Among the forty players in NBA history to have reached the 57-point mark in a regular season game, we find Jerry Stackhouse. A big scorer during his years in Detroit in the early 2000s, the back had achieved this performance on April 3, 2001.
The future 2006 finalist with Dallas had taken advantage of a trip to Chicago against a weak formation, yet made up of pretty names (Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Jamal Crawford or Elton Brand) but whose assembly never worked. As often happens in the NBA with very young teams.
From the start of the game, Jerry Stackhouse will indeed be able to impose his talent with 24 points in the first quarter, against 20 for the Bulls! He will end the game with 57 points, therefore, at 21/36 in shooting, setting a double record: his own and that of the Detroit franchise, which belonged to Kelly Tripucka (56 points in 1984).
“I have never scored so much in my career”, will he point out. “The best moment of the evening was the way the guys looked for me. As soon as they knew I could break the franchise record, they gave me the balls. And as Ron Artest told me: Tim Floyd (Bulls coach) doesn’t respect my game so he’s not going to double up. Maybe next time. »
This will result in a no-stakes end to the game, other than whether Jerry Stackhouse will break the record. His teammates (including a Ben Wallace with 20 rebounds and 5 blocks) will give him all the balls, even those where they could have scored and the hero of the day will systematically conclude near the circle.
Even the Chicago public will accompany the movement, such as that of Boston with Devin Booker in 2017. A collective attitude little appreciated by the Bulls coach.
“It was pathetic of us and our fans deserve better”, will estimate Tim Floyd. “If our fans are having fun with this because even if they pay, they have nothing else to chew on with us, so be it. I don’t have a problem with that. But players who let the opponents go to the circle, yes, there I have a problem. »
