The NBA is a league of constant change, where new superstars are born every season and teams are built to try and dethrone the reigning champions. However, over the years, there are some records that seem unbreakable. In this article, we will countdown the top-10 most unbreakable records of all-time in the NBA. From individual player accomplishments to team achievements, these records have stood the test of time and show no signs of being broken anytime soon.
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single-game scoring record by tallying 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks. It was only the second game of the season in which Chamberlain played all 48 minutes, and he made 36 of 63 field goal attempts and 28 of 32 free throws.
At the time, Chamberlain was already one of the NBA’s most dominant players. He had won the league’s MVP award in 1960 and 1961, and he would go on to win it again in 1966. He was also a two-time champion with the Warriors, winning titles in 1956 and 1957.
Chamberlain’s 100-point game is globally considered one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history. The record still stands today and is unlikely to ever be broken.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points
In the history of the NBA, only one player has scored more than 38,000 points: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The longtime Los Angeles Lakers star racked up an impressive total of 38,387 points over his 20-year career, which is nearly 4,000 more than the second-highest scorer in NBA history (Karl Malone).
Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force in the league for many years, winning six NBA Championships and six MVP Awards. He was also a prolific scorer, averaging more than 24 points per game throughout his career. His scoring total is even more impressive considering the fact that he played in an era when defense was often emphasized over offense.
While it’s unlikely that anyone will ever come close to matching Abdul-Jabbar’s point total, it’s still an incredible record that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
Karl Malone’s 36,928 points
As of the end of the 2019-2020 season, Karl Malone’s 36,928 points is the second most all time in NBA history. Only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Malone played in the NBA for 19 seasons and was a 14 time All-Star. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
LeBron James’ 27,402 points
LeBron James is currently in second place on the all-time scoring list with 27,402 points. He is 2,058 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who holds the record with 29,460 points. James has been in the league for 16 seasons and has averaged 27.1 points per game during that time. If he continues to play at that same pace, he will pass Abdul-Jabbar in 2023.
There have been many great scorers in NBA history, but none have been able to match LeBron James’ production. He is a once-in-a-generation talent and it would take another player of his caliber to break his record.
Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 points
Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 points is the most unbreakable NBA record of all-time. Kobe’s points total is more than double the next closest player, LeBron James (15,837). In fact, the only player remotely close to Kobe’s total is Karl Malone (36,928), who played in 19 more seasons than Kobe.
Kobe’s dominance on the scoring list is a testament to his greatness as a player. He was a prolific scorer throughout his 20-year career, averaging 25.0 points per game. His highest scoring season came in 2005-06 when he averaged 35.4 points per game.
What makes Kobe’s scoring record so unbreakable is the fact that he did it in such a short amount of time. He played 1,346 games in his career, which is fewer than many players who are well below him on the all-time scoring list. If LeBron James were to match Kobe’s career total of 33,643 points, he would need to play until he was 41 years old (he’s currently 34).
Given the length of careers and the rate at which players score nowadays, it’s safe to say that Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 points will remain the most unbreakable NBA record of all-time.
Michael Jordan’s 30,12 points
Michael Jordan’s 30,12 points is the most unbreakable NBA record of all-time. This is because MJ was simply the greatest player to ever play the game and his scoring records will never be matched.
MJ holds the record for most points in a season with 30,12 and this is a record that will never be broken. MJ was a scoring machine and no one will ever come close to his point totals. His career points total of 32,292 is also an unbreakable record.
In addition, MJ holds the record for most points in a playoff game with 63 against the Celtics in 1986. This is another record that will never be broken as MJ was simply unstoppable in the playoffs. His 7 Game series against the Lakers in 1992 is also one of the most legendary performances in NBA history.
So there you have it, Michael Jordan’s 30,12 points is the most unbreakable NBA record of all-time and it is unlikely that anyone will ever come close to breaking it.
John Stockton’s 15,806 assists
John Stockton is the NBA’s all-time assists leader, with 15,806 dimes to his name. That’s nearly 5,000 more than the next closest player, Jason Kidd. Stockton’s assist total is so far out of reach for the current crop of players that it seems safe to say it will never be broken.
Stockton was a master at finding his teammates in scoring position and delivering the ball right into their shooting pocket. He could thread the needle with his passes, and had pinpoint accuracy when making them. His vision on the court was second to none, and he always seemed to know where everyone was on the floor.
In addition to being an incredible passer, Stockton was also an excellent shooter and a tenacious defender. He was a complete player who made those around him better. His assists totals are a testament to that fact.
Oscar Robertson’s 181 triple-doubles
Oscar Robertson became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season when he accomplished the feat during the 1961-62 campaign. The 12-time All-Star finished the year with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.
Robertson went on to tally 181 triple-doubles over the course of his Hall of Fame career, which is by far the most in NBA history. Magic Johnson is a distant second with 138, while Russell Westbrook currently ranks third with 119.
While Westbrook has been putting up historic numbers lately, it’s unlikely that he’ll catch Robertson anytime soon. In fact, it’s possible that Robertson’s all-time record will never be broken.
A Magic Johnson’s 138 triple-doubles
In his illustrious career, Magic Johnson racked up an impressive 138 triple-doubles. That’s more than twice as many as the next player on the list, Oscar Robertson.
What’s even more impressive is that Johnson accomplished this feat in just 9 seasons. In comparison, Robertson needed 14 seasons to reach his triple-double total of 81.
The record for most triple-doubles in a single season belongs to Russell Westbrook, who had 42 in 2016-17. But with Johnson averaging 15 per season, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could have reached that total if he had played more than 9 seasons.
In today’s game, there are a number of players who have the potential to challenge Johnson’s record. LeBron James (59), Russell Westbrook (57), and Nikola Jokic (39) are all within striking distance. But at 38 years old, James is the only one with a realistic chance of catching Johnson.
So for now, the King remains atop the list of Most Unbreakable NBA Records Of All Time…but don’t count him out just yet!
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game
On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks, becoming the first and only player in NBA history to reach that mark. The game was played at Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and was televised nationally on ABC.
Chamberlain’s 100-point game is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual performances in basketball history. It has been referenced numerous times in popular culture, including in the 1996 film Space Jam.
Oscar Robertson’s triple-double season
In 1961-1962, Oscar Robertson became the first and only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. He averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game while playing for the Cincinnati Royals.
This record is considered one of the most unbreakable records in NBA history. In order to do so, a player would need to be elite in all three statistical categories, which is something that very few players are able to accomplish.
Robertson’s triple-double season is made even more impressive by the fact that he did it during a time when there were only nine teams in the league. This meant that he was facing some of the best players in the NBA on a nightly basis. The level of competition has increased significantly since then as there are now 30 teams in the league.
Some people have argued that Robertson’s record could be broken by Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook has averaged a triple-double for each of the past two seasons and came close to doing it again this past year. However, Westbrook has yet to win an NBA title, which is something that Robertson was able to accomplish during his career.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA career, with 38,387. This record is unlikely to ever be broken, as the next closest player is LeBron James, who is more than 7,000 points behind Abdul-Jabbar.
Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force in the NBA for 20 seasons, winning six MVP Awards and six NBA Championships. He was a master of the skyhook shot, and his scoring prowess was unmatched throughout his career. Even at age 42, Abdul-Jabbar was still one of the best players in the league, averaging 14 points per game.
It is safe to say that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record will never be broken. He is without doubt the greatest scorer in NBA history.
John Stockton’s assists record
John Stockton holds the NBA record for most assists in a career with 15,806. This record is unlikely to ever be broken as it would require another player to average over 10 assists per game for their entire career.Stockton’s assist record is even more impressive when you consider that he played in an era where the pace of play was much slower than it is today. In fact, the league-wide average for assists per game has increased significantly since Stockton retired in 2003.
The closest active player to Stockton’s record is Rajon Rondo, who currently has 8,828 career assists. Rondo would need to average nearly 12 assists per game over the next five seasons to catch Stockton. That seems highly unlikely given that Rondo is now 32 years old and his assist numbers have been declining in recent years.
Karl Malone’s points per game record
As of the 2019-2020 season, Karl Malone holds the record for most points per game in an NBA career, with an average of 25.0 points per game. Malone played in the NBA for 19 seasons, during which he was a 14-time All-Star and 2-time MVP. He is also second on the all-time scoring list, with 36,928 career points.
Malone’s points per game record is one of the most unbreakable records in NBA history. To put his average of 25.0 points per game into perspective, only three other players in NBA history have averaged more than 20 points per game over their entire careers: Michael Jordan (30.1), Wilt Chamberlain (30.1), and LeBron James (27.1). Malone’s career average is also higher than that of Kobe Bryant (25.0) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24.6), two of the other greatest players in NBA history.
What makes Malone’s record even more impressive is that he accomplished it while playing in an era when defense was much more predominant than it is today. In today’s NBA, offense has become much more important, as evidenced by the fact that the league’s leading scorer this season (James Harden) is averaging 36.1 points per game. If Malone had played in today’s NBA, it’s very likely that his career average would be even higher than it already is.
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Bill Russell’s 11 championships
In his thirteen-year career, Bill Russell won an astonishing 11 championships with the Boston Celtics. He was a key part of a dynasty that dominated the NBA in the 1960s, winning eight titles in a row from 1959 to 1966.
Russell was an incredible defensive player, anchoring a Celtics team that was renowned for its stingy defense. He was also a superb rebounder, averaging more than 20 rebounds per game in his career.
Russell was named MVP of the NBA Finals three times and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974. His 11 championships are still the most by any player in NBA history.
Michael Jordan’s 8 straight seasons with 3000 points
Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. He dominated the sport in the 1980s and 1990s, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. One of Jordan’s most impressive achievements is his eight straight seasons with 3000 points. This record is unlikely to be broken, as no other player in NBA history has come close to matching Jordan’s scoring prowess.
In each of those eight seasons, Jordan averaged over 30 points per game. His highest scoring average came in 1986-87, when he averaged a staggering 37.1 points per game. That season, he also became the first player in NBA history to score 3000 points in a single season. Jordan would go on to achieve that feat four more times, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest scorers of all time.
To this day, Jordan’s eight straight seasons with 3000 points remains one of the most unbreakable records in the NBA. It’s a testament to his greatness as a player and underscores just how difficult it is to match his level of excellence.
Kobe Bryant’s 60-point game
Kobe Bryant’s 60-point game is one of the most unbreakable NBA records of all time. On January 22, 2006, Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to score 60 points in a game. He was just 28 years old.
Bryant accomplished the feat against the Toronto Raptors, who had no answer for him. He shot an incredible 25-of-43 from the field and added six rebounds and four assists. It was a virtuoso performance that cemented his place among the greatest players in NBA history.
Since then, only two other players have come close to matching Bryant’s 60-point game. In 2012, LeBron James scored 56 points against the Charlotte Bobcats. And in 2014, Carmelo Anthony scored 62 points against the Charlotte Hornets.
But neither James nor Anthony could reach 60 points against a team with playoff aspirations. The Raptors were a good team in 2006, but they weren’t great. They finished the season with a 47-35 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
So while others may come close, it’s unlikely that anyone will ever match Kobe Bryant’s 60-point game. It’s simply one of the most unbreakable NBA records of all time.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s 3 championship titles
In the 1990s, Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the most dominant forces in the NBA. The 6-foot-10 center led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
Olajuwon’s individual accomplishments are just as impressive as his team’s success. He was named the NBA MVP in 1994 and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a 12-time All-Star and is one of only four players in history to be named to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams in the same season.
But perhaps Olajuwon’s most impressive feat is his three championship titles. No other player in NBA history has won more than two championships while playing for a single team. Olajuwon’s dominance on both ends of the court helped him lead the Rockets to three straight titles, cementing his place among the greatest players ever to step on the hardwood.