Michael Jordan rivals LeBron James as the greatest basketball player of all-time.
For many NBA fans, no one can top Air Jordan, who went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and won five NBA MVP awards.
Michael Jordan produced scoring nights that are still legendary four decades later[/caption]
Entering the league in 1984 as the No. 3 overall pick out of North Carolina, Michael Jeffrey Jordan proceeded to change the NBA and become an international icon.
Jordan’s net worth is valued at $3.5 billion by Forbes.
He’s long been associated with Nike and partnered with Gatorade.
MJ became a NASCAR team co-owner in 2020, and sold his majority ownership stake in the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets in 2023.
Back in 1990, the best basketball player on the planet almost scored 70 points in game.
“I didn’t think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us,” a stunned Larry Bird said in 1986.
“He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
Here’s talkSPORT’s look at the highest-scoring NBA games in Jordan’s unrivaled history.
10. 56 points – Bulls 93, 76ers 91 on March 24, 1987
Charles Barkley and the Philadelphia 76ers were no match for Jordan, as the young Bulls star began to take the big leap.
Barkley had a huge double-double with 17 points and 25 rebounds, including a stunning 11 offensive boards.
But Jordan was other-wordly, scoring 56 points on 22-of-32 shooting.
Even more impressive was the fact that only one of MJ’s field-goal attempts was a 3-pointer.
He added eight steals, seven rebounds and three assists while overcoming seven turnovers.
Jordan played 44 of 48 minutes at Chicago Stadium.
On a night when the second-highest scoring Bull was Gene Banks with 13 points, Air Jordan literally carried Chicago to victory.
“I think this guy might be better than me,” Barkley recalled telling his daughter during the 1993 NBA Finals.
“I never said that about another basketball player in my life, ever.”
9. 56 points – Bulls 119, Heat 114 on April 29, 1992
Rony Seikaly and Glen Rice led Miami in scoring.
Their combined 47 points couldn’t touch Jordan’s masterful 56 in a game that saw Chicago pour in 40 fourth-quarter points to claim the victory.
Miami led 33-19 after the first period.
MJ answered the defict by connecting on 20-of-30 shots from the floor.
He didn’t attempt a 3 but hit 16 of 18 attempts from the free-throw line.
Toss in five assists, four steals, two blocks and just two turnovers, and it was an incredibly efficient 43 minutes from the repeating champ.
Scottie Pippen added 31 points for the Bulls.
8. 57 points – Bulls 107, Bullets 98 on December 23, 1992
Two days before Christmas, Jordan took over Chicago Stadium.
Chicago outscored Washington 52-39 in the second half as Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong and MJ all reached double figures in scoring.
This game showcased a new side of His Airness.
Jordan drilled 6-of-8 3s.
His 37 field-goal attempts also more than doubled Grant’s 16, which were second on the Bulls.
With Christmas drawing near, Jordan completely took over.
Jordan and Scottie Pippen became a championship duo for the Bulls[/caption]
7. 58 points – Bulls 128, Nets 113 on February 26, 1987
Maybe Jordan wanted to send a message to Orlando Woolridge, who scored 20 points off the bench for New Jersey but used to play with the Bulls.
Either way, MJ almost hit 60 during a season that saw him average a career-high 37.1 points.
Jordan had almost four times as many points as the Bulls’ second-leading scorer (John Paxon with 16).
Even more impressive was his precision from the line.
On a night when MJ was 16-of-25 from the field, he was a near-perfect 26-of-27 on free throws.
6. 59 points – Bulls 112, Pistons 110 on April 3, 1988
What makes Jordan’s 59 points so impressive in this game is that defense reigned in the fourth quarter.
After Chicago scored at least 30 points during each of the initial three periods, the Pistons and Bulls combined for just 37 points in the fourth.
Jordan was on target throughout, shooting 21-of-27 from the field and a super sharp 17-of-19 from the line.
He once again carried the Bulls, who fought off Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer for a tough two-point road victory at the Silverdome.
This photo sums up Jordan’s scoring dominance[/caption]
5. 61 points – Bulls 125, Pistons 120 in OT on March 4, 1987
The final full month of the 1986-87 season produced some of Jordan’s best scoring outbursts.
He began March by scoring 30 points, then dropped 61 two games later.
Nights featuring 49, 44, 40, 40, 46, 56 and 40 points followed, as MJ announced to the basketball world that a new name was taking over.
On March 4 inside the Pistons’ home, Jordan was almost unstoppable.
He played a team-high 43 minutes while producing 61 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
Shooting 17-of-18 from the free-throw line, MJ outscored every other Chicago starter by at least 50 points.
The Bulls needed overtime — and all 61 of Jordan’s points — to hold off Detroit.
4. 61 points – Hawks 117, Bulls 114 on April 16, 1987
Barely a month later, Jordan poured in 61 again.
Chicago was outscored 37-23 in the fourth quarter during a frustrating home loss to Dominique Wilkins and Atlanta.
But Jordan sank 22-of-38 shots and only missed four of his 21 free throws.
A unique double-double of 61 points and 10 rebounds was produced on a night when Chicago fell to 40-41.
A three-game playoff sweep defeat to Boston followed.
But Jordan had clearly announced that he was changing the NBA forever.
Air Jordan could be unstoppable with the ball in hand[/caption]
3. 63 points – Celtics 135, Bulls 131 in 2 OT on April 20, 1986
One of the most famous games of Jordan’s legendary career ended with a painful defeat.
It took two overtimes at the old Boston Garden against Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton.
During a game when Bird had 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Walton added 10 points and 15 boards off the bench, MJ didn’t have enough help.
“Fifty points … 63 points, I just want to win,” Jordan said.
“The points don’t mean anything to me.”
He was by far Chicago’s best player, attempting 41 shots and 21 free throws.
“God disguised as Michael Jordan,” Bird said.
But his 63 points fell short and Boston got the sweep.
“Michael was doing so much and so well, I found myself just wanting to stop and watch him — and I was playing,” Bulls guard John Paxson said.
2. 64 points – Magic 128, Bulls 124 in OT on January 16, 1993
The NBA received an early glimpse of what basketball would be missing when Jordan retired — for the first time.
Shaquille O’Neal‘s Orlando Magic needed overtime to hold off Jordan and the Bulls.
O’Neal had a monster game (29 points, 24 rebounds, five blocks) while future NBA head coach Scott Skiles led the Magic with 31 points.
An off night for the rest of Chicago’s offense was answered by hardwood heroism from MJ.
He took 49 shots and made 27, adding six rebounds and five steals.
Even more impressive was the fact that Jordan scored 64 points but only hit one 3-pointer.
He was a one-man show versus Shaq’s Magic.
A third NBA championship — and retirement leading to Minor League Baseball — were soon to follow.
Jordan’s scoring intensity and creativity are still unmatched in NBA history[/caption]
1. 69 points – Bulls 117, Cavaliers 113 in OT on March 28, 1990
Overtime was often tagged to Jordan’s biggest scoring nights.
This was the largest outburst of his Hall of Fame career.
Cleveland used a 27-16 fourth quarter to extend the contest.
While Mark Price and Craig Ehlo combined for 57 points for the Cavaliers, Jordan unleashed 69 points to set his personal scoring record.
He was 23-of-37 from the floor, 21-of-23 from the free-throw line, and added in two made 3s.
Eighteen rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block completed Jordan’s effort, which saw MJ on the court for 50 minutes.
Chicago would eventually fall 4-3 to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
But Jordan was building his legacy and the NBA was put on notice.
MJ was taking over, and six world championships were about to belong to Air Jordan.
