SGA’s Record Streak Highlights the Undeniable Role of Fouls in Modern NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent achievement – breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games scoring 20 or more points – and Bam Adebayo’s scoring explosion have brought renewed attention to a frequently overlooked aspect of the game: fouls.

The Impact of Fouls on Scoring

Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak to 127 games on Thursday against the Boston Celtics, a record previously held by Chamberlain for 63 years. A significant portion of his scoring during this streak, beginning November 1, 2024, has come from free throws. Without those opportunities, he would have fallen short of 20 points in 27 games.

Specifically, 25% of Gilgeous-Alexander’s points (1,034 out of 4,127) during the streak have been earned at the free-throw line. His average of 9.07 free-throw attempts per game would rank sixth all-time, placing him between Shaquille O’Neal (9.32) and Allen Iverson (8.94). He also makes 8.14 free throws per game, second only to Joel Embiid’s 8.25.

The role of fouls was even more pronounced in Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance against Washington. Thirty-six of those points came from free throws, resulting from a remarkable 43 foul shots.

A Appear Back at NBA Foul History

Fouls are an integral part of basketball, encompassing a wide range of infractions – smart fouls, hard fouls, intentional fouls, and more. They influence game flow, matchups, and even player tempers.

This week also marks the 39th anniversary of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar setting the NBA record for most career fouls. On March 10, 1987, he was called for a charging foul, bringing his career total to 4,194, surpassing Elvin Hayes’s 4,193.

Abdul-Jabbar, renowned for his scoring prowess and social advocacy, held the all-time scoring record until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023. However, he has maintained the fouls record (4,657) for 40 years. Russell Westbrook, at 37, is the closest active player, but trails by over 1,300 fouls.

Key Foul Statistics and Records

• Most Fouls in a Career: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (4,657)
• Most Fouls in a Season: Darryl Dawkins (386 in 1983-84)
• Most Fouls in a Game: Don Meineke (26 in 1952-53)
• Most Seasons Leading the League in Fouls: George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Darryl Dawkins, Shawn Kemp, and DeMarcus Cousins (three seasons each)

Interestingly, Wilt Chamberlain, despite playing over 47,000 career minutes, never fouled out of a game.

Notable Foul Incidents

“Without the free throws during this streak, he would have fallen short of 20 points in 27 games.”

NBA.com

Throughout NBA history, several memorable foul-related incidents have occurred, including Kevin McHale’s controversial foul on Michael Jordan and Bubba Wells fouling out in under three minutes of play.

The game’s history is replete with amusing, even inexplicable, foul stories. There was Kevin McHale’s foul on Michael Jordan at the conclude of regulation in Game 2 of their teams’ 1986 Eastern Conference first-round series.

There was the night Al McGuire made good on a boast to sportswriters that Celtics legend Bob Cousy wouldn’t score his average with McGuire defending him. McGuire went on to turn into a Hall of Fame coach at Marquette and a beloved broadcaster, but he first played briefly with the Knicks in the 1950s.

Sure enough, that night, Cousy still had points to go when McGuire fouled out in the first quarter while guarding him.

Then there was Cal Bowdler’s achievement on Nov. 13, 1999, when he set a modern NBA record with seven – that’s right, seven – personal fouls. Deep into the fourth quarter against Portland, the Atlanta rookie fouled Jermaine O’Neal, with the Trail Blazers calling a timeout. Bowdler then returned to the floor with the others, the scorekeeper and the referees failing to notice it had been his sixth foul.

With 50 seconds left, Bowdler fouled O’Neal again and was banished, but with an extra foul in his stats line.

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980.