dailyloe.com – The 2026 NBA Playoffs are set to begin following the completion of the regular season and the SoFi Play-In Tournament. Several individual and team statistical milestones could be reached during the postseason. Kevin Durant and LeBron James will meet in a first-round series, with both stars having specific records within their sights. Jeff Case of NBA.com highlighted 11 major milestones to watch as the playoffs progress.
Kevin Durant enters the playoffs after passing Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time regular season scoring list. He now aims to climb the postseason scoring ranks. Durant needs 188 playoff points to pass Tim Duncan for sixth place on that list. He requires 266 points to surpass Shaquille O’Neal for the fifth spot.
Durant has historically scored heavily in extended playoff runs. He has scored no less than 319 points in postseasons where his team played at least ten games. A long run with the Houston Rockets would aid his pursuit of these scoring milestones.
Durant can also move up the lists for career playoff field goals and free throws. He needs 60 field goals to pass Karl Malone for seventh place in playoff field goals made. He requires 19 free throws to pass Karl Malone for fourth place in playoff free throws made.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is approaching a notable three-point shooting milestone. James has made 480 career playoff three-pointers. He needs 32 more to pass Klay Thompson for second place on the all-time playoff three-pointers list.
James last made 32 or more three-pointers in a single postseason during the 2020 playoffs. A lengthy playoff run for the Lakers would be crucial for him to achieve this milestone. Brian Martin of NBA.com provided a detailed review of James’s many potential stats milestones.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden is also near several playoff milestones. Harden has scored 3,895 points in his postseason career, ranking 14th all-time. He is three points away from passing Larry Bird for 13th place on the playoff scoring list.
Harden needs 105 more points to reach another significant scoring threshold. The article notes he is not quite the scorer he was during his prime with the Houston Rockets. His progress will depend on the Cavaliers’ performance in the playoffs.
The 2026 playoffs present opportunities for players to cement their legacies. Team success will be a major factor in determining which milestones are actually reached. The postseason begins with several historic marks potentially within reach for the league’s stars.[]
Source: NBA
