James Harden 2020
- With 14.4 free throw attempts (FTAs) per game, on pace to attempt second-most free throws ever in a season, behind Wilt Chamberlain in 1962, the year Wilt averaged 50 points per game. (Harden will be the only non-Chamberlain player in the top six on that list).
- The most FTAs Shaquille O'Neal averaged per game over the course of one season was 13.1. Shaq had 10 seasons where he averaged 10+ FTAs per game. Harden has seven such seasons, and counting (and keep in mind there is no "Hack-a-Harden").
- Harden is on pace to lead the league in FTAs for a sixth straight year, tying Chamberlain for most consecutive seasons to accomplish that feat. Wilt did it a total of nine times. Harden will have done it seven, as he also lead the league in FTAs in 2013 before starting his six-season run in 2014-2015.
- Those seven seasons leading the NBA in FTAs will tie Harden with Karl Malone for second-most such seasons. Shaq did it six times. Jordan did it once. Iverson did it once. Kobe did it once. Durant did it twice. Lebron never did it.
- Harden is also on pace to lead the league in FTMs for a sixth straight year, which will be a record. Karl Malone holds the record for most total seasons leading the league in FTMs, with eight. Iverson, Kobe, and Jordan did it twice. Lebron did it once. Durant did it the five seasons preceding Harden's historic run.
- The most FTMs per game Lebron has averaged in a season is 7.8. Harden has posted eight seasons of 8.6+ FTMs per game.
- Jordan had just two seasons with 8.6+ FTMs per game: 10.2 in 1987, and 8.8 in 1988.
- Kobe also had two seasons with 8.6+ FTMs per game (barely): 8.7 in 2007, and 8.7 again in 2008.
- If Harden continues current pace, he will easily break Karl Malone's career FTMs record in about five years, despite the fact Karl currently holds a 1,200+ make lead over the man second on that list, Moses.
No comments:
Post a Comment