Barring some exceptions, you can’t play winning basketball if you don’t take care of the ball. Teams that turn the ball over too often are most likely trying to work their way back into games, as they’re basically giving away extra possessions.
Obviously, some players are more prone to turn the ball over because the rock goes through their hands in almost every possession, so those numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt. Others, however, are just careless with the ball and end up hurting their team.
For years, we’ve seen the same players leading the race for the most turnovers in the season, a distinction no one wants to win. That’s why today, we’ll talk about it by letting you know the top 10 players with the most turnovers this season.
10. Stephen Curry – 111 TO
Stephen Curry is one of the greatest players to ever do it and he’s proving it once again this season. Despite the lack of help from his support cast, he’s still putting the Golden State Warriors into playoff contention. Needless to say, that requires the ball to be on his hands for most of the game, which often leads to a lot of turnovers. That’s why it’s not unusual to see him crack this list.
9. Domantas Sabonis – 111 TO
I just can’t stress enough how disappointed I am to find out that Domantas Sabonis won’t make the All-Star Game. He’s quickly become one of the best power forwards in the league thanks to his efficiency, rebounding, and ability to create for others. He’s often the team’s primary ball-handler, which also leads to 3.5 turnovers per game, but that doesn’t take away all the things he gives the Pacers.
8. Julius Randle – 114 TO
Julius Randle has put a lot of work into his game to become a better ball-handler. He’s taking the ball up the court, facilitating for others, and running the break every chance he has. Sadly, though, that also means that he’s piling up turnovers at an alarming rate. Big men have never been known for taking care of the ball when they pick up their dribble and Randle is averaging 3.2 turnovers per game.
7. Russell Westbrook – 121 TO
For the first time in years, Russell Westbrook isn’t on the top 3 when it comes to turnovers. On the downside, that’s because he has missed multiple games due to injuries or rest. Westbrook has always been quite prone to turning the ball over due to his basketball IQ and aggressive style of play. Thus far, he’s averaging 4.8 turnovers per game, which means he would be at the top of this list had he played more games.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 121 TO
Giannis Antetokounmpo is used to having the ball on his hands and, while he’s improved his handles and passing skills, that usually translates to many turnovers. Still, contrary to popular belief, Giannis isn’t that prone to losing the ball, piling up just 3.7 turnovers per game this season. Notably, that average has stayed the same during the past three seasons.
5. James Harden – 123 TO
Like Westbrook, James Harden is used to being around the top 3 when it comes to losing possession of the ball. This time, though, he has been slightly better than in the rest of his career, piling up ‘just’ 4.1 turnovers per game. But, to be fair, he’s also handing out a league-high 11.2 assists per game since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, so we’ll give him a pass.
4. Zach LaVine – 125 TO
Zach LaVine has finally taken a step forward and proved that he’s All-Star material. He’s leading the Chicago Bulls into playoff contention and scoring an impressive 28.8 points per game to go along with 5.0 assists. LaVine continues to improve on a yearly basis but he must do a better job of taking care of the ball, as he’s averaging a career-high 3.9 turnovers per game.
3. Luka Doncic – 129 TO
We all know that Luka Doncic is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player and he just keeps getting better right before our eyes but there are two aspects of his game that need some improvement: Turnovers, and three-point shooting, especially the first. So far, the third-year player out of Europe is averaging 4.2 turnovers per game, which is slightly better than the 4.3 he averaged last year.
2. LeBron James – 132 TO
LeBron James is no stranger to turning the ball over, which is normal considering every single possession goes through his hands. He’s an elite playmaker with the highest basketball IQ of his generation, but that doesn’t keep him from making mistakes from time to time. This season, he’s averaging 3.9 turnovers per game, which is slightly above his career average of 3.5.
1. Trae Young – 139 TO
And, once again, Trae Young leads one of the worst stats you could lead in the NBA. Young is a flashy playmaker and an unstoppable scorer with limitless range but his lack of defense and proneness to turn the ball over have affected his reputation around the league. Thus far, he’s averaging 9.5 assists per game but he’s also turning the ball over 4.3 times a night.
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