On This Day (Nov. 14)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on November 14.
Jennings Makes History
On this day in 2009, Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings scored 55 points in a 129-125 win over the Golden State Warriors. He’s the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-point game (age in years-days):
20-052 — Brandon Jennings (Nov. 14, 2009)
20-080 — LeBron James (March 20, 2005)
20-145 — Devin Booker (March 24, 2017)
20-345 — James (Dec. 10, 2005)
20-360 — Kevin Porter Jr. (April 29, 2021)
Jennings was playing in just his seventh NBA game. No player in NBA history has recorded their first 50-point game at an earlier point in their career:
7th — Brandon Jennings
8th — Wilt Chamberlain
13th — Elvin Hayes
30th — Rick Barry
49th — George Mikan
Only three rookies in NBA history have scored more points in a game (a total of four instances):
58 — Wilt Chamberlain (Jan. 25, 1960
58 — Chamberlain (Feb. 21, 1960)
57 — Rick Barry (Dec. 14, 1965)
56 — Earl Monroe (Feb. 13, 1968)
Jennings — who was held scoreless in the first quarter — scored 45 points after halftime, including 29 in the third quarter. Only four players in NBA history have scored more points in a second half:
59 — Wilt Chamberlain (March 2, 1962)
55 — Kobe Bryant (Jan. 22, 2006)
51 — Devin Booker (March 24, 2017)
47 — David Robinson (April 24, 1994)
Hot Start for Peja
On this day in 2006, the New Orleans Hornets’ Peja Stojakovic scored a career-high 42 points in a 94-85 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. He shot 15-22 from the field — including 5-10 from 3-point range — and 7-8 from the free throw line.
Stojakovic started off on fire, hitting all seven shots from the field (which included four 3-pointers) and going 4-4 from the free throw line in the first quarter. He became the first — and still only — player in NBA history to score his team’s first 20 points in a game.
Bird Does it All
On this day in 1990, the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird did a little bit of everything, tallying 45 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks in a 135-126 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Bird made 18 of his 28 shots from the field and all nine of his free throws.
Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, Bird is the only Celtic to record at least 45 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in a game. Leaguewide, he’s the oldest player to achieve the feat (33 years, 342 days). No other player has done so after their 30th birthday.
Unique Streak
On this day in 1975, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 35 points, 19 rebounds, nine assists, and eight blocks in a 114-107 win over the Phoenix Suns.
It was the second straight game in which Abdul-Jabbar tallied at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks. Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, no other player has recorded two such games in a row.
Jo Jo White’s Debut
On this day in 1969, Hall of Famer Jo Jo White scored five points in his NBA debut with the Boston Celtics. An All-Rookie selection that season, White averaged 12.2 points per game.
White was a seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, winning the Finals MVP Award in 1976. He holds the franchise record for most consecutive games played with 488.
Jack Sikma’s Birthday
On this day in 1955, Hall of Famer Jack Sikma was born in Kankakee, Illinois. A seven-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion, Sikma averaged 15.6 PPG and 9.8 RPG in 1,107 career games.
One of the best big-man shooters in NBA history, Sikma had seven seasons in which he shot at least 85% from the free throw line (min. 125 free throws made), the most such seasons in NBA history by a center.
Sikma shot an NBA-best 92.2% from the free throw line in 1992-93. At a listed height of 6-feet-11-inches, he’s the tallest player in NBA history to win a free throw title.