Even verified veteran scorers in the NBA find it difficult to score 50 points in a game. When it comes to rookies, it’s difficult to see a player scoring 50 points in one game. However, the league is more over 75 years old, and rookies have defied conventions and broken records that no one expected.
In NBA history, eight rookies have scored 50 or more points. Elgin Baylor, a rookie with the Minneapolis Lakers, was the first to score 50 points. In 1950, Baylor scored 55 points against the Cincinnati Royals.Following Baylor, one of the most dominant players in NBA history emerged. His debut season was not even close to any player’s MVP season. Wilt Chamberlain scored 50 or more points in five games during his first season.
Chamberlain’s 50-point games included 55 against the Royals, 52 against the Minneapolis Lakers, 58 against the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, and 53 against the Celtics. Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator and become the General Manager of your favorite NBA team.After Chamberlain, rookie Rick Barry, who later played for the San Francisco Warriors, scored 57 points against the Knicks in 1965. In 1968, rookie Earl Monroe of the Baltimore Bullets scored 56 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. The following season, rookie Elvin Hayes of the San Diego Rockets scored 54 points against the Pistons.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a rookie with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970, scored 51 points against the Seattle SuperSonics. Allen Iverson, a rookie, also scored 50 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997.Brandon Jennings scored the most recent 50 points as a rookie. In 2009, Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks scored 55 points against the Golden State Warriors.