9:06PM EST November 21. 2012 - LeBron James knows his basketball history.
So when listing all-time great performances, James respectfully put Kobe Bryant's 81-point game first.
But there are two performances James still wants to see, with the first being Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in 1962.
The second individual performance James wants to see is a little more surprising.
Try a 5-10 kid who plays Division III basketball in Iowa.
Jack Taylor, a Grinnell College sophomore, was the talk of the NBA on Tuesday night and throughout the day Wednesday. Taylor scored 138 points to set an NCAA record in a 179-104 win Tuesday against Faith Baptist Bible College. He shot 52-for-108 from the field and 27-for-71 on three-pointers.
And three-time MVP James wasn't shy in commending Taylor by putting him in the same category as Bryant and Chamberlain.
"It's unbelievable, honestly, " James said via ESPN.com. "I would like to see the game. I want to see the game."
"I watched Kobe's game when he had 81. I watched some of the greatest games ever played when guys scored big numbers. There's two games that I would love to see: One was Wilt, when he had 100, and this kid. I want to see him, too. Sir Jack."
The Heat reportedly called their intern "Taylor" when he was shooting during a defensive drill during morning practice.
It wasn't just James. Some of best basketball players took notice in a mix of disbelief and envy.
Bryant heard about the big game after his Los Angeles Lakers' win late Tuesday. Needless to say, he was impressed.
"That's crazy. I don't care what level you're at, you score 138 points, it's pretty insane," Bryant said.
"He must have been wearing the Mambas, man," he said, referring to the shoes named after his "Black Mamba" nickname. "Only Mambas have no conscience to shoot the ball that much."
Bryant's 81 points in a 2006 game are second to Chamberlain's 100 in NBA history. What does it take to score like that?
"You gotta be in shape," Bryant said. "And you gotta have a little Mamba blood in you."
None
Grinnell's Jack Taylor scored 138 points in a single basketball game. Many have derided the performance as a "gimmick," but it got us thinking about the best single-game performances of all time. Take a look through the archives -- can Taylor's 138 even compare?  Cory Hall, Grinnell College
Fullscreen
  • Grinnell's Jack Taylor scored 138 points in a single basketball game. Many have derided the performance as a "gimmick," but it got us thinking about the best single-game performances of all time. Take a look through the archives -- can Taylor's 138 even compare?
  • For over 50 years, Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point night has stood as one of sports' magic numbers.
  • In 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a staggering 81 points vs. the Raptors, the second-highest total in NBA history.
  • Usain Bolt dominated the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, setting the world record in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints.
  • Tiger Woods' 2000 U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach was the most dominant in 140 years of major championships.
  • In 1956, the Yankees' Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in World Series history.
  • In 2012, San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain tied Sandy Koufax's 1964 effort for the most strikeouts in a perfect game (14).
  • Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings set two NFL records in a single game in 2007. Peterson rushed for 296 yards, setting the single game rushing record. This also marked the first time a player rushed for two 200 yard games in the same season.
  • Vince Young accounted for 467 total yards of offense during Texas' victory over USC during the BCS Championship game on Jan. 4, 2006.
  • In 1996, Clemens went on to tie his own major league record with 20 strikeouts in a game against the Detroit Tigers.
  • In his fifth start, Cubs rookie Kerry Wood tied the major league record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, pitching a one-hitter to beat the Astros 2-0.
  • In 2007, LeBron James scored 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points to overtake the Pistons in a double-overtime playoff game.
  • Brandon Marshall hauled in 21 passes for the Denver Broncos in a game vs. the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.
  • Dwyane Wade's 2003 triple-double as a member of Marquette's squad lead the team to a Final Four appearance.
  • Nadia Comaneci celebrates after becoming the first woman to record a perfect score of 10 in gymnastics during the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. Comaneci accomplished the feat on the uneven bars.
  • D.C United's Dwayne De Rosario scored the fastest hat trick in MLS history in a game against Real Salt Lake in 2011.
Current Knicks star Carmelo Anthony sees a future excuse. Criticized occasionally for taking too many shots, the All-Star forward has a new retort, "that someone shot it 108 times."
Taylor became the talk of the NBA on Twitter, in particular. Even Faith Baptist's David Larson, who had 70 points in a loss, received some love.
Here are some highlights:
  • Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant: "Jack Taylor you deserve a shot of Jack Daniels after that performance lol...wow"
  • Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins: "I wanna knw who was guarding him!!!"
  • Retired forward Donyell Marshall: "This is crazy. Hope he iced his arms after game."
  • Atlanta Hawks forward Anthony Tolliver: "This dude now averages 61ppg after that #138pointsin1game performance hahaha"
  • Phoenix Suns point guard Kendall Marshall: "Hollllll up, kid on the other team was 34-44 and had 70. WAY more impressive!"
  • Former Sacramento Kings forward Donte Greene: "GIRL: how u do babe? BOY: had 70 but we lost GIRL: aw sorry wat happen? BOY: dude had 138 on da other team!! "
  • Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard: "This guy scored 138 points? So the other team must have cheering him on. #nopride"
  • Golden State Warriors guard Charles Jenkins: "wouldn't be surprised if Jack Taylor transfer tomorrow lol .. thats crazy 138 points"
  • Thunder center Cole Aldrich: "138 points is impressive but I think shooting 108 times (71 3 pointers) is more impressive. #throwemup"
Contributing: David Leon Moore in Los Angeles and the Associated Press