The plus-minus statistic is an analytic tool used to measure a player’s impact on the game. It is calculated by subtracting a team’s total points scored while a specific player is on the court from the total points scored against that same team while that same player is on the court. The plus-minus statistic is an important metric for evaluating a player’s contribution to their team’s success and can often be used to compare players across different eras. So, who has the highest plus-minus in NBA history?
The Player with the Highest All-Time Plus-minus
The player with the highest all-time plus-minus in NBA history is San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan. Duncan, who played in the NBA from 1997 to 2016, is the only player in league history to have a career plus-minus of more than 5,000. He achieved this impressive feat by averaging a plus-minus of +4.8 points per game throughout his career.
Duncan’s Impact on the Spurs
Duncan’s impressive plus-minus is a testament to his tremendous impact on the San Antonio Spurs during his 19-year career. He led the Spurs to five NBA championships and during his tenure, the Spurs had the second-best winning percentage in the NBA. Duncan was a consistent producer on both ends of the floor and was named to the All-Defensive team 15 times. He was also selected to the All-NBA team 15 times and was a two-time MVP.
Other Players with Impressive Plus-Minus Ratings
Although Duncan has the highest all-time plus-minus, there have been many other players who have had impressive plus-minus numbers throughout NBA history.
LeBron James
LeBron James is another player who has had an impressive plus-minus rating throughout his career. James has a career plus-minus of +3,093 and is currently fourth on the all-time list. He has been a consistent producer on both ends of the floor throughout his career and has been named to the All-NBA team 15 times.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is another player who had an impressive plus-minus rating throughout his career. He had a career plus-minus of +2,955 and is currently fifth on the all-time list. Jordan was a dominant force on both ends of the floor and was named to the All-Defensive team nine times. He was also selected to the All-NBA team 14 times and was a five-time MVP.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is another player who had an impressive plus-minus rating throughout his career. He had a career plus-minus of +2,890 and is currently sixth on the all-time list. Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force on both ends of the floor and was named to the All-Defensive team five times. He was also selected to the All-NBA team 19 times and was a six-time MVP.
Conclusion
The plus-minus statistic is an important metric for evaluating a player’s contribution to their team’s success and can often be used to compare players across different eras. San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan has the highest all-time plus-minus in NBA history, with a career plus-minus of +5,000. Other players who have had impressive plus-minus ratings throughout their careers include LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.