NBA History: 5 rookies with the most 40-point games

#2 Walt Bellamy - 12

Walt Bellamy in action for the Hawks

Walt Bellamy had one of the best seasons by a rookie in NBA history. He averaged 31.6 points, 19 rebounds and 2 assists per game while shooting nearly 52% from the field. He won the Rookie of the Year Award but his season ended in disappointment as the Chicago Packers did not qualify for the postseason and finished with an 18-62 record.

Bellamy was drafted as the number one overall pick in the 1961 NBA draft by the Packers, who are now called the Washington Wizards. He recorded 12 games where he scored 40 or more points and it included the oppositions like Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, etc. His best performance of the lot came against the LA Lakers where he dropped 48 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

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#1 Wilt Chamberlain - 32

Wilt Chamberlain represented the Philadelphia Warriors in his first season

With the territorial pick, the Philadelphia Warriors now known as the Golden State Warriors picked Wilt Chamberlain. It would go on to be a massive success for the team as Chamberlain would rewrite the history books.

In his first season, Wilt averaged 37.6 points, 27 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting just over 46% from the field. He would go on to win the Rookie of the Year Award as well the MVP in his first season for the franchise as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals and lost only to Bill Russell's Boston Celtics.

Wilt had 32 games where he scored 40 points or more and these performances came against the likes of Boston Celtics, Cincinnati Royals, etc. However, his best outing of this lot came against the Detroit Pistons where he dropped 58 points and grabbed a whopping 42 rebounds.