5 unbreakable NBA playoff records

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James recently achieved an impressive new milestone when he became the first player in NBA history to score 7,000 points in the playoffs. To put things in perspective, no other player has even scored 6,000 points in the postseason. Not Michael Jordan, not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and not even Bill Russell, who went to the playoffs 13 times and won an improbable 11 NBA Championships. 

While it's true that records are meant to be broken, it's hard to imagine anyone ever dethroning King James as the NBA's all-time playoff points leader. Here are five more unbreakable NBA playoff records that are built to endure.

5) 112 consecutive games with a three-pointer: Steph Curry

Steph Curry has made a three-point shot in 112 consecutive playoff games, and he likely isn't done yet. Although the Warriors were shut out of the playoffs this year, Curry is well positioned to build upon his record in 2021 when Golden State comes roaring back.

The reason this record is unbreakable is simple: most players never get the chance to play in over 100 postseason games. Those that do certainly don't possess Curry's other worldly shooting touch or his ability to get his shot off at any time. 

4) 17 points in an overtime period: Steph Curry

An overtime period is only five minutes long in the NBA. That's what makes Curry's performance against the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2016 NBA Playoffs so exceptional.

Coming off a knee injury against the Houston Rockets in the first round, Curry came off the bench in Game 4 and tossed in 17 points in the overtime period, famously proclaiming "I’m back" in such a way that made for an oft-used GIF for years to come.

Curry is as prolific a shooter as the league has ever had, and it's hard to imagine any team allowing an opposing player to score this much in such a short timespan ever again.

3) 39 free-throw attempts in a game: Shaquille O’Neal

Known for thunderous dunks and atrocious free-throw shooting, Shaquille O’Neal famously experienced opposing team' "Hack a Shaq" strategy many times throughout his career. In 2013 while with the Lakers and playing against his former team, the Orlando Magic, Shaq attempted 39 free throws. And here's the big shocker: he actually made 25 of them.

While DeAndre Jordan deserves honorable mention for his 28 free-throw attempts in a half, it seems highly improbable any coach will use this tactic again for such a prolonged period, as bad free-throw shooters get taken out of games now to prevent this very thing from happening.

2) 41 rebounds in a game: Wilt Chamberlain

There is no denying that Wilt Chamberlain towered above his competition and physically dominated his foes in so many ways. That was especially evident in the 1967 NBA Playoffs when he snagged 41 rebounds against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics. His herculean effort resulted in a convincing 115-104 win over the defending champs. In the modern era nobody has come close to this record and with so many exceptional athletes on the court at all times, nobody ever will.

1) 11 NBA championships: Bill Russell

Bill Russell won 11 NBA titles. And while the NBA has always been a top-heavy league with favored teams finding their way to the mountain top more often than not, there is too much talent now on too many teams for any one player to ever win this many titles again. The great Michael Jordan barely made his way past half of Russell’s mark. One of the greatest teams of all time, the mid-2010’s Warriors, only captured three. Russell’s playoff success will live on as an unattainable, but perpetually desired, record that will stand the test of time.