List of NBA annual blocks leaders
In basketball, a block (short for blocked shot) occurs when a defender deflects or stops a field goal attempt without committing a foul.[1] The National Basketball Association's (NBA) block title is awarded to the player with the highest blocks per game average in a given season. The block title was first recognized in the 1973–74 season when statistics on blocks were first compiled.[2] To qualify for the blocks title, the player must appear in at least 70 games (out of 82) or have at least 100 blocks. This is the requirement since the 1974–75 season, with requirements changing with the schedule length several times before that.[3]
Mark Eaton holds the all-time records for total blocks (456) and blocks per game (5.56) in a season; both achieved in the 1984–85 season.[2] Manute Bol holds the rookie records for total blocks and blocks per game when he had 397 and averaged 5.0 in the 1985–86 season.[2] Among active players, Marcus Camby had the highest season block total (285) in the 2007–08 season and Hassan Whiteside had the highest season block average (3.68) in the 2015–16 season.[a]
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Eaton and Marcus Camby all won the most block titles, with four.[2] George Johnson, Manute Bol, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Theo Ratliff, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis and Ibaka are the only other players to have won the title more than once. Both Mutombo and Camby have also won the most consecutive block titles, with three. Two players have won both the block title and the NBA championship in the same season: Bill Walton in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers and Abdul-Jabbar in 1980 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Key
^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | |||||
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||
Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the blocks leader up to and including that season | |||||
G | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |
Block leaders
Notes
- ^ In the 1997–98 season, Marcus Camby had 3.6508 blocks per game, while in the 2011–12 season, Serge Ibaka had 3.6515 blocks per game.
- ^ The player's primary position is listed first.
- ^ In the 1974–75 season, Elmore Smith had the highest block total (216) but was second in block average (2.92).
- ^ In the 1976–77 season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Elvin Hayes both had higher block totals (261 and 220 respectively) but they ranked second and third in block average (3.18 and 2.68 respectively).
- ^ When Olajuwon arrived in the United States, the University of Houston incorrectly spelled his first name "Akeem". He used that spelling until March 9, 1991, when he announced that he would add an H.[27][28][29]
- ^ In the 1990–91 season, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Manute Bol all had higher block totals (320, 258 and 247 respectively) but they ranked second, third and fourth in block average (3.90, 3.19 and 3.01 respectively).
- ^ In the 1996–97 season, Dikembe Mutombo had the highest block total (264) but was second in block average (3.30).
- ^ In the 1997–98 season, Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff both had higher block totals (277 and 258 respectively) but they ranked second and fourth in block average (3.38 and 3.15 respectively).
- ^ The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's lockout.[44] The qualification of this season's block title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 61 blocks.[3]
- ^ In the 2000–01 season, Theo Ratliff had only played in 50 games and ranked eighth in block total. Jermaine O'Neal and Shawn Bradley both shared the highest total (228).
- ^ In the 2004–05 season, Andrei Kirilenko had only played in 41 games and ranked thirteenth in block total. Marcus Camby had the highest total (199).
- ^ In the 2005–06 season, Andrei Kirilenko, Josh Smith and Elton Brand all had higher block totals (220, 208 and 201 respectively) but they ranked second, fourth and fifth in block average (3.19, 2.60 and 2.54 respectively).
- ^ In the 2010–11 season, Serge Ibaka, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard all had higher block totals (198, 193 and 186 respectively) but they ranked third, second and fourth in block average (2.41, 2.44 and 2.38 respectively).[60]
- ^ The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's lockout.[62] The qualification of this season's scoring title is to appear in at least 57 games (out of 66) or to have at least 80 blocks.[3]
- ^ In the 2013–14 season, Serge Ibaka and DeAndre Jordan both had higher block totals (219 and 203 respectively) but they ranked second and third in block average (2.7 and 2.5 respectively).[64]
References
- General
- "Yearly Leaders and Records for Blocks Per Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ "Basketball glossary". FIBA.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Regular Season Records: Blocked Shots". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Rate Statistic Requirements". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1973–74". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Elmore Smith Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1974–75". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1975–76". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1976–77". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Bill Walton Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1977–78". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c "George Johnson Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1978–79". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1979–80". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1980–81". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1981–82". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1982–83". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Tree Rollins Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1983–84". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Mark Eaton Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1984–85". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1985–86". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b "Manute Bol Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1986–87". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1987–88". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1988–89". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
- ^ Dufresne, Chris (March 11, 1991). "Hakeem Still Can Be Called 'the Dream'". Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
- ^ Olajuwon and Knobler. pg. 207
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1989–90". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Hakeem Olajuwon Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1990–91". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1991–92". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "David Robinson Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1992–93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1993–94". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Dikembe Mutombo Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1994–95". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1995–96". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1996–97". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Shawn Bradley Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1997–98". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Marcus Camby Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ Beck, Howard (February 14, 2009). "N.B.A. and Union Are Discussing New Labor Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1998–99". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b "Alonzo Mourning Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 1999–2000". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2000–01". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Theo Ratliff Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2001–02". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Ben Wallace Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2002–03". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2003–04". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2004–05". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "Andrei Kirilenko Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2005–06". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2006–07". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "League Leaders: Blocks – 2007–08". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ a b "Dwight Howard Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ "2010–11 NBA season Summary". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ^ "Andrew Bogut Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- ^ a b "Serge Ibaka Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ "2013-14 NBA Season Summary". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ^ a b "Anthony Davis Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ "Hassan Whiteside Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 14, 2016.