On This Day (Feb. 13)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on February 13.

Feb 13, 2023

∙ Paid

Career High for Pearl

On this day in 1968, Baltimore Bullets rookie Earl “The Pearl” Monroe scored a career-high 56 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Only two rookies in NBA history have scored more points in a game: Wilt Chamberlain (58, twice) and Rick Barry (57).

Monroe made 20 of his 33 shots from the field and 16 of his 22 free throws. He’s the only rookie in NBA history to make at least 20 field goals and 15 free throws in a game.

Monore and Brandon Jennings (Nov. 14, 2009) are the only players in NBA history to record the sole 50-point game of their career in their rookie season. Among NBA players with at least 15,000 career points, Monroe and Elvin Hayes are the only ones to record their outright career high (i.e., never matched) as a rookie.

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