From the unstoppable reign of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career total to the modern explosions of Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell, this blog post dives into the numbers behind basketball's most legendary scorers, rebounders, and champions.
Key Takeaways
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA record for most career points scored with 38,387 points over 20 seasons.
- LeBron James is second all-time in NBA career points with 40,474 points as of the 2023-24 season.
- Karl Malone scored the third most career points in NBA history with 36,928 points.
- Dennis Rodman averaged 7.3 PPG career but elite defender.
- Wilt Chamberlain holds NBA career rebound record with 23,924.
- Bill Russell second all-time rebounds with 21,620.
- John Stockton holds NBA career assists record with 15,806.
- Jason Kidd second with 12,091 assists career.
- Chris Paul third with 11,894 assists as of 2024.
- Boston Celtics have 17 NBA Championships, most ever.
- Los Angeles Lakers have 17 NBA titles, tied for most.
- Chicago Bulls won 6 titles in 8 years 1991-98.
- Michael Jordan 6 NBA MVP awards, tied record.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 MVPs also.
- Bill Russell 5 MVPs.
The blog post explores historic and recent scoring, rebounding, and assists records across basketball.
Historical Facts
- Michael Jordan 6 NBA MVP awards, tied record.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 MVPs also.
- Bill Russell 5 MVPs.
- Wilt Chamberlain 4 MVPs.
- LeBron James 4 MVPs.
- NBA founded 1946 as BAA, first game Toronto Huskies vs Knicks.
- First NBA Finals 1947, Philadelphia Warriors beat Washington Capitols.
- Shot clock introduced 1954, 24 seconds.
- Three-point line added 1979-80 season.
- Dream Team 1992 Olympics won by 44 PPG average.
- NCAA March Madness most viewers 28.2M for 2023 championship.
- Kentucky 8 NCAA titles, most.
- UCLA 11 NCAA titles 1964-75 dynasty.
- FIBA World Cup held every 4 years, US 5 titles.
- EuroBasket Spain 2022, Germany won first title.
- WNBA started 1997, Liberty vs Comets first game.
- Diana Taurasi most WNBA points 10,645 career.
- NBA attendance record 22,333,859 for 2023-24 season.
- Highest single game attendance United Center 23,293 regular.
- Globetrotters founded 1926, 30,000 wins.
Historical Facts Interpretation
When discussing MVP counts, remember the trophy's modern era didn't start until 1956, making Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six each a shared peak of sustained individual dominance, while Bill Russell's five in that first decade remains a testament to foundational team greatness.
Player Assists
- John Stockton holds NBA career assists record with 15,806.
- Jason Kidd second with 12,091 assists career.
- Chris Paul third with 11,894 assists as of 2024.
- Magic Johnson fourth with 10,141 assists.
- Steve Nash 10,335 assists, fifth all-time.
- Isiah Thomas single-season 1,123 assists 1984-85.
- Kevin Porter set ABA record 1,128 assists 1978-79.
- Russell Westbrook led NBA assists 2020-21 with 10.8 APG.
- Rajon Rondo averaged 11.7 APG in 2011-12 playoffs.
- James Harden 11.2 APG in 2016-17 season.
- Trae Young led league 9.4 APG 2023-24.
- Tyrese Haliburton 10.9 APG 2023-24, second.
- Luka Doncic averaged 9.8 APG career high 2023-24.
- Kyle Lowry career 8,008 assists with Raptors focus.
- Andre Miller 8,447 assists, underrated.
- Mark Jackson 10,334 assists? Wait, 8th with 10,334 no, actually 10,334 is Nash level, correction: 10,334 for Jackson? No, Stockton leader.
- Gary Payton 8,966 assists, defensive PG.
- Chauncey Billups 4,095 assists, clutch.
- Baron Davis 3,184 assists, explosive.
- Stephen Curry career 6,201 assists as of 2024.
- LeBron James 11,009 assists, top forward.
- Oscar Robertson averaged triple-double 1961-62, 11.4 APG.
- Kevin Johnson 5,431 assists career Suns.
- Tim Hardaway 6,118 assists, crossover king.
- Walt Frazier 6,060 assists, Knicks legend.
Player Assists Interpretation
John Stockton’s assists record looms like Everest, while the peaks below—from Magic’s artistry to LeBron’s visionary passing—remind us that playmaking is an enduring blend of genius, durability, and sheer will.
Player Rebounding
- Dennis Rodman averaged 7.3 PPG career but elite defender.
- Wilt Chamberlain holds NBA career rebound record with 23,924.
- Bill Russell second all-time rebounds with 21,620.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar third with 17,440 rebounds career.
- Elvin Hayes fourth with 16,279 rebounds.
- Nate Thurmond holds single-game rebound record with 42 on November 24, 1965.
- Wilt Chamberlain averaged 27.2 RPG career, record.
- Wilt Chamberlain single-season RPG record 27.2 in 1960-61.
- Bill Russell averaged 22.5 RPG in 1958 playoffs.
- Dennis Rodman led league in RPG 7 times, record.
- Ben Wallace career 10.5 RPG, defensive anchor.
- Dwight Howard led league in rebounds 2008 with 14.2 RPG.
- Rudy Gobert has led NBA in RPG 3 times recently, 2021-22 14.7.
- Andre Drummond averaged 15.6 RPG in 2017-18.
- Moses Malone single-season 17.6 RPG in 1978-79 ABA/NBA.
- Dikembe Mutombo career 9.8 RPG, 4 DPOY.
- Tim Duncan career 10.8 RPG over 19 seasons.
- Kevin Garnett 11.0 RPG career, versatile.
- Robert Parish 9.1 RPG career, third most games played.
- Hakeem Olajuwon 11.1 RPG career, 3,830 blocks too.
- Patrick Ewing 10.0 RPG career with Knicks.
- Clint Capela averaged 14.0 RPG in 2019-20.
- Steven Adams career 9.3 RPG, tough rebounder.
- DeAndre Jordan 9.0 RPG career, lob threat.
- Joakim Noah 8.8 RPG career, hustle player.
- Zach Randolph 8.8 RPG, gritty veteran.
- Greg Monroe 7.5 RPG career, skilled big.
- Enes Kanter 7.6 RPG career, offensive boards.
- Montrezl Harrell 4.2 RPG but 2019-20 6th man.
Player Rebounding Interpretation
While Wilt Chamberlain’s towering rebounding numbers seem like a myth from a bygone era, players like Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace remind us that securing a rebound is less about scoring points and more about a relentless, defensive will to possess the ball.
Player Scoring
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA record for most career points scored with 38,387 points over 20 seasons.
- LeBron James is second all-time in NBA career points with 40,474 points as of the 2023-24 season.
- Karl Malone scored the third most career points in NBA history with 36,928 points.
- Kobe Bryant finished his career with 33,643 points, ranking fourth all-time in the NBA.
- Michael Jordan scored 32,292 points in 1,072 regular-season games, fifth all-time.
- Wilt Chamberlain leads in single-season scoring average with 50.4 PPG in 1961-62.
- Wilt Chamberlain also holds the single-game scoring record with 100 points on March 2, 1962.
- James Harden set the record for most 3-pointers in a season with 378 in 2018-19.
- Stephen Curry holds the career 3-point record with 3,747 made threes as of 2024.
- Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points in a game on January 2, 2023, the highest since Kobe's 81.
- Kevin Durant averaged 27.3 PPG career, ranking high among active players.
- Allen Iverson led the league in scoring four times, most recently 31.1 PPG in 2005-06.
- Tracy McGrady scored 62 points in a game on March 10, 2004.
- Luka Doncic scored 73 points on January 26, 2024, highest by Maverick ever.
- Joel Embiid led NBA in scoring 2022-23 with 33.1 PPG.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 35.2 PPG in 2019-20 playoffs.
- Devin Booker scored 70 points on March 24, 2024.
- Dwyane Wade scored 46.5 PPG in first three games of 2009 playoffs.
- Shaquille O'Neal scored 61 points on March 6, 2000.
- Rick Barry averaged 36.3 PPG in 1966-67 ABA season.
- George Gervin scored 33.1 PPG in 1979-80.
- Bernard King led Knicks with 32.9 PPG in 1984-85.
- Pete Maravich averaged 31.1 PPG career with 28,599 points? Wait, 27.4 PPG.
- Dominique Wilkins scored 57 points on December 26, 1989.
- Klay Thompson scored 60 points with 11 threes on December 5, 2016.
- Damian Lillard scored 71 points on February 26, 2023.
- Bradley Beal scored 64 points on April 10, 2021.
- Carmelo Anthony career 28,289 points, top 10 all-time.
- Dirk Nowitzki career 31,560 points, 6th all-time.
- Kevin Durant has 28,924 points as of 2024, top active.
- Wilt Chamberlain scored 4,029 points in 1961-62 season.
- Bill Russell averaged 15.1 PPG career but 22.5 in finals.
Player Scoring Interpretation
In a dazzling spectrum of offensive prowess that spans six decades, we find both the timeless persistence of Kareem's skyhook and LeBron's modern-day total eclipsing him, alongside volcanic single-night eruptions from Wilt's century mark to Luka's 73, proving that while longevity builds legends, sheer explosive talent writes the unforgettable headlines.
Team Records
- Boston Celtics have 17 NBA Championships, most ever.
- Los Angeles Lakers have 17 NBA titles, tied for most.
- Chicago Bulls won 6 titles in 8 years 1991-98.
- Golden State Warriors 7 titles, latest 2022.
- San Antonio Spurs 5 titles 1999-2014 dynasty.
- Detroit Pistons Bad Boys won back-to-back 1989-90.
- Miami Heat won 3 in Heatles era 2012-13 included.
- Philadelphia 76ers 3 titles, last 1983.
- New York Knicks 2 titles, 1970 and 1973.
- Houston Rockets 2 titles 1994-95.
- Most wins single season: Warriors 73-9 in 2015-16.
- Chicago Bulls 72-10 in 1995-96.
- Lakers 69 wins 1971-72.
- Boston 68 wins 1972-73.
- 76ers 68 wins 1966-67.
- NBA Finals MVP most by Magic Johnson 3 times.
- Michael Jordan 6 Finals MVPs.
- Shaquille O'Neal 3 Finals MVPs consecutive.
- Tim Duncan 3 Finals MVPs.
- LeBron James 4 Finals MVPs.
- Most playoff wins: Lakers 407.
- Celtics 401 playoff wins.
- Spurs longest streak 22 consecutive playoff appearances.
- Knicks most road playoff wins or something, wait: longest win streak 18 in 1969-70.
- Heat 27-game win streak 2012-13.
- Lakers 33-game streak 1971-72.
Team Records Interpretation
While Boston and Los Angeles bask in their shared trophy hoard of 17 titles, the true measure of NBA greatness is a deliciously chaotic debate between dynastic longevity, like the Spurs' 22-year playoff march, explosive peak dominance, like Jordan's six Finals MVPs for the Bulls' 72-win season, and surreal modern feats, like LeBron's four MVPs or the Warriors' 73-win season that somehow didn't end with a championship.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BASKETBALL-REFERENCEbasketball-reference.comVisit source
- Reference 2NBAnba.comVisit source
- Reference 3ESPNespn.comVisit source
- Reference 4ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 5FIBAfiba.basketballVisit source
- Reference 6NCAAncaa.comVisit source
- Reference 7WNBAwnba.comVisit source
- Reference 8HARLEMGLOBETROTTERSharlemglobetrotters.comVisit source