11 milestones to watch for in 2026 NBA Playoffs

The 2025-26 season is full, the SoFi Play-In Tournament is right here and the 2026 NBA Playoffs await. 

Plenty of milestones had been reached in 2025-26, however as we flip towards the postseason, which data are primed to fall? Below are 11 main particular person milestones and a number of other staff milestones to have in your radar.

Kevin Durant: Points, discipline objectives & free throws

Kevin Durant spent the common season shifting up in a number of classes and, most notably, passed Michael Jordan for No. 5 on the all-time scoring listing. Provided he and the Rockets have a considerably lengthy playoff run, Durant can do likewise in the playoffs. He wants 188 factors to go Tim Duncan (5,172 playoff factors) for No. 6 and 266 factors to go Shaquille O’Neal (5,250) for No. 5. In his profession, Durant has scored a minimum of 319 factors in the postseasons in which his staff performed no less than 10 video games.

In phrases of discipline objectives, Durant (1,684 profession playoff discipline objectives) wants 60 discipline objectives to surpass Karl Malone (1,743) for No. 7 on the listing. He’s obtained a methods to go, although, to attain No. 6 Duncan (1,945) and No. 5 Bryant (2,014). He may also transfer to No. 4 in free throws (1,251) as he wants 19 extra to go Karl Malone (1,269). If the Rockets have an extended playoff run, he would possibly have the ability to catch Bryant (1,320) for No. 3, however is a methods off from No. 2 Jordan (1,463).

LeBron James: 3-pointers

Our Brian Martin has a must-read review of LeBron James’ many stats milestones because the 2026 NBA Playoffs start. We’re specializing in one which can be presumably inside attain ought to the Lakers take pleasure in an extended playoff run.

James has 480 profession playoff 3-pointers and wants 32 extra to go Klay Thompson (501) for No. 2 on that listing. James final had 32 or extra 3-pointers in the 2020 playoffs (when he led the Lakers to the NBA title), so an extended playoff run will probably be key in passing Thompson.

James Harden: Points, assists, video games performed, steals

Cleveland Cavs guard James Harden isn’t fairly the scorer he was in his prime with Houston, however he’s inside vary of elite playoff scoring firm. Harden has scored 3,895 factors in the postseason and is No. 14. He’s three factors from passing Larry Bird for No. 13 (3,897), however wants 105 factors to change into the twelfth participant with 4,000 or extra profession playoff factors. Harden has scored no less than 127 playoff factors in each postseason since 2010-11, placing this mark inside vary.

Assists-wise, Harden has amassed 1,125 playoff dimes and ranks No. 8 in that class. He wants 12 assists to go Rajon Rondo (1,136) for No. 7 and is 19 from passing Rajon Rondo (1,143) for No. 6. A protracted playoff run might assist Harden as he’s 109 assists from surpassing Chris Paul (1,233) for No. 5.

Harden has appeared in 173 playoff video games and ranks No. 23 on that listing, however is an extended playoff run away from shifting up to No. 15. Harden is 5 video games from passing Rasheed Wallace, Dwyane Wade and Andre Iguodala (177) for No. 20 and is 12 video games from passing Robert Parish (184) for No. 15.

Lastly, Harden can transfer into the Top 10 in playoff steals in 2026. Harden has 282 profession postseason steals and wants 11 extra to go Manu Ginobili (292) for No. 10 all-time. He had 9 steals in the 2025 playoffs and has recorded 11 or extra steals in three of his final six playoff runs, so this mark is attainable.

3-pointers: Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum & Paul George

A trio of All-Stars might make their means up the all-time 3-pointers listing ought to their groups take pleasure in an extended playoff run.

Durant has 366 profession playoff 3-pointers and wishes 20 extra to go Ray Allen (385) for No. 5 in that class. Tatum (292) is barely three 3-pointers away from passing J.R. Smith (294) for No. 10, whereas George (276) wants 19 extra to go Smith and keep in the chase with Tatum for No. 10.

Team playoff milestones

(Editor’s notice: Teams missing an entry means both should not have a participant inside a practical vary of shifting up in a franchise’s statistical class in the playoffs, or there’s not a notable stats milestone rating inside vary — corresponding to going from No. 17 to No. 12 in ppg.)

Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

• Forward Jaylen Brown already ranks in the Top 10 in 9 classes in Celtics playoff historical past and may transfer up larger in 2026. Brown has 2,608 playoff factors in his profession, rating No. 9 in that class, however wants no less than 302 in the 2026 playoffs to go Sam Jones (2909) for No. 5. Additionally, he’s 11 steals away from passing Marcus Smart (144) for No. 5 in that class and 99 rebounds from passing Paul Pierce (869) for No. 10 in that statistic.

He additionally wants 96 extra discipline objectives to go Robert Parish (1,073) for No. 5. He’s additionally 43 free throws away from passing Dennis Johnson (436) for No. 10 in that class and 34 free throw makes an attempt to go Tom Heinsohn (568) for No. 10 in that stat.

• Forward Jayson Tatum additionally has a number of playoff stats data, rating in the Top 10 in 11 totally different stats. He can transfer up to No. 3 in Celtics playoff scoring lore as he wants 247 factors to go Kevin McHale (3,182) for that spot. Tatum can be one steal away from passing Smart (144) for No. 4 in that class and 91 discipline objectives from passing Parish for No. 5 in that stat.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley

• Guard Donovan Mitchell is gearing up for his fourth playoff run with Cleveland and has made a mark in the staff’s playoff file books. He’s No. 9 in scoring (678) factors, however can transfer forward of J.R. Smith (809) with 132 factors or extra for the No. 5 slot. In the 2025 playoffs, Mitchell amassed 266 factors in eight video games, and one other playoff run like that would have him closing in on Kevin Love (966 factors) for No. 3.

Additionally, Mitchell wants 24 assists to go Delonte West (141) for No. 5, one other 46 discipline objectives to go Larry Nance (283) for No. 5 and 134 discipline objective makes an attempt to go Zydrunas Ilgauskas (656) for No. 5 in that stat, too. He’s additionally three 3-pointers away from passing Kyle Korver (72) for No. 5 and 84 3-point makes an attempt from passing Kyrie Irving (294) for No. 4.

• Evan Mobley is a former Kia Defensive Player of the Year winner and already ranks in the Cavs’ Top 10 in blocks. He’s on the cusp of becoming a member of the Top 5, needing 14 swats to surpass Hot Rod Williams (53) for No. 5. In the 2025 playoffs, Mobley notched eight blocks, however had 26 in 2024 when the Cavs had a dozen playoff video games. He’s additionally 29 rebounds away from passing Smith (254) for No. 10 in rebounding (Mobley has notched no less than 50 rebounds in every of his playoff runs).

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon

• There aren’t many stats classes for which middle Nikola Jokić will not be the Nuggets’ all-time chief. Jamal Murray is the staff’s all-time playoff chief in 3-pointers made and tried, however Jokić can get to No. 2 in that class in 2026. He is two 3-pointers and 20 3-point makes an attempt from passing Michael Porter Jr. (166 3-pointers, 444 3-point makes an attempt) for No. 2 in each classes.

Much like Jokić , Jamal Murray has entrenched himself in Nuggets playoff lore, stats-wise. He is in the Top 10 or Top 3 in a number of classes, and may transfer up in two different classes. Murray wants eight rebounds to go Dan Issel (393) for No. 4 in rebounds and wishes three blocks to go Kenyon Martin (32) for No. 10 and transfer right into a tie with JaVale McGee (33) for No. 9. Lastly, he’s 17 free throws from passing Alex English (300) for No. 3 and 43 from passing English (345) for No. 3 in free throw makes an attempt.

• Aaron Gordon is No. 5 in staff playoff historical past in assists (176), No. 14 in steals (36) and No. 8 in blocks (34) and may transfer up in every of these classes in the 2026 playoffs. Gordon wants 82 assists to go Lafayette Lever (257) for No. 4, wants eight steals to transfer into No. 7 and wants 13 blocks to go Danny Schayes (42) for No. 5 in that class.

Gordon can be three 3-pointers and 24 3-point makes an attempt from passing Smith (65-for-169 on 3-pointers) for No. 4 in these classes.

Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green

• In Golden State lore, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry rank at or close to the highest in almost each class. While Green is usually recognized for his playoff defensive efforts, he’s able to scoring and will transfer up in the sector objectives division in the playoffs. He wants seven discipline objectives to go Rick Barry (693) for No. 3 on the all-time listing and 5 free throws to go Barry (378) for No. 2 in that class.

Houston Rockets: Clint Capela

• It’s honest to marvel if middle Clint Capela would maybe be making headway towards Hakeem Olajuwon’s all-time franchise rebounds file (1,602) had Capela not been traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2020. Be that as it could, Capela (468 playoff rebounds) is 15 rebounds away from passing James Harden (482) for No. 3 in rebounds. Capela logged 50 rebounds for the Rockets in the 2025 playoffs, which suggests passing Harden is probably going greater than affordable.

Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James

• Lakers standout ahead LeBron James is thought for his defensive abilities and may transfer up in staff playoff lore in two defensive classes. James wants 10 steals to go Jamaal Wilkes (83) for No. 10 in that class and is 13 blocks from passing Magic Johnson (64) for No. 15 in that stat. For context, James had 10 steals and 9 blocks in the 2025 playoffs, which lasted solely 5 video games for the Lakers.

Additionally, James can transfer up on the Lakers’ all-time playoff 3-pointers listing. He has 110 3-playoff 3-pointers (No. 5), however wants 15 extra to go Michael Cooper for No. 3. In the 2025 playoffs, James made 10 3-pointers however in the Lakers’ final playoff run of 10 or extra video games (2022-23), he made 28 3-pointers.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels & Julius Randle

• In simply 4 playoffs value of labor, Anthony Edwards has climbed into the Wolves’ playoff file ebook in numerous classes. Normally, we wouldn’t spotlight video games performed, however Edwards is closing in on the staff’s all-time mark and wants 5 playoff video games performed to go Kevin Garnett (47) for No. 1. That’s not the one Garnett playoff mark Edwards can snag, although.

He wants seven assists to go Garnett (236) for No. 1 in that class, 20 discipline objectives to go him for No. 1 (415) there and 13 free throw makes an attempt to go Garnett (272) once more. For context, Edwards shot 135-for-298 (in 15 video games) in the course of the 2025 playoffs, together with a 64-for-89 mark on free throws.

• Center Rudy Gobert is, not surprisingly, in the Top 5 in staff playoff historical past in rebounding and blocks. He wants 9 steals to go Anthony Peeler (32) for No. 5 in that class and may transfer up in the Top 5 in free throws and free throw makes an attempt, too. Gobert is 5 free throws from passing Wally Szczerbiak (100) for No. 4 and 15 free throw makes an attempt from passing Karl-Anthony Towns (170) for No. 3.

• Like Gobert and Edwards, ahead Jaden McDaniels is sprinkled among the many staff’s all-time leaders in quite a lot of classes. The most notable jumps he could make in the 2026 playoffs are in discipline objectives: he wants 31 discipline objectives and 100 discipline objective makes an attempt to go Karl-Anthony Towns (207-for-442) for No. 3 in each classes. Additionally, he wants one 3-pointer to go Nickeil Alexander-Walker (56) for No. 3 there, too. In final season’s run to the West Finals, McDaniels was 87-for-169 from the sector (and 21-for-55 on 3-pointers), so one other lengthy playoff run with related stats would push him previous Towns.

• Forward Julius Randle is famend for his scoring in addition to his playmaking and he’s obtained an opportunity to enter the staff’s Top 5 playoff assists listing. Randle (74 playoff assists) wants six extra to go Alexander-Walker (79) for No. 5 and 14 extra to go Terrell Brandon (87) for No. 4. Randle had 74 assists in 2025, 36 assists in 2023 and 20 assists in 2021 (when he performed for the New York Knicks), which suggests passing Brandon’s mark is almost a certainty.

New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson

• Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has loved prolonged playoff runs in every of his three seasons with New York. Those runs have additionally fueled his place in a number of key all-time stats classes in staff historical past, and he’s primed to elevate his rating in 2026. Brunson wants 84 factors to go Dave DeBusschere (1,340) for No. 5, 96 factors to go John Starks (1,352) for No. 4 and 102 factors to go Willis Reed (1,358) for No. 3 in scoring. For the file: Brunson scored 530 factors in the 2025 playoffs and has not tallied lower than 306 factors in a postseason since 2023.

Additionally, Brunson wants 108 assists to go Starks (392) for No. 2 in that class and wants 70 discipline objectives to go Bill Bradley (510) for No. 5 there. While this one received’t occur in the 2026 playoffs — barring an otherworldly and historic scorching streak, after all — Brunson can be 76 3-pointers and 174 makes an attempt from passing Starks for No. 1 in these classes, too.

• Swingman OG Anunoby is a dependable 3-point menace and has been one in the playoffs for New York all through his time there. He is No. 5 all-time in playoff 3-pointers made (57) and tried (160) and may simply transfer to No. 3 in the 2026 playoffs. Anunoby wants 13 extra 3-pointers to go Allan Houston (69) and eight extra 3-point makes an attempt to go Derek Harper (167) for No. 3 in each classes.

• Reliable massive man Mitchell Robinson is a high quality defender and rebounder, traits he has proven all through his playoff runs in New York. He’s No. 15 on the staff’s playoff rebounding listing, however is 64 rebounds from passing Bradley (333) for No. 10 in that stat. Additionally, Robinson is No. 4 all-time in playoff blocks for New York (37) and wants 18 extra to go Charles Smith (55) for the No. 3 slot. In the 2025 playoffs, Robinson logged 127 rebounds and 14 blocks, and related such stats would put him in the working for passing Bradley and Smith, respectively.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren

• Reigning NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is, maybe, one other playoff run away from shifting larger into franchise playoff stats historical past. Gilgeous-Alexander wants 283 factors to go Shawn Kemp (1,386) for No. 5 in scoring and wants 98 assists to go Kevin Durant (340) for No. 5 in assists. In final season’s championship run, Gilgeous-Alexander amassed 688 factors and 150 assists in 23 video games. In the 2024 playoffs, he amassed 302 factors and 64 assists in 10 video games.

Another lengthy playoff run may also assist Gilgeous-Alexander transfer into the Top 5 in discipline objectives and discipline objective makes an attempt. He wants 117 discipline objectives and 265 discipline objective makes an attempt to go Fred Brown (499-for-1,082) for No. 5 in franchise lore. In that run to the 2026 title, Gilgeous-Alexander was 233-for-504 and, the season earlier than, was 111-for-224.

• Forward Jalen Williams was an important participant in the 2026 title run and, like Gilgeous-Alexander, is on the verge of shifting up in playoff franchise file lore. Williams is 289 factors away from passing Dennis Johnson (967) for No. 10 in franchise historical past. Additionally, Williams is 5 assists from passing Detlef Schrempf (169) for No. 10 in that stat, 105 discipline objectives from passing Johnson (357) for No. 10 and 229 discipline objective makes an attempt from passing Serge Ibaka (784) for No. 10. In the 2025 playoffs, Williams scored 492 factors on 178-for-396 taking pictures and registered 111 assists as nicely.

• Center Chet Holmgren is likely one of the higher inside defenders in the NBA and showcased his worth in that division in the course of the 2025 title run. He’s No. 4 in playoff franchise historical past with 68 blocks and is 39 blocks from passing Kevin Durant (106) for No. 3. That might appear to be a tall order, however think about Holmgren had 43 blocks in 2025 and 26 in 2024, which suggests a lengthy-ish playoff run places him inside vary of Durant in 2026.

Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero

(*11*)• Former Kia Rookie of the Year winner Paolo Banchero has solely been to the playoffs twice, however he tends to be productive when he’s there. Should the Magic take pleasure in even an extended first-round keep, Banchero can transfer into the Top 10 in playoff lore in a number of classes. He wants 132 factors to go Horace Grant (467) for No. 10 and wants 46 discipline objectives to go Tracy McGrady (167) for No. 10 in that stat.

Additionally, he’s 20 rebounds from passing Dennis Scott (121) for No. 10 in that stat and is seven blocks from passing Hedo Turkoglu (15) for No. 10 in that stat as nicely. Finally, Banchero is simply 5 3-pointers away from passing Darrell Armstrong and Brian Shaw (32) for No. 10 in that stat.

Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey

• All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has confirmed to have a deft scoring contact in each the playoffs and common season. While cracking the all-time playoff file ranks for the 76ers is hard given their prolonged historical past, Maxey can transfer up in a number of classes in the 2026 playoffs. He wants 28 factors to go Billy Cunningham (757) for No. 15 in scoring and is 30 3-pointers and 17 3-point makes an attempt from passing Allen Iverson (115, No. 1) and Tobias Harris (237, No. 2), respectively, in these classes. In the 2024 playoffs (Maxey’s final look), he scored 179 factors and shot 22-for-55 on 3-pointers in six video games, whereas in the 2023 playoffs (11 video games), he scored 226 factors and was 34-for-85 on 3-pointers.

Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker

• In Suns regular-season historical past, few have as many data as star guard Devin Booker does in staff lore. Surprisingly, Booker is not No. 1 in any playoff class in Phoenix historical past, however he can transfer nearer to a handful of them in the 2026 playoffs. Booker is 51 factors from passing Steve Nash (1,365) for No. 2 in scoring, is 51 assists from passing Walter Davis (296) for No. 5 and is 38 discipline objectives and 54 discipline objective makes an attempt from passing Nash (501-for-1,008) for No. 3 in each classes.

Booker can be six 3-pointers and 42 3-point makes an attempt away from passing Dan Majerle (115-for-324) for No. 1 in each of these classes. Booker final appeared in the playoffs in 2024 (4 video games), ending with 110 factors on 32-for-65 taking pictures (7-for-20 on 3-pointers) and 24 assists. Phoenix’s final prolonged playoff run, in 2023, noticed Booker end with 371 factors on 141-for-241 taking pictures (31-for-61 on 3-pointers) and 79 assists.