List of NBA career blocks leaders

Last updated November 20, 2024

There are two lists:

The 50 National Basketball Association players with the most career regular season blocked shots. Blocked shots were first officially recorded in the NBA during the 1973–74 season.
A progressive list of NBA blocked shots leaders year by year since 1973.^[1]

Blocks leaders

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

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	Brook Lopez ^	C	New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets (2008–2017) Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2018) Milwaukee Bucks (2018–present)	1,946	1,039	1.87
22	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
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	Anthony Davis ^	PF/C	New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012–2019) Los Angeles Lakers (2019–present)	1,729	748	2.31
30	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
31	Kevin McHale *	PF	Boston Celtics (1980–1993)	1,690	972	1.74
32	Rudy Gobert ^	C	Utah Jazz (2013–2022) Minnesota Timberwolves (2022–present)	1,636	771	2.12
33	Vlade Divac *	C	Los Angeles Lakers (1989–1996, 2004–2005) Charlotte Hornets (1996–1998) Sacramento Kings (1999–2004)	1,631	1,134	1.44
34	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
35	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
36	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
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)	1,541	1,058	1.46
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 November 18, 2024.

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration^[2]

Team Abbreviations
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 Smith 000 LAL	393	Elmore Smith 000 LAL	393	Elmore Smith 000 LAL	393	Elmore Smith 000 LAL	393	1973–74
1974–75	Elmore Smith 000 LAL	216		609		609			1974–75
1975–76	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	338		847		847			1975–76
1976–77	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	261	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	1,094	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	1,094			1976–77
1977–78	George Johnson 000 NJN	274		1,279		1,279			1977–78
1978–79	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	316		1,595		1,595			1978–79
1979–80	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 000 LAL	280		1,875		1,875			1979–80
1980–81	George Johnson 000 SAS	278		2,103		2,103			1980–81
1981–82	George Johnson 000 SAS	234		2,310		2,310			1981–82
1982–83	Tree Rollins 000 ATL	343		2,480		2,480			1982–83
1983–84	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	351		2,623		2,623			1983–84
1984–85	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	456		2,785		2,785	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	456	1984–85
1985–86	Manute Bol 000 WSB	397		2,915		2,915			1985–86
1986–87	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	321		3,012		3,012			1986–87
1987–88	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	304		3,104		3,104			1987–88
1988–89	Manute Bol 000 GSW	345		3,189		3,189			1988–89
1989–90	Hakeem Olajuwon* HOU	376	Mark Eaton 000 UTA	2,592					1989–90
1990–91	David Robinson*000 SAS	320		2,780					1990–91
1991–92	David Robinson*000 SAS	305		2,985					1991–92
1992–93	Hakeem Olajuwon* 0 HOU	342		3,064					1992–93
1993–94	Dikembe Mutombo* 000 DEN 1993–96 000 ATL 1996–98	336	Hakeem Olajuwon* 000 HOU 1993–2001 000 TOR 2001–02	2,741					1993–94
1994–95		321		2,983					1994–95
1995–96		332		3,190	Hakeem Olajuwon* 000 HOU 1984–2001 000 TOR 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*000 MIA	180		3,582		3,582			1998–99
1999–00	Alonzo Mourning*000 MIA	294		3,652		3,652			1999–00
2000–01	Jermaine O'Neal 000 IND Shawn Bradley 000 DAL	228		3,740		3,740			2000–01
2001–02	Ben Wallace*000 DET	278		3,830		3,830			2001–02
2002–03	Theo Ratliff 000 ATL 2002–04 000 POR 2004	262	David Robinson*000 SAS	2,954					2002–03
2003–04	Theo Ratliff 000 ATL 2002–04 000 POR 2004	307	Dikembe Mutombo* 000 NYK 2003–04 000 HOU 2004–09	2,996					2003–04
2004–05	Marcus Camby 000 DEN	199		3,097					2004–05
2005–06	Andrei Kirilenko 000 UTA	220		3,154					2005–06
2006–07	Marcus Camby 000 DEN	231		3,230					2006–07
2007–08	Marcus Camby 000 DEN	285		3,278					2007–08
2008–09	Dwight Howard ^†000 ORL	231		3,289					2008–09
2009–10	Dwight Howard ^†000 ORL	228	Shaquille O'Neal* 000 CLE 2009–10 000 BOS 2010–11	2,690					2009–10
2010–11	Serge Ibaka ^†000 OKC	198	Shaquille O'Neal* 000 CLE 2009–10 000 BOS 2010–11	2,732					2010–11
2011–12		241	Tim Duncan*000 SAS	2,469					2011–12
2012–13		242		2,652					2012–13
2013–14		219		2,791					2013–14
2014–15	Anthony Davis^000 NOP	200		2,941					2014–15
2015–16	Hassan Whiteside 000 MIA	269		3,020					2015–16
2016–17	Rudy Gobert^000 UTA	214	Dwight Howard ^† 000 ATL 2016–17 000 CHO 2017–18 000 WAS 2018–19 000 LAL 2019–20 000 PHI 2020–21 000 LAL 2021–22	1,916					2016–17
2017–18	Anthony Davis^000 NOP	193		2,047					2017–18
2018–19	Myles Turner^000 IND	199		2,051					2018–19
2019–20	Hassan Whiteside 000 POR	196		2,130					2019–20
2020–21	Rudy Gobert^000 UTA	190		2,192					2020–21
2021–22	Jaren Jackson Jr.^000 MEM	177		2,228					2021–22
2022–23	Brook Lopez^000 MIL	193	Serge Ibaka ^†000 MIL	1,759					2022–23
2023–24	Victor Wembanyama^000 SAS	254	Brook Lopez^000 MIL	1,912					2023–24
2024–25	Victor Wembanyama^000 SAS	48	Brook Lopez^000 MIL	1,946					2024–25
Season	Year-by-Year Leader	Blk	Active Leader	Blk	Career Record	Blk	Single Season Record	Blk	Season

Notes

↑ The National Basketball Association did not record blocked shot statistics until the 1973–74 season.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before blocks were officially recorded.
1 2 3 4 Blocked shots were not yet recorded during the player's tenure with this team and season(s).

References

↑ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Blocks". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
↑ 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

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[2] The National Basketball Association did not record blocked shot statistics until the 1973–74 season.

[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.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before blocks were officially recorded.

[fn1-7] 1 2 3 4 Blocked shots were not yet recorded during the player's tenure with this team and season(s).

[1] "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Blocks". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2015.

[ineligible-8] 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.

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