Key Milestones to Watch in 2026 NBA Playoffs

Bassyonni

Published: April 17, 2026 8:55 PM ET

Key Milestones to Watch in 2026 NBA Playoffs

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are on the horizon, following the conclusion of the 2025-26 regular season and the SoFi Play-In Tournament. Players are poised to make significant strides in their career milestones, setting the stage for an exciting postseason. Below, we highlight key individual milestones and team achievements to monitor during the playoffs.

Key Individual Milestones to Watch

Kevin Durant: Scoring and Shootings Stats

Kevin Durant has surpassed Michael Jordan, now ranked 5th on the all-time scoring list.
Durant needs 188 points to pass Tim Duncan for 6th place in playoff scoring.
To surpass Shaquille O’Neal for 5th in playoff points, he requires 266 more points.
With 1,684 career playoff field goals, he needs 60 more to surpass Karl Malone.
He aims to achieve 19 free throws to surpass Malone for 4th place in that category.

LeBron James: 3-Point Record

LeBron James currently has 480 career playoff 3-pointers.
He needs 32 more to pass Klay Thompson for 2nd place in playoff 3-pointers.

James Harden: Multiple Milestones

James Harden has scored 3,895 playoff points, sitting at 14th overall.
He is just 3 points shy of surpassing Larry Bird for 13th place.
Harden has 1,125 assists, requiring 12 more to move past Rajon Rondo for 7th.
With 282 career steals, he needs 11 more to breach the Top 10 all-time.

Additional Milestones

Kevin Durant needs 20 more 3-pointers to rank 5th all-time.
Jayson Tatum is 3 3-pointers shy of passing J.R. Smith for 10th.
Paul George needs 19 more to join the chase for Tatum’s 10th place.

Team Milestones to Keep an Eye On

Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

Jaylen Brown has 2,608 playoff points and requires 302 to surpass Sam Jones for 5th.
Tatum is 247 points away from moving to 3rd in Celtics playoff scoring history.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley

Donovan Mitchell needs 132 points to surpass J.R. Smith and reach 5th all-time.
Evan Mobley is 14 blocks from entering the Top 5 in team history.

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray

Nikola Jokić needs just 2 3-pointers to claim 2nd on the franchise’s list.
Jamal Murray requires 8 rebounds to surpass Dan Issel for 4th in that category.

Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James

LeBron James can ascend in defensive categories by passing several notable names.
He needs 15 3-pointers to rise to 3rd place on the Lakers playoff list.

New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby

Jalen Brunson needs 84 points to pass Dave DeBusschere for 5th in scoring.
OG Anunoby is just 13 3-pointers shy of passing Allan Houston for 3rd.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs 283 points to enter the Top 5 in franchise scoring.
He also requires 98 assists to surpass Kevin Durant for 5th in that category.

As the 2026 NBA Playoffs approach, these individual milestones and achievements are bound to reshape the record books. Fans and analysts alike will closely watch the performances as teams aim for championship glory while their star players strive for personal accolades.