Not surprisingly, most of the greatest gamers in historical past are an enormous a part of the all-time NBA information, from Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 factors in a sport to Michael Jordan setting the playoff excessive to LeBron James scoring probably the most factors in historical past.
However the all-time lists differ, from lesser-known gamers corresponding to Larry Kenon, Scott Skiles and Bismack Biyombo holding NBA information to the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers successful probably the most championships to different groups advancing to the NBA Finals after ending under .500 in the course of the common season.
The all-time NBA information are available many sizes and styles, together with these for probably the most factors, 3-pointers, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked photographs. As well as, there are participant awards, successful streaks, staff championships and extra.
To assist deliver a number of the enjoyable storylines collectively, under is in an index of various all-time NBA information, streaks and tidbits to spotlight the world’s premier basketball league:
NBA PLAYER RECORDS
Most Profession Factors in NBA Historical past
LeBron James has probably the most profession factors in NBA historical past, overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 2023 on his method to turning into the primary participant to surpass 40,000 profession factors. Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns is also an lively participant within the high 10 of the NBA’s all-time checklist of scorers.
Most Factors in a Recreation
Amongst all-time NBA information, Wilt Chamberlain supplied one of many extra iconic photographs when he held up a chunk of paper with “100” written on it, reflecting how he set the document for many factors in a sport in opposition to the New York Knicks. Kobe Bryant ranks No. 2 on the checklist, however Wilt fills the highest 15 5 different instances.
Most Factors in a Recreation by a Rookie
Wilt Chamberlain scored probably the most factors in an NBA sport by a rookie – and he did it twice. He leads a uncommon checklist that maybe surprisingly doesn’t embody the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Hen or Shaquille O’Neal.
Most 3-Pointers in a Recreation
After all, Stephen Curry leads the checklist of gamers with probably the most 3-point discipline objectives in NBA historical past, however he’s loved assist by his Golden State Warriors teammates, together with Klay Thompson sinking probably the most 3-pointers in a sport. The Milwaukee Bucks maintain the staff document.
Most Rebounds in a Recreation
The good particular person rivalries in NBA historical past embody Wilt Chamberlain vs. Invoice Russell, and that prolonged to a duel for probably the most rebounds in a sport.
Most Assists in a Recreation
Level guards aren’t the one gamers establishing their teammates, however they nonetheless do it the perfect. Eight Orlando Magic gamers scored in double figures when Scott Skiles set the NBA document with 30 assists in a sport, breaking Kevin Porter’s 12-year-old document with the New Jersey Nets. All-time greats Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz are also within the high 5.
Most Steals in NBA Historical past
It takes a thief, and NBA coaches love them on the defensive finish, the place a steal can change momentum rapidly. Larry Kenon of the San Antonio Spurs and Kendall Gill of the New Jersey Nets picked the pockets of opposing gamers. They’re additionally within the document books amongst these with probably the most steals in NBA historical past, together with a sport, season and profession.
Most Blocked Photographs in NBA Historical past
Shaquille O’Neal blocked 15 photographs in an NBA sport. Manute Bol did it twice. Would you imagine they don’t even maintain the document for probably the most blocked photographs in NBA historical past? Elmore Smith set the document with the Los Angeles Lakers greater than 50 years in the past.
Highest-Paid Gamers in NBA Historical past
It’s good to be King James, as LeBron James will attest. He’s joined by the likes of Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and James Harden relating to the league’s highest profession earnings. However as contract values frequently develop, star gamers who adopted LeBron into the league corresponding to Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the many highest-paid gamers in NBA historical past.
Nikola Jokic: Profession-Finest Performances
The 2 NBA MVP Awards, a bunch of All-Star appearances and an NBA Finals MVP are telling. A take a look at Nikola Jokic’s career-best performances present why the Denver Nuggets star is without doubt one of the sport’s greatest gamers.
Jimmy Butler: Profession-Excessive Performances
It at all times looks like NBA star Jimmy Butler will get sizzling on the proper time of the season – the truth is, in recent times he’s lifted the Miami Warmth within the playoffs. A take a look at Butler’s career-best performances point out how he’s change into one of many extra clutch gamers within the league.
NBA TEAM RECORDS
Highest-Scoring Video games in NBA Common Season
Let this rating sink in: 186-184. No, it wasn’t an All-Star Recreation with no protection. It was the ultimate rating of the highest-scoring NBA sport in historical past. The Detroit Pistons gained that sport – additionally claiming probably the most factors by one staff – and the shedding staff, the Denver Nuggets, have been part of a number of the NBA’s different all-time highest-scoring video games.
Finest Workforce Data in NBA Historical past
Michael Jordan fueled the Chicago Bulls to 72 wins within the 1995-96 NBA season, adopted by 69 extra the subsequent season. Untouchable? No, 20 years later, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors established the perfect regular-season document in NBA historical past, extremely protecting their losses to single digits. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are also a part of the highest 5.
Worst Single-Season Data in a Season
How low did they go? In NBA historical past, 36 groups have gained 20% or fewer of their video games, compiling the checklist of the worst single-season information in a season. The checklist is fronted (“led,” if you’ll) by the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats, however who might neglect the famed 73-loss Philadelphia 76ers staff? Oh sure, one other Sixers’ staff almost matched the distress.
Finest Single-Season Dwelling Data
Yup, you realize the saying: Dwelling, candy house. Six groups in NBA historical past have completed with just one loss in a season, however the Larry Hen-led Boston Celtics in 1985-86 and the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs share the document for greatest house successful share in a season. Including to that storyline: Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and the Spurs have been denied perfection of their second-to-last house sport.
Worst Single-Season Dwelling Data
It’s not an all-time NBA document anybody will need, and the groups which can be caught with the worst single-season house information in historical past weren’t protecting their followers comfortable. Even Michael Jordan – the staff proprietor, that’s – couldn’t hold the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats off the checklist. The Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers know the checklist properly.
Largest Blowouts in a Season
Lopsided video games of 20 or extra factors are typical within the NBA, however generally the margins blow up. In January 2024, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder gained a sport by 62 factors, and that solely tied for fifth among the many largest blowouts in an NBA common season. The Thunder know blowouts – simply over two years earlier than the most important win in franchise historical past, they have been on the shedding finish of the most important margin in an NBA sport.
Longest Successful Streaks in NBA Historical past
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors set the perfect document in an NBA common season, however they didn’t fairly catch the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest successful streak, both throughout a single season or on the highway. One of many Lakers’ extra star-studded rosters fueled that unimaginable streak.
Longest Dropping Streaks in NBA Historical past
You absolutely noticed paper luggage on some followers’ heads in the course of the longest shedding streaks in NBA historical past, however there’s no hiding from the losses that pile up. The Philadelphia 76ers first put collectively the league’s worst stretch over two seasons earlier than the Detroit Pistons matched the 28 straight losses in a single season.
NBA PLAYOFF RECORDS
Groups With the Most NBA Championships
It’s most likely straightforward to guess the Lakers and Celtics lead all groups with probably the most NBA championships. How they’ve stood the check of time displays of their rosters, with the Lakers stretching from the likes of George Mikan to Jerry West to Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, and the Celtics from the Pink Auerbach groups of Invoice Russell and John Havlicek to Larry Hen to right now’s contemporaries. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls test in at No. 4 on the checklist of most NBA titles.
Single-Season Playoff Data
The 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers didn’t fairly accomplish Moses Malone’s “fo’, fo’, fo’” prediction of sweeping via the NBA playoffs, however they’re among the many groups with the perfect playoff runs by way of successful share. The Golden State Warriors notably turned on the proverbial swap within the 2016-17 playoffs – maybe not shocking after Kevin Durant joined the nucleus of Stephen Curry, Draymond Inexperienced and Klay Thompson.
Most Factors in a Playoff Recreation
That the Chicago Bulls gained six NBA titles behind Michael Jordan displays in how he usually took over video games offensively. Not solely does he maintain the document for many factors scored in an NBA playoff sport with 63, he’s liable for six of the top-16 performances in postseason historical past.
Most Factors in a Playoff Recreation by a Rookie
Wilt Chamberlain gained a sweep of all-time NBA information when he added probably the most factors in a playoff sport by a rookie to what he did in his first common season with the Philadelphia Warriors. Magic Johnson is within the high 5, setting the rookie scoring document for an NBA Finals sport.
Most 3-Pointers in a Playoff Recreation
Damian Lillard constructed up a resume of nice playoff moments for the Portland Path Blazers, together with two series-winning buzzer-beaters. His 12 3-pointers in opposition to Denver in 2021 are probably the most 3-pointers in an NBA playoff sport. Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson share the document for 3s in a postseason.
Most Assists in a Playoff Recreation
John Stockton and Magic Johnson had a lot enjoyable setting the NBA playoff document with 24 assists in a sport, every almost matched his large efficiency with 23 dimes in one other sport.
Most Steals in a Playoff Recreation
Allen Iverson was a big-time scorer, after all, however he additionally excelled on the defensive finish, and no participant has ever had as many steals in an NBA playoff sport. And whereas Robert Horry is understood for being on championship groups, he additionally holds the document for steals within the NBA Finals.
Most Blocked Photographs in a Playoff Recreation
Protection takes on added priority within the NBA playoffs, so it’s not shocking to see a number of the more-skilled large males on the all-time leaderboard of blocked photographs. Hakeem Olajuwon is tied for probably the most blocked photographs in a playoff sport, and the likes of Invoice Walton, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan are amongst these with the NBA Finals excessive.
Highest-Scoring NBA Finals Video games
The rival Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers flip-flopped wins in two of the highest-scoring NBA Finals video games in historical past, however a 1967 matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and San Francisco Warriors stands away from the remainder, with six future Corridor of Famers fueling the point-fest.
Most Factors in an NBA Finals Recreation
It turned out Michael Jordan and Rick Barry might drive 55, however Elgin Baylor didn’t whereas setting the document for probably the most factors in an NBA Finals sport. Not surprisingly, the all-time checklist of scoring performances extends into current seasons with the likes of LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Most NBA Finals MVP Awards
Maintain ‘em excessive – the NBA Finals MVP Awards, that it. These to assert probably the most in historical past embody a “Who’s Who” checklist of all-time greats, with Michael Jordan at No. 1 to LeBron James to Magic Johnson to Shaquille O’Neal to Tim Duncan and past.
Longest NBA Playoff Droughts
Not precisely storied franchises, the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards have mixed for a number of the longest NBA playoff droughts. They’re on the type of lists a staff doesn’t need to be on.
Largest Blowouts in NBA Playoffs
Come the second season, groups like to deliver the hammer down on their opponents, and it displays within the largest blowouts in NBA playoff historical past. The Minneapolis Lakers and Denver Nuggets gained playoff video games by 58 factors, whereas Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls laughed their method to a 42-point blowout of the Karl Malone- and John Stockton-led Utah Jazz within the NBA Finals.
Groups to Win NBA Playoff Collection After Trailing 3-1
Whereas no staff has gained 4 straight playoff video games after dropping the primary three of a sequence, there have been a choose few which have rallied again to win Video games 5, 6 and seven. The NBA’s 3-1 playoff comebacks embody LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallying in opposition to a Golden State Warriors squad that posted the NBA’s greatest regular-season document.
Worst Groups to Make NBA Finals by File
Groups that hardly keep above the .500 mark in the course of the common season are normally an after-thought to win the NBA championship. A trio, most not too long ago the Houston Rockets, posted shedding information en path to turning into the worst groups to make the NBA Finals. Whereas they didn’t fairly end the job, their postseason runs have been exceptional.
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