The best players in the NBA often have the ball in their hands a lot, especially if you are a guard. The ball-handler controls the tempo of the game and has the most amount of influence in a half-court setting. The players entrusted with these roles have to be elite at what they do to hold down a position like that, particularly in the modern NBA.
Ball handlers can end up racking up turnovers due to the responsibility on their shoulders. Not only do they have to dribble and score, but they are responsible for ensuring the other four players on the court are also getting the ball. In certain years, these responsibilities lead to a lot of turnovers.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook sit comfortably atop the all-time single-season leaders for turnovers, occupying the top five between each other.
10. Charles Barkley – 352 Turnovers (1985-86 NBA Season)
9. Ricky Sobers – 352 Turnovers (1977-78 NBA Season)
8. Micheal Ray Richardson – 359 Turnovers (1979-80 NBA Season)
7. Kevin Porter – 360 Turnovers (1977-78 NBA Season)
6. Artis Gilmore – 366 Turnovers (1977-78 NBA Season)
5. James Harden – 374 Turnovers (2015-16 NBA Season)
4. Russell Westbrook – 381 Turnovers (2017-18 NBA Season)
3. James Harden – 387 Turnovers (2018-19 NBA Season)
2. Russell Westbrook – 438 Turnovers (2016-17 NBA Season)
1. James Harden – 464 Turnovers (2016-17 NBA Season)
Charles Barkley and Artis Gilmore make it onto the list despite being big men. This was due to the heavy loads they took during the respective seasons that brought them onto the list. Barkley was a sophomore being thrust into the limelight in Philadelphia and thrived over time. Gilmore had a less-than-impressive squad around him and did the most with them on the Chicago Bulls in 1977-78.
The top five is the real attraction, as it features two players over a multi-season span, redefining what it means to have high usage rates. The Thunder and Rockets ran everything through Westbrook and Harden, allowing them to put up video game numbers.
James Harden’s averaged 33.7 points and 7.9 assists on 4.6 turnovers per game over a three-season span with the Rockets, numbers that still aren’t being replicated over a season despite an overall increase in scoring in the league. Westbrook made history by averaging a triple-double in four seasons, with the feat being made possible by his historical usage. He averaged a triple-double in both seasons that feature on this list.
Both Harden and Westbrook’s MVP seasons feature in the top five, proving mistakes are ultimately forgotten if they see greatness on the court.
What Modern Players Will Rival Such Numbers?
The single-season turnover leaders list doesn’t feature a lot of rising stars on there, but you never know who could develop into that mold. LeBron James is not far removed from the top 10 for his historic carry job of the 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers. He dragged them to the NBA Finals while turning the ball over 347 times in the regular season. If you ask anyone, they’d rather LeBron do exactly that with the pitiful Cavs roster around him that season.
Trae Young has a few appearances on the list, leading the league in turnovers for the last two seasons. Even though comparable guards like Luka Doncic have a higher usage rate, Young averages more turnovers on worse field goal efficiency. But Young has also led the league in total regular season points and assists over this stretch, showing his volume has value.
Both Harden and Westbrook are past their best selves, so they’re unlikely to break the records they created. But with Young, Doncic, and rising guards like Tyrese Haliburton taking more and more on-ball responsibility in a league that’s at one of its fastest paces ever, this list will see some more modern players added to it.
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