Most Turnovers in NBA History
King James is followed by Karl Malone and Russell Westbrook, who have made their way onto the all-time list for losing possession.
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Karl Malone, Chris Paul and LeBron James (credits: NBA, Imago, Imago)
Turnovers in basketball are often attributed to a negative stat. They not only disrupt an offense’s flow but also gift the opponent an opportunity to score.
In the NBA, turnovers refer to a statistic that measures the number of times a team loses possession of the ball to the opposing team during play. Turnovers can occur for various reasons, including errant passes, mishandling of the ball, offensive fouls, or steals by the opposing team.
Turnovers are usually considered a negative statistic for a team because they disrupt offensive plays and provide the opposing team with an opportunity to score. Limiting turnovers is an essential aspect of a team’s strategy, as it helps maintain offensive flow and prevents the opponent from gaining extra possessions.
Forcing turnovers is a defensive strategy to disrupt the opposing team’s offense and create scoring opportunities. But exactly who is the player who has committed the most turnovers in NBA history?
Who has committed the most turnovers in NBA history?
It is none other than LeBron James, the modern-day GOAT of the NBA, who stands atop the chart for the most turnovers in NBA history. LeBron has committed the most career turnovers, with a tally of 4,971 turnovers at the time of writing. King James is followed by Russell Westbrook and Karl Malone, who have made their way onto the all-time list for losing possession.
Karl Malone had committed 5,130 turnovers already so far in his NBA career. Mr. Triple Double Russell Westbrook on the other hand, has made 4,560 turnovers at the time of writing in his NBA career so far.
LeBron James, who tops the list like the many other stat sheets, committed his personal most turnovers in a single game against the Indiana Pacers back on January 26, 2018, with 11 turnovers during play.
He had committed 10 turnovers in his rookie season against the then-New Orleans Hornets on March 28, 2003. On November 25, 2022, last season, Bron committed nine turnovers against the San Antonio Spurs.
His massive number of turnovers does not come as a surprise, as players who handle the ball frequently, such as point guards and playmakers quite like LeBron, are more likely to commit turnovers. Reducing turnovers while still being effective in distributing the ball is a key skill for such players.
In many cases, they can be a by-product of a player’s willingness to take risks and make aggressive plays, as LeBron often does. Many would insist that LeBron James’ turnovers are a result of his fearless approach to the game, which also contributed to his impressive scoring and rebounding statistics.
In this season so far, Nikola Jokic, Trae Young, and Scottie Barnes are tied for the most turnovers, with 11 turnovers each to their names. It remains to be seen how many more turnovers LeBron James will be adding to his tally by the end of the 2023–24 season.
FAQs
Karl Malone committed 4,524 turnovers in his NBA career.
LeBron James is 39 years old.
LeBron James has committed the most turnovers in NBA history.
Chris Paul is 38 years old.
Chris Paul is active and he plays for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
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Anjum Ash.
(521 Articles Published)