As the old saying goes, “Records are made to be broken”. In the last three seasons alone in the NBA, we have seen two major records fall when Stephen Curry broke the all-time three-pointers made record and when LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. An underrated record whose top streak still runs today is the consecutive games with at least 10 points record.
This record shows the consistency and longevity of some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including the player at the top whose streak has been active since the 2006-07 season. These 10 NBA players went on a scoring streak in their careers incomparable to any other streak in the history of the NBA.
1. LeBron James - 1,202 Games
LeBron James owns the record for most consecutive games with at least 10 points. James has separated himself from the rest of those involved with this record, we are likely to never see any player reach the numbers James has reached. Not only is James the only player to have this streak reach 1,000 games But he is the only player to have his streak reach 900 games and one of two players to have their streak reach 800 games.
James’ streak has been ongoing since the 2006-07 season, his fourth season in the NBA when he was just 22 years old. Now 39, James has played 14 and a half straight seasons without ever finishing a game with less than 10 points. During this streak, James has become a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP, and four-time Finals MVP, averaging 27.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
The scary part is, at 39 years old, James’ streak doesn’t look like it will be coming to an end anytime soon.
2. Michael Jordan - 866 Games
The second-longest streak of consecutive games with at least 10 points goes to Michael Jordan at 866 games. Jordan’s streak began at the end of the 1985-86 season and lasted until his final season with the Wizards in 2001-02. Of course, the amount of games Jordan reached took a hit thanks to two retirements that lasted a total of four-plus seasons.
During the streak, Jordan would lead the Bulls to all six of their NBA championships during the 1990s, winning six Finals MVP awards and five MVP awards along the way. He averaged 30.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game during this time as well, shooting 49.6% from the field on an average of 23.0 shot attempts per game.
As the only other player to reach 800 straight games with at least 10 points in a game, Jordan’s streak still reigns as one of the most impressive runs in NBA history.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 787 Games
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had his streak of games with at least 10 points last nearly seven years to the day, totaling 787 games by the end. From December 1977 to December 1984 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kareem averaged 24.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game, helping the Lakers win two of the five NBA championships they would capture during the 1980s.
Also during this time, which can be considered Kareem’s peak with the Lakers, he would win two of his NBA-record six MVP awards as well as one of the two Finals MVP awards he won in his career. During the streak, he would also have four 40-point games and 18 30-point games as well as a total of 18,041 points in those seven years.
4. Karl Malone - 575 Games
Another one of the NBA’s players who finished their career top-five in total points scored had an incredible streak of games with 10+ points. From December 1991 to March 1999, Karl Malone went on a tear of 575 straight games with at least 10 points with the Utah Jazz. During this time, Malone would lead the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals and capture both of his career MVP awards.
During the streak, Malone would have one 50-point game, seven 40-point games, and 66 30-point games. He averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game on the streak as well which also ended with seven All-Star appearances, nine top-10 MVP finishes, and eight All-NBA First Team selections. Malone’s dominance with 15,276 points during the streak contributed to his spot as the third-leading scorer in NBA history.
5. Kevin Durant - 562 Games
One of the purest scorers in the modern-day NBA is Kevin Durant. As a true three-level threat, Durant has taken his place on Mount Rushmore for scoring in NBA history and is considered to be one of the greatest mid-range shooters ever. Durant’s streak lasted from March 2009 through February 2017 when he was with both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors.
Durant’s streak included four scoring titles and an MVP award in 2014 along with six All-NBA Team selections, eight All-Star selections, and an NBA title and Finals MVP award with the Warriors in 2017. During the streak, he averaged 28.5 points per game on 49.7% shooting overall and 38.3% from three. He would have two 50-point games, 17 40-point games, and 78 30-point games during this time as well, totaling 15,956 points.
6. Moses Malone - 526 Games
One player who had an underrated run of games with 10+ points early in his career with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers. Moses Malone’s streak lasted from November 1978 to March 1984 which saw Malone win all three of his career MVP awards as well as an NBA title and Finals MVP with the 76ers in 1983.
During these 526 games, Malone was able to record one 50-point game and 37 30-point games. He scored a total of 13,770 points during the streak as well which averages out to 26.2 points per game in that span. Malone is one of six players to have a streak reach 500 games with at least 10 points in NBA history.
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 508 Games
Do you know how dominant of a scorer you have to be to have not one but two separate streaks of at least 10 points to reach 500 games? That is exactly what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did during his career which led to him holding onto the NBA’s all-time scoring record for 39 years. Kareem’s “lesser” streak began during his rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969-70 and lasted until January 1976, his first season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kareem’s first streak of 500+ plus games with at least 10 points saw him score 15,387 total points and average 30.3 points per game. He recorded two 50-point games during this time as well as 14 40-point games and 86 30-point games. Kareem’s streak saw him capture an NBA championship and Finals MVP award in 1971 with Milwaukee as well as four of his six career MVP awards. He captured scoring titles in 1971 and 1972 as well, averaging over 31.5 points per game each season.
8. James Harden - 450 Games
As a member of the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets from February 2015 to March 2021, James Harden saw his streak of games with at least 10 points reach 450 games. The streak saw Harden score 13,902 points or 30.9 points per game. Between the 2015 and 2021 seasons, Harden would go on a scorching scoring streak that saw him capture three scoring titles and an MVP award in 2018.
During his 450-game streak, Harden would have three 60-point games, 14 50-point games, 53 40-point games, and 117 30-point games. This run for Harden still stands as one of the greatest prolonged scoring runs in NBA history as he mastered the art of the Eurostep, stepback three, and the art of getting to the free throw line at will.
9. Oscar Robertson - 428 Games
Known for his all-around playstyle that led him to becoming the triple-double King, Oscar Robertson’s torrid scoring from the point guard position made him one of the most dangerous players during the 1960s. Robertson’s streak began in January 1961 and lasted until November of 1966, nearly an entire five years worth of games.
During this time, Robertson spent the entirety of the streak with the Cincinnati Royals. It totaled 13,058 points at a pace of 30.5 points per game. Robertson would have five top-five finishes for MVP during this time as well including winning the award in 1963-64. During the streak, he would record a total of two 50-point games, 29 40-point games, and 117 30-point games as well. It is still one of the most impressive scoring runs from a point guard ever.
10. Kevin Garnett - 411 Games
The final player on our list to have a top 10 longest streak of games with at least 10 points is none other than Kevin Garnett. With his streak lasting from October 2002 to November 2007, Garnett’s run lasted just over five years. During this time, Garnett recorded a total of 9,317 points at a pace of 22.7 points per game.
During this streak, Garnett would win an MVP in 2004 as well as a championship and Defensive Player of the Year award in his first season in Boston in 2007-08 which is when the streak ended. Garnett would have just one 40-point game during this historic streak as well as just 19 30-point games yet his consistency and persistence allowed him to have the 10th longest streak of 10+ point games in NBA history.
Active Streaks Of Games With At Least 10 Points
1. LeBron James - 1,202 Games
2. Joel Embiid - 169 Games
3. Kevin Durant - 164 Games
4. Lauri Markkanen - 119 Games
5. Kyrie Irving - 87 Games
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 71 Games
7. Luka Doncic - 70 Games
8. Donovan Mitchell - 69 Games
9. Zion Williamson - 64 Games
10. Trae Young - 60 Games
As it stands, there are only four active streaks to reach 100 games in a row of players with at least 10 points in a game. Two current stars saw their streaks end earlier this season as well when Jayson Tatum’s streak was broken at 163 games and DeAaron Fox’s was broken at 95 games. Pascal Siakam, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all saw their streaks end in 2023.
At the top, it is pretty obvious that LeBron James’ record is safe for the foreseeable future considering his record is still growing while no player is within 1,000 games of him currently in the NBA. Two things stick out about this list other than James’ ownership of this record being safe for the next few years. First is the fact that Kevin Durant has yet another streak going even following devastating injuries and aging being factors. Lauri Markkanen being on this list with a streak of over 100 games is impressive as well considering his streak started in 2022, his final season with Cleveland.
The bottom five of the top 10 active streaks of consecutive games with 10+ points features All-Stars that all have streaks of 60 games or more. Kyrie Irving is the closest to 100 games at 87 currently with a streak dating back to November 2022. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic each have streaks that have reached 70 games while Donovan Mitchell, Zion Williamson, and Trae Young have all seen their streaks reach 60 games.
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