List of NBA players with 500 consecutive games played

Last updated

For basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing 500 consecutive regular season games is considered a highly significant achievement. This is often referred to as an "iron man streak".

Contents

As of the 2024–25 NBA season, 22 players have played at least 500 consecutive regular season games in their NBA career. The all-time leader of consecutive games is A.C. Green, who played in 1,192 consecutive games during his career. [1] Mikal Bridges is the current active leader, having played 556 games consecutively (as of April 13th, 2025). [2] If ABA games were to be included, Ron Boone would have 1,041 consecutive games played with 379 games from his time in the NBA.

500 consecutive games played

Key
^Denotes player who is currently active in the NBA
*Denotes player who has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Denotes a streak that is currently in progress
Games
(in bold text)
Denotes a streak that began at their NBA debut
RankNameGamesStartEndNotes
1 A.C. Green 1,192November 19, 1986April 18, 2001Last game missed was when he was a DNP-CD in his sophomore season. He never missed a game due to injury.
2 Randy Smith 906February 18, 1972March 13, 1983Missed 6 games in his rookie season for undisclosed reasons (most likely DNP-CD's as they were spread out on random days not connected), with the last one being on February 15th, 1972. In the 1983-84 season, he missed a game while waiting to clear waivers, technically stopping his streak. He then retired following the season. If it had been allowed to continue, he would have had 921 games by the end.
3 Red Kerr 844October 31, 1954November 5, 1965First game he ever missed in his entire career was a deliberate DNP-CD by the Baltimore Bullets' first-year coach Paul Seymour, allegedly to "take off the stress" from Kerr, just 10 games into what would become his final season. A game the Bullets coincidentally lost regardless of Kerr's benching, after which Kerr's wife, Betsy, wanted to punch Seymour in the nose. [3]
4 Michael Cage 736April 23, 1989April 14, 1998Hamstring injury [4]
5 Dolph Schayes*706February 17, 1952December 26, 1961
6 Bill Laimbeer 685October 24, 1980January 27, 1989Suspension [5]
7 Harry Gallatin*682November 20, 1948March 9, 1958Retirement
8 Andre Miller 632January 26, 2003December 5, 2010Suspension [6]
9 John Stockton*609February 13, 1990April 20, 1997Knee injury [7]
Jack Twyman*November 5, 1955October 29, 1963
11 James Donaldson 586February 18, 1981April 6, 1988Suspension [8] [9]
12 B.J. Armstrong 577February 8, 1990February 16, 1997Knee injury [10]
13 Terry Tyler 574October 13, 1978April 14, 1985Free agent at start of 1985-1986 season.
14 Mikal Bridges ^556October 17, 2018present
15 Shandon Anderson 543January 30, 1997January 21, 2004DNP-CD [11]
Karl Malone*December 18, 1991April 8, 1998Suspension [12]
17 Otis Thorpe 542January 4, 1986April 19, 1992Kidney injury [13]
18 Derek Fisher 538April 15, 2005March 14, 2012Traded to Houston Rockets, [14] streak ended seeking buyout with team [15]
19 Jim Chones 528February 2, 1975November 5, 1981
20 Hersey Hawkins 527January 15, 1993December 8, 1999Torn calf muscle [16]
21 Mark West 521April 9, 1988December 14, 1994 [17]
22 Bruce Bowen 500February 28, 2002March 12, 2008Suspension [18]

See also

References

  1. Medina, Mark (22 November 2012). "Former Lakers forward A.C. Green talks about importance of game time". San Bernardino Sun . Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. Bondy, Stefan (16 December 2024). "Knicks' Mikal Bridges plays in his 500th consecutive game". New York Post . Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. "Bench Bosses". NBA.com Bulls History . 22 August 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  4. "Cage's consecutive games played streak ends at 736". Greensboro News and Record . 15 April 1998. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  5. "Laimbeer, Daugherty get 1-game suspensions". LA Times . 29 January 1989. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  6. "Andre Miller unhappy with suspension". ESPN . 9 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  7. Hamilton, Linda (14 October 1997). "Knee surgery puts Stockton on sidelines". Deseret News . Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  8. "James Donaldson of the Dallas Mavericks and Mark West..." United Press International . 4 April 1988. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  9. "Dallas Mavericks center James Donaldson suffered a serious knee..." United Press International . 10 March 1989. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  10. "Armstrong streak ends". LA Times . 21 February 1997. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  11. Isola, Frank (25 January 2004). "Shandon's sad streak's struck". New York Daily News . Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  12. "Pro Basketball; Malone given a suspension". The New York Times . 11 April 1998. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. "Sports people: Basketball; Thorpe's streak to end". The New York Times . 30 October 1992. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  14. Trudell, Mike (15 March 2012). "Lakers acquire Jordan Hill". NBA . Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  15. Rohde, John (22 March 2012). "Derek Fisher's NBA-leading consecutive games streak ended by buyout". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  16. "Hawkin's streak ends at 527 games". Chicago Tribune . 11 December 1999. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  17. "Suns sign West". CBS News . 19 October 1999. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  18. "Bruce Bowen suspended for kicking Chris Paul, consecutive games streak ends at 500". ESPN . 14 March 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2024.