Justin Kubatko

Whoa, it looks like I've picked up a lot of new followers today. Hello 👋 I'm the creator of Basketball Reference and builder of many of the historical databases that power StatMuse (but I'm no longer with either company). If you're into NBA stats & more, check out my Substack ⬇️ www.statitudes.com

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics ⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Had the boys stumped with this one: Who has the most 50 points & 10 assists games in NBA history? (Shouts to @statitudes.com)

Cooper Flagg last night: ✅ 29 PTS ✅ 11 AST ✅ 6 REB ✅ 5 STL ✅ 3 BLK At 19 years and 309 days old, he's the first teenager to record at least 20 points, 10 assists, and five steals in a game since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks ⭐️⭐️ Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Luka Doncic (52p/10a) is the 12th player in NBA history with 10 career 50-point games. It was his fourth career 50p/10a game, second most all time. He and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players with a 50p/10a game for multiple franchises. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers ⭐️⭐️ Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The Knicks and Spurs have both started the season 0-2. It's just the third time in NBA history both Finals teams opened the following season 0-2. It also happened in the 1969-70 (Celtics & Lakers) and 1979-80 (Sonics & Bullets) seasons. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics ⭐️⭐️ Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers ⭐️⭐️ Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Walker Kessler was 🔥 last night: ✅ 26 PTS ✅ 9 REB ✅ 12-12 FG He broke the NBA record for most field goals made without a miss by a player in a season opener, surpassing Jarrett Allen's 11-11 performance to open the 2021-22 campaign. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Anthony Edwards last night: ✅ 45 PTS ✅ 10 REB ✅ 16-29 FG ✅ 9-17 3P He joined Wilt Chamberlain (4x) and Michael Jordan (3x) as the only players in NBA history to record multiple 40-point games in season openers. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies ⭐️⭐️ Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Paul George set a franchise record for most points scored by a player in his Celtics debut with 38. He tied an NBA record for most 3P made by a player in his debut with a new team with seven. He's the second-oldest player to record at least 35 points and 5 steals in a game, trailing Stephen Curry.

Paul George scored 38 points this afternoon, breaking the record for most points by a player in his Celtics debut. The previous mark of 30 was set by Kristaps Porzingis on Oct. 25, 2023. George also hit seven triples, tying the NBA record for most 3P made by a player in his debut with a new team.

Many are touting tonight's NBA Draft as one of the deepest and most talented ever, but it will take many years to sort out its place in history. Below is an update to a piece I wrote in June 2024 on the greatest draft classes of all time. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Jalen Brunson last night: ✅ 45 PTS ✅ 14-27 FG ✅ 4-7 3P ✅ 13-15 FT Brunson is the fourth player to score at least 45 points in a Finals-clinching win. He scored 47.9% of New York's points, the fifth-highest such figure in a Finals game. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Josh Hart, New York Knicks Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The New York Knicks trailed by 27 points at halftime last night, the largest such deficit overcome to win a playoff game in NBA history. They trailed by 15 points after three quarters, matching the largest such comeback in Finals history. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

OG Anunoby was 🔥 last night: ✅ 33 PTS ✅ 10-15 FG ✅ 7-9 3P ✅ 6-6 FT He recorded the second-highest true shooting percentage (93.5%) and the third-highest effective field goal percentage (90.0%) in a 30-point game in NBA Finals history. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ OG Anunoby, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Victor Wembanyama has recorded at least 20 points, one steal, and one block in each of his last 10 playoff games. It's the longest such postseason streak since the NBA began tracking steals and blocks in 1973-74. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Victor Wembanyama last night: ✅ 32 PTS ✅ 8 REB ✅ 6 AST ✅ 3 BLK ✅ 2 STL At 22 years and 155 days old, he's the second-youngest player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30p/5r/5a in a game, trailing only Magic Johnson (20y-276d). Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️ OG Anunoby, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Karl-Anthony Towns last night: ✅ 21 PTS ✅ 13 REB ✅ 8-12 FG ✅ 3-5 3P Towns joined Dirk Nowitzki as the only listed 7-footers in NBA history to make 100 career 3P in the playoffs. He reached that mark in 66 games, 15 fewer than Nowitzki. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Josh Hart last night: ✅ 3 PTS ✅ 15 REB ✅ 6 AST ✅ 4 STL He's the first player to record at least 15 rebounds and five assists while scoring fewer than five points in an NBA Finals game since Wes Unseld in Game 2 of the 1978 Finals. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The Knicks have outscored their opponents by 272 points over the last 12 games, the largest margin in NBA history over any 12-game span, regular season or playoffs. They've won an NBA-record seven straight road playoff games by 10+ points. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Josh Hart, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

It's been 27 years since the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks last met in the NBA Finals. Here are 27 factoids about the two franchises as the NBA gets ready to crown its 80th champion. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Victor Wembanyama in the 2026 Western Conference Finals: ✅ 27.3 PPG ✅ 10.9 RPG ✅ 2.7 BPG At 22 years old, he's the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 25 PPG and 10 RPG in a conference or division finals series. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder ⭐️⭐️ Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Victor Wembanyama last night: ✅ 28 PTS ✅ 10 REB ✅ 3 BLK ✅ 2 STL Wembanyama has five 25p/10r games in these playoffs. At 22 years and 144 days old, he's the youngest player in NBA history to produce five such games in a single postseason. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️ Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Alex Caruso has scored at least 15 points with an effective FG percentage of 70% four times in the 2026 WCF. That ties James Worthy (1985), Kyrie Irving (2017), and Caleb Martin (2023) for the most such games in a single conference finals. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Alex Caruso was 🔥 last night: ✅ 22 PTS ✅ 6 AST ✅ 3 STL ✅ 5-10 FG ✅ 4-8 3P ✅ 8-8 FT He's made 18 threes this series, the most in NBA history by a bench player in a single conference finals. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder ⭐️⭐️ Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Great note from Justin Kubatko at @statitudes.com: "The Knicks have won each of their last six road playoff games by double figures, breaking a tie with the 2013 Heat and the 2017 Warriors for the longest such streak in NBA postseason history." www.statitudes.com/p/nba-game-n...

The New York Knicks' margins of victory in the Eastern Conference Finals: ✅ +11 PTS ✅ +16 PTS ✅ +13 PTS ✅ +37 PTS They are the first team in NBA conference or division finals history to record four double-digit wins in a series sweep. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The Knicks have four 30-point wins in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, tying the 2025 Thunder for the most such wins in a single postseason. They are the first team to record three series-clinching wins by 30 or more points in a single postseason. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ⭐️⭐️⭐️ OG Anunoby, New York Knicks Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals: ✅ 121 PTS ✅ 53 REB ✅ 12 BLK He's just the fifth player to record at least 100p/50r/10b through the first four games of a conference finals since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️ De'Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The New York Knicks have outscored their opponents by 225 points over the last 10 games, the highest such figure in NBA history over any 10-game span, regular season or postseason. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ OG Anunoby, New York Knicks Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

The Thunder's bench players accounted for 76 points last night, the most ever in a conference finals game. They outscored the Spurs' reserves by 53 points, the largest such difference in a game in conference finals history. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder ⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

wild but true. the Knicks' current 9-game winning streak isn't just the highest margin of victory in any 9 NBA postseason games, but the highest margin of victory in any 9 games any NBA teams have played ever

The New York Knicks have outscored their opponents by 212 points over the last nine games, the highest such figure in NBA history over any nine-game span, regular season or postseason. Read, share, subscribe ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Josh Hart, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️ Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...

Last night's three stars in the NBA: ⭐️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder ⭐️⭐️ Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder Read all about their performances and more in this morning's free game notes ⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/statitud...