Best 3rd seasons in NBA history
Who had the best 3rd season in NBA history?
Michael Jordan holds the best 3rd season in points: 3,041 in 1986-87, and Moses Malone in 1978-79 in rebounds (1,444).
Points
| # | Player | Season | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | 1986-87 | 3,041 |
| 2 | Elgin Baylor | 1960-61 | 2,538 |
| 3 | LeBron James | 2005-06 | 2,478 |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | 2009-10 | 2,472 |
| 5 | Elvin Hayes | 1970-71 | 2,350 |
| 6 | Mark Aguirre | 1983-84 | 2,330 |
| 7 | Shaquille O'Neal | 1994-95 | 2,315 |
| 8 | Karl Malone | 1987-88 | 2,268 |
| 9 | Dominique Wilkins | 1984-85 | 2,217 |
| 10 | Carmelo Anthony | 2005-06 | 2,122 |
Rebounds
| # | Player | Season | REB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moses Malone | 1978-79 | 1,444 |
| 2 | Kevin Love | 2010-11 | 1,112 |
| 3 | Andre Drummond | 2014-15 | 1,104 |
| 4 | Charles Oakley | 1987-88 | 1,066 |
| 5 | Karl-Anthony Towns | 2017-18 | 1,012 |
| 6 | Dwight Howard | 2006-07 | 1,008 |
| 7 | Buck Williams | 1983-84 | 1,000 |
| 8 | Charles Barkley | 1986-87 | 994 |
| 9 | Bill Laimbeer | 1982-83 | 993 |
| 10 | Karl Malone | 1987-88 | 986 |
Assists
| # | Player | Season | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Paul | 2007-08 | 925 |
| 2 | Isiah Thomas | 1983-84 | 914 |
| 3 | Andre Miller | 2001-02 | 882 |
| 4 | Tyrone Bogues | 1989-90 | 867 |
| 5 | Deron Williams | 2007-08 | 862 |
| 6 | Kevin Johnson | 1989-90 | 846 |
| 7 | Terry Porter | 1987-88 | 831 |
| 8 | Tim Hardaway | 1991-92 | 807 |
| 9 | Kenny Anderson | 1993-94 | 784 |
| 10 | Magic Johnson | 1981-82 | 743 |
3-pointers made
| # | Player | Season | 3PTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buddy Hield | 2018-19 | 278 |
| 2 | Duncan Robinson | 2020-21 | 250 |
| 3 | Collin Gillespie | 2025-26 | 232 |
| 4 | Klay Thompson | 2013-14 | 223 |
| 5 | Toumani Camara | 2025-26 | 219 |
| 6 | Anthony Edwards | 2022-23 | 213 |
| 7 | Jordan Poole | 2021-22 | 211 |
| 8 | Aaron Brooks | 2009-10 | 209 |
| 9 | Brandon Miller | 2025-26 | 204 |
| 10 | Jalen Green | 2023-24 | 201 |
Steals
| # | Player | Season | STL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alvin Robertson | 1986-87 | 260 |
| 2 | Michael Jordan | 1986-87 | 236 |
| 3 | Dyson Daniels | 2024-25 | 229 |
| 4 | Chris Paul | 2007-08 | 217 |
| 5 | Scottie Pippen | 1989-90 | 211 |
| 6 | Magic Johnson | 1981-82 | 208 |
| 7 | Isiah Thomas | 1983-84 | 204 |
| 8 | Fat Lever | 1984-85 | 202 |
| 9 | Clyde Drexler | 1985-86 | 197 |
| 10 | Eric Murdock | 1993-94 | 197 |
Blocks
| # | Player | Season | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Eaton | 1984-85 | 456 |
| 2 | Dikembe Mutombo | 1993-94 | 336 |
| 3 | David Robinson | 1991-92 | 305 |
| 4 | Shawn Bradley | 1995-96 | 288 |
| 5 | Theo Ratliff | 1997-98 | 258 |
| 6 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 1986-87 | 254 |
| 7 | Patrick Ewing | 1987-88 | 245 |
| 8 | Tree Rollins | 1979-80 | 244 |
| 9 | Serge Ibaka | 2011-12 | 241 |
| 10 | Alonzo Mourning | 1994-95 | 225 |
Regular season only, counting stats only. A season is numbered from the first season on file for that player, so a career that began before the league’s rows start is numbered from where the data does. NBA all-time records