The Most Embarrassing NBA Records of All-Time

This text was initially revealed on June 12, 2020.

Most of us affiliate sporting information with glory-filled moments comparable to Usain Bolt shattering the 100-metre report, the Golden State Warriors going 71-9, or this man demolishing 74 hotdogs in 10 minutes.

And whereas information like these include a certain quantity of status, others are finest forgotten by those that set them.

The NBA is filled with embarrassing and dishonourable information, and with out beating across the bush any additional, here’s a record of the worst ones:

MOST FREE-THROWS MISSED IN A GAME

23 – ANDRE DRUMMOND (2015-16)

When you suppose watching the Rockets is dangerous, think about watching their iso recreation at one finish and Andre Drummond lacking infinite free-throws on the different.

Drummond was deliberately fouled a ridiculous 21 instances when Detroit performed Houston in January 2016.

The hack-a-Drummond tactic finally proved fruitless for each events – with Drummond unable to hit any greater than 13 of his 36 makes an attempt and the Rockets unable to win the sport.

MOST FIELD GOALS MISSED IN A GAME

42 – JOE FULKS (1947-1948)

Joe Fulks was taking pictures his shot 70-odd years earlier than that was even a phrase.

On his record-breaking night time, Fulks missed 42 of his 55 discipline purpose makes an attempt.

His Philadelphia Warriors have been crushing the Windfall Steamrollers and contemplating this was effectively earlier than the times of load administration, the two-time All-Star threw warning to the wind and simply continued launching photographs.

It’s price noting that taking pictures stats of this nature weren’t overly unusual in these days.

Fulks additionally had nights the place he shot 4-31, 6-38, 5-31, 7-36, 7-40 and 8-46.

MOST THREE POINTERS MISSED IN A GAME

16 – DAMON STOUDEMIRE AND JAMES HARDEN (2004-05, 2017-18, 2018-19)

Most gamers grow to be hesitant to shoot after lacking a boatload of photographs, however that a part of James Harden’s mind seems to be lacking.

Harden has missed a report 16 threes in a recreation on six events.

That stretch included a very egregious 1-17 three-point taking pictures efficiency in a loss to Orlando, though Harden someway nonetheless completed with 38 factors, 12 assists and 9 rebounds on that event (traditional Harden).

The one different participant to overlook that many triples in a recreation was Damon Stoudemire, who did so as soon as in 2005 whereas enjoying for the Portland Path Blazers.

That was an particularly wild feat again in 2005, when whole groups solely tried about 16 threes per recreation on common.

MOST FREE-THROWS MISSED IN A GAME WITHOUT A MAKE

11 – SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (2000-01)

Good God, avert your eyes when you’ve got an simply upset abdomen.

MOST FIELD GOALS MISSED IN A GAME WITHOUT A MAKE

17 – TIM HARDAWAY SR. (1991-92)

Licensed All-Star Tim Hardaway going 0-17 from the sphere one night time in 1991 is proof that chilly streaks occur to the perfect of us.

MOST THREE-POINTERS MISSED IN A GAME WITHOUT A MAKE

12 – BROOK LOPEZ (2018-19)

Typically it’s simply not your night time.

Brook Lopez can actually attest to that, having shot 0-12 from deep in opposition to the Suns final season.

And simply to rub salt into Lopez’s wounds, the Bucks misplaced by two.

MOST CONSECUTIVE FREE-THROWS MISSED IN A GAME

13 – CHRIS DUDLEY (1989-90)

Chris Dudley, who you in all probability know because the man on the receiving finish of this nasty Shaq posterizer, was a notoriously unreliable free throw shooter and he took issues to the subsequent stage when he missed 13 straight from the road on April 14, 1990.

Dudley has since gone down because the second-worst free-throw shooter ever by way of share.

WORST FREE-THROW PERCENTAGE IN A GAME (TEAM)

18% – DETROIT PISTONS (2016-17)

How’s this for a depressing night time:

Pistons free throw taking pictures tonight ❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌✅❌✅✅❌❌

3-17 (18%) – worst in NBA historical past (minimal 10 makes an attempt)

— ESPN Stats & Data (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 2, 2017

Not solely did Andre Drummond shoot 1-10 from the road in opposition to the Pelicans on March 1 2017, he additionally contributed to the Pistons’ record-breaking 18 p.c free-throw taking pictures within the course of and acquired himself ejected simply to high it off.

WORST FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE IN A GAME (TEAM) & LOWEST SCORE

23.4% – CHICAGO BULLS (1998-99)

49 POINTS – CHICAGO BULLS (1998-99)

The precise lowest-scoring recreation of all-time was when the Fort Wayne Pistons beat the Minneapolis Lakers 19-18 in 1950.

However that was (a) fairly a very long time in the past, and (b) deeply cooked, so we’re altering the parameters of this one to the three-point line period (1979-80 onwards).

In that interval, nobody shat the mattress more durable than the Bulls, who scored a record-low 49 factors in a 33-point loss to the Warmth of their first season after Michael Jordan left Chicago good.

The Bulls shot 18-77 from the sphere that night time, together with 0-9 from three, additionally setting the fashionable period report for the worst single-game discipline purpose share at 23.4 p.c.

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A number of years later, the Spurs got here extremely near beating that report after they shot a equally appalling 23.9 p.c in opposition to Toronto in February 2002.

Extremely, that was nonetheless sufficient to power time beyond regulation in opposition to the Raptors, who have been additionally struggling mightily with 33 p.c taking pictures.

Toronto ultimately received by six, with the scoreboard studying 80-74 after 53 minutes of really depressing basketball.

MOST THREE-POINTERS MISSED IN A GAME WITHOUT A MAKE (TEAM)

22 – DENVER NUGGETS (2012-13)

The 2012-13 Denver Nuggets had the flexibility to get red-hot instantly, and sometimes did.

Most memorably, JR Smith hit 11 threes in a recreation and Ty Lawson as soon as made 10 consecutive threes, an NBA report to at the present time.

However on one particularly forgettable night time, this Denver squad went ice-cold. When the Nuggets performed the Blazers in December 2012, they missed all 22 of their three-point makes an attempt.

It was a borderline miracle that they solely misplaced by eight.

WORST CAREER FREE-THROW PERCENTAGE

41.4% – BEN WALLACE

Ben Wallace is certainly one of many best defenders ever, however placing the ball within the basket was by no means his forte, particularly when he was standing behind the free-throw line.

Wallace’s finest season from the charity stripe noticed him hit at 49 p.c, and in his worst season he made simply 30 p.c.

WORST CAREER FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

27.2% – JOHN MAHNKEN

The worst discipline purpose shooter of all-time to fulfill Basketball Reference’s minimal standards is John Mahnken, who managed to hit simply 27.2 p.c of his 3557 discipline purpose makes an attempt in a profession which spanned from 1946 to 1953.

Marcus Good is the worst discipline purpose shooter amongst at the moment’s gamers, and the one present participant to rank among the many 100 worst discipline purpose shooters of all-time, with a strike fee of 37.4 p.c.

WORST CAREER THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE

26.6% – CHARLES BARKLEY

Charles Barkley says no matter he desires with out considering twice, and again in his enjoying days, he took an identical method to taking pictures.

Whereas the absence of overthinking comes with many advantages, that mentality additionally cemented Barkley’s place within the historical past books because the worst three-point shooter ever (no less than amongst gamers to try an honest variety of them).

Barkley shot at 26.6 p.c from behind the arc throughout his profession, making him the one participant to ever shoot greater than 2,000 threes at a sub 30 p.c fee.

MOST CONSECUTIVE FIELD GOALS MISSED IN A GAME (TEAM)

24 – OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (2016-17)

You in all probability received’t be shocked to study that Russell Westbrook was closely concerned on this explicit crime in opposition to basketball.

MOST CONSECUTIVE THREE-POINTERS MISSED (TEAM)

27 – HOUSTON ROCKETS (2017-18)

It’s lengthy been stated that Houston lives and dies by the three-ball, and in Recreation 7 of the 2018 Western Convention Finals, they died a horrible, horrible dying.

The Rockets’ 27 consecutive three-point misses not solely landed them within the report books, it additionally turned a 54-43 half-time lead right into a 101-92 loss and crushed their goals of lastly overcoming the Warriors and making it to the NBA Finals.

James Harden (2-13), Eric Gordon (2-12) and Trevor Ariza (0-9) have been the worst offenders, taking pictures a mixed 4-34 from lengthy vary.

FEWEST FIELD GOALS MADE IN A GAME (TEAM)

16 – ORLANDO MAGIC (2011-12)

The subsequent time your staff is struggling, simply keep in mind it could possibly be worse: they could possibly be the 2011-12 Orlando Magic.

Throughout a January matchup with Boston, Orlando completed the night time with a record-low 16 discipline targets from 65 makes an attempt on their solution to a hideous 87-56 loss.

The Magic have been nonetheless a playoff staff on the time, however on that individual night time, they utterly forgot find out how to play basketball.

BIGGEST HALF-TIME DEFICIT

47 POINTS (88-41) – SACRAMENTO KINGS (1991-92)

This savage beatdown was courtesy of the Golden State Warriors, who nonetheless had two-thirds of their ‘Run TMC’ trio in Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin.

Apparently, the opposite member of that Massive 3, Mitch Richmond, had left Golden State for Sacramento, the victims of this brutal ass-kicking (though he didn’t play that night time).

The Warriors by no means took their foot off the fuel and went on to win 153-91.

SHORTEST NBA CAREER

4 SECONDS – JAMESON CURRY (2009-10)

JamesOn Curry’s NBA profession began and ended with a 10-day contract with the Clippers in 2009-10.

In that point, Curry performed a grand complete of 4 seconds after being subbed in through the dying seconds of a loss to Boston on January 25, 2010.

Unsurprisingly, Curry didn’t register a single statistic throughout his fleeting time within the solar.

MOST MINUTES PLAYED WITHOUT SCORING

28 MINUTES, 46 SECONDS – JOEL ANTHONY (2010-11)

Welcome to Membership Trillion.

As a lot as which may sound like an overpriced nightclub, Membership Trillion is in truth a time period coined by former Ohio State walk-on Mark Titus in reference to when a participant subs right into a recreation however doesn’t report any statistics by any means, ensuing of their field rating studying one minute performed adopted by a string of zeros (the quantity of enjoying time doesn’t really must be one minute, it simply helps with the catchy identify).

The person who had the dishonour of being named president of this membership was Joel Anthony, who performed a report 28 minutes and 46 seconds for Miami in opposition to Portland on January 9 2011 with out registering a single level, rebound, help, steal or block.

Tony Snell got here agonisingly near beating Anthony’s report through the 2017-18 season, however fell 21 seconds quick.

“When you come on the king, you finest not miss,” Anthony didn’t say on the time.

FASTEST PLAYER TO FOUL OUT

2 MINUTES, 43 SECONDS – BUBBA WELLS (1997-98)

When Dallas performed Chicago part-way by means of the 1997-98 season, Mavs coach Don Nelson was decided to hack Dennis Rodman to items and ship him to the road as many instances as doable.

Nelson was so decided, in truth, that he subbed in sacrificial lamb Bubba Wells – who solely ever performed 39 NBA video games – with the only real intention of utilizing him to deliberately foul Rodman.

To Wells’ credit score, he was extremely environment friendly in finishing up the hit, utilizing all six of his fouls in 2 minutes and 43 seconds.

MOST TECHNICAL FOULS IN A SEASON

41 – RASHEED WALLACE (2000-01)

Not many issues come extra naturally to Rasheed Wallace than selecting up technical fouls.

By no means was that extra evident than through the 2000-01 season, when Wallace picked up 41 technicals in 80 video games.

Such a feat isn’t even doable in at the moment’s recreation as a result of present league guidelines state that when a participant accumulates 16 technicals in a season, he might be suspended for one recreation with out pay and one other recreation for each technical after that.

MOST CAREER TECHNICAL FOULS

332 – KARL MALONE

Whereas Rasheed Wallace had the GOAT season by way of technicals, Karl Malone is the all-time chief.

For reference, right here is the all-time high 5:

Karl Malone: 332
Charles Barkley: 329
Rasheed Wallace: 317
Gary Payton: 250
Dennis Rodman: 212

And right here’s how these guys rank by way of technicals per recreation:

Charles Barkley: 0.28
Rasheed Wallace: 0.25
Karl Malone: 0.20
Dennis Rodman: 0.19
Gary Payton: 0.17

MOST TURNOVERS IN A GAME

14 – JASON KIDD (2000-01)

If you’re as hellbent on distributing the rock as Jason Kidd, you’re sure to have a number of turnover-riddled nights.

Kidd threw a whopping 14 turnovers in an early-season matchup with the Knicks throughout his last 12 months with the Suns in 2000-01.

The excellent news was he nonetheless completed with a triple-double, racking up 18 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists (name it a quadruple-double if you wish to embrace the turnovers).

MOST TURNOVERS IN A SEASON

464 – JAMES HARDEN (2016-17)

Whereas most groups typically goal to maintain their turnovers to about 10 every night time, James Harden acquired greater than midway there by himself when he averaged a staggering 5.7 turnovers per recreation in 2016-17 and completed the season with 464 in complete.

MOST TURNOVERS IN A GAME (TEAM)

40 – SAN ANTONIO SPURS (1988-89)

It’s exhausting to think about a horrible San Antonio staff ever present, however make no mistake, the 1988-89 Spurs have been absolute ass.

They proved that past a shadow of a doubt after they turned the ball over a report 40 instances – nearly one turnover each minute! – in a 133-96 beatdown by the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

No staff has even come inside 10 turnovers of the Spurs’ report up to now 15 years.

MOST TURNOVERS IN A SEASON (TEAM)

2,011 – DENVER NUGGETS (1976-77)

Just one staff has ever dedicated greater than 2,000 turnovers in a season: the 1976-77 Denver Nuggets.

It was a feat as wild as their emblem on the time:

The Denver Nuggets’ precise emblem from 1974-1981.

These guys dedicated 24.5 turnovers per recreation that season.

For reference, that’s twice as many as final season’s most turnover hostile groups.

Extremely, this outrageously wasteful Nuggets staff nonetheless completed the common season with a 50-32 report and made it to the second spherical of the playoffs.

Whereas they did commit a rare variety of turnovers, they have been additionally the perfect defensive staff within the league and managed to keep up a top-seven offence regardless of seemingly giving the ball to the opposite staff at each accessible alternative.

LONGEST LOSING STREAK

26 – CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2010-11) & PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (2013-14)

Only a few groups have ever been as miserable because the post-LeBron Cavaliers in 2010-11 and the process-trusting 76ers in 2013-14.

Hell, 34-year-old Antawn Jamison was the main scorer on that Cavs staff, whereas Thaddeus Younger and Evan Turner have been Philly’s most prolific bucket-getters.

Each groups nonetheless effectively and really averted the worst win-loss report of all-time, however expensive God these have been some horrendous dropping streaks.

WORST REGULAR SEASON RECORD

7-59 – CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (2011-12)

Nearly every part concerning the Charlotte Bobcats was terrible: the jerseys, the court docket, the empty enviornment, possession, administration, you identify it.

However the Bobcats actually cemented their place among the many worst franchises ever with their traditionally dangerous 7-59 season in 2011-12.

That lockout-shortened season robbed the Bobcats of the chance the acquire essentially the most losses of all-time – a dishonour which stays with the 9-73 76ers of 1973 – however they did handle to safe the worst ever profitable share.