As the old saying goes, “Records are made to be broken.” The fact of the matter is, that statement has never been more true in the NBA than right now in 2023. It seems everywhere we turn, another record is being matched or broken in the NBA, with the offensive output being at an all-time high and widespread talent across the entire league. Just this season, we saw an NBA record fall that nobody thought we would see fall in our lifetimes when LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. The way things are trending, I wouldn’t be surprised if more records fall in the coming years, but there are those records that shall remain timeless.
Not long ago, I wrote about the most unbreakable single-game records in NBA history. Today, we will limit our search to the NBA playoffs but not limit ourselves to one game. These records are helped by players with elite longevity as well as those who dominated for one playoff series and even for one game. These NBA playoffs records are ones that I truly believe are the least likely to fall in my lifetime. There are many ingredients that need to come together in the right way in order for most of these 10 records to be broken, and the way the game is now makes it even less likely for that to be the case. Only time will tell, but for now, you be the judge.
These are the 10 most unbreakable records in NBA playoff history.
Honorable MentionsMost Steals In A Single Game
Record: 10 Steals – Allen Iverson vs. Orlando Magic, May 13, 1999
The NBA record for the most steals in a playoff game ironically belongs to Allen Iverson, an NBA legend known for his offensive game more than anything. Still, Iverson was an extremely talented off-ball defender who caused and corralled a plethora of tipped passes in his career. In the first round of the 1999 playoffs, Iverson’s 76ers were set to go up against the Orlando Magic in Game 3. The Orlando Magic would commit 26 turnovers in the game, with 10 coming off Iverson’s steals as Philadelphia cruised to a 12-point win.
The Iverson record has not been close to being broken since that day in 1999. There have been seven players to record 8 steals in a game in NBA history, with no other players getting beyond that point. The most recent examples of players approaching this record are Javonte Green in 2022, Josh Richardson in 2018, and Russell Westbrook in 2016, all with 7 steals in a single playoff game. If this record is to be broken, it will not be anytime soon, given those numbers.
Most Offensive Rebounds In A Single Game
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 15 Rebounds – Moses Malone vs. Washington Bullets, April 21, 1977
It is no secret where Moses Malone ranks as far as his rebounding skills are concerned. Malone ranks third in NBA history with 17,834 total rebounds and first in NBA history with 7,382 offensive rebounds in his career. Upon learning that information, it came as no surprise to me that Malone holds the NBA playoff record for most offensive rebounds in a single game with 15. The record has stood since 1977 when Malone grabbed 15 offensive rebounds with 26 rebounds overall and 31 points to lead the Rockets past the Bullets in Game 2 of the second round. What was more interesting was the fact that this record has been close to being broken more than once.
In 1995, Shaquille O’Neal became the NBA player to come the closest to breaking the record with 14 offensive rebounds in the Conference Finals against the Bulls. The most recent attempts at breaking this record have been getting closer and closer. In 2022, Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 13 offensive rebounds in a playoff game against the Suns, and Kevon Looney grabbed 11 against Memphis. Even in 2023, New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds in a game against the Cavaliers in their first-round matchup. With so many close calls over the last few seasons, this record only gets an honorable mention for now.
Most Assists In A Quarter
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Record: 11 Assists – John Stockton vs. San Antonio Spurs, May 5, 1994
John Stockton is one of the greatest passers in NBA history and a somehow underrated point guard historically. Stockton won an NBA-record nine career assists titles over the span of 19 seasons and holds the record for the most total assists in NBA history as the only player with over 15,000. To see his name on yet another NBA record for passing is no shock when you consider he and Karl Malone were one of the most prolific offensive duos in NBA history.
Stockton broke this record in the 1994 playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. It was Game 4 of the series, with Utah holding a 2-1 series lead and looking to seal the deal on their home court. Stockton would dish out 11 assists in the second quarter of their win over the Spurs and 18 assists overall, while teammate Karl Malone scored 34 points as the beneficiary of many of those passes.
Most Free Throw Attempts In A Game
Record: 39 Free Throw Attempts- Shaquille O’Neal vs. Indiana Pacers, June 9, 2000
During the early 2000s, Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant player in the game as he dominated every opposing big in the NBA to the tune of a monstrous 2000 MVP season and three straight Finals MVPs with the Lakers from 2000 thru 2002. Teams had just one tactic to slow the Diesel down, and that was to foul him and put him on the free throw line, where he shot an abysmal 52.7% for his career. During the 2000 NBA Finals, the Pacers took this tactic to the extreme by putting O’Neal on the line 39 times. O’Neal hit on just 18 of those attempts but still managed to torch Indiana for 40 points and 24 rebounds in his first Finals MVP win.
The closest anyone has ever come to O’Neal’s free throw attempts record since that day in 2000 was DeAndre Jordan back in 2015 when the Rockets sent him to the foul line 34 times. Jordan made just 14 of those attempts, clearly being sent to the line for the same reasons O’Neal was 15 years earlier. The most anyone has been sent to the foul line in a playoff game in 2023 is 23 times by Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Bucks’ first-round loss to the Heat, meaning this may be the most unbreakable record of all the honorable mentions on our list.
10. Most Rebounds In A Game
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 41 Rebounds – Wilt Chamberlain vs. Boston Celtics, April 5, 1967
When looking at the first 13 playoff games with the most rebounds in NBA history, you will only see the names of the two greatest rebounders ever, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Russell has the second, third, and fourth-highest rebounding playoff game ever with three different content of 40 rebounds during his career. Chamberlain set the record in 1967, the year he won his first championship with the 76ers, with 41 rebounds and 20 points against Russell and the Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals.
Russell and Chamberlain own this record entirely, with 20 of the top 25 games with the most rebounds collected. To demonstrate just how unbreakable this record is, there are only four players who have grabbed even 25 or more rebounds in a game since 2000. Tim Duncan and Jonas Valanciunas have each had a game with 25 rebounds since 2000, and Dwight Howard and Bismack Biyombo each have a playoff game with 26 rebounds. That’s it. Only two players in the last 23 seasons have come within 15 rebounds of Wilt’s record. Unbreakable may not be the word for it. Let’s go with the word, impossible.
9. Most Points In A Single Game
Record: 63 Points – Michael Jordan vs. Boston Celtics, April 20, 1986
The NBA record for most points in a playoff game is one that NBA players have been trying to break for 37 years now. Michael Jordan, the greatest playoff scorer and overall scorer of all time, set the record back in 1986 against the Boston Celtics. Now, the 1985-86 Bulls had absolutely no chance against the Hall of Fame-loaded Boston Celtics, who were seeing their third straight NBA Finals appearance. In Game 2, Jordan went berserk, going for 63 points in an overtime loss while shooting 53.7% from the field and 90.5% from the foul line. The performance prompted Larry Bird to describe MJ on the court as “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
There have been plenty of players over the years to give Jordan’s record a run for its money. Donovan Mitchell came extremely close in 2020 when he dropped 57 points in a playoff game against the Denver Nuggets. Just earlier this postseason, Jimmy Butler became the seventh player in NBA history to drop at least 56 points in a playoff game as well. With the game’s offense exploding more than it ever has and the increasingly popular three-point shot, I do think this is one of Michael Jordan’s records that will eventually fall.
8. Most Free Throws Made In A Game
Credit: Fadeaway World
Record: 30 Free Throws Made – Bob Cousy vs. Syracuse Nationals, March 21, 1953
Just like the NBA record for most free throws attempted that we already discussed, it would have to be an intentional act in order for anyone to break the record for most free throws made. Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics set the NBA playoff record for most free throws made in a game back in 1953, making it one of the oldest-standing records in NBA history. Cousy connected on 30 of 32 free throws for 50 points in the NBA’s first-ever 50-point playoff performance by any player.
The closest player to Cousy’s record was Dirk Nowitzki back in 2011 when he made 24 free throws in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since 2020, no player has even reached 19 made free throws in a single playoff game, let alone get anywhere near the 31 free throws it would take to break the record. Who knows? Maybe Giannis will become a better free throw shooter in the coming years and break the record when teams don’t trust him to be consistent enough to do so, considering his track record.
7. Most PPG In A Single Playoff Series
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Record: 46.3 PPG – Jerry West vs. Baltimore Bullets, 1965
Since 1993, no player in the NBA has averaged even 40.0 PPG in a single playoff series against any opponent. This is something that makes Jerry West’s 46.3 PPG against the Baltimore Bullets in the 1965 Western Division Finals so impressive and frankly unbreakable. West downed the Bullets in six games for the Lakers in 1965 by scoring 49 points in Game 1, 52 points in Game 2, 44 points in Game 3, 48 points in Game 4, 43 points in Game 5, and 42 points in Game 6.
Michael Jordan averaged 45.0 PPG or better in a playoff series twice and at least 40.0 PPG a total of four times. The only other players to average 40.0 PPG in a single playoff series are Bernard King, Rick Barry, and Elgin Baylor. The closest any player over the last five seasons has gotten to West’s record is Ja Morant in 2022, when he averaged 38.3 PPG against the Warriors in the second round.
6. Most PPG In A Single Playoff Run
Record: 43.7 PPG – Michael Jordan, 1986
Back before Michael Jordan was known as the greatest player of all time and owned a host of NBA records and championships, he struggled mightily to get the Chicago Bulls even past the first round in his first few seasons. Even during those seasons when he was asked to do just about everything, Jordan still put up numbers that will never be replicated throughout NBA history. Although swept in three games in the first round in 1986, Jordan averaged 43.7 PPG on 50.5% shooting from the field. Jordan also holds the record for most PPG in NBA playoffs history with 33.5 PPG.
Only one other player in NBA history has ever averaged 40.0 PPG or better in a single playoff run, and that was Jerry West in 1965 which was the record Jordan broke in 1986. Over the last few seasons, players have come close, but none have surpassed Jordan’s 43.7 PPG mark. Donovan Mitchell averaged 36.3 PPG in 2020, and Luka Doncic averaged 35.7 PPG in 2021. In 2023, the only player within striking distance is Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, who is currently averaging 35.5 PPG through six games so far.
5. Most Minutes Played In A Game
Credit: Fadeaway World
Record: 67 Minutes – Red Rocha vs. Boston Celtics; Paul Seymour vs. Boston Celtics, March 21, 1953
A standard NBA game lasts four 12-minute quarters for a total of 48 minutes, meaning to register 48 minutes played is already an accomplishment in itself. Playing over 60 minutes in any NBA game is almost unheard of, considering that means there were multiple overtime periods, and that player took no rest. That is exactly the case of Red Rocha and Paul Seymour during the 1953 playoffs against the Boston Celtics. Seymour and Rocha would be the only two players to play every minute of this game, with Bob Cousy playing 66 minutes and Ed Macauley playing 65.
Since 2000, there have only been four instances in which any player was on the court for at least 60 minutes in a playoff game. John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich each played 60 minutes in a playoff game for the Bulls back in 2009 and 2013, while CJ McCollum played 60 minutes in a game for the Trail Blazers in 2019. The closest any player has come in the last 20 years was Nikola Jokic during that same 2019 playoff game in which McCollum played 60 minutes. Jokic would play all 65 minutes of the game scoring 33 points while adding 18 rebounds and 14 assists.
4. Total Minutes Played In Playoff Career
Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 11,326 Minutes – LeBron James
Previously, you have seen us break down the players who hold the NBA records for the most minutes played per game in any season. Well, just as Wilt Chamberlain dominated that list, no one comes close to LeBron James when it comes to total minutes played in the NBA playoffs. James has played a total of 11,326 playoff minutes which is 2,000 more minutes than the next closest player, Tim Duncan
Think about this. To catch LeBron in playoff minutes, they will have to play 20 seasons in the NBA, making the playoffs in at least 16 of them while advancing to 10 NBA Finals. LeBron’s career sounds crazier when you put it that way, right? To add even more perspective to James’ minutes played record, Kevin Durant is the next closest active player in the NBA to him in minutes played. He currently sits 19th in NBA history with 6,559 playoff minutes logged.
3. Total Points Scored In Playoff Career
Record: 7,809 Points – LeBron James
Along with being the NBA Player with the most minutes logged on the court in NBA playoff history, James is also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs as well. James is the only player in NBA history with at least 6,000 NBA playoff points, as he currently sits at 7,809 points and counting. In his 16 career playoff appearances, James has averaged 27.2 PPG while appearing in 10 NBA Finals and winning four NBA championships over the course of his career.
Michael Jordan is the player closest to LeBron’s career playoff scoring record with 5,987 career playoff points. Once again, Kevin Durant is the closest active player with 4,754 career playoff points. Stephen Curry ranks 13th in NBA playoff history with 3,833 career points, and James Harden ranks 21st with 3,540. I am willing to bet that we never see anyone come near the numbers LeBron James has put up in his NBA playoff career.
2. Most NBA Championships Won
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY SPORTS
Record: 11 NBA Championships – Bill Russell
Bill Russell’s 11 NBA championships have been the topic of conversation ever since he walked away from the game in the late 60s. Russell played 13 seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and advanced to 12 NBA Finals in his career, winning 11 and losing only once. NBA fans have long debated if Russell’s championships count, considering the lack of teams that were around back then or the lack of competition. To answer those doubters, yes, the titles count, and no, the competition didn’t suck.
I, for one, am certainly tired of people trying to diminish what it took for Bill Russell to win 11 championships in 13 seasons. Sure, Russell has a tremendous team loaded with talents like Cousy, Jones, Sharman, and Heinsohn. However, they do not win those championships without Russell’s rebounding and defensive heroics. The only other player in NBA history to earn double-digit championships is Russell’s teammate Sam Jones who was along for 10 of the 11 championship runs. In order for a player to catch Russell, I assume that a 25-year career would have to be in order in today’s NBA.
1. 6 For 6 In The NBA Finals, 6 Finals MVP Awards
Record: 6 Finals MVPs, 6 NBA Championships, 6 NBA Finals Appearances – Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
The one stat that universally makes and keeps Michael Jordan as the greatest player in NBA history is the fact that he led the Bulls to six Finals appearances and won all six times while claiming all six Finals MVP awards. Now, not even Bill Russell can make that claim considering the Finals MVP did not exist during his time, and the one Finals MVP he could have won went to Jerry West instead. For Michael Jordan, he earned his six championships and six Finals MVP awards by way of two three-peats with the Bulls from 1991 thru 1993 and 1996 thru 1998.
If LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, and Curry have not been able to maintain a perfect NBA Finals record while collecting every single Finals MVP, then truthfully tell me who you think can. For most players, a 15-year window to do such a thing is open, but it closes rather quickly when factoring in personnel changes and injuries. With the parity around the NBA today and different franchises always in the hunt, I do not see a world where an NBA player ever goes 7 for 7 on Finals appearances, along with all 7 Finals MVP awards.
