Malachi Flynn Scores 50 as Pistons Lose to Atlanta Hawks

Flynn holds the record for the lowest career scoring average (5.2 points) among NBA players with a 50-point game. He joins Jamal Crawford and Nick Anderson as the only players to achieve this feat off the bench. Additionally, Flynn and Crawford are the only ones to record at least 50 points, five rebounds, and five assists as reserves. This milestone is particularly notable for Flynn, who is currently on his third team this season.

As April arrives, the NBA regular season enters a period of unpredictability. This is when G League call-ups, 10-day contracts, and lesser-known players step into the spotlight and deliver standout performances. However, even within this context, Malachi Flynn's 50-point game for the Detroit Pistons stands out as one of the most unexpected displays of talent we've witnessed.

Cade Cunningham had been the closest Pistons player to reach 50 points this season, managing 43. Flynn's 50-point performance not only surpasses this but also exceeds his previous career high of 27 points.

Flynn's achievement is particularly surprising considering his background. Drafted 29th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft, he has struggled to secure a consistent starting role. His most productive season was his rookie year, during which he averaged 7.5 points in 19.7 minutes per game.


Subsequently, Flynn's playing time dwindled to an average of just 12.3 minutes per game. He spent two and a half seasons with the Raptors before being traded to the New York Knicks as part of the O.G. Anunoby deal, and eventually landed with the Pistons in exchange for Bojan Bogdanović.

To put Flynn's accomplishment into perspective: his 50-point outburst accounted for 14.9% of his season's total points and 4.4% of his career points.

Following his initial limited appearances with the Pistons, he has gradually earned more consistent playing time, with several double-digit scoring outings. However, none of these performances came close to matching his remarkable 50-point game. Remarkably, in his first 17 games with the team, he totaled just 98 points.

Source CBS Sports : Pistons' Malachi Flynn records most surprising 50-point game in NBA history
Source Yahoo Sports : Malachi Flynn drops out-of-nowhere 50 points as Pistons lose to Hawks