In their upcoming first-round clash, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are both poised to reach significant playoff statistical milestones.
With the 2025-26 season now concluded, the SoFi Play-In Tournament is upon us, leading directly into the highly anticipated 2026 NBA Playoffs.
While the 2025-26 campaign saw numerous records set, attention now shifts to the postseason. Which individual and team benchmarks are set to be surpassed? Below, we highlight 11 key individual milestones and several team records to watch out for.
Kevin Durant: Points, Field Goals & Free Throws
Kevin Durant’s regular season saw him climb various statistical ladders, most notably surpassing Michael Jordan to claim the No. 5 spot on the all-time scoring list. Should he and the Rockets embark on a sustained playoff run, Durant is in a position to achieve similar feats in the postseason. He needs 188 points to overtake Tim Duncan (5,172 playoff points) for No. 6 and 266 points to surpass Shaquille O’Neal (5,250) for No. 5. Historically, in any postseason where his team played at least 10 games, Durant has never tallied fewer than 319 points.
In terms of made field goals, Durant currently has 1,684 career playoff field goals and requires 60 more to move past Karl Malone (1,743) into No. 7 on that illustrious list. Reaching No. 6 Duncan (1,945) and No. 5 Bryant (2,014) would necessitate a more extended journey. He is also set to ascend to No. 4 in free throws, needing just 19 more than his current 1,251 to surpass Karl Malone (1,269). A deep playoff push for the Rockets could even see him challenge Bryant (1,320) for No. 3, though No. 2 Jordan (1,463) remains a distant target.
LeBron James: 3-Pointers
As the 2026 NBA Playoffs commence, Brian Martin’s essential piece on LeBron James’ extensive statistical milestones is a must-read. Here, we’ll concentrate on a specific record within reach, contingent on a prolonged playoff run for the Lakers.
James boasts 480 career playoff 3-pointers and needs 32 additional makes to leapfrog Klay Thompson (501) into the No. 2 position on that leaderboard. The last time James hit 32 or more 3-pointers in the playoffs was during the 2020 championship run with the Lakers, underscoring that a significant postseason showing will be crucial for him to pass Thompson.
James Harden: Points, Assists, Games Played, Steals
While Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden may not be the prolific scorer he once was during his Houston prime, he is still nearing elite company in playoff scoring. Harden has accumulated 3,895 postseason points, placing him at No. 14. He is just three points shy of overtaking Larry Bird for No. 13 (3,897), and requires 105 points to become only the 12th player in history with 4,000 or more career playoff points. Given that Harden has scored a minimum of 127 playoff points in every postseason since 2010-11, this benchmark appears highly attainable.
In terms of assists, Harden has dished out 1,125 playoff dimes, ranking him No. 8. He needs 12 assists to surpass Rajon Rondo (1,136) for No. 7 and is 19 assists away from passing Rondo again (1,143) for No. 6. A lengthy playoff stint could also see Harden make a strong bid for No. 5, as he’s 109 assists short of Chris Paul (1,233).
Harden has participated in 173 playoff games, ranking No. 23. However, a deep playoff run could significantly boost his standing. He is five games away from surpassing Rasheed Wallace, Dwyane Wade, and Andre Iguodala (177) for No. 20, and 12 games from moving past Robert Parish (184) to claim No. 15.
Finally, Harden could enter the Top 10 in playoff steals during the 2026 postseason. With 282 career postseason steals, he needs 11 more to overtake Manu Ginobili (292) for No. 10 all-time. Having recorded nine steals in the 2025 playoffs and 11 or more in three of his last six postseason appearances, this milestone is well within his reach.
3-Pointers: Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum & Paul George
A notable trio of All-Stars is on track to advance up the all-time playoff 3-pointers list, assuming their respective teams make a deep playoff run.
Durant, with 366 career playoff 3-pointers, needs 20 more to bypass Ray Allen (385) for No. 5 in that category. Tatum (292) is just three 3-pointers shy of surpassing J.R. Smith (294) for No. 10, while George (276) needs 19 more to move past Smith and maintain his pursuit alongside Tatum for the No. 10 spot.
Team Playoff Milestones
(Editor’s note: If a team is not listed, it indicates that either no player is realistically positioned to move up significantly in a franchise’s statistical category during the playoffs, or there isn’t a noteworthy statistical milestone ranking within range — for example, moving from No. 17 to No. 12 in points per game.)
Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum
• Forward Jaylen Brown is already a Top 10 fixture in nine playoff categories for the Celtics and is set to climb higher in 2026. With 2,608 career playoff points, currently No. 9, he needs at least 302 points in the 2026 playoffs to surpass Sam Jones (2909) for No. 5. Furthermore, he is 11 steals away from overtaking Marcus Smart (144) for No. 5 in that category and 99 rebounds shy of passing Paul Pierce (869) for No. 10 in that statistic.
Brown also needs 96 more field goals to move past Robert Parish (1,073) for No. 5. He is also 43 free throws from surpassing Dennis Johnson (436) for No. 10 and 34 free throw attempts away from passing Tom Heinsohn (568) for No. 10 in that stat.
• Forward Jayson Tatum also holds numerous playoff records, ranking in the Top 10 across 11 different statistical areas. He can ascend to No. 3 in Celtics playoff scoring lore, requiring 247 points to surpass Kevin McHale (3,182). Tatum is also just one steal away from passing Smart (144) for No. 4 in that category and 91 field goals from moving past Parish for No. 5 in that stat.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley
• Guard Donovan Mitchell prepares for his fourth playoff appearance with Cleveland, having already carved out a significant place in the team’s playoff record books. He stands at No. 9 in scoring (678 points), but with 132 or more points, he can move ahead of J.R. Smith (809) for the No. 5 position. Mitchell amassed 266 points in eight games during the 2025 playoffs, and a similar performance could bring him close to Kevin Love (966 points) for No. 3.
Additionally, Mitchell needs 24 assists to surpass Delonte West (141) for No. 5, another 46 field goals to move past Larry Nance (283) for No. 5, and 134 field goal attempts to overtake Zydrunas Ilgauskas (656) for No. 5 in that category. He’s also three 3-pointers away from passing Kyle Korver (72) for No. 5 and 84 3-point attempts from surpassing Kyrie Irving (294) for No. 4.
• Evan Mobley, a former Kia Defensive Player of the Year, is already in the Cavs’ Top 10 for blocks. He is on the verge of entering the Top 5, needing 14 rejections to surpass Hot Rod Williams (53) for No. 5. Mobley recorded eight blocks in the 2025 playoffs but had 26 in 2024 when the Cavs played a dozen postseason games. He’s also 29 rebounds shy of passing Smith (254) for No. 10 in rebounding (Mobley has consistently grabbed at least 50 rebounds in each of his playoff runs).
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon
• Center Nikola Jokić is the all-time Nuggets’ leader in many statistical categories. While Jamal Murray currently holds the team’s playoff records for 3-pointers made and attempted, Jokić could claim the No. 2 spot in 2026. He is just two 3-pointers and 20 3-point attempts away from surpassing Michael Porter Jr. (166 3-pointers, 444 3-point attempts) for No. 2 in both categories.
Similar to Jokić, Jamal Murray has firmly established himself in Nuggets playoff history statistically. He ranks within the Top 10 or Top 3 in several categories and is positioned to move up in two others. Murray needs eight rebounds to pass Dan Issel (393) for No. 4 and requires three blocks to surpass Kenyon Martin (32) for No. 10, potentially tying JaVale McGee (33) for No. 9. Lastly, he is 17 free throws away from passing Alex English (300) for No. 3 and 43 from surpassing English (345) for No. 3 in free throw attempts.
• Aaron Gordon is currently No. 5 in team playoff history for assists (176), No. 14 for steals (36), and No. 8 for blocks (34), with opportunities to advance in each category during the 2026 playoffs. Gordon needs 82 assists to move past Lafayette Lever (257) for No. 4, eight steals to reach No. 7, and 13 blocks to surpass Danny Schayes (42) for No. 5 in that statistic.
Gordon is also three 3-pointers and 24 3-point attempts shy of passing Smith (65-for-169 on 3-pointers) for No. 4 in those respective categories.
Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green
• In Golden State’s storied history, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry stand at or near the pinnacle in almost every statistical category. While Green is predominantly recognized for his playoff defensive prowess, he is also a capable scorer and could advance in the field goals department this postseason. He needs seven field goals to pass Rick Barry (693) for No. 3 on the all-time list and five free throws to surpass Barry (378) for No. 2 in that category.
Houston Rockets: Clint Capela
• One might speculate whether center Clint Capela would be closer to Hakeem Olajuwon’s all-time franchise rebounds record (1,602) had he not been traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2020. Regardless, Capela (468 playoff rebounds) is just 15 rebounds away from surpassing James Harden (482) for No. 3 in franchise playoff rebounds. With Capela logging 50 rebounds for the Rockets in the 2025 playoffs, passing Harden this season seems highly probable.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James
• Lakers superstar forward LeBron James is renowned for his defensive capabilities and is set to climb the team’s playoff record books in two key defensive categories. James needs 10 steals to surpass Jamaal Wilkes (83) for No. 10 in that category and is 13 blocks away from moving past Magic Johnson (64) for No. 15 in that stat. For context, James recorded 10 steals and nine blocks in the 2025 playoffs, which for the Lakers spanned only five games.
Additionally, James can advance on the Lakers’ all-time playoff 3-pointers list. He currently has 110 playoff 3-pointers (No. 5), but needs 15 more to surpass Michael Cooper for No. 3. In the 2025 playoffs, James made 10 3-pointers; however, in the Lakers’ most recent playoff run of 10 or more games (2022-23), he successfully converted 28 3-pointers.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels & Julius Randle
• In merely four playoff appearances, Anthony Edwards has already etched his name into the Wolves’ playoff record books across various categories. While games played isn’t typically highlighted, Edwards is nearing the team’s all-time mark, needing five more playoff games to surpass Kevin Garnett (47) for No. 1. This isn’t the only Garnett playoff record Edwards is poised to claim, however.
He needs seven assists to pass Garnett (236) for No. 1 in that category, 20 field goals to also pass him for No. 1 (415), and 13 free throw attempts to surpass Garnett (272) once more. For context, Edwards shot 135-for-298 (in 15 games) during the 2025 playoffs, including an impressive 64-for-89 from the free-throw line.
• Center Rudy Gobert, predictably, features in the Top 5 of the team’s playoff history for rebounding and blocks. He needs nine steals to pass Anthony Peeler (32) for No. 5 in that category and can also climb into the Top 5 for free throws and free throw attempts. Gobert is five free throws away from surpassing Wally Szczerbiak (100) for No. 4 and 15 free throw attempts from passing Karl-Anthony Towns (170) for No. 3.
• Like Gobert and Edwards, forward Jaden McDaniels is a recurring presence among the team’s all-time leaders in various categories. His most significant potential leaps in the 2026 playoffs are in field goals: he needs 31 field goals and 100 field goal attempts to surpass Karl-Anthony Towns (207-for-442) for No. 3 in both categories. Additionally, he needs just one 3-pointer to pass Nickeil Alexander-Walker (56) for No. 3. In last season’s run to the Western Conference Finals, McDaniels was 87-for-169 from the field (and 21-for-55 on 3-pointers), so another extended playoff run with similar production would see him move past Towns.
• Forward Julius Randle is celebrated for both his scoring and playmaking abilities and has an opportunity to join the team’s Top 5 playoff assists list. Randle, with 74 playoff assists, needs six more to pass Alexander-Walker (79) for No. 5 and 14 more to surpass Terrell Brandon (87) for No. 4. Given Randle’s 74 assists in 2025, 36 assists in 2023, and 20 assists in 2021 (when he played for the New York Knicks), passing Brandon’s mark is almost a certainty.
New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson
• Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has enjoyed deep playoff runs in each of his three seasons with New York. These runs have propelled him into several significant all-time statistical categories in team history, and he is poised to elevate his ranking further in 2026. Brunson needs 84 points to surpass Dave DeBusschere (1,340) for No. 5, 96 points to overtake John Starks (1,352) for No. 4, and 102 points to pass Willis Reed (1,358) for No. 3 in scoring. For context: Brunson scored 530 points in the 2025 playoffs and has not dipped below 306 points in a single postseason since 2023.
Additionally, Brunson needs 108 assists to pass Starks (392) for No. 2 in that category and 70 field goals to surpass Bill Bradley (510) for No. 5. While it’s unlikely to happen in the 2026 playoffs — short of an extraordinary and historic hot streak — Brunson is also 76 3-pointers and 174 attempts away from surpassing Starks for No. 1 in those categories.
• Swingman OG Anunoby is a consistent 3-point threat and has maintained this throughout his playoff tenure with New York. He currently ranks No. 5 all-time in playoff 3-pointers made (57) and attempted (160) and can easily reach No. 3 in the 2026 playoffs. Anunoby needs 13 more 3-pointers to pass Allan Houston (69) and eight more 3-point attempts to surpass Derek Harper (167) for No. 3 in both categories.
• Reliable big man Mitchell Robinson is a defensive anchor and strong rebounder, qualities he has consistently demonstrated throughout his playoff runs in New York. He is No. 15 on the team’s playoff rebounding list, but is 64 rebounds shy of passing Bradley (333) for No. 10 in that stat. Furthermore, Robinson is No. 4 all-time in playoff blocks for New York (37) and needs 18 more to surpass Charles Smith (55) for the No. 3 spot. In the 2025 playoffs, Robinson recorded 127 rebounds and 14 blocks, and similar production would place him in contention to pass Bradley and Smith, respectively.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams & Chet Holmgren
• Reigning NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is potentially just one more playoff campaign away from a significant ascent in franchise playoff statistical history. Gilgeous-Alexander needs 283 points to surpass Shawn Kemp (1,386) for No. 5 in scoring and requires 98 assists to move past Kevin Durant (340) for No. 5 in assists. During last season’s championship run, Gilgeous-Alexander accumulated 688 points and 150 assists in 23 games. In the 2024 playoffs, he posted 302 points and 64 assists in 10 games.
Another deep playoff run could also see Gilgeous-Alexander break into the Top 5 for field goals and field goal attempts. He needs 117 field goals and 265 field goal attempts to pass Fred Brown (499-for-1,082) for No. 5 in franchise lore. In that 2026 title run, Gilgeous-Alexander went 233-for-504 from the field, and the season prior, he was 111-for-224.
• Forward Jalen Williams was a pivotal contributor to the 2026 title run and, much like Gilgeous-Alexander, is on the cusp of moving up in the playoff franchise record books. Williams is 289 points shy of passing Dennis Johnson (967) for No. 10 in franchise history. Additionally, Williams is five assists from surpassing Detlef Schrempf (169) for No. 10 in that statistic, 105 field goals from passing Johnson (357) for No. 10, and 229 field goal attempts from surpassing Serge Ibaka (784) for No. 10. In the 2025 playoffs, Williams scored 492 points on 178-for-396 shooting and recorded 111 assists.
• Center Chet Holmgren is recognized as one of the NBA’s premier interior defenders, a role he showcased effectively during the 2025 title run. He holds the No. 4 spot in playoff franchise history with 68 blocks and is 39 blocks away from passing Kevin Durant (106) for No. 3. While this might seem like a significant challenge, considering Holmgren registered 43 blocks in 2025 and 26 in 2024, a reasonably long playoff run in 2026 would place him within striking distance of Durant.
Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero
• Former Kia Rookie of the Year winner Paolo Banchero has only participated in the playoffs twice, yet he consistently delivers productive performances. Should the Magic enjoy even an extended first-round appearance, Banchero could enter the Top 10 in multiple playoff categories. He needs 132 points to surpass Horace Grant (467) for No. 10 and 46 field goals to move past Tracy McGrady (167) for No. 10 in that statistic.
Additionally, he is 20 rebounds from passing Dennis Scott (121) for No. 10 and seven blocks from surpassing Hedo Turkoglu (15) for No. 10 in that stat. Finally, Banchero is just five 3-pointers away from passing Darrell Armstrong and Brian Shaw (32) for No. 10 in that category.
Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey
• All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has consistently displayed a polished scoring touch in both the playoffs and regular season. While breaking into the 76ers’ all-time playoff record ranks is challenging given the franchise’s extensive history, Maxey is poised to move up in several categories during the 2026 playoffs. He needs 28 points to surpass Billy Cunningham (757) for No. 15 in scoring and is 30 3-pointers and 17 3-point attempts away from passing Allen Iverson (115, No. 1) and Tobias Harris (237, No. 2), respectively, in those categories. In the 2024 playoffs (Maxey’s most recent appearance), he scored 179 points and shot 22-for-55 from beyond the arc in six games, while in the 2023 playoffs (11 games), he scored 226 points and was 34-for-85 on 3-pointers.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
• In the regular-season history of the Suns, few players hold as many records as star guard Devin Booker. Surprisingly, Booker is not No. 1 in any playoff category for Phoenix, but he can significantly narrow the gap in several during the 2026 playoffs. Booker is 51 points shy of passing Steve Nash (1,365) for No. 2 in scoring, is 51 assists away from surpassing Walter Davis (296) for No. 5, and is 38 field goals and 54 field goal attempts from passing Nash (501-for-1,008) for No. 3 in both categories.
Booker is also six 3-pointers and 42 3-point attempts away from surpassing Dan Majerle (115-for-324) for No. 1 in both of those categories. Booker last featured in the playoffs in 2024 (four games), where he totaled 110 points on 32-for-65 shooting (7-for-20 on 3-pointers) and 24 assists. Phoenix’s last extended playoff run in 2023 saw Booker accumulate 371 points on 141-for-241 shooting (31-for-61 on 3-pointers) and 79 assists.