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Is Stat Padding Ruining the NBA?

Will Brown by Will Brown, September 30, 2025

NBA player shooting for points

One of the biggest criticisms facing major professional sports leagues such as the NBA is that their over-reliance on statistics has overshadowed the spontaneous beauty of sports. For basketball players, individual statistics are central to receiving MVP votes and All-Star selections. This has led to the rise of stat padding, whereby players inflate their personal stats, often to the detriment of their team’s success. In this guide, we’ve looked at the phenomenon of stat padding and discussed whether it’s ruining the charm of professional basketball.

Stat Padding NBA: Is it a Problem?

Before addressing whether padding stats is a problem the NBA needs to address, we’ve provided a detailed explanation of what the term actually is. From there, we’ve discussed its prevalence and why it is considered to be so controversial.

This includes its impact on team culture and how the expectations of modern audiences can encourage this behavior. To round out the article, we’ve covered how it influences the legacy of players, some arguments for it, and what the future of the phenomenon looks like.

Stat Padding Meaning: A Defintition

So, what is stat padding? Put simply, this refers to a player deliberately attempting to enhance their individual statistics rather than focusing on the outcome of the game. Because of this myopic focus, a stat padding player may produce actions or results that could hinder their team’s performance or, ultimately, their championship prospects.

This is not to say that players who naturally produce quality stats are padding. The best athletes will boost their stats through clever, skilled, strategic, and energetic play that wholly benefits their team. The difference is that stat padding is an intentional behaviour that is fundamentally self-serving.

With the stat padding meaning explained, what are some examples? This could include players staying in blowout games simply to reach personal milestones, boxing out teammates to steal rebounds, or manipulating plays to produce unnecessary assists. It’s particularly prevalent in the NBA as the league prioritizes player stats, which can influence everything from contracts to sponsorship deals.

Why is Stat Padding Controversial?

The most controversial aspect of stat padding is that it flies against the very foundations of basketball. The game is, at its core, a team sport, and there is an expectation that individuals would sacrifice personal glory in favor of their team’s success. To act otherwise suggests selfish and overly ambitious intentions.

While some stat padding behaviors can fly under the radar, it often invites backlash when plays are deemed to be inefficient, meaningless, or slow down the game. However, it’s worth noting that players can’t take all the blame. The modern NBA’s focus on crafting narratives benefits from platforming players with high stats, and these can influence salaries and lucrative transfer deals.

Therefore, the league itself must take responsibility for creating incentives that prioritize stat lines over wins, tying into broader criticisms over the league’s running. Those who bet at the best NBA online sportsbooks can also be negatively affected, whereby inflated stats can distort the perception of players’ and teams’ potential and impact odds and bet-building.

Is Padding Prevalent in the NBA?

There are countless examples of stat padding NBA players in the modern era of the game. One of the biggest examples that fueled the broader discussion around stat padding was during Russell Westbrook’s seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016-2017 season, for which he eventually won the MVP.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double for every game throughout the season, which, before that, was unprecedented. Pundits noted the frequency of teammates being boxed out so Westbrook could secure rebounds and his tendency to chase stats in games that were already decided. Although Westbrook denied the claims, his eventual MVP win proved there were advantages to his methods.

Other modern players who have come under fire for stat padding include James Harden, Luka Dončić, and Domantas Sabonis. It’s worth mentioning, though, that this isn’t an entirely new phenomenon. Former players with padding reputations include Wilt Chamberlain, Ricky Davis, and Jerry Lucas.

Modern Expectations for Triple-Doubles

While we’ve defined the stat padding meaning as having fundamentally selfish origins, it’s also worth mentioning that audience expectations for certain outcomes could influence this. This is most clearly seen in the commonality of the triple-double, which is a double-digit total in three statistical categories, such as assists, blocks, points, rebounds, and steals.

Before the 2000s, triple-doubles were rare occurrences. Now, though, they’re almost expected from star players. This could be due to the league’s pushing for faster-paced, possession-heavy, point-forward focused gameplay that favors entertainment over strategy and finesse. Social media’s role in amplifying triple-doubles reinforces this, with achievers celebrated whether or not their team won.

It’s believed that stat padding NBA coaches even encourage this behavior by crafting plays or tactical approaches simply to ensure a player reaches a statistical milestone. To truly address the issue, if it even must be addressed, would require audiences to adjust their view of athletes as high-scoring celebrities rather than cogs in a larger machine.

The Impact on Team Culture

Because of the self-serving nature of stat padding, it’s reasonable to expect that this behavior could cause tensions in the locker room. If a player recognizes that a teammate is prioritizing their ambitions over the team, or if the coaches and managing staff are showing favoritism to boost an individual’s stats, team chemistry may erode.

For example, after Russell Westbrook was faced with criticisms for stat padding, he publicly responded by saying he was proud of his actions, implying that he deserved rebounds if no one else was skilled enough to go for them. It’s this attitude that continues to ruffle feathers with teammates, with recent reports suggesting locker room tensions about his “immaturity”.

There were also tensions reported between Jordan Poole and Draymond Green after Poole was recently signed to the Golden State Warriors. Green, who is known for sacrificing stats for wins, criticized Poole’s performance during training and implied that he was an overpriced addition. This sparked a fight that saw Green punch Poole.

While both incidents may not directly respond to stat padding, it does suggest that their consequences can be detrimental to team culture. Ultimately, players should be encouraged to prioritize their team’s performance over personal glory.

The Impact on Player Legacy

Of course, there’s no denying that stats have a huge impact on a player’s legacy. This is because voting for MVP is reliant on raw stats and achievements such as triple-doubles. Stats can also position players to be viable partners with corporate sponsors, helping to propel them further into the public spotlight.

Players can boost their long-term financial standings through stats, too, with some contracts awarding bonuses for averaging a certain number of points. Further down the line, entrance into the Hall of Fame tends to hinge on career stats. Reaching milestones such as 20,000 points or 10,000 assists is considered a benchmark for a legendary career.

A Defense of Stat Padding

In defense of what can be viewed as stat padding behavior, some have argued that these plays are often strategic moves to improve player performance or team outcomes. For example, Russell Westbrook’s rebound steals often led to fast break points, while Nikola Jokić’s rebounds and assists tend to lead to success for Denver’s offense.

As for players staying in blowout games, an argument can be made that staying in and building stats can help to keep players sharp and in competitive form. After all, if a win is already unlikely for a team, why shouldn’t its players boost their stats in the process?

The Future of Stat Padding: Does it Need to Be Fixed?

Considering that stat padding is not a new phenomenon, it is unlikely that it will ever go away. However, the NBA has indirectly addressed some of its issues through closer audits of achievements. For example, in 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double revoked after deliberately missing a shot to grab his own rebound, ruling it a false shot attempt.

The 2023–24 season also saw the NBA implement a 65-game minimum for its MVP awards to combat load management and plays dedicated to helping players reach statistical milestones. Coaches may also discourage other players from supporting an individual’s stat padding ambitions to ensure team symbiosis. For now, stakeholders simply need to find a balance between boosting player stats and maximizing team performance.

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