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Leading an NBA team in scoring and rebounding can be done. Leading an NBA team in scoring and assists can also be done. If you're Russell Westbrook, you could end up leading your team in scoring, rebounds and assists. Incidentally, Westbrook also led his team in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals in his 2016-17 MVP season. Or take the case of reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic, who led the Denver Nuggets in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals in 2020-21.
But how many NBA players have led their teams in all five major stats categories – scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks? Ever since the NBA started recording blocks in the 1973-74 season, only five individuals have achieved this historic feat. So here’s the distinguished list of players who have led from the front by doing it all for their teams.
#1 Dave Cowens (1977-78: 18.6 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 4.6 apg, 102 steals, 67 blocks)
Cowens was an eight-time All-Star who played for most of his career with the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. Playing at the center position, Cowens helped the Celtics to two titles in 1974 and 1976 and was also the regular-season MVP in the NBA in 1973. Over his 13-year career in the league, Cowens averaged 17.6 ppg and 13.6 rpg.
Cowens was the first ever player to hit the statistical milestone of leading the five major statistical categories. Cowens achieved this feat in the 1977-78 when he averaged 18.6 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 4.6 apg. And although two of his teammates averaged more steals and blocked shots than him that season, Cowens totalled more steals (102) and blocks (67), giving him the distinction of becoming the first player to make it to the NBA’s record books for this rare feat.
#2 Scottie Pippen (1994-95: 21.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 5.2 apg, 2.9 spg and 1.1 bpg)
We all know Scottie Pippen as Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman. But in the 1994-95 NBA season, with MJ still out of the game because of his first retirement, Pippen was Batman for the Chicago Bulls.
Carrying off seamlessly from his MVP-like performance in the 1993-94 season (Pippen finished third that season), Pippen simply dominated the floor for the Bulls with 21.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.1 bpg and a league-best 2.9 spg. And although Jordan came out of retirement in March 1995 and averaged 26.9 ppg, the fact that he played only 17 regular season games, doesn’t cancel out Pippen’s achievement. Another reason for Pippen leading the rebounding and blocked shots category in 1994-95 was that Horace Grant, the Bulls power forward, also left for Orlando in the 1994 offseason.
#3 Kevin Garnett (2002-03: 23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.6 bpg)
The Big Ticket punched in the stats in the 2002-03 season when he was still playing for Minnesota. With Wally Szczerbiak being the second best player on his team, Garnett did the heavy lifting for the Timberwolves. He led the team in both averages as well as in absolute numbers, with 23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.6 bpg and a career-best 6.0 apg. And although he finished second in the MVP race with this showing, KG would better his form in the following NBA season, winning league MVP in 2003-04.
#4 LeBron James (2008-09: 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.7 spg, 1.1 bpg)
Arguably the greatest NBA player to achieve this statistical distinction. LeBron James was also younger than the three players, who hit this milestone before him, when he achieved this feat. James was only 24 in the 2008-09 NBA season when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to an unbelievable 66-16 record with Mo Williams as his second-best teammate.
James averaged 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.7 spg and totalled 93 blocks to lead all five statistical categories for the Cavs that season. His incredible performance in 2008-09 also won James the first of his four regular season MVP awards.
#5 Giannis Antetokounmpo (2016-17: 22.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 bpg)
The last and youngest player to achieve the distinction of leading all five stats categories for his team. This is the season when the Greek Freak won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. After averaging 16.9 ppg in 2015-16, Giannis leapfrogged his way to 22.9 ppg in 2016-17, combining it with 8.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.6 spg and 1.9 bpg at age 22. With this all-round stat line, Giannis also became the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in each of the aforementioned categories in a single season.
Also read: 5 Greatest NBA teams of the 21st century
Guess the Lakers players!
