2023-24 NBA milestones, anniversaries for LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, more،
As the NBA enters its 77th season and fans await another exciting campaign, there is always added buzz around the milestones and anniversaries that will take place in 2023-2024.
Fans and players are waiting for Damian Lillard and James Harden’s trade demands to be resolved. Both All-Stars are also chasing milestones as Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers’ all-time leader in points and 3-pointers, is also 169 assists away from the franchise record. Harden, amid drama with the Philadelphia 76ers, could also get a major career high as he is 220 3-pointers away from passing Ray Allen for second place on the NBA’s all-time 3-point list.
From individual players etching their names in the record books, like LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, to memories of iconic games and game-winning moments, here are the biggest milestones, streaks and anniversaries to look out for in the 2023-2024 NBA season.
Milestones
Points leaders
James achieved one of the NBA’s biggest milestones last season when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer. James has 38,652 points. This season, he is one step closer to a new record as he is 1,348 points away from scoring 40,000 points, which would mark his name in the record books as the first player to reach that goal. This is a reasonable feat for the King to accomplish – last season he scored 1,590 points – and using James’ career average in points per game (27.2), he could achieve that goal by his 49th game this season.
Kevin Durant is also looking to climb the all-time scoring leaderboard as he needs 518 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone for the 10th most points. Durant will look to settle into his second year with the Phoenix Suns after spending most of last season struggling with injuries and finishing with 208 points. If he can stay healthy, consistent and reach his career points per game average (27.3), he will reach that mark in his 18th game of the season.
If Durant wants to break into the top 10, he’ll need 1,705 points to pass Shaquille O’Neal and Carmelo Anthony for eighth in the all-time scoring rankings. He could reasonably reach that mark by his 62nd game. However, Durant hasn’t played more than 55 games in a season since 2018-19.
Sequences in danger?
Two of the biggest names in the league will look to keep their respective scoring streaks going.
James is entering his 21st season and has scored 10+ points in 1,151 consecutive regular season games. He will look to extend the longest streak in NBA history in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener on Oct. 24 against the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Stephen Curry – who holds the record for 3-pointers made (3,390) after passing Ray Allen in 2021 – will also look to increase his scoring streak from beyond the arc. Curry has made at least one three-pointer in 245 consecutive regular season games, making it the longest three-point streak in NBA history. In addition, he holds the record for most 3-point shots in 56 consecutive regular season games. Curry and the Golden State Warriors open the season at home against the Suns on October 24.
The importance of the triple-double
Westbrook holds the record for most career triple-doubles with 198. The All-Star point guard, entering his 17th season and first full season with the LA Clippers, is two triple-doubles away from becoming the first player with 200.
The closest active player to Westbrook’s record is James, who has 107 triple-doubles and is just one away from passing Jason Kidd for fourth place. However, 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokic is not far behind with 105.
Harden could also potentially climb the rankings; he is five triple-doubles away from overtaking Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on the list.
Birthdays
From record-breaking victories to the most memorable game-winning shots, here are some historic moments celebrated this season.
Five years after San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history: On April 13, 2019, Popovich earned his 1,413th victory, surpassing Lenny Wilkens, to become the winningest coach in the NBA. Popovich has been head coach of the Spurs since 1996 and has led the organization to five NBA championships. In early August, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He looks to lead the Spurs back into the playoffs this season after missing the last four playoff series.
20th anniversary of James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) and Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) NBA debut: On October 29, 2003, some of the most iconic players made their NBA debut. James, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, lived up to the hype, as the 19-year-old had 25 points, nine assists and four steals in a 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Anthony played for 20 seasons, while Bosh played 13.
30th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s first retirement: On October 6, 1993, Jordan first announced that he was ending his NBA tenure. After spending nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls, he announced early retirement just four months after leading the Bulls to their third straight NBA championship – a six-game series victory over Charles Barkley and the Suns.
35th anniversary of “The Shot”: On May 7, 1989, Jordan hit his iconic buzzer-beater during the 1989 NBA playoffs. During a Game 5 play against the Cavaliers, Jordan received an inbounds pass and earned the Bulls a 101–100 victory to win the series. Jordan jumped in the air, then punched his fist repeatedly in celebration.
