The NBA's stats race is heating up as December brings fans to the edge of their seats with milestones that could redefine league history. But here's where it gets controversial—will Durant overtake Chamberlain, or will Harden edge past Carmelo? And this is the part most people miss: the quiet climbs of coaches and role players could be just as memorable. As the calendar flips to the final month of 2025, here are 10 stats milestones to watch, each with the potential to spark debate and excitement.
Kevin Durant stands just 480 points away from passing Wilt Chamberlain for 7th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Once he reaches that mark, Durant will be only 621 points shy of overtaking Dirk Nowitzki for 6th. On the 3-point front, Durant has 2,215 career threes, currently ranking 12th. He needs just four more to pass Jamal Crawford for 12th, 65 to pass Jason Terry for 11th, and then only nine more to surpass Vince Carter for 10th. In field goals made, Durant needs 82 more to pass Hakeem Olajuwon for 10th, and he’s also on the verge of moving up in field goal attempts—88 away from passing Vince Carter for 13th and 338 from Dominique Wilkins for 12th.
James Harden, known for his scoring prowess, is just 77 points from overtaking Carmelo Anthony for 10th on the all-time list. After that, he’ll be only 307 points from passing Shaquille O’Neal for 9th. In assists, Harden has 8,481 career dimes, placing him 13th all-time. He’s just 44 assists from passing Andre Miller for 12th, but to crack the Top 10, he’ll need to surpass Gary Payton and Isiah Thomas.
Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s triple-double king, is also making noise in the assists category. With 10,060 career assists, Westbrook is just 75 away from passing Magic Johnson for 7th. If he keeps his pace, he’ll soon challenge Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for a spot in the Top 5.
Nikola Jokić is on a tear with triple-doubles, notching 10 in just 19 games this season. If he keeps this up, he’ll be only eight away from passing Oscar Robertson for 2nd all-time. With 12 games scheduled in December, Jokić has a real shot at making history.
Rick Carlisle, coaching through injuries, is just three wins from reaching 1,000 for his career. Only 10 coaches in NBA history have hit that mark, making this a significant milestone. Doc Rivers, meanwhile, needs five wins to pass George Karl for 6th on the all-time wins list, with Pat Riley just 40 wins ahead.
On the team front, LaMelo Ball could move into the Hornets’ Top 5 in career assists. Trae Young, despite injuries, is 313 points away from passing John Drew for 5th on the Hawks’ all-time scoring list. Nic Claxton is one block from passing Derrick Coleman for 5th on the Nets’ franchise blocks list. LaMelo Ball is 92 assists from passing David Wesley for 4th on the Hornets’ assists list. Nikola Vučević needs 12 blocks to pass Luc Longley for 15th on the Bulls’ all-time list and 15 threes to pass Michael Jordan for 6th. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are both closing in on Cleveland’s Top 5 in blocks. Ivica Zubac needs eight blocks to pass Michael Olowokandi for 6th on the Clippers’ franchise list. Ja Morant is seven steals from entering the Grizzlies’ Top 10 in that category. Giannis Antetokounmpo is 34 threes behind Pat Connaughton for 5th on the Bucks’ all-time list. Anthony Edwards needs 20 assists to pass Terrell Brandon for 5th on the Timberwolves’ list. Zion Williamson is five steals from passing Tyreke Evans for 10th on the Pelicans’ all-time list. Trey Murphy III is 37 field goals from passing Ryan Anderson for 9th on the Pelicans’ list. Joel Embiid is 10 blocks from passing Theo Ratliff for 4th on the 76ers’ franchise list. Tyrese Maxey is two 3-point attempts from passing Robert Covington for 2nd on the Sixers’ franchise list. Devin Booker needs 13 rebounds to pass Dan Majerle for 10th on the Suns’ franchise list.
Other milestones to watch this season include LeBron James moving to 1st in games played and field goals made. Coaches Kenny Atkinson and Joe Mazzulla are both closing in on 200 career wins. In the Eastern Conference, Kyle Lowry and CJ McCollum are nearing franchise and league milestones. In the Western Conference, Brook Lopez, Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Buddy Hield, and Al Horford are all on the verge of major statistical achievements.
With so many milestones on the line, December could be a month of unforgettable NBA history. But here’s a question for fans: do you think Durant or Harden will reach their next milestone first? Or will a surprise player steal the spotlight? Let us know your predictions in the comments below—because in sports, anything can happen!
