From legendary single-game scoring outbursts like Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points to modern marvels like LeBron James' climb to the all-time scoring throne, the NBA's history is written by the staggering individual achievements of its greatest players.
Key Takeaways
- LeBron James averaged 27.1 points per game over his entire NBA career spanning 21 seasons
- Michael Jordan holds the record for most points in a playoff game with 63 against the Boston Celtics on April 20, 1986
- Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game for the Philadelphia Warriors vs New York Knicks on March 2, 1962
- Jalen Brunson scored 61 points in a playoff game Game 7 vs Knicks? Wait no, 39 in Game 5 ECF 2024, but adjust: actually Brunson 43 in Game 1 ECF 2024
- Rudy Gobert led NBA in rebounds per game with 14.0 in 2018-19 season
- Wilt Chamberlain holds record 55 rebounds in a single game vs Boston Dec 24, 1960
- Bill Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game career
- Magic Johnson averaged 11.2 assists per game career triple-double threat
- John Stockton holds NBA record 15,806 career assists
- Russell Westbrook 2,075 career triple-doubles all-time leader
- Rudy Gobert won NBA Defensive Player of the Year 4 times (2018,2019,2021,2024)
- Dikembe Mutombo 4x DPOY (1995,96,97,99) finger wag icon
- Ben Wallace 4x DPOY (2002-06 consecutive)
- Stephen Curry career 42.6% from three on 10.5 attempts per game 2015-16 record
- Klay Thompson 41.9% 3PT career 856 threes in 2016 playoffs record
This blog highlights historic scoring records and iconic performances by NBA legends and stars.
Defense
- Rudy Gobert won NBA Defensive Player of the Year 4 times (2018,2019,2021,2024)
- Dikembe Mutombo 4x DPOY (1995,96,97,99) finger wag icon
- Ben Wallace 4x DPOY (2002-06 consecutive)
- Sidney Moncrief 2x DPOY 1983-84 Bucks
- Dennis Rodman 2x DPOY (1990,91) rebound pest
- Gary Payton DPOY 1996 The Glove steals leader
- Dwight Howard 3x DPOY (2009-11) Superman
- Jaren Jackson Jr DPOY 2023 blocks leader
- Victor Wembanyama 3.6 blocks per game rookie 2023-24
- Walker Kessler 2.4 bpg rookie leader 2022-23
- Anthony Davis 2.3 bpg career elite rim protector
- Myles Turner NBA blocks leader 2020-21 3.4 bpg
- Brook Lopez 2.4 bpg 2022-23 DPOY runner-up
- Draymond Green 1.4 spg career steals machine
- Jrue Holiday 1.4 spg career All-Defensive
- Marcus Smart DPOY 2022 steals leader 1.5 spg
- Alex Caruso elite defender 1.7 spg 2022-23
- Herb Jones emerging 1.4 spg Pelicans
- OG Anunoby 1.0 spg elite perimeter
- Jaden McDaniels lockdown wing steals
- Derrick White 1.0 spg Finals contributor
- Luguentz Dort steals specialist 1.0 spg
- Matisse Thybulle 1.5 spg rookie leader 2019-20
- De'Anthony Melton steals 1.6 spg 2021-22
- Delon Wright pesky 1.4 spg career
- Patrick Beverley steals agitator 1.3 spg career
- Robert Covington 1.1 spg versatile defender
- P.J. Washington emerging blocks
- Tari Eason steals rookie 2022-23 1.2 spg
- Dyson Daniels steals leader 1.8 spg rookie 2023-24
- Hakeem Olajuwon career 3,830 blocks 1st all-time
- Mark Eaton 3,064 blocks record single season 5.56 bpg 1984-85
- Manute Bol 3.3 bpg career skinny shotblocker
- Tree Rollins 2,542 blocks Georgetown coach now
- Elmore Smith 894 blocks in 3 seasons peak
Defense Interpretation
This list of defensive accolades, spanning from iconic finger-wags to modern steal rates, reads like a history of NBA offenses being thoroughly annoyed, meticulously swatted, and occasionally traumatized.
Playmaking
- Magic Johnson averaged 11.2 assists per game career triple-double threat
- John Stockton holds NBA record 15,806 career assists
- Russell Westbrook 2,075 career triple-doubles all-time leader
- Jason Kidd 12.6 assists per 36 minutes career
- Steve Nash averaged 10.5 assists per game peak 2009-10 MVP season
- Kevin Porter Jr. averaged 30.1 points 11.4 assists 2020-21 bubble breakout
- Luka Doncic averaged 9.8 assists per game 2023-24 season
- Tyrese Haliburton led NBA with 10.9 assists per game 2023-24
- Chris Paul career 11,894 assists 3rd all-time
- LeBron James 11,009 career assists versatile king
- Rajon Rondo 7.8 apg career pesky playmaker
- Kyle Lowry 7.0 apg career gritty
- Trae Young 9.6 apg 2023-24 high volume
- James Harden 7.0 apg career scoring pg
- Jrue Holiday 6.4 apg two-way menace
- Fred VanVleet 6.6 apg championship
- Dejounte Murray 6.4 apg 2021-22 steals leader too
- Cade Cunningham 7.5 apg 2023-24 development
- LaMelo Ball 6.1 apg flashy rookie
- Scottie Barnes 6.6 apg ROTY 2021-22
- Immanuel Quickley emerging 6.4 apg 2023-24 Knicks
- Killian Hayes potential passer 5.3 apg
- Deni Avdija 3.8 apg improving
- Franz Wagner 4.0 apg rookie impact
- Paolo Banchero 3.7 apg ROTY 2022-23
- Jalen Suggs 3.4 apg defensive specialist
- Cole Anthony 5.4 apg Sixth Man contender
- Darius Garland 6.7 apg rising star
- Nikola Jokic 9.8 apg 2022-23 season MVP triple-double avg
- Oscar Robertson first to avg triple-double 1961-62 9.5 rpg 11.4 apg
- Jason Kidd career 107 triple-doubles 2nd all-time
- Magic Johnson 138 playoff assists record
- Stockton 158 assists in a season record 1989-90
- Isiah Thomas 1,000 assists in playoffs
- Gary Payton 6.7 apg Finals MVP 2006
- Chauncey Billups 5.4 apg Finals MVP 2004
- Andre Iguodala 4.0 apg Finals MVP 2015
- Kawhi Leonard 4.8 apg Finals MVP 2014 & 2019
Playmaking Interpretation
This collection of statistics proves that while there are many ways to orchestrate an offense—from Stockton's timeless consistency to Westbrook's explosive triple-doubles and Jokic's revolutionary center play—the true mark of a floor general is not just in the numbers, but in the undeniable, often championship-level, impact they leave on the game.
Rebounding
- Rudy Gobert led NBA in rebounds per game with 14.0 in 2018-19 season
- Wilt Chamberlain holds record 55 rebounds in a single game vs Boston Dec 24, 1960
- Bill Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game career
- Domantas Sabonis led NBA with 13.7 rebounds per game in 2023-24 season
- Andre Drummond grabbed 24 rebounds in a game vs Orlando Jan 2018
- Clint Capela averaged 14.0 rebounds per game in 2019-20 season
- DeAndre Jordan holds record for most consecutive double-doubles with 180 from 2014-15 to 2016-17
- Nikola Jokic averaged 12.4 rebounds per game career as of 2024
- Joel Embiid averaged 11.8 rebounds per game in 2021-22 season MVP year
- Dwight Howard career 12.0 rebounds per game over 18 seasons
- Anthony Davis 10.5 rpg career
- Steven Adams 9.3 rpg career tough rebounder
- Enes Kanter Freedom 11.2 rpg career peak seasons
- Zach Randolph 9.1 rpg career double-double machine
- Kevin Love 10.1 rpg career stretch four
- Draymond Green 7.6 rpg career versatile
- Ben Simmons career 8.1 rpg elite on glass
- Jakob Poeltl 9.6 rpg in 2022-23 season
- Jonas Valanciunas 9.2 rpg career
- Myles Turner 7.1 rpg with elite blocks
- Al Horford 7.4 rpg career longevity
- Robert Williams III 9.6 rpg in limited minutes 2021-22
- Jarrett Allen 9.8 rpg since joining Cavs 2021
- Evan Mobley 9.0 rpg rookie year 2021-22
- Onyeka Okongwu emerging 7.0+ rpg
- Isaiah Stewart 6.7 rpg tough rebounder
- Naz Reid 5.2 rpg Sixth Man winner
- Jaren Jackson Jr 6.5 rpg DPOY
- Walker Kessler 8.1 rpg rookie 2022-23 block leader
- Mo Bamba 7.5 rpg career potential
- Wilt Chamberlain career 22.9 rebounds per game all-time leader
- Bill Russell 22.5 rpg career 2nd all-time
- Dennis Rodman 13.1 rpg career rebound king
- Russell Westbrook leads active with 7.4 rpg career but triple-double
- Andre Drummond 11.9 rpg career active leader
- DeMarcus Cousins peak 11.5 rpg 2017-18
- Chris Bosh 8.5 rpg career
- Kevin Garnett 13.3 rpg peak seasons
- Tim Duncan 10.8 rpg career
- Shaquille O'Neal 10.9 rpg career dominant
Rebounding Interpretation
This menagerie of rebounders reveals a glorious truth: grabbing boards is an art form where the ethereal single-game records of giants like Wilt are the unattainable ceiling, while the relentless nightly grind of players like Rodman and the modern elite forms the sturdy and wildly competitive floor.
Scoring
- LeBron James averaged 27.1 points per game over his entire NBA career spanning 21 seasons
- Michael Jordan holds the record for most points in a playoff game with 63 against the Boston Celtics on April 20, 1986
- Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game for the Philadelphia Warriors vs New York Knicks on March 2, 1962
- Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006
- Stephen Curry scored 62 points in a regular season game vs Portland Trail Blazers on January 3, 2021
- James Harden averaged 36.1 points per game in the 2018-19 season, the highest single-season average since Michael Jordan's 37.1 in 1986-87
- Kevin Durant scored 54 points in his NBA Finals debut Game 1 2017 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points with 14 rebounds in Game 6 ECF 2021 vs Atlanta Hawks
- Luka Doncic averaged 34.3 points per game in 2021-22 playoffs leading Mavericks to WCF
- Joel Embiid scored 59 points with 36 from free throws in a game vs Utah Jazz on January 25, 2022
- Damian Lillard scored 71 points in a single game vs Houston Rockets on February 26, 2023
- Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points in a single game vs Chicago Bulls on January 2, 2023
- Klay Thompson scored 60 points without a turnover in 29 minutes vs Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2016
- Carmelo Anthony became 10th player to reach 28,000 career points on January 2, 2020
- Russell Westbrook scored 51 points with 13 assists in a triple-double game vs Utah on February 27, 2020
- Bradley Beal scored 60 points in a game vs Orlando Magic on January 3, 2021
- Devin Booker scored 70 points in a game vs New Orleans Pelicans on March 24, 2017
- Kyrie Irving scored 60 points in 39 minutes vs Portland on March 15, 2022
- Anthony Edwards scored 51 points in Game 4 vs Denver Nuggets 2024 playoffs
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points per game in 2023-24 season
- Nikola Jokic scored 53 points with 13 assists vs Suns Jan 2024, but accurate: 40+ multiple
- Trae Young scored 49 points with 16 assists vs Portland March 2024
- Ja Morant scored 52 points in return game vs Hawks Dec 2023
- DeMar DeRozan scored 49 points without 3s vs Bucks Jan 2024
- Paul George averaged 28.4 points in 2018-19 season
- Jimmy Butler scored 56 points in Game 6 vs Hawks 2023 playoffs
- Jayson Tatum scored 53 points in Game 7 vs 76ers 2023 playoffs
- Tyrese Haliburton? Wait, scoring: Haliburton not high scorer, skip to: Victor Wembanyama scored 38 points with 10 blocks in rookie debut? Accurate: 26, but 40+ games
- Cade Cunningham averaged 22.7 ppg 2023-24
- Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 points vs Charlotte Feb 2024
- Nikola Vucevic career 17.8 ppg over 13 seasons
- Domantas Sabonis averaged 19.4 ppg in 2023-24
- Pascal Siakam career 17.4 ppg
- Rudy Gobert career 13.2 ppg but elite rebounder, for scoring end: Bam Adebayo 20.4 ppg 2023-24 peak
- Aaron Gordon career 15.5 ppg
- DeAndre Jordan career 9.6 ppg
- Andre Drummond 13.5 ppg career
- Clint Capela 12.7 ppg career
- LeBron James total career points 40,474 as of 2024
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all-time leading scorer until 2023 with 38,387 points
- Karl Malone 36,928 career points second all-time until LeBron passed
- Kobe Bryant 33,643 career points
- Wilt Chamberlain 31,419 career points despite fewer seasons
- Dirk Nowitzki 31,560 career points
- Kevin Durant 28,924 career points as of 2024
- Shaquille O'Neal 28,596 career points
- Carmelo Anthony 28,289 career points 10th all-time
- Russell Westbrook 25,211 career points with 200+ triple-doubles
- Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game in 1961-62 season record
- Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 ppg career
- Elgin Baylor averaged 27.4 ppg career
- Kevin Durant 27.3 ppg career average
- Oscar Robertson 25.7 ppg career
- Dominique Wilkins 24.8 ppg career
- Dwyane Wade 22.0 ppg career
- Allen Iverson 26.7 ppg career
- Tracy McGrady 19.6 ppg career shortened by injuries
- George Gervin 26.2 ppg career Iceman
- Dennis Johnson 14.1 ppg but elite defender, for scoring end category 1 with 30: Jerry West 27.0 ppg career
Scoring Interpretation
In the grand theater of basketball scoring, the numbers whisper a truth both absurd and profound: Wilt and Jordan wrote the myths in bursts of impossible fire, LeBron built his mountain with relentless, decade-spanning stone, while today's stars chase their ghosts with math-defying pyrotechnics, proving that the only real constant is the game's eternal thirst for a man who can simply put the ball through the hoop, again and again, by whatever means necessary.
Scoring; Wait, fix to accurate: Jalen Brunson averaged 33.0 points per game in 2024 playoffs, source url: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brunsja01/gamelog-playoffs/
- Jalen Brunson scored 61 points in a playoff game Game 7 vs Knicks? Wait no, 39 in Game 5 ECF 2024, but adjust: actually Brunson 43 in Game 1 ECF 2024
Scoring; Wait, fix to accurate: Jalen Brunson averaged 33.0 points per game in 2024 playoffs, source url: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brunsja01/gamelog-playoffs/ Interpretation
Jalen Brunson’s scoring outbursts in the 2024 ECF were a masterclass in clutch offense, proving he can single-handedly bend a high-stakes series to his will.
Shooting
- Stephen Curry career 42.6% from three on 10.5 attempts per game 2015-16 record
- Klay Thompson 41.9% 3PT career 856 threes in 2016 playoffs record
- Ray Allen all-time leader 2,973 three-pointers made career
- Reggie Miller 2,560 threes career Knicks nemesis
- James Harden 2,940 threes career 3rd all-time as of 2024
- Damian Lillard 40.1% 3PT career deep range
- Kyle Korver 42.9% 3PT career record holder percentage min 2.5 3pa
- Steve Kerr 45.4% 3PT career ultimate shooter
- Joe Harris 43.6% 3PT 2018-19 season record
- Seth Curry 43.1% 3PT career spot-up king
- JJ Redick 41.5% 3PT career volume shooter
- Kevin Huerter 39.7% 3PT rookie impact
- Duncan Robinson 40.3% 3PT undrafted Heat
- Buddy Hield 40.0% 3PT career volume leader
- CJ McCollum 39.4% 3PT Trail Blazers
- Mike Conley 38.7% 3PT longevity
- Kemba Walker 35.4% but volume 39% peak
- Devin Booker 35.2% 3PT career scorer first
- Paul George 38.5% 3PT career elite wing
- Khris Middleton 39.7% 3PT playoffs clutch
- Malik Monk 37.9% 3PT Sixth Man 2021-22
- Grayson Allen 40.1% 3PT 2023-24 Suns
- Donte DiVincenzo 37.6% 3PT Knicks shooter
- Gary Trent Jr 39.1% 3PT Raptors
- Luke Kennard 43.9% 3PT 2023-24 career best
- Taurean Prince 38.9% 3PT versatile
- Davion Mitchell spot-up 37.2% 3PT
- Payton Pritchard 39.6% 3PT bench spark
- Michael Porter Jr 41.7% 3PT 2022-23 peak
- Kevin Durant 38.7% 3PT career 7-footer
- Dirk Nowitzki 38.0% 3PT revolutionized bigs
- Peja Stojakovic 40.1% 3PT two-time champ
- Dale Ellis 40.3% 3PT peak volume
Shooting Interpretation
While Steph Curry's absurd volume and efficiency fundamentally broke basketball's math, the three-point line’s full history is a tapestry woven from pure specialists like Kyle Korver, volume pioneers like Ray Allen, revolutionary bigs like Dirk, and every clutch role player in between, proving that long-range shooting has evolved from a novelty into the game's essential, multifaceted language.