On This Day (Nov. 19)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on November 19.
30K Points for Kareem
On this day in 1983, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 20 points in a 117-110 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He became the second player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points, joining Wilt Chamberlain.
Abdul-Jabbar retired with 38,387 points, still the highest total in NBA history:
38,387 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
37,311 — LeBron James
36,928 — Karl Malone
33,643 — Kobe Bryant
32,292 — Michael Jordan
Career High for English
On this day in 1985, the Denver Nuggets’ Alex English scored a career-high 54 points in a 127-113 win over the Houston Rockets.
English shot 21-30 (70%) from the field and made all 12 of his free throws. No player in NBA history has scored more points in a game in which he shot at least 70% from the field and 100% from the free throw line:
54 — Alex English (Nov. 19, 1985)
54 — Fred VanVleet (Feb. 2, 2021)
53 — Larry Bird (March 30, 1983)
52 — George Gervin (Jan. 11, 1979)
52 — Michael Jordan (Nov. 16, 1988)
Franchise Record for Robertson
On this day in 1990, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Alvin Robertson set a franchise single-game record with 10 steals in a 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz. He narrowly missed a triple-double, scoring 16 points and dishing out nine assists.
Robertson recorded at least 10 steals in a game four times in his career, the most such games since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74.
Milestone for Ewing
On this day in 1996, the New York Knicks’ Patrick Ewing recorded 24 points, 16 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 92-88 win over the Orlando Magic. He became the 23rd player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points.
Ewing is the only player to score at least 20,000 points with the Knicks (23,665). Walt Frazier is a distant second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 14,617 points.
Hack-a-Shaq
On this day in 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal tallied 41 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 103-95 win over the Chicago Bulls. He attempted a then-franchise-record 31 free throws, making 19 of them. O’Neal was much better from the field, making 11 of his 13 attempts (84.6%).
Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, O’Neal (two times) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (five times) are the only Lakers to record at least 40 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a game.