The Only 9 Players Who Recorded A 50-40-90 NBA Season: Kyrie Irving Joins An Elite Club

After winning three straight MVP Awards, Bird had one of the best consolation prizes. Bird finished the first 50-40-90 season and led the Boston Celtics to his last appearance in the NBA Finals. In the end, the Celtics lost to the Lakers, but Bird’s near triple-double remains one of the most eye-popping seasons.

Larry Bird - 1987-1988

52.7 FG%, 41.4 3PT%, 91.6 FT% (29.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG)

The 1987-1988 season was the highest scoring season of his career. Bird led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals, highlighted by a Game 7 win over the Atlanta Hawks in which Bird shot 9-of-10 in the fourth quarter with 20 points. In the end, the Celtics lost to the Pistons in six games and Bird made his final All-NBA First Team.

Mark Price - 1988-1989

52.6 FG%, 44.1 3PT%, 90.1 FT% (18.9 PPG, 3,0 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.5 SPG)

Price was known as one of the league’s most consistent shooters, where he won the Three-Point Shootout two times. His No. 25 is retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after finishing as the franchise leader in assists until LeBron James broke that record. During this season, Price made his first All-Star team and led Cleveland to 57 wings, but the team lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.

Reggie Miller - 1993-1994

50.4 FG%, 42.1 3PT%, 90.8 FT% (19.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG)

In the first year with no Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller thrived. His archrival was finally gone and he was one of the faces of the East. During the regular season, he grew to be the league’s best overall shooter. Miller led the Pacers as far as the Eastern Conference Finals this season, including a remarkable Game 5 win over the Knicks, where he scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. Eventually, the Pacers lost in seven games.

Steve Nash - 2005-2006

51.2 FG%, 43.9 3PT%, 92.1 FT%, (18.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 10.5 APG, 0.8 SPG)

Nash returned to the Suns in 2004 and quickly became one of the best players in basketball. The 2006 season was the second straight MVP Nash had won in two seasons. Nash didn’t have Amar’e Stoudemire (knee injury), or Quentin Richardson (trade), but managed to lead Phoenix to the Conference Finals. That season, Phoenix owned seven players averaging double digits with Nash leading as the floor general.

Dirk Nowitzki - 2006-2007

50.2 FG%, 41.6 3PT%, 90.4FT% (24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG)

It was the first time that Nowitzki averaged over 50% from the field and led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 67 wins. Nowitzki was the overwhelming MVP by the season’s end. However, the season ended on a sour note after the No. 1 Mavericks were defeated by the No. 8 Golden State Warriors.

Steve Nash - 2007-2008

50.4 FG%, 47.0 3PT%, 90.6 FT% (16.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 11.1 APG, 0.7 SPG)

Nash led the Suns to 55 wins and the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. Despite a mid-season trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Heat in exchange for Shaquille O’Neal, the Suns were defeated in the first round of the playoffs. Nash was named All-NBA Second Team by the end of the season.

Steve Nash - 2008-2009

50.3 FG%, 43.9 3PT%, 93.3 FT% (15.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 9.7 APG, 0.7 SPG)

Nash replicated his strong performance despite a new coach. Before the start of the season. Mike D’Antoni was replaced by Terry Porter, who preferred a more defensive-oriented style of basketball. The Suns had a troupe adapting to a new season and Porter was eventually fired and replaced by Alvin Gentry. The Suns missed the playoffs, but Nash finished with a 50-40-90 season.

Steve Nash - 2009-2010

50.7 FG%, 42.6 3PT%, 93.8 FT%, (16.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 11.0 APG, 0.5 SPG)

The Suns were the highest-scoring team in the league for the fifth straight season. With Nash operating the point, the Suns finished with the No. 3 seasons, while Nash had his best free throw percentage of his career. The Suns won 54 games and made the Conference Finals, but couldn’t take down the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Kevin Durant - 2012-2013

51.0 FG%, 41.6 3PT%, 90.5 FT% (28.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.6 SPG)

Durant failed to defend his scoring title but became the youngest player to ever join the 50-40-90 club. The Thunder won the No. 1 seed with a 60-22 overall record. With Russell Westbrook missing the playoffs with a torn meniscus, Durant averaged a career-high 30.8 points, but the team was eliminated in the third round.

Stephen Curry - 2015-2016

50.4 FG%, 45.4 3PT%, 90.8 FT% (30.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, 2.1 SPG)

By the time Curry was done, it felt like this was going to be the first player to ever record a 50-40-90 season and win an NBA championship. The Warriors set a new NBA record for wins (73) and Curry was a unanimous MVP choice. But, Curry and the Warriors lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the NBA Finals, keeping the drought alive.

Malcolm Brogdon - 2018-2019

50.5 FG%, 42.6 3PT%, 92.8 FT%, (15.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.7 SPG)

It was an unexpected season from an unexpected player. Brogdon, in his third season with the Milwaukee Bucks, played his best season in a contract year. On February 27, 2019, Brogdon scored 25 points, shooting 9-for-11, in a 141-140 overtime win over the Kings. In March, Brogdon suffered a plantar fascia tear in his right foot and missed the rest of the regular season. Brogdon returned in the second round, but the Bucks were eliminated in the Conference Finals.

Kyrie Irving - 2020-2021

50.6 FG%, 40.2 3PT%, 92.2 FT% (26.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG)

The Nets won 48 games and are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. With Kevin Durant and James Harden in the mix, Irving produced one of the best seasons in his career. Irving moved to shooting guard once Harden came over via trade. The move proved to work out well as Irving was extremely efficient. Irving now looks to become the first player to ever record a 50-40-90 season and win a championship in the same season.

Only Player In NBA History With A 50/50/100 Season (min 100 attempts)

Tony Snell - 2020-2021

50.9 FG%, 56.9 3PT%, 100 FT%, (5.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.3 SPG)

Snell set NBA history on Sunday after finishing the regular season as the first player to ever record a 50-50-100 season. 

Snell did not qualify to lead the league in three-point field goal percentage, nor free throw percentage based on attempts. However, he did become the first player ever to record this feat.