Bam Adebayo just detonated for 83 points against the Wizards on Tuesday, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
He blew past Kobe Bryant’s 81 and did it against the kind of shaky defense that makes every fan base wonder the same thing: if that can happen in today’s NBA, which player from my team could chase 100?
In Boston, that question gets fun fast. The [Celtics](https://nesn.com/boston-celtics)’ franchise single-game scoring record is still 60, shared by Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird.
But with today’s spacing, today’s pace and the modern green light from three, a monster scoring night feels more reachable than ever. So let’s rank the past and present Celtics who would have the best shot to do the unthinkable.
### Bam Adebayo’s 83 is why this debate suddenly feels real
Adebayo’s night was the perfect reminder that 100 is still sacred, but not completely untouchable. One hot hand, one huge usage night and one overwhelmed defense can turn a normal regular-season game into history. And if Boston fans are going to dream on one Celtic doing it, there are a few obvious names at the top of the list.
Ranking the past or present Celtics players who could score 100 in a modern NBA game
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### 1\. Jayson Tatum
He is the cleanest answer because he already owns a share of the Celtics’ record with 60, and his scoring toolkit fits today’s NBA perfectly: pull-up threes, foul-line trips, post mismatches and enough stamina to keep piling it on.
If it were going to happen, it would probably come against a team like the Wizards, Kings or another defense that lets one star get comfortable early and never cool off.
### 2\. Larry Bird
Bird also got to 60, and that was in an era that did not hand elite scorers today’s volume of threes. Put him in a modern offense with more space and more license to fire, and Boston fans can absolutely imagine a nuclear Bird night.
The funniest version would be Bird doing it against the Lakers or Sixers just to make sure the humiliation lived forever.
### 3\. Kevin McHale
McHale’s career high was 56, and he might be the toughest cover here in a switch-heavy modern game. If a team kept putting wings or small-ball bigs on him, he could feast possession after possession and live at the line.
The best target would be a finesse frontcourt or an undersized team that thinks it can guard him one-on-one for four quarters.
### 4\. Isaiah Thomas
This is where the ranking gets spicy. IT “only” topped out at 52 in Boston (53 in the playoffs against the Wizards, probably could've scored 83 like Bam that night), but his size, burst and shot profile make him one of the most modern-friendly scorers on the list. If he got hot from deep and forced switches all night, the points would come in a hurry.
He feels like the guy most likely to do it against an overmatched defense and then feed off the crowd once 60 turned into 75.
### 5\. Jaylen Brown
Brown has reached 50 and has the kind of downhill scoring game that can avalanche fast. He may not be as methodical as Tatum, but if the jumper is falling and the lane is open, he can stack 20-point quarters in a blink.
Put him against a young, sloppy team that cannot handle transition defense, and suddenly the math starts getting silly.
### 6\. Paul Pierce
Pierce also hit 50, and his path to 100 would be slower and meaner than everyone else’s. He would not overwhelm teams with speed. He would just hunt switches, draw fouls and keep scoring until you looked up and realized he was on 68 late in the third.
For pure Boston drama, the dream matchup would be the Lakers. For realism, give him a weak defense that cannot keep him off the stripe.
Honorable mentions
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* **Sam Jones** — He belongs in the conversation just off legacy and shot-making alone. Jones scored 51 in a game, and in a modern setup with more possessions and more spacing, Boston fans could talk themselves into one outrageous heater.
* **John Havlicek** — Hondo never had the gaudy single-game peak of some others on this list, topping out at 43 in the regular season (54 in the playoffs), but his motor, versatility and ability to pile up points over 48 minutes would make him a sneaky modern-era candidate.
* **Kyrie Irving** — Celtics fans may not love seeing his name here, but talent is talent. Kyrie averaged 24.1 points per game in Boston and dropped 47 in a Celtics uniform, which is enough to imagine a scorching, shot-making clinic against the wrong defense.
* **Ray Allen** — His Celtics scoring high in the regular season was 36 (51 in the playoffs), so he falls short of the top tier here, but few players in franchise history would be scarier in today’s three-point volume game if he caught fire early.