NBA Stat Central #2: 10 Random Facts You Didn’t Know

Welcome to HoopsHabit’s NBA Stat Central, our regular feature that goes deeper into the world of statistics in the NBA. You can find a new Stat Central every Friday here on HoopsHabit.com!

Today, we’re going to talk about 10 random facts you may not have known about the NBA. Our focus is going to be on historical leaders and things we couldn’t have guessed or tend to forget. Let’s get right to it.

1. Tyson Chandler Set An NBA Record For Shooting Percentage in 2011-12.

We knew he had a good year, and winning the Defensive Player of the Year award was nice, but he also broke a record that was 30 years old.

His true shooting percentage, which takes all three percentages into account, was a remarkable 70.81%. The previous leader was Artis Gilmore, who held the top two spots, with 70.24% and 69.95%.

Chandler’s field goal percentage led the league at 67.9% and his free-throw percentage was a respectable 68.9%.

2. Matt Bonner Crushed The Turnover Percentage Record in 2011-12.

Turnover percentage marks the percentage of the time that a player turns the ball over per 100 plays. It’s often shooting specialists who lead this category, because the only time they get the ball, they’re putting it up.

2011-12 was no different, as Matt Bonner beat the previous record of 5.23%, with a ridiculous 3.75%. Bonner turned the ball over just 14 times in 1326 minutes. That means he turned the ball over once every 94.71 minutes. With his playing time, that’s just once every 4.64 games.

3. Dennis Rodman Was Truly Dominant On The Glass

Total rebound percentage marks the amount of available rebounds a player grabbed while on the court. This stat was only available after 1970.

Rodman led the league eight consecutive years in total rebound percentage and led seven consecutive years in rebounds per game. He has more career rebounds (11,954) than points, assists, steals and blocks combined (9,425).

Back to total rebound percentage, Rodman holds the best single season percentage, with 29.73% in 1994-95. He also holds the next six spots.

4. Ben Wallace Couldn’t Throw It In The Ocean

When we think of Ben Wallace, we think of a dominant defender and rebounder. One thing we also remember is a guy who was a horrible free-throw shooter.

For players who shot at least 100 free-throws in a season, Wallace holds the top two spots for worst percentage. In 2000-01, he made just 80 of 238 (33.6%), and in 1998-99, he made 47 of 132 (35.6%).

Andris Biedrins would probably own the title, if he could get to the line more often. His last three years, he shot 4 of 25 (16.0%), 10 of 31 (32.3%) and 1 of 9 (11.1%).

5. Alan Henderson‘s Worst Game Ever

Players have bad games from time to time. Usually, they don’t end up playing too many minutes, mostly because the coach doesn’t want to watch a player go out and stink it up.

In this case, the coach had no choice. You see, Henderson fouled out. In just seven minutes of play. And, he turned the ball over twice. He recorded no other statistics. Not even a missed shot.

So, on February 13th, 2005, Henderson put up the worst line one could imagine. 7 minutes played, 2 turnovers, 6 fouls. And they won.

6. Thanks For Nothing, Jud Buechler

Ah, how wonderful it must have been to be Mr. Buechler. He was a part of the Chicago Bulls team that won three consecutive NBA championships from 1996-98.

That puts him in the record books, but he’s also in there for another reason. Since the 1985-86 season, he is the career leader in games appeared while scoring no points.

A grand total of 256 times, he appeared in a game, and scored no points. Granted, he wasn’t a player that got big minutes. Only 20 of those times did he play more than 10 minutes. However, as a junk-time guy, you’d think he’d fire it up when he got the chance.

7. Call It The “Garnett”

For those who remember, Kevin Garnett was in an awesome commercial that talked about 20, 10 and 5. It was in reference to games in which he scored at least 20 points, secured 10 rebounds or more and dished out at least 5 assists.

Since 1985-86, Garnett leads basketball in this category, by doing it 242 times. Second place is Charles Barkley, with 217 such games.

Tim Duncan is quite often compared to Garnett, but he’s way behind in this category. Duncan has only done it 110 times.

8. Go Ahead Shaq, Dominate

Shaquille O’Neal has had numerous dominant performances over his long and storied career. Perhaps the most dominant and strangest performance of his career was on November 20, 1993, as a member of the Orlando Magic.

O’Neal put up his first of two career triple doubles. He ended up with 24 points, 28 rebounds and 15 blocks. The strange part? As a guy who was so dominant in the paint and was often hacked non-stop, he only went to the free-throw line one time all game!

It’s as if the New Jersey Nets just decided to get out of the way. Strange.

9. Not-So-Mighty, After All

“Mighty Mouse” Damon Stoudamire was both at his best and his worst on the same night. Back on April 15, 2005, he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers and was ready for heavy action against the Golden State Warriors.

The good, he played all 48 minutes, and recorded a triple double, with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals. The bad, he was a -20 overall, turned the ball over 7 times, and set a single-game record with 21 three-point attempts. He made just five of those.

His team got crushed, losing 108-88.

10. Basketball’s Version Of Drive-For-Show, Putt-For-Dough

The old golf adage of “Drive-For Show, Putt-For-Dough” refers to the fact that while great drives look really great, they don’t mean anything if you can’t secure a good score.

Jason Kidd is quite familiar with this in a basketball sense. He leads the NBA in career triple doubles, but he’s also the single-game leader in turnovers. Both of those came to a head with the Phoenix Suns on November 17, 2000.

Kidd would record a triple double, with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He would also set the record for most turnovers in a game, with 14. The Suns lost by just 5 points. Nice game Jason, you lost it for us.

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Monday – NBA Awards Watch
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