On This Day (Jan. 17)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on January 17.

Career High for West

On this day in 1962, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jerry West scored a career-high 63 points in a 129-121 win over the New York Knicks. It was the only 60-point game of West’s career.

West shot 22-36 from the field (61.1%) and made 19 of his 22 free throws. This was one of 165 career games in which West made at least 10 field goals and 10 free throws, the third-most such games in NBA history:

• 218 — Oscar Robertson

• 212 — Michael Jordan

• 165 — Jerry West

• 157 — Kobe Bryant

• 156 — Karl Malone

It was also one of 47 career games in which West made at least 15 free throws, tied for the fourth-most such games in NBA history:

• 73 — James Harden

• 56 — Moses Maline

• 48 — Oscar Robertson

• 47 — Jerry West

• 47 — Karl Malone