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The NBA continuous to change and adapt it's style of play, with the league executives pushing for a higher paced game more and more each season we continue to see countless records fall.
Last year dozens of records were broken like LeBron James passing the great Michael Jordan for most consecutive double-digit scoring game or Markelle Fultz finally returning to basically a season-long injury to become the youngest ever player to record a triple-double in an NBA game.
Records falling is one of the many things that make basketball such an enthralling sport, as the game has such a long rich history. In the 2018/19 NBA season, there is potential for several players this season to go above and beyond to break franchise and league-wide records in some of the most important stats in the game.
#5. Most Seasons Played With One Franchise - Dirk Nowitzki
Current Record: 20
Current Record Holders: Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant
The current NBA record for most seasons played with a single franchise stays at 20, held by two future Hall of Famers in Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks.
It is hardly a that Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Mavericks uniform, and the franchise has rewarded him for all the hard work he put in for the team, by allowing him to retire on his terms and not forcing him to take an unwanted early exit. Leading up to the 2018/19 offseason, Dirk had a team option in his contract which to no surprise Dallas accepted his requests to play on, for at least one more season.
This will be the 7 foot Germans 21st season as a Maverick and add to a great list of accolades he has achieved throughout his long career.
#4. Most Steals for the Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry
Current Record - 664
Current Record Holder - Doug Christie
Currently tied for second alongside longtime guard pairing DeMar DeRozan on 655 total steals while playing for the Raptors. It would have been fitting that the two All-Star guards could have both passed the record together as they continue to lift the franchise to new heights and hopefully a first finals appearance.
Sadly, for DeRozan, he was traded this offseason for superstar Kawhi Leonard to the San Antonio Spurs. This leaves Lowry almost certain to claim this record bar injury and hold it for many seasons to come.
Lowry averaged 1.1 steals per game across 78 games last season, so it shouldn't be much longer that the star point guard claims the number one spot for most steals in Raptors history.
#3. Most Triple-Doubles in One Season for the Los Angeles Lakers - LeBron James
Current Record - 18
Current Record Holder - Magic Johnson
It is impossible to write a list of people breaking NBA records without mentioning LeBron James. Many Lakers fans think LeBron needs to prove himself as a Laker if he wants to be remembered like the greats before him and passing Magic Johnson's regular season triple-double record may be just one step in doing that.
With Russell Westbrook going the previous two seasons averaging a triple-double, and winning an MVP award to go with it, the triple-double is growing more and more popular between players and fans alike. Two seasons ago, Lebron broke his regular season record by almost double, recording 13 triple doubles, and then just last season increased it again by reaching 18.
There is no reason to suggest that LeBron will not continue this trend of increasing his triple doubles, especially as he is likely to increase his assist numbers now that he has some more offensive help around him in LA.
#2. Most Points for the Oklahoma City Thunder - Russell Westbrook
Current Record - 18,207
Current Record Holder - Gary Payton
Since the widely publicised departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors, OKC guard Russell Westbrook has been gaining accolade after accolade in an attempt to prove himself and the franchise are better of without the now two-time finals MVP Durant.
Only 1,023 points away from breaking Payton's current record, if Westbrook were to play all 82 games of the season he would only need to average around 12.5 points per game to eclipse the 18,207 mark. In a more likely scenario, if Westbrook can stay healthy and on the court for the beginning of the season, should he average 25 points per game, similar to his last seasons' stats, he will pass the record at about the halfway mark of this season.
Westbrook will most likely go down as one of the greatest OKC players in history, standing by the franchise when many would have left after losing superstars James Harden and Kevin Durant, Westbrook deserves every record he will go on to break for the Thunder.
#1. Most Players from One Team Selected for the All-Star Game
Current Record - 4
Current Record Holders - Boston Celtics x3, Golden State Warriors x2 Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks
Potentially one of the greatest teams of all time, the 2016 Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in the regular season before losing a 3-1 lead in the Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then the Warriors have added Kevin Durant and dominated the next two Finals series and have now added yet another dominant force in DeMarcus Cousins.
For the previous two seasons, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green have tied the record for most players selected from one team into the All-Star game at four, they may now have found their fifth piece to break the record completed. Although it has been well documented that Cousins is coming off a relatively bad injury for a big man, he is a four-time all-star in the past four seasons.
It looks highly unlikely that one of the original four will miss out on All-Star selection again this coming season as they continue to dominate the league with somewhat ease. It will just need to be seen how much of an impact Cousins' injury will have on his play and if he can fight off competition from the likes of Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns to make his fifth All-Star appearance and break this record
Guess the Lakers players!
