NBA’s Unbreakable Records

[GreenlyGreeny]

Stockton’s assists and steals records (the dude had 16 years without missing a game and made the playoffs each of his 19 years with an average of roughly one missed game per season—did all that AND averaged over 10 assists per game AND over 2 steals per game). Those will likely never be broken (never say never), and same goes for Wilt’s rebound records. Same probably goes for most consecutive games played (absolutely bananas to imagine someone playing 14+ seasons without missing a single game). However, eventually someone will surpass LeBron’s points records, assuming he gets past Kareem. It might take 30-50 years, but it will happen. Had Jordan not retired two times and had he played in the 2000s/2010s, he would have made that record eternal. LeBron is not the GOAT. He probably will not even be number two for long, and let’s not forget about 3-6…

[gouki88]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

[GreenlyGreeny]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

Do we really think if MJ had been born in 1985 and his dad had not died causing a two year hiatus, he would not own the record by a wide margin? Without hand checking, not to mention spending 3 years in college, the GOAT would have probably averaged 35-40 PPG for 18-20 seasons. LeBron’s bully ball and favoritism from the refs in an era without hand checking is not nearly as impressive as what Kareem, Karl Malone and MJ accomplished.

[gouki88]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

Do we really think if MJ had been born in 1985 and his dad had not died causing a two year hiatus, he would not own the record by a wide margin? Without hand checking, not to mention spending 3 years in college, the GOAT would have probably averaged 35-40 PPG for 18-20 seasons.

Sure, but none of that happened. And MJ is the greatest individual talent in NBA history. Guys rest more and the seasons might even be shortened.

[celticsclay]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

Do we really think if MJ had been born in 1985 and his dad had not died causing a two year hiatus, he would not own the record by a wide margin? Without hand checking, not to mention spending 3 years in college, the GOAT would have probably averaged 35-40 PPG for 18-20 seasons.

Sure, but none of that happened. And MJ is the greatest individual talent in NBA history. Guys rest more and the seasons might even be shortened.

Minutes also a huge part of this as it used to be completely normal for a young star to average 40-42 minutes even like ten years ago. Now you are most people top out at about 36. That’s very significant over a long career

[gouki88]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

Do we really think if MJ had been born in 1985 and his dad had not died causing a two year hiatus, he would not own the record by a wide margin? Without hand checking, not to mention spending 3 years in college, the GOAT would have probably averaged 35-40 PPG for 18-20 seasons.

Sure, but none of that happened. And MJ is the greatest individual talent in NBA history. Guys rest more and the seasons might even be shortened.

Minutes also a huge part of this as it used to be completely normal for a young star to average 40-42 minutes even like ten years ago. Now you are most people top out at about 36. That’s very significant over a long career

Indeed - LeBron was playing an absurd amount early on, and was the absolute focal point of every single offence he has been a part of since his rookie season. He had a few 40+MPG seasons

[Surferdad]

Wilt’s 50 ppg in 1961-62 still stands, even with the 3-pt shot. I think this is because defenses are tougher these days and a 3-pt shooter can't dominate physically the way a big man like Wilt could.

[Kernewek]

It's hard to imagine anyone catching LeBron's eventual scoring record. LeBron is incredibly durable, has preposterous longevity, and an average of 27PPG.

Do we really think if MJ had been born in 1985 and his dad had not died causing a two year hiatus, he would not own the record by a wide margin? Without hand checking, not to mention spending 3 years in college, the GOAT would have probably averaged 35-40 PPG for 18-20 seasons.

Sure, but none of that happened. And MJ is the greatest individual talent in NBA history. Guys rest more and the seasons might even be shortened.

Minutes also a huge part of this as it used to be completely normal for a young star to average 40-42 minutes even like ten years ago. Now you are most people top out at about 36. That’s very significant over a long career

Yeah as far as unbreakable records go I don't think anyone is catching Wilt's MPG (45.80) or, in the modern era, even Iverson (41.1).

Other records that jump out to me:
Parish's 1611 games
Kareem's FGAs & Personal Fouls
Hakeem's blocks

[Androslav]

Sheed Wallace holds the record for the most technical fouls in a season with 41 during the 2000-01 season.
This record can only be broken if they change the current rules.

[hwangjini_1]

The blocks record will be another tough one.

Nobody averages a large number of blocks anymore. Back in the 80s and 90s you would have guys average 4+ blocks per game in their best seasons and having multiple 3+ blocks per game.

Nowadays guys have a tough time getting to 2.0-2.5bpg.

All those three pointers and spread out courts have led to less opportunities for shot-blockers to swat shots at the basket.

you may be correct on this.

the all time block leader is olajuwan with 3,830. the closest active player is dwight howard with 2,228.

http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks

and if we also look at single game records, some of those seem unbreakable as well.

- 100 points, chamberlain
- 30 assists, scott skiles
- 55 rebounds, chamberlain
- 17 blocks, elmore smith
- 11 steals, larry kenon & kendall gill

oh, one more record and it is a fun one.....fastest to foul out of a game, 2 minutes and 43 seconds, bubba wells. 

https://medium.com/@Divac/lets-all-watch-bubba-wells-foul-out-faster-than-anybody-in-nba-history-67bd64d0e896

[johnnygreen]

1192 consecutive games played by AC Green seems like something that will never be touched - like, not even half. Even if somebody desperately wanted to break it, coaches often sit guys just for rest. To put Green's record into perspective, that total is more than 14.5 seasons straight without missing a game.

AC Green’s celibacy record will never be broken by an NBA player. EVER!

The guy was drafted by the Lakers, who were bigger than rock stars in the 80’s. The stories of women throwing themselves at those guys are endless. Yet, AC Green remained a virgin until he got married after his NBA career ended, at the age of 38.

I have nothing but respect for him, for sticking to his beliefs.

[slamtheking]

The blocks record will be another tough one.

Nobody averages a large number of blocks anymore. Back in the 80s and 90s you would have guys average 4+ blocks per game in their best seasons and having multiple 3+ blocks per game.

Nowadays guys have a tough time getting to 2.0-2.5bpg.

All those three pointers and spread out courts have led to less opportunities for shot-blockers to swat shots at the basket.

you may be correct on this.

the all time block leader is olajuwan with 3,830. the closest active player is dwight howard with 2,228.

http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks

and if we also look at single game records, some of those seem unbreakable as well.

- 100 points, chamberlain
- 30 assists, scott skiles
- 55 rebounds, chamberlain
- 17 blocks, elmore smith
- 11 steals, larry kenon & kendall gill

oh, one more record and it is a fun one.....fastest to foul out of a game, 2 minutes and 43 seconds, bubba wells. 

https://medium.com/@Divac/lets-all-watch-bubba-wells-foul-out-faster-than-anybody-in-nba-history-67bd64d0e896

pity they didn't keep block records during the Russell/Wilt era.  I suspect one of them would be the true leader in that category

[Moranis]

The blocks record will be another tough one.

Nobody averages a large number of blocks anymore. Back in the 80s and 90s you would have guys average 4+ blocks per game in their best seasons and having multiple 3+ blocks per game.

Nowadays guys have a tough time getting to 2.0-2.5bpg.

All those three pointers and spread out courts have led to less opportunities for shot-blockers to swat shots at the basket.

you may be correct on this.

the all time block leader is olajuwan with 3,830. the closest active player is dwight howard with 2,228.

http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/blocks

and if we also look at single game records, some of those seem unbreakable as well.

- 100 points, chamberlain
- 30 assists, scott skiles
- 55 rebounds, chamberlain
- 17 blocks, elmore smith
- 11 steals, larry kenon & kendall gill

oh, one more record and it is a fun one.....fastest to foul out of a game, 2 minutes and 43 seconds, bubba wells. 

https://medium.com/@Divac/lets-all-watch-bubba-wells-foul-out-faster-than-anybody-in-nba-history-67bd64d0e896

pity they didn't keep block records during the Russell/Wilt era.  I suspect one of them would be the true leader in that category

I suspect Wilt would be 1 and Bill would 2, but they would both have a bigger lead on Hakeem than he has Dikembe

I don't know that Hakeem won't be touched though.  I mean Anthony Davis has 1400 and is still just 28.  I know he can't stay healthy, but I see no reason that in the future a healthier Anthony Davis type player won't come along (Myles Turner is on a similar per game pace, but he too can't stay healthy).

[BitterJim]

Most fouls in a game (Cal Bowdler with 7 due to a scorekeeper error that kept him in the game) is almost impossible to tie (you need to have just 5 available players before picking up foul #6), never mind beat.