A technical foul is something no coach wants to see on the court, so you can only imagine how frustrated they get with the players that have the most NBA technical fouls. In many cases, technical fouls are the difference between winning and losing, especially late in a close game.
Technical fouls are called on a player or coach that commits a violation that generally doesn’t involve physical contact, unless a fight breaks out. There are a number of reasons why a technical foul might be called and the referee has the right to call it whenever necessary.
The reason why a technical foul is so detrimental to a team is because it not only gives the opponent a free throw shot, but it also gives them possession of the ball. It can also lead to the ejection of a player — as well as fines — if called for two technical fouls in the same game.
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Which Players Have the Most NBA Technical Fouls of All-Time?
Throughout the history of the NBA, certain players are known for racking up technical foul after technical foul. Sometimes it’s due to their temper, sometimes they’re frequently in the wrong place at the wrong time, and sometimes the heat of the moment just gets the best of them.
Either way, the players with the most NBA technical fouls are usually the ones that frustrate their teammates and coaches the most. As you can likely imagine, no one wants to give the opposing team free points, especially when you give them possession of the ball as well.
With that said, you’ll be surprised to see which players have the most NBA technical fouls because they’re also some of the most versatile and dominant players to ever step foot on the court. I guess it’s true when they say everything comes with a price — even greatness isn’t free.
Honorable Mentions: Allen Iverson (130), Steve Francis (126), Amar’e Stoudemire (125), Dikembe Mutombo (125), Stephen Jackson (124), Patrick Ewing (122), Derek Harper (121), Bill Laimbeer (121)
20. Draymond Green
Career Technical Fouls: 131
Seasons: 2012-present (9 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors
Career Stats: 639 games, 28.5 MPG, 8.8 PPG, 6.9 RPB, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Draymond Green was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He has spent his entire career with the Warriors (so far) and has helped them win three NBA Championships. He’s also a six-time All-Defensive Player, but he does whine a lot.
19. DeMarcus Cousins
Career Technical Fouls: 137
Seasons: 2010-present (11 seasons)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers
Career Stats: 606 games, 31.0 MPG, 20.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.2 BPG
DeMarcus Cousins has a bit of a temper and lets it get the best of him from time to time. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He’s a four-time All Star, but has struggled to stay on a roster recently due to consistent injuries.
18. Antoine Walker
Career Technical Fouls: 144
Seasons: 1996-2008 (12 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Stats: 893 games, 35.3 MPG, 17.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Antoine Walker is mostly known for how irresponsible he was with money, but he was also frequently called for technical fouls. Drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1996, Walker won the NBA Championship with the Heat in 2006 and was a three-time All Star.
17. Jermaine O’Neal
Career Technical Fouls: 146
Seasons: 1996-2014 (18 seasons)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors
Career Stats: 1,011 games, 27.1 MPG, 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RBP, 1.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.8 BPG
Jermaine O’Neal was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 17th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was a tough defender to get by, but his intensity often led to technical fouls. He was a six-time All Star and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in the 2001-02 season.
16. Shaquille O’Neal
Career Technical Fouls: 150
Seasons: 1992-2011 (19 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 1,207 games, 34.7 MPG, 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RBP, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Shaquille O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the best big men to ever play, but he also has some of the most NBA technical fouls during his career. He’s a four-time champion, one-time MVP winner, three-time Finals MVP winner, 15-time All Star, and two-time scoring champ.
15. Carmelo Anthony
Career Technical Fouls: 156
Seasons: 2003-present (18 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
Career Stats: 1,191 games, 35.0 MPG, 23.0 PPG, 6.3 RBP, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Carmelo Anthony is still searching for his first championship ring, but he has had an illustrious career regardless. In fact, many people would likely be surprised to learn he has racked up some of the most NBA technical fouls ever. He continues to move up, adding 8 more last year.
14. Reggie Miller
Career Technical Fouls: 161
Seasons: 1987-2005 (18 seasons)
Teams: Indiana Pacers
Career Stats: 1,389 games, 34.3 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Reggie Miller is one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game, but he was also known to complain a lot and let his cocky attitude get the better of him often. He’s a five-time All Star and three-time All-NBA player, but he never won a championship in his 18 seasons with Indiana.
13. Kobe Bryant
Career Technical Fouls: 166
Seasons: 1996-2016 (20 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,346 games, 36.1 MPG, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the court, but that didn’t make him impervious to technical fouls. In fact, he received them quite often. Of course he made up for it with five championship rings, one MVP award (2007-08), and 18 All Star appearances.
12. Charles Oakley
Career Technical Fouls: 168
Seasons: 1985-2004 (19 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets
Career Stats: 1,282 games, 31.4 MPG, 9.7 PPG, 9,5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
While Charles Oakley was best known for his rebounding abilities, he was also called for some of the most NBA technical fouls ever. He was a one-time All Star, has the 22nd-most rebounds in NBA history, and ranks in the top 25 for games played in the NBA over his 19-year career.
11. Kevin Willis
Career Technical Fouls: 170
Seasons: 1984-2007 (21 seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 1,424 games, 12.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Kevin Willis is one of the players a lot of people might forget about, but he had a pretty solid NBA career — if you can look past his technical fouls. He only made one All Star appearance, but won the 2003 NBA Championship and has the eighth-most career games played in history.
10. Kevin Garnett
Career Technical Fouls: 172
Seasons: 1995-2016 (21 seasons)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets
Career Stats: 1,462 games, 34.5 MPG, 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 PG, 1.4 BPG
Known as one of the more intense players in NBA history, it’s no surprise to see Kevin Garnett on our list of players with the most NBA technical fouls. He also made 15 All Star appearances, one-time most valuable player, one-time champion, and one-time defensive player of the year.
9. Dwight Howard
Career Technical Fouls: 178
Seasons: 2004-present (17 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers
Career Stats: 1,182 games, 32.6 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.9 BPG
Dwight Howard had a dominant start to his career after being drafted first overall by the Magic in 2004. He started to decline when he left Orlando in 2012 and struggled to find consistent opportunity, but he did recently win the 2020 championship in his second stint with the Lakers.
8. Russell Westbrook
Career Technical Fouls: 183
Seasons: 2008-present (13 seasons)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 943 games, 34.7 MPG, 23.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Russell Westbrook recently passed Oscar Robertson as the player with the most career triple doubles (184), proving to be one of the most versatile players in NBA history. Of course, he also has the eighth most NBA technical fouls in his 13-year career, including 14 last season alone.
7. Anthony Mason
Career Technical Fouls: 192
Seasons: 1989-2003 (13 seasons)
Teams: New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat
Career Stats: 882 games, 34.7 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Anthony Mason didn’t earn a consistent starting role until his seventh year in the league and never averaged more than 16.2 points per game in a single season, but he did earn one All Star appearance and won the Sixth Man of the Year award for his efforts during the 1994-95 season.
6. Dirk Nowitzki
Career Technical Fouls: 192
Seasons: 1998-2019 (21 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 1,522 games, 33.8 MPG, 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
It’s very rare that a player suits up for the same team 21 years in a row, but that’s exactly what Dirk Nowitzki did for the Dallas Mavericks. He made 14 All-Star appearances, won the 2011 NBA Championship, won the NBA Finals MVP award, and the league’s MVP award in 2006-07.
5. Dennis Rodman
Career Technical Fouls: 212
Seasons: 1986-2000 (14 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 911 games, 31.7 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Dennis Rodman was one of the league’s ‘bad boys,’ known for his stingy defense and prolific rebounding. It shouldn’t be a surprise to see him on our list of players with the most NBA technical fouls. He also won five championships and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
4. Gary Payton
Career Technical Fouls: 250
Seasons: 1990-2007 (17 seasons)
Teams: Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Career Stats: 1,335 games, 35.3 MPG, 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Gary Payton has more points, assists, and steals than any other player in Seattle Supersonics franchise history. He was a true legend, but also has the fourth most NBA technical fouls ever. He was a nine-time All Star, one-time champion, and one-time Defensive Player of the Year.
3. Rasheed Wallace
Career Technical Fouls: 317
Seasons: 1995-2013 (16 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks
Career Stats: 1,109 games, 32.7 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Rasheed Wallace was a technical foul machine, earning his spot as just one of three players to ever be called for more than 300 technicals. In fact, he holds the record for most technical fouls in a single season. He made four All Star appearances and was a one-time champion.
2. Charles Barkley
Career Technical Fouls: 329
Seasons: 1984-2000 (16 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets
Career Stats: 1,073 games, 36.7 MPG, 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Now known for his career as a co-host of Inside the NBA on TNT, Charles Barkley came very close to having the most NBA technical fouls called on him during his playing days. Knowing how outspoken he is inside the booth today, it’s no surprise that he finds himself on this list.
1. Karl Malone
Career Technical Fouls: 332
Seasons: 1985-2004 (19 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,476 games, 37.2 MPG, 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Unless Russell Westbrook continues to climb up the ranks, there won’t be anyone to dethrone Karl Malone for having the most NBA technical fouls in league history. He’s also a 14-time All Star, two-time most valuable player, and four-time All-Defensive player in his 19 years.
Which Active Players Have the Most NBA Technical Fouls?
Of the 20 players listed above, only five of them are still playing — Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, Carmelo Anthony, and Draymond Green. While they have the most NBA technical fouls among active players, there are others that are climbing up that list.
For example, there were 16 players that got called for 10 or more technical fouls during the most recent 2020-21 season — Howard, Green, and Westbrook included. While Howard led the league with 18 technicals last year, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic were second with 17 calls.
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Beyond that, you also need to keep an eye on Dillon Brooks, Rudy Gobert, Chris Paul, Julius Randle, John Wall, Jonas Valanciunas, Nikola Jokic, Montrezl Harrell, De’Aaron Fox, Marcus Morris Sr., and Trae Young. All of these players are highly prone to receive technical fouls.
Most Missed Shots in NBA History
It’s no coincidence that the best basketball players of all-time are also the ones with the most missed shots in NBA history. They’re the ones that shoot the most, they’re the ones that score the most, and they’re the ones that are usually asked to shoulder the load for their team.
Wayne Gretzky once said, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,’ and while he was a hockey player, the quote applies to any sport — as well as life, in general. As for the best NBA players, they aren’t scared to shoot the ball and certainly aren’t scared to miss — it happens.
The more you fear missing, the less you’ll want to shoot the ball. The less you shoot the ball, the less you’ll miss — as well as make — a shot. It’s that simple. If you want to succeed, you shouldn’t be afraid of failing because the greatest players in league history failed very often.
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Who Has the Most Missed Shots in NBA History?
There are several factors that go into finding yourself on the list of most missed shots in NBA history. First off, you have to be a player that shoots a lot. Secondly, you need to play a minimum of 16 years in the league. Thirdly, you have to make as many as you miss.
If you don’t shoot often, you won’t have as many chances to miss — obviously. If you don’t have a long career, you won’t match up with those that have. And finally, if you don’t make as many as you miss, you’ll likely have a hard time getting consistent playing minutes for your team.
As we list the players with the most missed shots in NBA history, you’ll be surprised to see that most of these players are regarded as the best ever. Trust us, it’s no coincidence. In fact, it’s what it takes to be great. You shouldn’t fear missing and should trust your shot 100% of the time.
20. Bob Cousy
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,300 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1950-1963, 1969-1970 (14 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Cincinnati Royals
Career Stats: 924 games, 35.3 minutes, 37.5% field goal percentage, 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists per game
Bob Cousy was drafted fourth overall by the Tri-City Blackhawks in the 1950 NBA Draft. He was a 13-time All Star, 6-time NBA Champion, and one-time MVP. After 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, he retired in 1963 just to make a return in 1969 — which only lasted one year.
19. Hal Greer
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,307 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1958-1973 (15 seasons)
Teams: Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers
Career Stats: 1,122 games, 35.5 minutes, 45.2% field goal percentage, 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game
Hal Greer was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals with the 14th overall pick (2nd round) in the 1958 NBA Draft. He shot the ball often, averaging 16.8 field goal attempts per game throughout his 15-year career — which is largely why he has the 19th-most missed shots in NBA history.
18. Alex English
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,377 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1976-1991 (15 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 1,193 games, 31.9 minutes, 50.7% field goal percentage, 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks per game
Alex English was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft. Though he struggled early in his career, he dominated the league from 1979-1990 as a member of the Denver Nuggets. He averaged more than 23 points per game in nine straight seasons.
17. Ray Allen
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,388 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1996-2014 (18 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Career Stats: 1,300 games, 35.6 minutes, 45.2% field goal percentage, 18.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks per game
Ray Allen will go down as one of the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history, but that won’t excuse him from our list of most missed shots in NBA history. He averaged more than 21 points per game in eight straight seasons and currently has the most made three-pointers in history.
16. Kevin Garnett
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,637 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1995-2016 (21 seasons)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets
Career Stats: 1,462 games, 34.5 minutes, 49.7% field goal percentage, 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 blocks per game
Let’s turn our attention to Ray Allen’s teammate, Kevin Garnett. They made up two-thirds of ‘The Big Three’ in Boston — don’t worry, we’ll get to the third head of the monster later in this list. Garnett was a 15-time All Star, one-time MVP, one-time NBA Champion, and Hall of Famer.
15. Paul Pierce
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,797 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1998-2017 (18 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers
Career Stats: 1,343 games, 34.2 minutes, 44.5% field goal percentage, 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks per game
Is it a coincidence that ‘The Big Three’ are lined up in a row on this list? It might be. While they have some of the most missed shots in NBA history, they were also one of the best trios to ever join forces. Paul Pierce is also one of the greatest players in Boston Celtics’ franchise history.
14. Wilt Chamberlain
Career Missed Field Goals: 10,816 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1959-1973 (14 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia Warriors, San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,045 games, 45.8 minutes, 54% field goal percentage, 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game
One of the best to ever do it, Wilt Chamberlain is known for breaking records that may never be broken again — including his 50.4 points per game in 1961. Of course, you can’t score as much as him without finishing your career with some of the most missed shots in NBA history.
13. Allen Iverson
Career Missed Field Goals: 11,439 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1996-2010 (14 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies
Career Stats: 914 games, 41.1 minutes, 42.5% field goal percentage, 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.2 blocks per game
Allen Iverson is one of the most iconic players to ever step foot on the court. He was an 11-time All Star, 4-time scoring champ, 3-time steals champ, one-time MVP, and Rookie of the Year in 1996. He never won a championship, but he was still inducted into the Hall of Fame.
12. Elgin Baylor
Career Missed Field Goals: 11,478 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1958-1972 (14 seasons)
Teams: Minneapolis Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 846 games, 40.0 minutes, 43.1% field goal percentage, 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game
Elgin Baylor is one of the greatest players to ever suit up, but doesn’t get as much attention today as he should. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft was an 11-time All Star and earned the 1958 Rookie of the Year. His 27.4 points per game is the most in Lakers’ history.
11. Dominique Wilkins
Career Missed Field Goals: 11,626 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1982-1999 (15 seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic
Career Stats: 1,074 games, 35.5 minutes, 46.1% field goal percentage, 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks per game
Dominique Wilkins was drafted third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 NBA Draft and is regarded as one of the best dunkers in NBA history. He was a 9-time All Star, one-time scoring champ, and Hall of Famer, but never won an NBA Championship in his 15-year career.
10. Vince Carter
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,046 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1998-2020 (22 seasons)
Teams: Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Career Stats: 1,541 games, 30.1 minutes, 43.5% field goal percentage, 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks per game
Speaking of the greatest dunkers in NBA history, let’s not forget about Vince Carter. While he rarely missed a dunk, he’s still in the top-ten of most missed shots in NBA history. Carter enjoyed an illustrious 22-year career, averaging 20+ points per game in 10 straight seasons.
9. Carmelo Anthony
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,120 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 2003-present (18 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,191 games, 35.0 minutes, 44.7% field goal percentage, 23.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks per game
Carmelo Anthony was drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in what could go down as one of the best drafts in NBA history — the 2003 NBA Draft. He averaged 20+ points per game in 14 straight seasons to start his career, including a career-high 28.9 points per game in 2006.
8. Michael Jordan
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,345 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1984-2003 (15 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Career Stats: 1,072 games, 38.3 minutes, 49.7% field goal percentage, 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks per game
Highly regarded as one of the best players to ever suit up, Michael Jordan was a one-of-a-kind player. He was a 14-time All Star, 10-time scoring champ, 3-time steals champ, 6-time NBA Champion, 5-time MVP, Rookie of the Year in 1985, and 9-time All-Defensive player.
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,470 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1969-1989 (20 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,560 games, 36.8 minutes, 55.9% field goal percentage, 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.6 blocks per game
Not many players were as dominant throughout their career as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In his 20 seasons in the NBA, he was a 19-time All Star, 6-time NBA Champion, 2-time scoring champ, 4-time blocking champ, 1-time rebounding champ, 6-time MVP, and Rookie of the Year.
6. Dirk Nowitzki
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,565 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1998-2019 (21 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 1,522 games, 33.8 minutes, 47.1% field goal percentage, 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks per game
It’s rare to see a player spend 21 seasons in the NBA, let alone spending 21 years with the same team. That’s exactly what Dirk Nowitzki did with the Dallas Mavericks and made 14 All Star appearances in the process. He’s also a one-time NBA Champion and MVP winner.
5. Karl Malone
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,682 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1984-2004 (19 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,476 games, 37.2 minutes, 51.6% field goal percentage, 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks per game
Karl Malone, nicknamed ‘The Mailman,’ spent 19 years in the NBA and scored more than 20 points per game in 17 of those seasons — including a career-high 31.0 points per game in 1989. He was as consistent as they come in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he never missed a shot.
4. LeBron James
Career Missed Field Goals: 12,701 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 2003-present (18 seasons)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,310 games, 38.2 minutes, 50.4% field goal percentage, 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks per game
Depending on how many more years LeBron James plays in the NBA, he very well could have the most missed shots in NBA history by the time he retires. He’s about 1,700 missed shots away from the top spot and he currently averages anywhere from 500-700 misses each year.
3. Elvin Hayes
Career Missed Field Goals: 13,296 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1968-1984 (16 seasons)
Teams: San Diego Rockets, Houston Rockets, Baltimore Bullets, Capital Bullets, Washington Bullets
Career Stats: 1,303 games, 38.4 minutes, 45.2% field goal percentage, 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.0 blocks per game
Elvin Hayes is a player many fans forget about. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft spent 16 seasons in the NBA and scored above 21 points per game in 10 of those seasons — including a career-high 28.4 points per game in his rookie year (1968-69 season).
2. John Havlicek
Career Missed Field Goals: 13,417 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1962-1978 (16 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 1,270 games, 36.6 minutes, 43.9% field goal percentage, 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game
John Havlicek will go down as one of the greatest Boston Celtics’ players in franchise history. He was teammates with Bill Russell during the Celtics’ golden era. He was a 13-time All Star, 8-time NBA Champion, 8-time All-Defensive player, and won the 1973-74 NBA Finals MVP.
1. Kobe Bryant
Career Missed Field Goals: 14,481 missed field goals
Seasons in the NBA: 1996-2016 (20 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 1,346 games, 36.1 minutes, 44.7% field goal percentage, 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.5 blocks per game
No one wanted the ball in their hands more than Kobe Bryant. He loved to shoot the ball, wasn’t scared to miss, and is one of the most clutch players to ever play the game. With the career he had in Los Angeles, it’s no surprise to see that he has the most missed shots in NBA history.
Shooters Shoot, But They Also Miss Often
Since 1967, there has only been one player to miss 30 or more shots in a single game — Kobe Bryant. He went 17/47 from the floor, but still managed to score 41 points in a three-point loss to the Celtics. No one else on his team scored more than 11 points, so he didn’t have a choice.
Joe Fulks is a player that missed often in the late-1940s. In a single game, he missed 42 shots against the Providence Steam Rollers, 38 shots against the St. Louis Bombers, 35 shots against the Boston Celtics, 34 against Providence, and 33 shots against the New York Knicks.
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Players that have recently come close to missing 30 or more shots in a game include Russell Westbrook (27), James Harden (26), Bradley Beal (25), Kevin Durant (23), Kyle Lowry (23), LeBron James (23), Donovan Mitchell (22), John Wall (22), and Jrue Holiday (22).
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