The NBA has 75 years of experience. Over time, there have been great players who have accumulated a lot of statistics. These players were special enough to hold a record. Some records lasted longer than others. In the league today, we have some players working their way towards the record themselves.
With LeBron James, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry entering the final stages of their careers, these players are making a tour of history this season. This could be a special season when it comes to having their names etched into the record books. As for Curry, it will be a matter of how well he can expand his record.
These are all-time records in the NBA.
Points - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 38,387 points
2. LeBron James - 37,062 points
3. Karl Malone - 36,928 points
Currently, Abdul-Jabbar holds that record, but he will likely see the same fall by the end of next season. The first three years of his career saw Abdul-Jabbar leading the league with points total. This included five consecutive seasons with at least 2,000 points or more. His career high of 2,822 points came during the 1971-72 season. This was part of nine total seasons that included at least 2,000 points or more.
LeBron James is coming to this record. Last year, James scored 1,695 total points. If he can get past that total, he will have no problem passing Abdul-Jabbar in 2023. James has 10 seasons by scoring at least 2,000 points. He achieved a career high, totaling 2,251 points, with the Cavaliers during the 2017-18 season.
Rebounds - Wilt Chamberlain
1. Wilt Chamberlain - 23.924 rebounds
2. Bill Russell - 21620 Rebound
3 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 17.440 rebounds
Only two players have at least 20,000 rebounds. During their playing days in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell would lead the league in the rebound. The greatest to do so was Chamberlain, who led the league in rebounds 11 times. This included four consecutive career-opening seasons, which also included one in which he scored more than 4,000 points and 2,000 rebounds during 1961-1962.
Chamberlain has had at least 2,000 rebounds twice in his career. He had over 1900 five more as well. Chamberlain had one season in which he did not score at least 1,000 rebounds in a single season, the 1969-70 season, when he played only 12 games due to injury. Outside of that, Chamberlain’s average career recovery of 22.89 is still an NBA record.
Assists - John Stockton
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1. John Stockton - 15,806 assists
2. Jason Kidd - 12,091 assists
3. Chris Paul - 10,977 assists
The combination of John Stockton and Karl Malone was historical to jazz but also from a statistical point of view. When Malone retired, he was the second-best scorer of all time. While Malone would put the ball in the basket, Stockton would often send in the pass to put it in. For these efforts, Stockton remains the only player in NBA history to have scored more than 15,000 career passes. Stockton led the league in assists for eight consecutive seasons between 1988 and 1996. This included six seasons with no fewer than 1,000 assists in one season.
Assuming Chris Paul plays at least two more seasons, he could go down as the second best goalkeeper statistically. Paul never topped 1,000 assists in a single season, but he has led the league three times. This includes reaching 700 assists or more seven times. His career-high of 925 assists came during the 2007-08 season, which was his third year in the league.
Steals - John Stockton
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1. John Stockton - 3265 steals
2. Jason Kidd - 2,684 steals
3. Michael Jordan - 2,514 steals
Only one player has reached at least 3,000 steals in his career. Stockton led the league in steals twice, but he consistently guaranteed no fewer than 200 steals for one season. Stockton hit at least 200 steals in one season five times, which was consecutive between 1988 and 1992. Stockton missed 200 steals in back-to-back seasons in 1993 and 1994 with 199 total steals. In 1994-95, he missed it again with 194 steals.
Jason Kidd has become the closest to Stockton in recent years. Kidd has never topped 200 steals in his career. He had more than 170 steals in one season three times, including 175 during the 2001-02 season. That was the only time Kidd led the league in a number of robberies.
Blocks - Hakim Healers
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1. Hakeem Olaywan - 3,830 vouchers
2. Dikembe Mutombo - 3289 Pieces
3 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 3189 vouchers
The Olajuwon was a shot-blocking machine in the ’80s and ’90s. Olajuwon’s first season in the league saw him score over 200 blocks in a single season. Olajuwon hit at least 200 blocks or more in the first 12 seasons of his career. It didn’t stop there either. Olajuwon has reached 300 blocks or more three times, including his career of 376 total blocks during the 1989-90 season. Olajuwon led the league in blocks twice.
Among other barriers worth noting is Dikembe Mutombo. He would often block shots, which led to his trademark shaking of his fingers after each block to indicate the ball wouldn’t go into the hoop. Mutombo led the league in groups for five consecutive years between 1994 and 1998. This included three consecutive seasons of 300 blocks or more.
Transformations - LeBron James
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1. LeBron James - 4788 turnover
2. Karl Malone - 4,524 spins
3. Musa Malone - 4,264 spins
When Karl Malone retired, he was the full time leader in shift operations. That was until his death in LeBron James in the last few years. For both players, this does not mean that they are necessarily careless with the ball. Both players are the focal point of their attack. Ball in their hands tons. This can result in double or triple teams. When that happens, a rotation will occur once or twice.
James has never led the league in turnovers, but he has surpassed at least 300 turnovers in a season twice, which were back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018. Malone led the league in turnovers once as his 325 was the biggest during the 1987-88 season. . Malone reached no less than 300 turnovers in one season twice.
3- PT Field Goals - Stephen Curry
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1. Stephen Curry - 3,117 3-PT . Field Goals
2. Ray Allen - 2,973 3-PT . Field Goals
3. James Harden - 2,593 field goals, three points
Before Stephen Curry and James Harden, it was Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. These two players were from the Hall of Famers, who are known for their outdoor shooting. After that, Carrie came along and was absolutely gorgeous. Curry broke the three-point record last year and has no signs of slowing down. When he retires, he could easily cross the 4,000 mark.
Curry has led the league in three-point field goals seven times. He is the successive champion in field goals. Curry is the only player to score at least 400 three-point field goals in a single season, as 402 during the 2015-16 season is an NBA record. As Curry pushes his record, Harden could appear to be the second player to pass Allen, making both players legends in overseas shooting.
Field goals - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 15,837 goals in the field
2. LeBron James - 13,543 Field Goals
3. Karl Malone - 13,528 goals in the field
When you top the league with points, that means you have to put the ball in the basket. Abdul-Jabbar led the league in scoring field goals five times in his career. This included leading the league three consecutive seasons to the opening of his career. Abdul-Jabbar topped 1,000 field goals in a single season, including his run of 1,159 field goals during the 1971-72 season.
By the time James retires, he could own that record as well. He made nearly 2,300 field goals away. Last year, James scored 640 field goals. If James lasts another four to five years and can achieve roughly 500 to 600 field goals each season, he will catch up with Abdul-Jabbar. James led the league in notching field goals five times, including a career high of 857 during the 2017-18 season.
Free throws - Karl Malone
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1. Karl Malone - 9,787 free throws
2. Musa Malone - 9,018 free throws
3. Kobe Bryant - 8,378 free throws
Mallon had a career free throw shooter at 74.2%. Had this percentage been a little higher, he would have earned more points in his career. With that said, Malone was still good enough to cash in on the free-throw line. Malone led the league in free throws eight times. This included five consecutive years between 1989 and 1993 and then 1997 to 1999. Mali’s best season 703 came during the 1989-90 season.
Another Malone was on the line just as much. Moses Malone has led the league in free throw attempts five times but has managed to take the most free throws twice. This showed his career high of 737 free throws during the 1985-85 season. In all, it is Malones’ husband who has had over 9,000 free throws in his career.