This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in blocking shots. Blocked shots were first officially recorded in the NBA during the 1973–74 season.
A progressive list of blocked shots leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.[1]

Blocks leaders

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in blocking shots.[a]

Statistics accurate as of February 9, 2024.
Hakeem Olajuwon has the most blocks in NBA history.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[b]
§ 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[2]
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years)[c] Total blocks Games played[d] Blocks per game
average[e]
1 Hakeem Olajuwon* C Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) 		3,830 1,238 3.09
2 Dikembe Mutombo* C Denver Nuggets (1991–1996)
Atlanta Hawks (1996–2001)
Philadelphia 76ers (2001–2002)
New Jersey Nets (2002–2003)
New York Knicks (2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (2004–2009) 		3,289 1,196 2.75
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1973)[f]
Milwaukee Bucks (1973–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) 		3,189 1,239 2.57
4 Mark Eaton C Utah Jazz (1982–1993) 3,064 875 3.50
5 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) 3,020 1,392 2.17
6 David Robinson* C San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) 2,954 987 2.99
7 Patrick Ewing* C New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002) 		2,894 1,183 2.45
8 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) 		2,732 1,207 2.26
9 Tree Rollins C Atlanta Hawks (1977–1988)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1988–1990)
Detroit Pistons (1990–1991)
Houston Rockets (1991–1993)
Orlando Magic (1993–1995) 		2,542 1,156 2.20
10 Robert Parish* C Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) 		2,361 1,611 1.47
11 Alonzo Mourning* C Charlotte Hornets (1992–1995)
Miami Heat (1995–2003, 2005–2008)
New Jersey Nets (2003–2004) 		2,356 838 2.81
12 Marcus Camby C Toronto Raptors (1996–1998)
New York Knicks (1998–2002, 2012–2013)
Denver Nuggets (2003–2008)
Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2010)
Portland Trail Blazers (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012) 		2,331 973 2.40
13 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) 		2,228 1,242 1.79
14 Ben Wallace* C/PF Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–1999)
Orlando Magic (1999–2000)
Detroit Pistons (2000–2006, 2009–2012)
Chicago Bulls (2006–2008)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2008–2009) 		2,137 1,088 1.96
15 Shawn Bradley C Philadelphia 76ers (1993–1995)
New Jersey Nets (1995–1997)
Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005) 		2,119 832 2.55
16 Manute Bol C Washington Bullets (1985–1988, 1994)
Golden State Warriors (1988–1990, 1994–1995)
Philadelphia 76ers (1990–1993, 1994)
Miami Heat (1993–1994) 		2,086 624 3.34
17 George T. Johnson C Golden State Warriors (1972–1973)[f]
Golden State Warriors (1973–1977)
Buffalo Braves (1977)
New Jersey Nets (1977–1980, 1984–1985)
San Antonio Spurs (1980–1982)
Atlanta Hawks (1982–1983)
Seattle SuperSonics (1985–1986) 		2,082 848 2.46
18 Kevin Garnett* PF Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) 		2,037 1,462 1.39
19 Larry Nance PF Phoenix Suns (1981–1988)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1988–1994) 		2,027 920 2.20
20 Theo Ratliff C Detroit Pistons (1995–1997, 2008)
Philadelphia 76ers (1997–2001, 2008–2009)
Atlanta Hawks (2001–2004)
Portland Trail Blazers (2004–2006)
Boston Celtics (2006–2007)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2007–2008)
San Antonio Spurs (2009–2010)
Charlotte Bobcats (2010)
Los Angeles Lakers (2010–2011) 		1,968 810 2.43
21 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) 		1,941 1,226 1.58
22 Brook Lopez^ C New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets (2008–2017)
Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2018)
Milwaukee Bucks (2018–present) 		1,860 996 1.87
23 Elton Brand PF/C Chicago Bulls (1999–2001)
Los Angeles Clippers (2001–2008)
Philadelphia 76ers (2008–2012, 2016)
Dallas Mavericks (2012–2013)
Atlanta Hawks (2013–2015) 		1,828 1,058 1.73
24 Jermaine O'Neal C/PF Portland Trail Blazers (1996–2000)
Indiana Pacers (2000–2008)
Toronto Raptors (2008–2009)
Miami Heat (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2012)
Phoenix Suns (2012–2013)
Golden State Warriors (2013–2014) 		1,820 1,011 1.80
25 Elvin Hayes* PF/C San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972)[f]
Baltimore Bullets (1972–1973)[f]
Capital/Washington Bullets (1973–1981)
Houston Rockets (1981–1984) 		1,771 894 1.98
26 Serge Ibaka† PF Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2016)
Orlando Magic (2016–2017)
Toronto Raptors (2017–2020)
Los Angeles Clippers (2020–2022)
Milwaukee Bucks (2022–2023) 		1,759 919 1.91
27 Artis Gilmore* C Chicago Bulls (1976–1982, 1987)
San Antonio Spurs (1982–1987)
Boston Celtics (1988) 		1,747 909 1.92
28 Moses Malone* C Buffalo Braves (1976)
Houston Rockets (1976–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) 		1,733 1,329 1.30
29 Josh Smith PF/SF Atlanta Hawks (2004–2013)
Detroit Pistons (2013–2014)
Houston Rockets (2014–2015, 2016)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2016)
New Orleans Pelicans (2017) 		1,713 894 1.92
30 Kevin McHale* PF Boston Celtics (1980–1993) 1,690 972 1.74
31 Anthony Davis^ PF/C New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012–2019)
Los Angeles Lakers (2019–present) 		1,647 710 2.32
32 Vlade Divac* C Los Angeles Lakers (1989–1996, 2004–2005)
Charlotte Hornets (1996–1998)
Sacramento Kings (1999–2004) 		1,631 1,134 1.44
33 Herb Williams C/PF Indiana Pacers (1981–1989)
Dallas Mavericks (1989–1992)
New York Knicks (1992–1996, 1996–1999)
Toronto Raptors (1996) 		1,605 1,102 1.46
34 Elden Campbell PF/C Los Angeles Lakers (1990–1999)
Charlotte Hornets (1999–2002)
New Orleans Hornets (2002–2003)
Seattle SuperSonics (2003)
Detroit Pistons (2003–2005, 2005)
New Jersey Nets (2005) 		1,602 1,044 1.53
35 Benoit Benjamin C Los Angeles Clippers (1985–1991)
Seattle SuperSonics (1991–1993)
Los Angeles Lakers (1993)
New Jersey Nets (1993–1995)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1995)
Milwaukee Bucks (1995–1996)
Toronto Raptors (1996)
Philadelphia 76ers (1998–1999)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1999) 		1,581 807 1.96
36 Rudy Gobert^ C Utah Jazz (2013–2022)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2022–present) 		1,556 732 2.13
37 Samuel Dalembert C Philadelphia 76ers (2001–2010)
Sacramento Kings (2010–2011)
Houston Rockets (2011–2012)
Milwaukee Bucks (2012–2013)
Dallas Mavericks (2013–2014)
New York Knicks (2014–2015) 		1,546 886 1.74
38 DeAndre Jordan^ C Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2018)
Dallas Mavericks (2018–2019)
New York Knicks (2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022)
Denver Nuggets (2022–present) 		1,537 1,047 1.47
39 Wayne Cooper C Golden State Warriors (1978–1980)
Utah Jazz (1980–1981)
Dallas Mavericks (1981–1982)
Portland Trail Blazers (1982–1984, 1989–1992)
Denver Nuggets (1984–1989) 		1,535 984 1.56
40 Caldwell Jones C/PF Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1982)
Houston Rockets (1982–1984)
Chicago Bulls (1984–1985)
Portland Trail Blazers (1985–1989)
San Antonio Spurs (1989–1990) 		1,517 1,068 1.42
41 Alton Lister C Milwaukee Bucks (1981–1986, 1994–1995)
Seattle SuperSonics (1986–1989)
Golden State Warriors (1989–1993)
Boston Celtics (1995–1997)
Portland Trail Blazers (1997–1998) 		1,473 953 1.55
42 Andrei Kirilenko SF/PF Utah Jazz (2001–2011)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2012–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014) 		1,461 797 1.83
43 Rasheed Wallace PF/C Washington Bullets (1995–1996)
Portland Trail Blazers (1996–2004)
Atlanta Hawks (2004)
Detroit Pistons (2004–2009)
Boston Celtics (2009–2010)
New York Knicks (2012–2013) 		1,460 1,109 1.32
44 Hot Rod Williams C/PF Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1995)
Phoenix Suns (1995–1998)
Dallas Mavericks (1999) 		1,456 887 1.64
45 Mark West C Dallas Mavericks (1983–1984)
Milwaukee Bucks (1984)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1984–1988, 1996–1997)
Phoenix Suns (1988–1994, 1999–2000)
Detroit Pistons (1994–1996)
Indiana Pacers (1997–1998)
Atlanta Hawks (1999) 		1,403 1,090 1.29
46 Erick Dampier C Indiana Pacers (1996–1997)
Golden State Warriors (1997–2004)
Dallas Mavericks (2004–2010)
Miami Heat (2010–2011)
Atlanta Hawks (2012) 		1,398 987 1.42
47 Clifford Robinson PF/SF Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1997)
Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)
Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)
Golden State Warriors (2003–2005)
New Jersey Nets (2005–2007) 		1,390 1,380 1.01
48 Terry Tyler SF Detroit Pistons (1978–1985)
Sacramento Kings (1985–1988)
Dallas Mavericks (1988–1989) 		1,342 871 1.54
49 Tyson Chandler§ C Chicago Bulls (2001–2006)
New Orleans Hornets (2006–2009)
Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2010)
Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011, 2014–2015)
New York Knicks (2011–2014)
Phoenix Suns (2015–2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020) 		1,335 1,160 1.15
50 Zydrunas Ilgauskas C Cleveland Cavaliers (1996–2010)
Miami Heat (2010–2011) 		1,327 843 1.57

Progressive list for blocks

This is a progressive list of blocked shot leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.

Statistics accurate as of February 9, 2024.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]
Team Abbreviations Team listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks DEN Denver Nuggets LAL Los Angeles Lakers NYK New York Knicks TOR Toronto Raptors
BOS Boston Celtics DET Detroit Pistons MEM Memphis Grizzlies OKC Oklahoma City Thunder WAS Washington Wizards
CHI Chicago Bulls GSW Golden State Warriors MIA Miami Heat ORL Orlando Magic WSB Washington Bullets
CHO Charlotte Hornets HOU Houston Rockets MIL Milwaukee Bucks POR Portland Trail Blazers
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers IND Indiana Pacers NJN New Jersey Nets SAS San Antonio Spurs
DAL Dallas Mavericks LAC Los Angeles Clippers NOP New Orleans Pelicans UTA Utah Jazz
Career Block Leaders at the end of every season
Season Year-by-Year Leader Blk Active Leader Blk Career Record Blk Single Season Record Blk Season
1973–74 Elmore Smith000LAL 393 Elmore Smith000LAL 393 Elmore Smith000LAL 393 Elmore Smith000LAL 393 1973–74
1974–75 216 609 609 1974–75
1975–76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
000LAL		 338 847 847 1975–76
1976–77 261 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
000LAL		 1,094 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
000LAL		 1,094 1976–77
1977–78 George Johnson000NJN 274 1,279 1,279 1977–78
1978–79 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
000LAL		 316 1,595 1,595 1978–79
1979–80 280 1,875 1,875 1979–80
1980–81 George Johnson000SAS 278 2,103 2,103 1980–81
1981–82 234 2,310 2,310 1981–82
1982–83 Tree Rollins000ATL 343 2,480 2,480 1982–83
1983–84 Mark Eaton000UTA 351 2,623 2,623 1983–84
1984–85 456 2,785 2,785 Mark Eaton000UTA 456 1984–85
1985–86 Manute Bol000WSB 397 2,915 2,915 1985–86
1986–87 Mark Eaton000UTA 321 3,012 3,012 1986–87
1987–88 304 3,104 3,104 1987–88
1988–89 Manute Bol000GSW 345 3,189 3,189 1988–89
1989–90 Hakeem Olajuwon* HOU 376 Mark Eaton000UTA 2,592 1989–90
1990–91 David Robinson*000SAS 320 2,780 1990–91
1991–92 305 2,985 1991–92
1992–93 Hakeem Olajuwon* 0HOU 342 3,064 1992–93
1993–94 Dikembe Mutombo*
000DEN 1993–96
000ATL 1996–98		 336 Hakeem Olajuwon*
000HOU 1993–2001
000TOR 2001–02		 2,741 1993–94
1994–95 321 2,983 1994–95
1995–96 332 3,190 Hakeem Olajuwon*
000HOU 1984–2001
000TOR 2001–02		 3,190 1995–96
1996–97 264 3,363 3,363 1996–97
1997–98 277 3,459 3,459 1997–98
1998–99 Alonzo Mourning*000MIA 180 3,582 3,582 1998–99
1999–00 294 3,652 3,652 1999–00
2000–01 Shawn Bradley000DAL 228 3,740 3,740 2000–01
2001–02 Ben Wallace*000DET 278 3,830 3,830 2001–02
2002–03 Theo Ratliff
000ATL 2002–04
000POR 2004		 262 David Robinson*000SAS 2,954 2002–03
2003–04 307 Dikembe Mutombo*
000NYK 2003–04
000HOU 2004–09		 2,996 2003–04
2004–05 Marcus Camby000DEN 199 3,097 2004–05
2005–06 Andrei Kirilenko000UTA 220 3,154 2005–06
2006–07 Marcus Camby000DEN 231 3,230 2006–07
2007–08 285 3,278 2007–08
2008–09 Dwight Howard†000ORL 231 3,289 2008–09
2009–10 228 Shaquille O'Neal*
000CLE 2009–10
000BOS 2010–11		 2,690 2009–10
2010–11 Serge Ibaka†000OKC 198 2,732 2010–11
2011–12 241 Tim Duncan*000SAS 2,469 2011–12
2012–13 242 2,652 2012–13
2013–14 219 2,791 2013–14
2014–15 Anthony Davis^000NOP 200 2,941 2014–15
2015–16 Hassan Whiteside000MIA 269 3,020 2015–16
2016–17 Rudy Gobert^000UTA 214 Dwight Howard†
000ATL 2016–17
000CHO 2017–18
000WAS 2018–19
000LAL 2019–20
000PHI 2020–21
000LAL 2021–22		 1,916 2016–17
2017–18 Anthony Davis^000NOP 193 2,047 2017–18
2018–19 Myles Turner^000IND 199 2,051 2018–19
2019–20 Hassan Whiteside000POR 196 2,130 2019–20
2020–21 Rudy Gobert^000UTA 190 2,192 2020–21
2021–22 Jaren Jackson Jr.^000MEM 177 2,228 2021–22
2022–23 Brook Lopez^000MIL 193 Serge Ibaka†000MIL 1,759 2022–23
2023–24 Victor Wembanyama^000SAS 142 Brook Lopez^000MIL 1,860 2023–24
Season Year-by-Year Leader Blk Active Leader Blk Career Record Blk Single Season Record Blk Season


See also

Notes

  1. ^ The National Basketball Association did not record blocked shot statistics until the 1973–74 season.
  2. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three 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. ^ Games played in prior seasons where blocks were not recorded are not included in total games played nor are they used in calculating the per game average.
  5. ^ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before blocks were officially recorded.
  6. ^ a b c d Blocked shots were not yet recorded during the player's tenure with this team and season(s).

References

  1. ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Blocks". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  2. ^ "2024 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  3. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.

External links

National Basketball Association statistical leaders
Categories