Some NBA records are easy to remember. They help immortalize a player’s legacy. However, there are also records that are simply forgettable. While some records are forgettable, they also make you scratch your head.
Let’s take a look at the 10 least-known NBA records that will shock you.
10. Most 3-point misses by a player in a game: Damon Stoudamire and James Harden, 16
Three-point shooting is a powerful weapon in basketball. But if the shots aren’t falling from deep, it’s best to forget about it. Unfortunately, two players never got that memo.
Given that the modern era leans heavily on 3-point shooting, James Harden was given the green light by the Houston Rockets to shoot. However in six different games, Harden missed 16 threes, including two games where he shot an atrocious 1-for-17.
While Harden played in the modern era, Damon Stoudamire wasn’t quite there yet but played like he was. In a 2005 blowout loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Blazers guard jacked up 21 shots from behind the arc but only made five of them.
9. Most free-throw misses by a player in a game: Andre Drummond, 23
The Hack-a-Shaq strategy was made to slow down stars who couldn’t make free throws. While Shaq was a terrible free-throw shooter, two-time All-Star Andre Drummond took it to another level.
In a victory over the Rockets, Drummond came away with a 17-11 double-double. However, the then-Pistons center also only made 13 out of 36 attempts from the charity stripe.
8. Most field-goals missed without a make by a player: Tim Hardaway Sr., 0-for-17
When you are a certified scorer, it’s a good idea to keep trying until the ball falls into the net. However, when defenses are tight and luck isn’t on your side, you must stop attempting to score. Tim Hardaway Sr. realized that a little too late, missing all of his 17 shots from the field.
Fortunately, it’s better late than never. Hardaway managed to dish out 13 assists and scored two points from the charity stripe. But more importantly, Hardaway and the Warriors escaped with the victory over the Timberwolves.
7. Lowest-scoring game: Pistons vs. Lakers, 37 total points
When the Minneapolis Lakers’ George Mikan was dominating, the Fort Wayne Pistons’ Murray Mendenhall found a loophole in the rulebook and instructed his players to stall the game once they had the lead. This not only limited Mikan’s dominance, but it also led to a free-throw shooting exhibition in favor of the Pistons. The Pistons emerged victorious over the Lakers, 19-18.
Fortunately, Syracuse Nationals owner Freddy Biasone paved the way for the birth of the 24-second shot clock. The implementation of the 24-second shot clock prohibited teams from stalling and sped up the pace of the game.
6. Most teams played for: Ish Smith, 13 teams
LeBron James and Kevin Durant were often mocked for easily changing teams. While both have played for three different teams, there are five players who have played for a mind-boggling 12 teams or more. Ish Smith currently holds the NBA record for playing for 13 different franchises.
In his ongoing NBA career, Ish Smith has already played for 13 different teams including the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Denver Nuggets. If you're talking about obscure NBA records, this is one.
Smith had an opportunity to expand his record to 14 in the 2023 offseason, but he chose to return to the Hornets, who had traded him in February 2022. Of course, Smith's options for teams that he hasn't played for continues to shrink. In his career, Smith, who was not drafted, has been traded seven times and waived by teams six times, so his nomadic existence isn't necessarily by choice.
5. Fastest to foul out in a game: Bubba Wells, 2:43
The Hack-a-Shaq strategy requires players to foul. Because of this, then-Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson instructed Mavericks reserve Bubba Wells to foul Dennis Rodman, who was a terrible free-throw shooter.
Like a good player who listened to his coach, Wells kept fouling Rodman to send him to the free-throw line. Unfortunately, Wells fouled out fast enough for an NBA record of 2:43. Furthermore, Rodman made nine of his 12 shots from the charity stripe, which led to the Chicago Bulls emerging victorious over the Mavs.
4. Worst record to qualify for the playoffs: Baltimore Bullets, 16-54
Getting into the postseason usually requires a respectable win-loss record. However, that wasn’t the case for the Baltimore Bullets, who went 16-54 for the 1952-53 season to earn the final playoff spot from the Eastern Division.
This was back in the day when eight of 10 NBA teams qualified for the playoffs. The league chose to divide its 10 teams into two divisions and have the top four in each division qualify for the playoffs.
The choice to go strictly with divisions instead of allowing the top-eight teams to make the playoffs meant the Bullets were in the playoffs and the 27-44 Milwaukee Hawks, who finished fifth in the Western Division, were left at home wondering what could have been. Nevertheless, the Bullets were swept in the Eastern Division Semifinals by the New York Knicks in two games and were outscored by 27 points in the series.
3. Biggest Comeback: Utah Jazz, 36-point deficit
Facing a deficit at any moment of the game is already a daunting task. However, getting out of a 36-point hole certainly requires a herculean effort. But because of Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz, it was made possible.
The Nuggets suffered a major collapse in the second half as Utah's Malone dropped 31 points and 17 rebounds to complete the biggest comeback in NBA history on Nov. 27, 1996.
2. Longest Game: Olympians vs. Royals, 6 OTs
When it comes to the longest game in history, this one takes the cake. The contest between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals on Jan. 6, 1951, lasted for 78 minutes due to six extra periods necessary to decide a winner.
The Olympians came out victorious after scoring the lone basket in the sixth overtime period to win 75-73. The Olympians were paced by Ralph Beard and Alex Groza, both of which had 17 points apiece.
One or both teams apparently went to stall tactics in a game played prior to the advent of the shot clock. Two of the overtime periods were scoreless, and the Olympians scored the only two points of the final overtime period.
1. Most points by a player in a loss: Wilt Chamberlain, 78 points
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for most points scored in a game with 100. However, he also holds the record for most points scored in a loss. Despite his 78-43 point-rebound effort, Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors succumbed to the Los Angeles Lakers, 151-147 in three overtimes.
While Chamberlain exploded for 78, he also missed 15 of his 31 free-throw attempts. On the other hand, the Lakers were paced by Elgin Baylor, who dropped 63 points and 31 rebounds. Of course, this just might be the only NBA game to ever have two players score more than 60 points.
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