The 15 Best Single-Game NBA Regular Season Performances Since 1983

1. Michael Jordan, 3/28/1990

He's the best to ever do it, so it's only right that Michael Jordan owns the only regular season game superior to that of Kobe's 81-point night. In the same season as his 54-point performance, MJ jumped on the same Cavs team months later. This time, he unloaded 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting.

Within those 23 field goals, Jordan had 2 three-pointers in addition to 21 of 23 from the line. He also supplied 18 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in 50 (yeah, 50) minutes.

In using 42.6% of available plays on the floor, MJ produced 155 points over 100 possessions for a net rating of 55, having posted a defensive rating of 100. His true shooting of 73.2% was off the charts and he earned himself a Game Score of 64.6 in a 117-113 overtime win over the already-abused Cleveland Cavaliers. He's the greatest for a reason.