NBA’s Turnover King Crown Goes To… Prepare for Some Shocking Names on This List!
These Top Players Lost the Ball… A LOT!
Turnovers are a hot topic in the NBA, and the player with the most turnovers in NBA history isn’t who you would expect.
The top 10 list is packed with some of the best names to ever play the sport, and although they are considered a negative statistic, some players can’t seem to stop making them.
We look at the NBA turnover leaders, and sitting in the top spot is none other than LeBron James.
NBA Turnover Leader – LeBron James
It appears as though longevity in the sport is a recipe for turnovers. James is one of the best players to ever grace a basketball court, but because he has played for so long, his turnover numbers are greater than anyone else’s.
At the time of writing, James has committed 5,452 turnovers, and with the superstar expected to play for at least another couple of years, that number will only grow. He’s around 600 clear of his next closest rival, but there are reasons why a player like James has more turnovers than anyone in NBA history.
He often plays the point guard position, so he’s handling the ball a lot. James also likes to fire passes across the defense, which can lead to turnovers. However, it simply comes down to playing more games than anyone in the top 10. He’s currently sitting at 1,555 games played, with only John Stockton and Karl Malone coming close to that number.
Having the most turnovers in NBA history isn’t a statistic he wants, especially with Michael Jordan not cracking the top 25. However, he could be a victim of circumstances.
Who are the Turnover Kings?
The top 10 list features some names you wouldn’t expect to see among the NBA leaders in turnovers. Second on the list is Russell Westbrook, who we fully expected to be on the list. However, Stockton is fourth with 4,244 turnovers, and he was one of the best ball handlers of all time.
Stockton has long been considered one of the best point guards in the NBA, and that’s because he often made the right pass. However, as the stats suggest, Stockton was all too familiar with turning it over.
If there were NBA basketball odds for today about the chances of Stockton featuring in the top 10 in turnovers, we would have expected something around +300. He’s a surprising inclusion, as are Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd.
It’s clear ball handlers are going to have more turnovers than bigs, but Bryant had good ball control. Kidd was also a quality PG, but not even the best can escape the dreaded most turnovers in NBA history tag.
Most Turnovers in an NBA Game – Kidd/John Drew
Kidd and John Draw share the spoils for most turnovers in the NBA game with 14. Kidd achieved the feat in November 2000, with Drew committing 14 turnovers in March 1978.
It’s a surprising statistic from Kidd, who goes down in history as one of the more efficient ball handlers in the NBA. His horrible game came against the New York Knicks when playing for the Phoenix Suns, while Drew played for the Atlanta Hawks against the New Jersey Nets.
The most turnovers committed by a team is 45 by the 1971 San Francisco Warriors against the Boston Celtics. 45 turnovers are two clear for the top spot over the 43 in 1974 committed by the Lakers.
Interestingly, eight of the top 11 teams featured on the list played in the 1970s. The 1989 Magic team is the most recent team to feature in the top 25, so teams are more careful with the ball than they used to be.
FAQ
What Are the Most Famous Games With the Most Turnovers in NBA History?
The most famous game for turnovers is the 1971 game between the Warriors and Celtics. The Warriors committed 45 turnovers, losing the game 134-112.
Who Holds the Record For the Most Turnovers in NBA History?
LeBron James has the most turnovers in NBA history, committing 5,452 mid-way through the 2024/25 season.
How Does the Most Turnovers in NBA History Affect a Player’s Legacy?
Having a high number of turnovers isn’t good for an NBA player’s legacy. However, it shows they played aggressively, and it shouldn’t detract from their overall performance.
This post was published on June 16, 2025 6:16 pm