On this NBA period suffering from load administration and resting through the common season, it’s uncertain we’re going to see very many Iron Males. As an illustration, a participant who performed in 1,192 consecutive video games seems on this checklist, and it’s exhausting to ascertain a contemporary participant doing that.
Regardless, there may be one energetic participant – a star, at that – who finishes within the High 10 of this rating, who you’ll see just under.
In the present day, we added up video games performed between the common season and playoffs to rank the gamers who appeared in essentially the most video games per season in NBA historical past.
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Greatest mark: 103 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 75 video games in 1988-89
Seasons performed: 14
The legendary Dennis Johnson ending first on this train is not any shock, because the ball-handling bucket-getter had nice sturdiness in his prime, suiting up in 95.8 % of regular-season video games all through his profession and lacking greater than seven video games in a single season simply as soon as in his complete time as a professional. He additionally performed on a number of elite groups, first with the Seattle SuperSonics within the late ’70s, the place he gained his first championship in 1978-79, after which clearly with the Boston Celtics. All these deep playoff runs and all that regular-season motion, sans load administration, led to Johnson enjoying in an entire lot of video games per 12 months in his profession.
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Greatest mark: 101 video games in 1967-68
Worst mark: 81 video games in 1969-70
Seasons performed: 16
Between the common season and the playoffs, John Havlicek by no means performed in fewer than 81 video games in a single season. That’s much more spectacular when you think about he performed for 16 years. What’s extra, when Havlicek performed, the league was smaller and a workforce solely needed to win 12 complete video games within the playoffs to win the championship, so had Havlicek been in a position to sustain his degree of sturdiness enjoying a extra trendy schedule, he would have completed first on this train.
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Greatest mark: 99 video games in 1979-80
Worst mark: 80 video games in 1983-84
Seasons performed: 10
Corridor-of-Fame ahead Bobby Jones performed 10 NBA seasons but additionally performed two extra within the ABA early on in his profession, enjoying 193 mixed video games over two campaigns earlier than even attending to the NBA, so he might rank even increased on this checklist if we have been bearing in mind ABA participation. Regardless of profitable only one championship, Jones made the playoffs each single 12 months of his profession and had varied deep postseason runs, making his sturdiness oh so spectacular.
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 1987-88
Worst mark: 65 video games in 1974-75
Seasons performed: 20
One of many league’s GOATs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar performed an astounding 20 seasons within the NBA, making the playoffs 18 instances and getting all the best way to the Finals an much more spectacular 10 instances, profitable six championships in his profession. Meaning he needed to play a ton of video games and even then, he had nice harm luck and sturdiness, sufficient so to rank fourth all-time in video games performed per season.
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Greatest mark: 106 video games in 1987-88
Worst mark: 50 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 16
Each extraordinarily sturdy and boasting nice longevity, one-time All-Star AC Inexperienced even performed 83 video games in a single common season as soon as, which happened in 1996-97 when he was a part of a mid-season commerce from the Phoenix Suns to the Dallas Mavericks. Inexperienced is the NBA’s Iron Man, proudly owning the report for many video games performed in a row at 1,192. General, Inexperienced missed simply three regular-season video games in his complete profession, which got here in his second season when he nonetheless suited up in 79 video games anyway. Inexperienced would have completed No. 1 on this train if not for the 1998-99 lockout and had he not missed the playoffs that 12 months he obtained traded to Dallas.
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Greatest mark: 100 video games in 2021-22
Worst mark: 69 video games in 2020-21
Seasons performed: 7
A contemporary participant ending this excessive up on this rating is sort of spectacular contemplating what groups do to relaxation their stars through the common season as of late, particularly with regards to star-level gamers. So Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum deserves a lot credit score for rating so excessive on this train. On the similar time, that moreso has to do with the variety of deep playoff runs Tatum and Boston have made of their time collectively, and the decrease pattern dimension on his profession, as a result of Tatum has but to go well with up in all 82 regular-season video games in a single marketing campaign. However, he already has 5 playoff runs during which he has performed in no less than 17 video games, which actually helps raise him up this rating.
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Greatest mark: 103 video games in 1983-84
Worst mark: 54 video games in 1991-92
Seasons performed: 12
Los Angeles Lakers legend James Worthy performed in 82 regular-season video games thrice in his profession and no less than 80 video games 4 different instances. That’s coupled with Worthy participating in so many deep playoff runs with the Lakers dynasty of the ’80s, enjoying no less than 14 playoff video games seven instances in his profession to assist propel him up this checklist regardless of having one 12 months during which he performed simply 54 video games between common season and playoffs.
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Greatest mark: 102 video games in 1981-82
Worst mark: 65 video games in 1986-87
Seasons performed: 11
As was the case with Jones, one-time celebrity Julius Erving had a ton of ABA mileage that we didn’t contemplate for this train which might have helped him end increased up on this checklist. That’s as a result of, over his first 5 professional seasons within the ABA, Erving was extraordinarily sturdy, enjoying 84 regular-season video games 4 instances in that span and making the playoffs all 5 years. Erving hit double-digit postseason appearances thrice within the ABA, too, enjoying in a complete of 455 professional video games earlier than even attending to the NBA. Dr. J averaged 91 video games per season within the ABA, and that’s earlier than an equally sturdy profession within the NBA so if something, the long-lasting Dr. J is being underrated on this train.
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Greatest mark: 102 video games in 1996-97
Worst mark: 61 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 19
An underrated Iron Man, all-time assists chief John Stockton performed in all 82 regular-season video games 16 instances in his 19-year profession. Oh, and a kind of different years, he performed in all 50 regular-season video games of the ’99 lockout 12 months. Moreover that, Stockton performed in 78 regular-season video games in 1989-90. His one down 12 months so far as sturdiness got here in ’98, later in his prime when he missed 18 regular-season video games. Meaning so far as his regular-season profession is worried, Stockton suited up in 98.6 % of potential regular-season motion, an astounding mark. Stockton additionally made the playoffs all 19 years of his profession however with 9 of these postseason journeys ending within the first spherical, the legendary playmaker doesn’t rank increased on this checklist than he probably might have with extra deep playoff runs.
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 53 video games in 1965-66
Seasons performed: 16
After his first three seasons, Paul Silas missed simply 14 common season video games over 13 seasons for a median of 1 missed recreation per 12 months. He additionally made the playoffs 14 instances, giving him a excessive games-played-per-season common.
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 1992-93
Worst mark: 63 video games in 1981-82
Seasons performed: 14
Danny Ainge by no means performed all 82 video games in an everyday season however he did have six seasons the place he performed in no less than 80 regular-season video games. He additionally took half in six Finals runs, additional giving him a lift on this train. Ainge gained two championships in his profession.
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Greatest mark: 102 video games in 1996-97
Worst mark: 60 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 19
Two-time league MVP Karl Malone performed all 82 regular-season video games a powerful 10 instances in his profession. In reality, if we take away his closing season when he was already 40 years outdated, Malone missed simply 10 complete regular-season video games over an 18-season stretch. Like with Stockton, Malone doesn’t rank increased on this train on account of varied playoff runs that ended within the first spherical.
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Greatest mark: 105 video games in 1983-84
Worst mark: 66 video games in 1991-92
Seasons performed: 13
Celtics legend Kevin McHale didn’t miss a single regular-season recreation over his first 4 seasons. He had a fifth season afterward during which he performed all 82 video games as nicely. Regardless of attending to the Finals 5 instances, McHale doesn’t rank increased on this checklist on account of harm troubles later in his profession.
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 2003-04
Worst mark: 50 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 17
If we take away his closing season in 2006-07, Corridor of Fame level guard Gary Payton missed simply 13 regular-season video games in 16 seasons, an astounding mark. Payton performed each regular-season recreation 10 instances in his profession, although a kind of instances was within the ’99 lockout-shortened marketing campaign.
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Greatest mark: 96 video games in 1966-67
Worst mark: 81 video games in 1963-64
Seasons performed: 13
Corridor of Famer Chet Walker performed no less than 80 video games six instances in his profession and by no means performed fewer than 76 video games. He additionally performed double-digit playoff video games 5 instances in his profession, together with in 1966-67 when he gained a championship with the Philadelphia Warriors.
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Greatest mark: 102 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 81 video games in 1980-81
Seasons performed: 16
In his 16-year profession, Elvin Hayes missed simply 9 regular-season video games. Meaning he performed in 99.3 % of potential video games in his regular-season profession. Hayes had extra All-Star appearances (12) than missed regular-season video games.
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Greatest mark: 102 video games in 1996-97
Worst mark: 59 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 14
In 9 of his 14 seasons, Jeff Hornacek performed no less than 80 video games. He additionally made the playoffs 11 instances and performed double-digit playoff video games eight instances.
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Greatest mark: 97 video games in 1974-75
Worst mark: 78 video games in 1979-80
Seasons performed: 10
In contrast to Jones and Erving, one-time NBA scoring champion Rick Barry is definitely aided on this train by us not together with his ABA profession, as Barry performed in simply 35 video games in ’69, 52 video games in ’70 and 59 video games in ’71, all throughout his time within the ABA.
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Greatest mark: 97 video games in 1967-68
Worst mark: 58 video games in 1956-57
Seasons performed: 13
11-time NBA champion Invoice Russell performed 75-plus video games 9 instances in his NBA profession. He’s harm on this train on account of solely suiting up in 48 regular-season video games in his rookie season, however that wasn’t on account of harm however somewhat due to his dedication to play within the 1956 Olympics, which didn’t finish till December of that 12 months.
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Greatest mark: 144 video games in 1954-55
Worst mark: 54 video games in 1964-65
Seasons performed: 11
Corridor of Famer Bob Pettit performed no less than 70 regular-season video games in 10 of his 11 seasons. In his final marketing campaign, 1964-65, Pettit was solely in a position to play in 54 mixed video games, nevertheless, which sank him a great bit on this rating.
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Greatest mark: 105 video games in 2002-03
Worst mark: 67 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 19
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 68 video games in 1984-85
Seasons performed: 14
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Greatest mark: 101 video games in 1967-68
Worst mark: 77 video games in 1959-60
Seasons performed: 12
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Greatest mark: 97 video games in 1991-92
Worst mark: 69 video games in 1992-93
Seasons performed: 11
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Greatest mark: 99 video games in 1968-69
Worst mark: 30 video games in 1969-70
Seasons performed: 14
New York Instances
Greatest mark: 142 video games in 1952-53
Worst mark: 18 video games in 1957-58
Seasons performed: 7
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Greatest mark: 95 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 80 video games in 1980-81
Seasons performed: 9
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Greatest mark: 144 video games in 1954-55
Worst mark: 71 video games in 1956-57
Seasons performed: 9
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Greatest mark: 92 video games in 1968-69
Worst mark: 66 video games in 1964-65
Seasons performed: 6
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Greatest mark: 103 video games in 1983-84
Worst mark: 45 video games in 1996-97
Seasons performed: 21
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Greatest mark: 92 video games in 1961-62
Worst mark: 64 video games in 1957-58
Seasons performed: 12
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Greatest mark: 103 video games in 1999-00
Worst mark: 63 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 18
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Greatest mark: 94 video games in 1978-79
Worst mark: 76 video games in 1983-84
Seasons performed: 10
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Greatest mark: 98 video games in 1977-78
Worst mark: 63 video games in 1973-74
Seasons performed: 13
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Greatest mark: 104 video games in 2017-18
Worst mark: 51 video games in 2020-21
Seasons performed: 21
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Greatest mark: 103 video games in 1989-90
Worst mark: 53 video games in 1998-99
Seasons performed: 18
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Greatest mark: 105 video games in 1987-88
Worst mark: 11 video games in 1993-94
Seasons performed: 14
MPS-USA TODAY Sports activities
Greatest mark: 98 video games in 1986-87
Worst mark: 36 video games in 1995-96
Seasons performed: 13
AP Picture/J. Walter Inexperienced
Greatest mark: 93 video games in 1961-62
Worst mark: 77 video games in 1958-59
Seasons performed: 9
