Ever wondered what keeps NBA superstars up at night? Sure, LeBron James holds the crown for historical scoring, but there is another record that probably makes him cringe every time someone mentions it. Let us explore the most fascinating and downright yet embarrassing records in NBA history.
The king may reign supreme in scoring, but there is one crown LeBron James probably wished he didn't wear. He holds the record for most turnovers in NBA history, surpassing his nearest competitor by 400 mishaps. Over his 20-year career, LeBron averages nearly 3.5 turnovers per game, which is evidence that with incredibly bold play, there has to be some cost.
While these are glaring mistakes, his record will stay with him for the long haul, although his exceptional talent on the court overshadows these mistakes. However, it is worth noting that being the face of the NBA for two decades is no easy feat.
Speaking of unwanted records, Russell Westbrook has carved out his own niche in the NBA’s hall of shame. In 2017, Thunders set an NBA record by missing 24 consecutive shots against the Wizards. The scoreboard moved from 61-52 to 91-57, with only five free throws keeping them from total humiliation.
Russell Westbrook has his own special place in this hall of shame. He's the only player to go 0-11 from the field twice in his career.
But hold onto your seats, as this is not even the worst shooting performance in NBA history.
Tim Hardaway owns perhaps the most embarrassing shooting record. In December 1991, he went 0 for 17 against the Timberwolves. The silver lining? He still managed to dish out 13 assists, and his Warriors won in overtime.
Remember JamesOn Curry? No? Well, that is because his NBA career lasted exactly 3.9 seconds. After being drafted 51st by the Bulls in 2007, he finally got his shot in 2010 with the
Clippers. One possession, zero stats, and a lifetime of being a trivia answer. "It was the quickest 4 seconds ever," Curry reflected, showing a remarkable perspective about his brief moment in the spotlight.
While basketball is known for its rapid actions, sometimes players have their own methods for slowing things down. On December 29, 1997, for all the wrong reasons, Bubba Wells got into the record books of the NBA. Playing a game against the former Chicago Bulls, Wells fouled five times in 2 minutes and 43 seconds to foul Dennis Rodman, who could stall the Bull's momentum because of his poor scoring from the free throw line. However, even this move paid little dividend, for Rodman sank 9 of 12 free throws, and the Mavericks lost anyway. Discuss an awkward way to leave a basketball game.
The most fundamental of all basketball skills is shooting free throws, but even the best can miss them. Andre Drummond is the record holder for missing most free throws in an individual game. He has missed 23 out of 36 shots in a game against the Houston Rockets in 2015. The Rockets employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy to maximise Drummond's free-throw weakness (he finished the season at 35%). His disastrous performance had set a base for a notorious record, yet it did not deter him from dominating the boards in the paint.
The art of missing shots reaches new heights with James Harden. Recognised for his offensive capabilities, especially his three-point shooting. However, even the most skilled shooters occasionally experience off nights. Throughout his career, Harden has established several notable records for missed three-pointers.
Most Missed Three-Pointers in a Game: Harden has recorded 16 missed three-pointers in a single game on six occasions during his career, underscoring that even top-tier players can encounter difficulties when faced with pressure.
Most Missed Three-Pointers in a Playoff Series: In the 2018 Western Conference Finals, Harden missed 59 three-pointers, including an astonishing 22 in a row. This was an embarrassing stretch for his Rockets, who were otherwise winning despite Harden's brilliance in other areas.
Want to talk about loyalty? Meet Ish Smith, the NBA’s ultimate nomad. Players have gone to different teams for various reasons, but none has played in as many as Ish Smith. He has been
featured in an unprecedented 13 NBA teams. The point guard moved around a lot, and his changes show that one could not see him find prolonged success with the same team.
After 13 years in the league, he won an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets. It tells the truth that only after losing hope will we reap the rewards, although after long efforts.
Trevor Ariza might need a separate room just for all his jerseys. He has been traded embarrassingly 11 times in his career. This isn't precisely something every player looks forward to moving to all those different teams. His record is still kept in mind within the NBA circle, and although he was on the winning end of the Lakers' NBA title in 2009, there was too much talk about his constant trading.
Even the legendary Kobe Bryant couldn't escape the embarrassing records list. While a young prodigy, Bryant would break records as the youngest player. He was young enough to be the youngest start ever and be named to an NBA game superstar player.
These records are embarrassing for the players, but they are crucial in the history of the NBA since they indicate that even the best athletes may face some rough times. Their capability to recover from embarrassing moments makes their careers stand out.
Ever wonder what it looks like to be invisible on an NBA court? Tony Snell mastered that art in one of the most peculiar performances in basketball history.
28 minutes and 20 seconds of NBA basketball. That's nearly three-quarters of game time. In that span, Tony Snell accomplished something remarkably unremarkable. His stat line reads like a phone number with no digits, zero points, zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, and zero blocks.
The only evidence Snell actually played that night? A lonely single foul in the box score. He attempted two shots, missed both, and spent the rest of his time doing cardio in an NBA uniform. Talk about getting paid to exercise!
But here's where it gets interesting. Snell isn't even alone in this exclusive "zero club." In 2011, Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat pulled off a similar vanishing act. Despite sharing the court with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Anthony managed to play 29 minutes without
recording a single meaningful statistic. Well, unless you count one turnover and four fouls as meaningful.
Modern NBA fans might not believe this one. In 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers combined for just 37 points, with a final score of 19-18. The Pistons' strategy? Hold the ball as long as possible since there was no shot clock. This game was so boring it literally changed basketball – the 24-second shot clock was introduced four years later.
Some of these records might make you chuckle, but they remind us that even the greatest athletes have their off days. Whether it's LeBron's turnovers or Harden's three-point misses, these moments add a human element to the game we love. After all, as Tony Snell (who once played 28 minutes without recording a single stat) proves, sometimes you can make history by doing absolutely nothing at all.
