List of NBA career turnovers leaders

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season turnovers recorded.[a]
A progressive list of turnover leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]

## Turnovers leaders

[edit]

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season turnovers recorded.[2]

Statistics accurate as of February 27, 2025.
LeBron James has the most turnovers in NBA history. ^  | Active NBA player

|

*  | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†  | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[b]
§  | Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025[3]
Rank  | Player  | Pos | Team(s) played for (years)[c] | Total turnovers | Games played  | Turnovers per game
average[d]

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1  | LeBron James^  | SF | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)  | 5,419  | 1,545  | 3.51
2  | Russell Westbrook^  | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)
Denver Nuggets (2024–present)  | 4,746  | 1,214  | 3.91
3  | Karl Malone*  | PF | Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)  | 4,524  | 1,476  | 3.07
4  | John Stockton*  | PG  | Utah Jazz (1984–2003)  | 4,244  | 1,504  | 2.82
5  | James Harden^  | SG/PG  | Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012–2021)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)  | 4,171  | 1,127  | 3.70
6  | Kobe Bryant*  | SG  | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016)  | 4,010  | 1,346  | 2.98
7  | Jason Kidd*  | PG  | Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996, 2008–2012)
Phoenix Suns (1996–2001)
New Jersey Nets (2001–2008)
New York Knicks (2012–2013)  | 4,003  | 1,391  | 2.88
8  | Moses Malone*  | C | Buffalo Braves (1976)[e]
Houston Rockets (1976–1977)[e]
Houston Rockets (1977–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995)  | 3,804  | 1,247  | 3.05
9  | Isiah Thomas*  | PG  | Detroit Pistons (1981–1994)  | 3,682  | 979  | 3.76
10  | Hakeem Olajuwon*  | C  | Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)  | 3,667  | 1,238  | 2.96
11  | Patrick Ewing*  | C  | New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002)  | 3,537  | 1,183  | 2.99
12  | Paul Pierce*  | SF  | Boston Celtics (1998–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)  | 3,532  | 1,343  | 2.63
13  | Magic Johnson*  | PG  | Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996)  | 3,506  | 906  | 3.87
14  | Kevin Durant^  | SF/PF  | Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007–2016)
Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023)
Phoenix Suns (2023–present)  | 3,501  | 1,107  | 3.16
15  | Reggie Theus | PG/SG  | Chicago Bulls (1978–1984)
Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1989)
Orlando Magic (1989–1990)
New Jersey Nets (1990–1991)  | 3,493  | 1,026  | 3.40
16  | Steve Nash*  | PG  | Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012)
Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2015)  | 3,478  | 1,217  | 2.86
17  | Tim Duncan*  | PF/C  | San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016)  | 3,381  | 1,392  | 2.43
18  | Charles Barkley*  | PF  | Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)  | 3,376  | 1,073  | 3.15
19  | Dwyane Wade*  | SG  | Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019)
Chicago Bulls (2016–2017)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018)  | 3,326  | 1,054  | 3.16
20  | Shaquille O'Neal*  | C  | Orlando Magic (1992–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)
Miami Heat (2004–2008)
Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2011)  | 3,310  | 1,207  | 2.74
21  | Dwight Howard§ | C  | Orlando Magic (2004–2012)
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2013, 2019–2020, 2021–2022)
Houston Rockets (2013–2016)
Atlanta Hawks (2016–2017)
Charlotte Hornets (2017–2018)
Washington Wizards (2018–2019)
Philadelphia 76ers (2020–2021)  | 3,302  | 1,242  | 2.66
22  | Allen Iverson*  | SG/PG  | Philadelphia 76ers (1996–2006, 2009–2010)
Denver Nuggets (2006–2008)
Detroit Pistons (2008–2009)
Memphis Grizzlies (2009)  | 3,262  | 914  | 3.57
23  | Scottie Pippen*  | SF  | Chicago Bulls (1987–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003)
Chicago Bulls (2003–2004)  | 3,257  | 1,178  | 2.76
24  | Robert Parish*  | C  | Golden State Warriors (1976–1977)[e]
Golden State Warriors (1977–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997)  | 3,183  | 1,534  | 2.07
25  | Kevin Garnett*  | PF  | Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015)  | 3,179  | 1,462  | 2.17
26  | Mark Jackson | PG  | New York Knicks (1987–1992)
Los Angeles Clippers (1992–1994)
Indiana Pacers (1994–1996, 1997–2000)
Denver Nuggets (1996–1997)
Toronto Raptors (2000–2001)
New York Knicks (2001–2002)
Utah Jazz (2002–2003)
Houston Rockets (2004)  | 3,155  | 1,296  | 2.43
27  | Stephen Curry^  | PG  | Golden State Warriors (2009–present)  | 3,130  | 1,006  | 3.11
28  | Andre Miller | PG  | Cleveland Cavaliers (1999–2002)
Los Angeles Clippers (2002–2003)
Denver Nuggets (2003–2006, 2011–2014)
Philadelphia 76ers (2006–2009)
Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Sacramento Kings (2015)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2016)
San Antonio Spurs (2016)  | 2,121  | 1,304  | 2.39
29  | Carmelo Anthony§ | SF  | Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)
New York Knicks (2011–2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)  | 3,052  | 1,260  | 2.42
30  | Chris Paul^  | PG  | New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)
San Antonio Spurs (2024–present)  | 3,050  | 1,329  | 2.29
31  | Gary Payton*  | PG  | Seattle SuperSonics (1990–2003)
Milwaukee Bucks (2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)
Boston Celtics (2004–2005)
Miami Heat (2005–2007)  | 3,030  | 1,335  | 2.27
32  | Clyde Drexler*  | SG  | Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)  | 2,977  | 1,086  | 2.74
33  | Michael Jordan*  | SG  | Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)
Washington Wizards (2001–2003)  | 2,924  | 1,072  | 2.73
34  | Tony Parker*  | PG  | San Antonio Spurs (2001–2018)
Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019)  | 2,865  | 1,254  | 2.28
35  | Rod Strickland | PG  | New York Knicks (1988–1990)
San Antonio Spurs (1990–1992)
Portland Trail Blazers (1992–1996, 2001)
Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–2001)
Miami Heat (2001–2002)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2002–2003)
Orlando Magic (2003–2004)
Toronto Raptors (2004)
Houston Rockets (2005)  | 2,862  | 1,094  | 2.62
36  | Alex English*  | SF/PF  | Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1977)[e]
Milwaukee Bucks (1977–1978)
Indiana Pacers (1978–1980)
Denver Nuggets (1980–1990)
Dallas Mavericks (1990–1991)  | 2,821  | 1,133  | 2.49
37  | Larry Bird*  | SF/PF  | Boston Celtics (1979–1992)  | 2,816  | 897  | 3.14
38  | Bernard King*  | SF  | New Jersey Nets (1977–1979, 1993)
Utah Jazz (1979–1980)
Golden State Warriors (1980–1982)
New York Knicks (1982–1987)
Washington Bullets (1987–1993)  | 2,791  | 874  | 3.19
39  | Charles Oakley | PF  | Chicago Bulls (1985–1988, 2001–2002)
New York Knicks (1988–1998)
Toronto Raptors (1998–2001)
Washington Wizards (2002–2003)
Houston Rockets (2004)  | 2,785  | 1,282  | 2.17
40  | Buck Williams | PF  | New Jersey Nets (1981–1989)
Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1996)
New York Knicks (1996–1998)  | 2,784  | 1,307  | 2.13
41  | Otis Thorpe | PF/C  | Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988)
Houston Rockets (1988–1995)
Portland Trail Blazers (1995)
Detroit Pistons (1995–1997)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1997–1998)
Sacramento Kings (1998)
Washington Wizards (1998–1999)
Miami Heat (1999–2000)
Charlotte Hornets (2000–2001)  | 2,774  | 1,257  | 2.21
42  | Shawn Kemp | PF/C  | Seattle SuperSonics (1989–1997)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2000)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2002)
Orlando Magic (2002–2003)  | 2,766  | 1,051  | 2.63
43  | Ray Allen*  | SG  | Milwaukee Bucks (1996–2003)
Seattle SuperSonics (2003–2007)
Boston Celtics (2007–2012)
Miami Heat (2012–2014)  | 2,709  | 1,300  | 2.08
44  | Dominique Wilkins*  | SF  | Atlanta Hawks (1982–1994)
Los Angeles Clippers (1994)
Boston Celtics (1994–1995)
San Antonio Spurs (1996–1997)
Orlando Magic (1999)  | 2,669  | 1,074  | 2.49
45  | Terry Porter | PG/SG  | Portland Trail Blazers (1985–1995)
Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–1998)
Miami Heat (1999)
San Antonio Spurs (1999–2002)  | 2,666  | 1,274  | 2.09
46  | Jrue Holiday^  | PG  | Philadelphia 76ers (2009–2013)
New Orleans Pelicans (2013–2020)
Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2023)
Boston Celtics (2023–present)  | 2,660  | 1,022  | 2.60
47  | Jerry Stackhouse | SG  | Philadelphia 76ers (1995–1997)
Detroit Pistons (1997–2002)
Washington Wizards (2002–2004)
Dallas Mavericks (2004–2009)
Milwaukee Bucks (2010)
Miami Heat (2010)
Atlanta Hawks (2011–2012)
Brooklyn Nets (2012–2013)  | 2,641  | 970  | 2.72
48  | Pau Gasol*  | PF/C  | Memphis Grizzlies (2001–2008)
Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014)
Chicago Bulls (2014–2016)
San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019)
Milwaukee Bucks (2019)  | 2,638  | 1,226  | 2.15
49  | Kyle Lowry^  | PG  | Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009)
Houston Rockets (2009–2012)
Toronto Raptors (2012–2021)
Miami Heat (2021–2024)
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present)  | 2,627  | 1,171  | 2.24
50  | Vince Carter*  | SG/SF  | Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)
New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)
Orlando Magic (2009–2010)
Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)
Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)
Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)
Sacramento Kings (2017–2018)
Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020)  | 2,590  | 1,540  | 1.68

## Progressive list of turnovers leaders

[edit]

This is a progressive list of turnovers leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]

Statistics accurate as of February 27, 2025.
James Harden has the most turnovers in a single season with 464. ^  | Active NBA player

|

*  | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†  | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[b]
§  | Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025[4]
Team Abbreviations  Team listed is the one player was on when he established the record.  ATL | Atlanta Hawks | HOU | Houston Rockets | NYK | New York Knicks | UTA | Utah Jazz

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BOS | Boston Celtics | IND | Indiana Pacers | OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder | VAN | Vancouver Grizzlies
CHI | Chicago Bulls | KCK | Kansas City Kings | ORL | Orlando Magic | WAS | Washington Wizards
CLE | Cleveland Cavaliers | LAL  | Los Angeles Lakers | PHI | Philadelphia 76ers | WSB | Washington Bullets
DAL | Dallas Mavericks | MIA | Miami Heat | PHO | Phoenix Suns
DEN | Denver Nuggets | MIL | Milwaukee Bucks | POR | Portland Trail Blazers
DET | Detroit Pistons | NJN | New Jersey Nets | SAS | San Antonio Spurs
NBA progressive leaders and records for turnovers for every season  Season  | Year-by-year leader  | TOV  | Active player leader  | TOV  | Career record  | TOV  | Single-season record  | TOV  | Season

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1977–78 | Artis Gilmore*000CHI | 366 | Artis Gilmore*000CHI | 366 | Artis Gilmore*000CHI | 366 | Artis Gilmore*000CHI | 366 | 1977–78
1978–79 | George McGinnis*000DEN | 346 | Kevin Porter000DET | 697 | Kevin Porter000DET | 697 | 1978–79
1979–80 | Micheal Ray Richardson000NYK | 359 | George McGinnis*
000DEN 1979–80
000IND 1980–81 | 939 | George McGinnis*
000DEN 1979–80
000IND 1980–81 | 939 | 1979–80
1980–81 | Moses Malone*000HOU | 308 | 1,160 | 1,160 | 1980–81
1981–82 | Isiah Thomas*000DET
Adrian Dantley*000UTA | 299 | Moses Malone*
000HOU 1981–82
000PHI 1982–86
000WSB 1986–88
000ATL 1988–91
000MIL 1991–93
000PHI 1993–94
000SAS 1994–95 | 1,448 | Moses Malone*
000HOU 1981–82
000PHI 1982–86
000WSB 1986–88
000ATL 1988–91
000MIL 1991–93
000PHI 1993–94
000SAS 1994–95 | 1,448 | 1981–82
1982–83 | Ray Williams000KCK | 335 | 1,712 | 1,712 | 1982–83
1983–84 | Jeff Ruland000WSB | 342 | 1,962 | 1,962 | 1983–84
1984–85 | Ralph Sampson*000HOU | 326 | 2,248 | 2,248 | 1984–85
1985–86 | Charles Barkley*000PHI | 350 | 2,509 | 2,509 | 1985–86
1986–87 | Ron Harper000CLE | 345 | 2,711 | 2,711 | 1986–87
1987–88 | Karl Malone*000UTA | 325 | 2,960 | 2,960 | 1987–88
1988–89 | Kevin Johnson000PHO | 322 | 3,205 | 3,205 | 1988–89
1989–90 | Isiah Thomas*000DET | 322 | 3,437 | 3,437 | 1989–90
1990–91 | Magic Johnson*000LAL | 314 | 3,574 | 3,574 | 1990–91
1991–92 | John Stockton*000UTA | 286 | 3,724 | 3,724 | 1991–92
1992–93 | Shaquille O'Neal*000ORL | 307 | 3,734 | 3,734 | 1992–93
1993–94 | Jim Jackson000DAL | 334 | 3,793 | 3,793 | 1993–94
1994–95 | Glenn Robinson000MIL | 313 | 3,804 | 3,804 | 1994–95
1995–96 | Jason Kidd*000DAL | 328 | Magic Johnson*000LAL | 3,506 | 1995–96
1996–97 | Allen Iverson*000PHI | 337 | John Stockton*000UTA | 3,201 | 1996–97
1997–98 | Antoine Walker000BOS | 292 | 3,362 | 1997–98
1998–99 | Shareef Abdur-Rahim000VAN | 186 | Karl Malone*
000UTA 1998–03
000LAL 2003–04 | 3,473 | 1998–99
1999–00 | Jerry Stackhouse000DET | 311 | 3,704 | 1999–00
2000–01 | 326 | 3,948 | Karl Malone*
000UTA 2000–03
000LAL 2003–04 | 3,948 | 2000–01
2001–02 | Jason Kidd*000NJN | 286 | 4,211 | 4,211 | 2001–02
2002–03 | Steve Francis000HOU | 299 | 4,421 | 4,421 | 2002–03
2003–04 | Paul Pierce*000BOS | 303 | 4,524 | 4,524 | 2003–04
2004–05 | Allen Iverson*000PHI | 344 |

Gary Payton*000BOS

Rod Strickland000HOU | 2,862 | 2004–05
2005–06 | Gilbert Arenas000WAS | 297 | Gary Payton*000MIA | 2,964 | 2005–06
2006–07 | Dwight Howard§000ORL | 317 | 3,030 | 2006–07
2007–08 | Steve Nash*000PHO | 295 | Jason Kidd*
000NJN 2007–08
000DAL 2008–12
000NYK 2012–13 | 3,277 | 2007–08
2008–09 | Russell Westbrook^000OKC | 274 | 3,462 | 2008–09
2009–10 | Steve Nash*000PHO | 295 | 3,657 | 2009–10
2010–11 | Russell Westbrook^000OKC | 316 | 3,836 | 2010–11
2011–12 | John Wall†000WAS | 255 | 3,927 | 2011–12
2012–13 | James Harden^000HOU | 295 | 4,003 | 2012–13
2013–14 | John Wall†000WAS | 295 | Kobe Bryant*000LAL | 3,753 | 2013–14
2014–15 | James Harden^000HOU | 321 | 3,881 | 2014–15
2015–16 | 374 | 4,010 | James Harden^000HOU | 374 | 2015–16
2016–17 | 464 | LeBron James^
000CLE 2016–18
000LAL 2018– | 3,619 | 464 | 2016–17
2017–18 | Russell Westbrook^000OKC | 381 | 3,966 | 2017–18
2018–19 | James Harden^000HOU | 387 | 4,163 | 2018–19
2019–20 | 308 | 4,424 | 2019–20
2020–21 | Russell Westbrook^000WAS | 312 | 4,592 | LeBron James^000LAL | 4,592 | 2020–21
2021–22 | Trae Young^000ATL | 303 | 4,788 | 4,788 | 2021–22
2022–23 | 300 | 4,966 | 4,966 | 2022–23
2023–24 | Luka Dončić^000DAL | 282 | 5,211 | 5,211 | 2023–24
2024–25 | Trae Young^000ATL | 267 | 5,419 | 5,419 | 2024–25
Season | Year-by-year leader | TOV | Active player leader | TOV | Career record | TOV | Single-season record | TOV | Season

## See also

[edit]

* Basketball statistics
* NBA regular season records

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The National Basketball Association did not record turnover statistics until the 1977–78 season.
2. ^ a b A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for two calendar years.
3. ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
4. ^ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before turnovers were officially recorded.
5. ^ a b c d Turnovers were not yet recorded during the player's tenure with this team and season(s).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Turnovers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
2. ^ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Turnovers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
3. ^ "2025 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
4. ^ "2025 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.

## External links

[edit]

* Basketball-Reference.com enumeration of NBA career leaders in turnovers
* National Basketball Association official website enumeration of NBA career leaders in turnovers

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