Eremurus

by | Mar 23, 2018 | Eremurus

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has committed the most personal fouls of any NBA player.

This article provides a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in personal fouls committed.[1][2]

List

Statistics accurate as of the 2023–24 NBA season.
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years)[b] Total personal fouls Games played Personal fouls per game[c]
1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) 		4,657 1,560 2.99
2 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) 		4,578 1,476 3.10
3 Robert Parish* C Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) 		4,443 1,611 2.76
4 Charles Oakley PF Chicago Bulls (1985–1988, 2001–2002)
New York Knicks (1988–1998)
Toronto Raptors (1998–2001)
Washington Wizards (2002–2003)
Houston Rockets (2004) 		4,421 1,282 3.45
5 Hakeem Olajuwon* C Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) 		4,383 1,238 3.54
6 Buck Williams PF New Jersey Nets (1981–1989)
Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1996)
New York Knicks (1996–1998) 		4,267 1,307 3.26
7 Elvin Hayes* PF/C San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972–1981) 		4,193 1,303 3.22
8 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) 		4,175 1,380 3.03
9 Kevin Willis PF/C Atlanta Hawks (1984–1994, 2004–2005)
Miami Heat (1994–1996)
Golden State Warriors (1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–1998, 2001–2002)
Toronto Raptors (1999–2001)
Denver Nuggets (2001)
San Antonio Spurs (2002–2004)
Dallas Mavericks (2007) 		4,172 1,424 2.93
10 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) 		4,146 1,207 3.43
Otis Thorpe PF/C Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988, 1998)
Houston Rockets (1988–1995)
Portland Trail Blazers (1995)
Detroit Pistons (1995–1997)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1997–1998)
Washington Wizards (1998–1999)
Miami Heat (1999–2000)
Charlotte Hornets (2000–2001) 		1,257 3.30
12 James Edwards C Los Angeles Lakers (1977, 1992–1994)
Indiana Pacers (1977–1981)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1981–1983)
Phoenix Suns (1983–1988)
Detroit Pistons (1988–1991)
Los Angeles Clippers (1991–1992)
Portland Trail Blazers (1994–1995)
Chicago Bulls (1995–1996) 		4,042 1,168 3.46
13 Patrick Ewing* C New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002) 		4,034 1,183 3.41
14 Vince Carter* SG/SF Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)
New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)
Orlando Magic (2009–2010)
Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)
Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)
Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)
Sacramento Kings (2017–2018)
Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020) 		3,995 1,541 2.59
15 John Stockton* PG Utah Jazz (1984–2003) 3,942 1,504 2.62
16 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) 		3,912 1,242 3.15
17 Jack Sikma* C/PF Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1986)
Milwaukee Bucks (1986–1991) 		3,879 1,107 3.50
18 Hal Greer* SG/PG Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) 3,855 1,122 3.44
19 Terry Cummings PF San Diego Clippers (1982–1984)
Milwaukee Bucks (1984–1989, 1995–1996)
San Antonio Spurs (1989–1995)
Seattle SuperSonics (1996–1997)
Philadelphia 76ers (1997–1998)
New York Knicks (1998)
Golden State Warriors (1999–2000) 		3,836 1,183 3.24
20 Shawn Kemp PF Seattle SuperSonics (1989–1997)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2000)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2002)
Orlando Magic (2002–2003) 		3,826 1,051 3.64
21 Tom Chambers PF San Diego Clippers (1981–1983)
Seattle SuperSonics (1983–1988)
Phoenix Suns (1988–1993)
Utah Jazz (1993–1995)
Charlotte Hornets (1997)
Philadelphia 76ers (1997) 		3,742 1,107 3.38
22 Paul Pierce* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1998–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017) 		3,643 1,343 2.71
23 Bill Laimbeer C Cleveland Cavaliers (1980–1982)
Detroit Pistons (1982–1993) 		3,633 1,068 3.40
24 Vlade Divac* C Los Angeles Lakers (1989–1996, 2004–2005)
Charlotte Hornets (1996–1998)
Sacramento Kings (1999–2004) 		3,609 1,134 3.18
25 Dirk Nowitzki* PF Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) 3,601 1,522 2.37
26 Kurt Thomas PF/C Miami Heat (1995–1997)
Dallas Mavericks (1997–1998)
New York Knicks (1999–2005, 2012–2013)
Phoenix Suns (2005–2007)
Seattle SuperSonics (2007–2008)
San Antonio Spurs (2008–2009)
Milwaukee Bucks (2009–2010)
Chicago Bulls (2010–2011)
Portland Trail Blazers (2011–2012) 		3,579 1,110 3.22
27 Kevin Garnett* PF Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) 		3,561 1,462 2.44
28 Carmelo Anthony† SF/PF Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)
New York Knicks (2011–2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022) 		3,543 1,260 2.81
29 Walt Bellamy* C Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets (1961–1965)
New York Knicks (1965–1968)
Detroit Pistons (1968–1970)
Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans Jazz (1974) 		3,536 1,043 3.39
30 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) 		3,527 1,068 3.30
31 Rick Mahorn PF/C Washington Bullets (1980–1985)
Detroit Pistons (1985–1989, 1996–1998)
Philadelphia 76ers (1989–1991, 1999)
New Jersey Nets (1992–1996) 		3,499 1,117 3.13
32 Bailey Howell* SF/PF Detroit Pistons (1959–1964)
Baltimore Bullets (1964–1966)
Boston Celtics (1966–1970)
Philadelphia 76ers (1970–1971) 		3,498 950 3.68
33 Danny Schayes C Utah Jazz (1981–1983)
Denver Nuggets (1983–1990)
Milwaukee Bucks (1990–1994)
Los Angeles Lakers (1994)
Phoenix Suns (1994–1995)
Miami Heat (1995–1996)
Orlando Magic (1996–1999) 		3,494 1,138 3.07
34 Juwan Howard PF Washington Bullets/Wizards (1994–2001)
Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002, 2007–2008)
Denver Nuggets (2002–2003, 2008)
Orlando Magic (2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (2004–2007)
Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2009)
Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2010)
Miami Heat (2010–2013) 		3,493 1,208 2.89
35 Sam Lacey C Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City(-Omaha) Kings (1970–1981)
New Jersey Nets (1981–1982)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1982–1983) 		3,473 1,002 3.47
36 Jerome Kersey SF Portland Trail Blazers (1984–1995)
Golden State Warriors (1995–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–1997)
Seattle SuperSonics (1997–1998)
San Antonio Spurs (1999–2000)
Milwaukee Bucks (2000–2001) 		3,455 1,153 3.00
37 Dolph Schayes* PF Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1949–1964) 3,432 996 3.45
38 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) 		3,383 1,196 2.83
39 Tree Rollins C Atlanta Hawks (1977–1988)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1988–1990)
Detroit Pistons (1990–1991)
Houston Rockets (1991–1993)
Orlando Magic (1994–1995) 		3,377 1,156 2.92
40 Bill Bridges PF/C St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1963–1971)
Philadelphia 76ers (1971–1972)
Los Angeles Lakers (1972–1974)
Golden State Warriors (1975) 		3,375 926 3.64
41 Detlef Schrempf SF/PF Dallas Mavericks (1985–1989)
Indiana Pacers (1989–1993)
Seattle SuperSonics (1993–1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2001) 		3,360 1,136 2.96
42 Kobe Bryant* SG/SF Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) 3,353 1,346 2.49
43 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003) 		3,329 1,178 2.83
44 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) 3,304 1,392 2.37
45 Charles Barkley* PF/SF Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000) 		3,287 1,073 3.06
46 Clyde Drexler* SG/SF Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998) 		3,285 1,086 3.02
Lenny Wilkens* PG St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975) 		1,077 3.05
48 John Havlicek* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1962–1978) 3,281 1,270 2.58
49 Tyson Chandler C Chicago Bulls (2001–2006)
New Orleans Hornets (2006–2009)[d]
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) 		3,268 1,160 2.82
50 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) 		3,259 1,109 2.94

Progressive list of personal fouls leaders

This is a progressive list of personal fouls leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.[3]

Statistics accurate as of the 2023–24 NBA season.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[e]
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks DEN Denver Nuggets MIA Miami Heat PHX Phoenix Suns
BLB Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954) DTF Detroit Falcons MIL Milwaukee Bucks POR Portland Trail Blazers
BAL Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973) DET Detroit Pistons MNL Minneapolis Lakers ROC Rochester Royals
BOS Boston Celtics FTW Fort Wayne Pistons MIN Minnesota Timberwolves SAC Sacramento Kings
BKN Brooklyn Nets GSW Golden State Warriors NJN New Jersey Nets SEA Seattle SuperSonics
CAP Capital Bullets HOU Houston Rockets NOJ New Orleans Jazz STL St. Louis Hawks
CHO Charlotte Hornets IND Indiana Pacers NOP New Orleans Pelicans SYR Syracuse Nationals
CHI Chicago Bulls KCK Kansas City Kings NYK New York Knicks TOR Toronto Raptors
CHS Chicago Stags LAC Los Angeles Clippers ORL Orlando Magic UTA Utah Jazz
CIN Cincinnati Royals LAL Los Angeles Lakers PHI Philadelphia 76ers WSB Washington Bullets
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers MEM Memphis Grizzlies PHW Philadelphia Warriors
Progressive personal fouls leaders
Season Year-by-year leader[4] PF Active player leader PF Career record PF Single-season record PF Season
1946–47 Stan Miasek000DTF 208 Stan Miasek
000DTF 1946–47
000CHS 1947–48		 208 Stan Miasek
000DTF 1946–47
000CHS 1947–48		 208 Stan Miasek000DTF 208 1946–47
1947–48 Chuck Gilmur000CHS 231 400 400 Chuck Gilmur000CHS 231 1947–48
1948–49 Ed Sadowski000PHW 273 Ed Sadowski
000PHW 1948–49
000BLB 1949–50		 649 Ed Sadowski
000PHW 1948–49
000BLB 1949–50		 649 Ed Sadowski000PHW 273 1948–49
1949–50 George Mikan*000MNL 297 893 893 George Mikan*000MNL 297 1949–50
1950–51 308 Joe Fulks*000PHW 1,110 Joe Fulks*000PHW 1,110 308 1950–51
1951–52 286 1,365 1,365 1951–52
1952–53 Monk Meineke000FTW 334 1,684 1,684 Monk Meineke000FTW 334 1952–53
1953–54 Earl Lloyd*000SYR 303 1,774 1,774 1953–54
1954–55 Vern Mikkelsen*000MNL 319 Arnie Risen*
000ROC 1954–55
000BOS 1955–56		 1,791 Arnie Risen*
000ROC 1954–55
000BOS 1955–56		 1,791 1954–55
1955–56 2,091 2,091 1955–56
1956–57 312 Vern Mikkelsen*000MNL 2,267 Vern Mikkelsen*000MNL 2,267 1956–57
1957–58 Walter Dukes000DET 311 2,566 2,566 1957–58
1958–59 332 2,812 2,812 1958–59
1959–60 Tom Gola*000PHW 311 Dolph Schayes*
000SYR 1959–63
000PHI 1963–64		 2,716 1959–60
1960–61 Paul Arizin*000PHW 335 3,012 Dolph Schayes*
000SYR 1960–63
000PHI 1963–64		 3,012 Paul Arizin*000PHW 335 1960–61
1961–62 Tom Meschery000PHW 330 3,179 3,179 1961–62
1962–63 Zelmo Beaty*000STL 312 3,356 3,356 1962–63
1963–64 Wayne Embry*000CIN 325 3,432 3,432 1963–64
1964–65 Bailey Howell*000BAL 345 Jack Twyman*000CIN 2,660 Bailey Howell*000BAL 345 1964–65
1965–66 Zelmo Beaty*000STL 344 2,782 1965–66
1966–67 Joe Strawder000DET Richie Guerin*000STL 2,694 1966–67
1967–68 Bill Bridges000STL 366 Bailey Howell*000BOS 2,718 Bill Bridges000STL 366 1967–68
1968–69 Billy Cunningham*000PHI 329 3,003 1968–69
1969–70 Jim Davis000ATL 335 3,264 1969–70
1970–71 Dave Cowens*000BOS 350 Hal Greer*000PHI 3,511 Hal Greer*000PHI 3,511 1970–71
1971–72 314 3,779 3,779 1971–72
1972–73 Neal Walk000PHX 323 3,855 3,855 1972–73
1973–74 Kevin Porter000CAP 319 Walt Bellamy*
000ATL 1973–74
000NOJ 1974		 3,534 1973–74
1974–75 Bob Dandridge*000MIL
Phil Jackson*[f]000NYK		 330 3,536 1974–75
1975–76 Charlie Scott*000BOS 356 John Havlicek*000BOS 2,888 1975–76
1976–77 Lonnie Shelton000NYK 363 3,096 1976–77
1977–78 350 3,281 1977–78
1978–79 Bill Robinzine000KCK 367 Paul Silas000SEA 2,985 Bill Robinzine000KCK 367 1978–79
1979–80 Darryl Dawkins000PHI 328 Elvin Hayes*
000WSB 1979–81
000HOU 1981–84		 3,251 1979–80
1980–81 Ben Poquette000UTA 342 3,551 1980–81
1981–82 Steve Johnson000KCK 372 3,838 Steve Johnson000KCK 372 1981–82
1982–83 Darryl Dawkins000NJN 379 4,070 Elvin Hayes*000HOU 4,070 Darryl Dawkins000NJN 379 1982–83
1983–84 386 4,193 4,193 386 1983–84
1984–85 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU 344 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL 3,752 1984–85
1985–86 Charles Barkley*000PHI 333 4,000 1985–86
1986–87 Steve Johnson000POR 340 4,245 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL 4,245 1986–87
1987–88 Patrick Ewing*000NYK 332 4,461 4,461 1987–88
1988–89 Grant Long000MIA 337 4,657 4,657 1988–89
1989–90 Rik Smits000IND 328 Jack Sikma*000MIL 3,661 1989–90
1990–91 Sam Mitchell000MIN 338 3,879 1990–91
1991–92 Tyrone Hill000GSW 315 Robert Parish*
000BOS 1991–94
000CHO 1994–96
000CHI 1996–97		 3,800 1991–92
1992–93 Stanley Roberts000LAC 332 4,001 1992–93
1993–94 Shawn Kemp000SEA 312 4,191 1993–94
1994–95 Shawn Bradley000PHI 338 4,323 1994–95
1995–96 Elden Campbell000LAL
Otis Thorpe000DET		 300 4,403 1995–96
1996–97 Shawn Kemp000SEA 320 4,443 1996–97
1997–98 Ervin Johnson000MIL 321 Buck Williams000NYK 4,267 1997–98
1998–99 Danny Fortson000DEN 212 Hakeem Olajuwon*
000HOU 1998–2001
000TOR 2001–02		 4,007 1998–99
1999–00 Shawn Kemp000CLE 371 4,095 1999–00
2000–01 Aaron Williams000NJN 319 4,236 2000–01
2001–02 Kurt Thomas000NYK 341 4,383 2001–02
2002–03 344 Karl Malone*
000UTA 2002–03
000LAL 2003–04		 4,462 2002–03
2003–04 Theo Ratliff000ATL & POR 300 4,578 2003–04
2004–05 Jason Collins000NJN 322 Kevin Willis000ATL 4,161 2004–05
2005–06 Al Harrington000ATL 301 Clifford Robinson000NJN 4,077 2005–06
2006–07 Andris Biedriņš000GSW 304 4,175 2006–07
2007–08 Mikki Moore000SAC 310 Shaquille O'Neal*
000MIA 2007–08
000PHX 2008–09
000CLE 2009–10
000BOS 2010–11		 3,604 2007–08
2008–09 Jason Thompson000SAC 314 3,857 2008–09
2009–10 Dwight Howard†000ORL 287 4,026 2009–10
2010–11 DeMarcus Cousins†000SAC 332 4,146 2010–11
2011–12 257 Kurt Thomas
000POR 2011–12
000NYK 2012–13		 3,527 2011–12
2012–13 Amir Johnson000TOR 301 3,579 2012–13
2013–14 Andre Drummond^000DET 273 Kevin Garnett*
000BKN 2013–15
000MIN 2015		 3,382 2013–14
2014–15 285 3,491 2014–15
2015–16 Giannis Antetokounmpo^000MIL 258 Paul Pierce*000LAC 3,603 2015–16
2016–17 DeMarcus Cousins†000SAC & NOP 278 Vince Carter*
000MEM 2016–17
000SAC 2017–18
000ATL 2018–20		 3,668 2016–17
2017–18 Karl-Anthony Towns^000MIN 285 3,764 2017–18
2018–19 292 3,905 2018–19
2019–20 Dillon Brooks^000MEM 278 3,995 2019–20
2020–21 237 Dwight Howard†
000PHI 2020–21
000LAL 2021–22		 3,797 2020–21
2021–22 Jae'Sean Tate^000HOU 286 3,912 2021–22
2022–23 Domantas Sabonis^000SAC 279 Kyle Lowry^
000MIA 2022–24
000PHI 2024		 2,953 2022–23
2023–24 Jusuf Nurkić^000PHX 254 3,099 2023–24
Season Year-by-year leader PF Active player leader PF Career record PF Single-season record PF Season

Notes

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Rounded to the nearest hundredth.
  4. ^ During the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, the team was known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets during their temporary relocation to Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach.

References

  1. ^ Bitar, Eddie (October 29, 2022). "20 NBA Players With The Most Personal Fouls In NBA History". fadeawayworld.net. Fadeaway World. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Personal Fouls". basketball-reference.com. Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Personal Fouls". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "NBA Regular Season PF - Season Leaders". NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
Categories
Table of Contents