Last night, the Houston Rockets' James Harden did what no other player in the history of the NBA has ever done - scored 60 points AND had a triple-double. Here is Harden's line:

60 Points 11 Assists 10 Rebounds

I don't know if that's the greatest single game performance in NBA history. It has to be up there, though. There aren't many things I can think of that only one player in NBA history has ever done in a game. Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance is all that comes to mind.

Anyway, I watched the whole game. It was great and what made it even greater was that the Rockets HAD to have Harden's performance to win. None of Harden's production was garbage-time; in fact, he completed a four-point play with just a few seconds left to seal the victory. Every single entry on his stat line was earned, and was vital to his team's win.

What do you think? Was this the greatest single performance in NBA history? If you don't think so, whose do you think was better?

u KNOW.....I didn't watch it. I was watching the dud of a scrimmage game b/w Detroit and Cleveland.

But as an achievement that's pretty great... (even if it was against the '18 ORLANDO MAGIC)

I tried to get some buzz going along with

"Cooking up double helpings of HOBO STEW!"

but I guess the hashtag
#HOBOSTEW wasn't appealing, in that it concerns him looking like a hobo.

ANYways... Unlike most of his stat padded games, this one was actually legit and his shots looked like they were falling in the second half.

It's possible.. that ON PAPER this is ONE OF THEM.. but without the necessary difficult competition and being that he didn't face much adversity (they're the loosingest team this year) and that many inspired and "legendary" performances featured injured players etc..

Ya never know... I don't wanna even touch that one. I'm sure for a regular season game it's historic as hell... buuuut.... there's always desperation in the post season. I'm sure some moronic LAKERS apologists will say that Kobe's last game was one of them...(it wasn't)

No. It was a great regular season performance, ranked right up there with Kobe's 81 and Wilt's 100. But a few I think are better, because more was on the line:

1. Magic lines up at center, Game 6, 1980 Finals. Playing out of position in place of the team's franchise player (Kareem) in the championship round, as a rookie, Magic goes for 42-15-7.

2. Michael Jordan nearly beats the champs by himself, 1986. The Bulls had not yet drafted Pippen and Horace Grant. They were taking on the '86 Celtics, one of the greatest teams to ever play the game. And MJ drops 63 on them, taking them to OT, before losing 135-131.

3. Big Game James leads the Lakers to a repeat in Game 7, 1988. In the Lakers 3rd straight 7-game series, James Worthy leads LA to the title at home, with 36-16-10.

Tons of great players, including Wilt, Russell, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and yes, LeBron James have had greater individual performances in the playoffs than Harden's feat last night.

Timing matters.

Ok, good points. Leave the playoffs out of it, since we wouldn't be comparing apples to apples.

I happen to agree that Magic playing center in Game 7 of his rookie year was one of the greatest performances ever.

But since we're in the regular season, then I'll narrow it down and ask - what other regular-season performances can you come up with that match Harden's?

Again, I'll say that it pretty much has to be something no one has ever done before. After all, Harden did something that no one has ever done before.

Wilt's 100 is the only game like that which comes to mind. But if there are others, lay 'em on me!


JAMES WORTHY ANECDOTE: One year, Worthy got caught with a hooker in Houston the night before the game. In those days, we called them "escorts". He got arrested, but they let him go the next evening. He made it to the Rockets-Lakers game late in first quarter or so (I know he wasn't there for the tip-off). Needless to say, there was a LOT of hooting and hollering when he came out of the locker room and joined the bench.

In the second quarter, the Rockets PA announced the seat number of the fan selected to shoot free-throws at half-time. Each game, a fan got to try three free throws. If he made at least one, he got to try a half-court shot for $10,000 or something like that.

Anyway, the announcer would always describe the winning ticket like this - "Section 107, Row F-as-in-Frank, seat 14" (that was actually MY season ticket seat, and it NEVER got called!). He always used a word to describe the row letter.

That night, and I swear on all that is holy, the winning ticket was on row E. The entire Houston Summit held its breath as the PA announcer said "Section 412, Row E as in......."

C'mon! You KNOW it was going to be "E as in Escort", right?!?!

It wasn't! Dang it, that would have been the greatest moment in PA Announcer History!

RodeoSchro said:

But since we're in the regular season, then I'll narrow it down and ask - what other regular-season performances can you come up with that match Harden's?

Again, I'll say that it pretty much has to be something no one has ever done before. After all, Harden did something that no one has ever done before.

Wilt's 100 is the only game like that which comes to mind. But if there are others, lay 'em on me!

I can't think of any except for 81, 100, and 60. The ball for that will go to Springfield, as will Harden.

RodeoSchro said:

JAMES WORTHY ANECDOTE: One year, Worthy got caught with a hooker in Houston the night before the game. In those days, we called them "escorts". He got arrested, but they let him go the next evening. He made it to the Rockets-Lakers game late in first quarter or so (I know he wasn't there for the tip-off). Needless to say, there was a LOT of hooting and hollering when he came out of the locker room and joined the bench.

In the second quarter, the Rockets PA announced the seat number of the fan selected to shoot free-throws at half-time. Each game, a fan got to try three free throws. If he made at least one, he got to try a half-court shot for $10,000 or something like that.

Anyway, the announcer would always describe the winning ticket like this - "Section 107, Row F-as-in-Frank, seat 14" (that was actually MY season ticket seat, and it NEVER got called!). He always used a word to describe the row letter.

That night, and I swear on all that is holy, the winning ticket was on row E. The entire Houston Summit held its breath as the PA announcer said "Section 412, Row E as in......."

C'mon! You KNOW it was going to be "E as in Escort", right?!?!

It wasn't! Dang it, that would have been the greatest moment in PA Announcer History!

Po' James.

namepeace said:

1. Magic lines up at center, Game 6, 1980 Finals. Playing out of position in place of the team's franchise player (Kareem) in the championship round, as a rookie, Magic goes for 42-15-7.

.......and there it is.....no more needs to be said

OT: Sad news about ex-NBA player rasual Butler and his wife.....RIP

https://www.usmagazi...-celebs-reacts/

[Edited 2/1/18 15:03pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

namepeace said:

1. Magic lines up at center, Game 6, 1980 Finals. Playing out of position in place of the team's franchise player (Kareem) in the championship round, as a rookie, Magic goes for 42-15-7.

.......and there it is.....no more needs to be said

OT: Sad news about ex-NBA player rasual Butler and his wife.....RIP

https://www.usmagazi...-celebs-reacts/

[Edited 2/1/18 15:03pm]

It was. He was at one time pursuing broadcasting and I think his wife was a singer. 2 lovely folks gone young.

Gotta represent Philly Here