blazers. Curry scored 62 points on a 58/54/94 shooting split. He made eight three-pointers on the night to lead his team to a 137-122 win over the Trail Blazers.
That stellar campaign ended with Curry winning the scoring title as he averaged 32 points per game. It was the second time in his career he ended a regular-season campaign as the league's leading scorer.
#1 Jerry West - 63 points
Former LA Lakers legend and one of the all-time greats, Jerry West, holds the record for most points in an NBA game by a point guard. He recorded 63 points against the New York Knicks in a regular-season game in 1962. He shot 22 of 36 points from the field in that match, leading the LA Lakers to a 129-121 win over the Knicks that night.
It was the only time West ever crossed the 60-point mark in his NBA career. It was a remarkable feat, considering it was just his third season in the league.
West held the record of being the youngest player to score 60 points in an NBA game until a 20-year-old Devin Booker broke the record in 2017 with a 70-point outing against the Boston Celtics.
