Wikipedia

List of NBA career personal fouls leaders

This is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) players by total career regular season personal fouls recorded, followed by a progressive list of personal fouls leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1][2] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the career record with 4,657 personal fouls, while Darryl Dawkins holds the single-season record with 386 in the 1983–84 season.

Color and symbol legend
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
§ Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026[3]

Personal fouls leaders

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (right) has the most personal fouls in NBA history.

Statistics accurate as of April 13, 2026.

NBA career personal fouls leaders (top 50)
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years)[b] Total personal fouls Games played Personal fouls per game
average[c]
1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)		 4,657 1,560 2.99
2 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)		 4,578 1,476 3.10
3 Robert Parish* C Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997)		 4,443 1,611 2.76
4 Charles Oakley PF Chicago Bulls (1985–1988, 2001–2002)
New York Knicks (1988–1998)
Toronto Raptors (1998–2001)
Washington Wizards (2002–2003)
Houston Rockets (2004)		 4,421 1,282 3.45
5 Hakeem Olajuwon* C Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)		 4,383 1,238 3.54
6 Buck Williams PF New Jersey Nets (1981–1989)
Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1996)
New York Knicks (1996–1998)		 4,267 1,307 3.26
7 Elvin Hayes* PF/C San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972)
Capital/Washington Bullets (1972–1981)
Houston Rockets (1981–1984)		 4,193 1,303 3.22
8 Clifford Robinson SF/PF Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1997)
Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)
Detroit Pistons (2001–2002)
Golden State Warriors (2003–2004)
New Jersey Nets (2004–2007)		 4,175 1,380 3.02
9 Kevin Willis PF/C Atlanta Hawks (1984–1994, 2004–2005)
Miami Heat (1994–1995)
Golden State Warriors (1995–1997)
Houston Rockets (1997–1999)
Toronto Raptors (1999–2001)
Denver Nuggets (2001–2002)
San Antonio Spurs (2002–2004)
Dallas Mavericks (2006–2007)		 4,172 1,424 2.93
10 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)		 4,146 1,207 3.44
Otis Thorpe PF/C Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988)
Houston Rockets (1988–1995)
Portland Trail Blazers (1995)
Detroit Pistons (1995–1997)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1997–1998)
Sacramento Kings (1998)
Washington Wizards (1998–1999)
Miami Heat (1999–2000)
Charlotte Hornets (2000–2001)		 1,257 3.30
12 James Edwards C Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1979)
Indiana Pacers (1979–1981)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1981–1983)
Phoenix Suns (1983–1988)
Detroit Pistons (1988–1992, 1995–1996)
Los Angeles Clippers (1992)
Portland Trail Blazers (1994–1995)
Chicago Bulls (1996)		 4,042 1,168 3.46
13 Patrick Ewing* C New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002)		 4,034 1,183 3.41
14 Vince Carter* SG/SF Toronto Raptors (1998–2005)
New Jersey Nets (2005–2009)
Orlando Magic (2009–2010)
Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)
Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)
Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)
Sacramento Kings (2017–2018)
Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020)		 3,995 1,541 2.59
15 John Stockton* PG Utah Jazz (1984–2003) 3,942 1,504 2.62
16 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)		 3,912 1,242 3.15
17 Jack Sikma* C/PF Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1986)
Milwaukee Bucks (1986–1991)		 3,879 1,107 3.50
18 Hal Greer* SG Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) 3,855 1,122 3.44
19 Terry Cummings SF/PF San Diego Clippers (1982–1984)
Milwaukee Bucks (1984–1989, 1995–1999)
San Antonio Spurs (1989–1995)
Seattle SuperSonics (1999–2000)
Golden State Warriors (2001–2002)
New York Knicks (2002)		 3,836 1,183 3.24
20 Shawn Kemp PF/C Seattle SuperSonics (1989–1997)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–2000)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2002)
Orlando Magic (2002–2003)		 3,826 1,051 3.64
21 Tom Chambers PF/SF San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1981–1983)
Seattle SuperSonics (1983–1988)
Phoenix Suns (1988–1993)
Utah Jazz (1993–1995)
Philadelphia 76ers (1997)		 3,742 1,107 3.38
22 Paul Pierce* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1998–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)		 3,643 1,343 2.71
23 Bill Laimbeer C Cleveland Cavaliers (1980–1982)
Detroit Pistons (1982–1994)		 3,633 1,068 3.40
24 Vlade Divac* C Los Angeles Lakers (1989–1996)
Charlotte Hornets (1996–1998)
Sacramento Kings (1998–2004, 2005)		 3,609 1,134 3.18
25 Dirk Nowitzki* PF Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) 3,601 1,522 2.37
26 Kurt Thomas PF/C Miami Heat (1995–1997)
Dallas Mavericks (1997–1998)
New York Knicks (1998–2005, 2012–2013)
Phoenix Suns (2005–2007)
Seattle SuperSonics (2007–2008)
San Antonio Spurs (2008–2009)
Milwaukee Bucks (2009–2010)
Chicago Bulls (2010–2011)
Portland Trail Blazers (2011–2012)		 3,579 1,110 3.22
27 Kevin Garnett* PF Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015)		 3,561 1,462 2.44
28 Carmelo Anthony* SF Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)
New York Knicks (2011–2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)		 3,543 1,260 2.81
29 Walt Bellamy* C Chicago Packers/Zephyrs (1961–1963)
Baltimore Bullets (1963–1968)
New York Knicks (1966–1969)
Detroit Pistons (1969–1970)
Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans Jazz (1974–1975)		 3,536 1,043 3.39
30 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)		 3,527 1,068 3.30
31 Rick Mahorn PF/C Washington Bullets (1980–1985)
Detroit Pistons (1985–1989, 1996–1998)
Philadelphia 76ers (1989–1991, 1998–1999)
New Jersey Nets (1992–1996)		 3,499 1,117 3.13
32 Bailey Howell* SF/PF Detroit Pistons (1959–1964)
Baltimore Bullets (1964–1966)
Boston Celtics (1966–1970)
Philadelphia 76ers (1970–1971)		 3,498 950 3.68
33 Danny Schayes C Utah Jazz (1981–1983)
Denver Nuggets (1983–1990)
Milwaukee Bucks (1990–1993)
Los Angeles Lakers (1993–1994)
Phoenix Suns (1994–1995)
Miami Heat (1995–1996)
Orlando Magic (1996–1999)		 3,494 1,138 3.07
34 Juwan Howard PF/SF Washington Bullets/Wizards (1994–2001)
Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002)
Denver Nuggets (2002–2003)
Orlando Magic (2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (2004–2007)
Dallas Mavericks (2007–2008)
Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2010)
Charlotte Bobcats (2010–2011)
Miami Heat (2011–2013)		 3,493 1,208 2.89
35 Sam Lacey C Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City-Omaha/Kansas City Kings (1970–1982)
New Jersey Nets (1982–1983)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1983)		 3,473 1,002 3.47
36 Jerome Kersey SF/PF Portland Trail Blazers (1984–1995)
Golden State Warriors (1995–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–1997)
Seattle SuperSonics (1997–1998)
San Antonio Spurs (1998–2001)
Milwaukee Bucks (2001)		 3,455 1,153 3.00
37 Dolph Schayes* PF/C Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1948–1964) 3,432 996 3.45
38 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)		 3,383 1,196 2.83
39 Tree Rollins C Atlanta Hawks (1977–1988)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1988–1990)
Detroit Pistons (1990–1991)
Houston Rockets (1991–1993)
Orlando Magic (1993–1995)		 3,377 1,156 2.92
40 Bill Bridges PF/C St. Louis Hawks/Atlanta Hawks (1962–1971)
Philadelphia 76ers (1971–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975)		 3,375 926 3.64
41 Detlef Schrempf SF/PF Dallas Mavericks (1985–1989)
Indiana Pacers (1989–1993)
Seattle SuperSonics (1993–1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2001)		 3,360 1,136 2.96
42 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) 3,353 1,346 2.49
43 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003)		 3,329 1,178 2.83
44 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) 3,304 1,392 2.37
Russell Westbrook^ PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)
Denver Nuggets (2024–2025)
Sacramento Kings (2025–present)		 1,301 2.54
46 Charles Barkley* PF Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)		 3,287 1,073 3.06
47 Clyde Drexler* SG Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)		 3,285 1,086 3.02
Lenny Wilkens* PG St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975)		 1,077 3.05
49 John Havlicek* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1962–1978) 3,281 1,270 2.58
50 Tyson Chandler C Los Angeles Clippers (2001–2002)
Chicago Bulls (2002–2006)
New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2006–2009)
Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2010)
Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011, 2014–2018)
New York Knicks (2011–2014)
Phoenix Suns (2018–2019)
Los Angeles Lakers (2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)		 3,268 1,231 2.65


Progressive list of personal fouls leaders

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Darryl Dawkins holds the single-season personal fouls record with 386.

Statistics accurate as of April 13, 2026.

Team abbreviations (team listed is the one a player was on when he established the record)
ATLAtlanta HawksDENDenver NuggetsMIAMiami HeatPHXPhoenix Suns
BLBBaltimore Bullets (1944–1954)DTFDetroit FalconsMILMilwaukee BucksPORPortland Trail Blazers
BALBaltimore Bullets (1963–1973)DETDetroit PistonsMNLMinneapolis LakersROCRochester Royals
BOSBoston CelticsFTWFort Wayne PistonsMINMinnesota TimberwolvesSACSacramento Kings
BKNBrooklyn NetsGSWGolden State WarriorsNJNNew Jersey NetsSEASeattle SuperSonics
CAPCapital BulletsHOUHouston RocketsNOJNew Orleans JazzSTLSt. Louis Hawks
CHOCharlotte HornetsINDIndiana PacersNOPNew Orleans PelicansSYRSyracuse Nationals
CHIChicago BullsKCKKansas City KingsNYKNew York KnicksTORToronto Raptors
CHSChicago StagsLACLos Angeles ClippersORLOrlando MagicUTAUtah Jazz
CINCincinnati RoyalsLALLos Angeles LakersPHIPhiladelphia 76ersWSBWashington Bullets
CLECleveland CavaliersMEMMemphis GrizzliesPHWPhiladelphia Warriors
Progressive personal fouls leaders
Season Year-by-year leader[4] PF Active player leader PF Career record PF Single-season record PF Season
1946–47Stan MiasekDTF208Stan Miasek
DTF 1946–47
CHS 1947–48		208Stan Miasek
DTF 1946–47
CHS 1947–48		208Stan MiasekDTF2081946–47
1947–48Chuck GilmurCHS231400400Chuck GilmurCHS2311947–48
1948–49Ed SadowskiPHW273Ed Sadowski
PHW 1948–49
BLB 1949–50		649Ed Sadowski
PHW 1948–49
BLB 1949–50		649Ed SadowskiPHW2731948–49
1949–50George Mikan*MNL297893893George Mikan*MNL2971949–50
1950–51308Joe Fulks*PHW1,110Joe Fulks*PHW1,1103081950–51
1951–522861,3651,3651951–52
1952–53Monk MeinekeFTW3341,6841,684Monk MeinekeFTW3341952–53
1953–54Earl Lloyd*SYR3031,7741,7741953–54
1954–55Vern Mikkelsen*MNL319Arnie Risen*
ROC 1954–55
BOS 1955–56		1,791Arnie Risen*
ROC 1954–55
BOS 1955–56		1,7911954–55
1955–562,0912,0911955–56
1956–57312Vern Mikkelsen*MNL2,267Vern Mikkelsen*MNL2,2671956–57
1957–58Walter DukesDET3112,5662,5661957–58
1958–593322,8122,8121958–59
1959–60Tom Gola*PHW311Dolph Schayes*
SYR 1959–63
PHI 1963–64		2,7161959–60
1960–61Paul Arizin*PHW3353,012Dolph Schayes*
SYR 1960–63
PHI 1963–64		3,012Paul Arizin*PHW3351960–61
1961–62Tom MescheryPHW3303,1793,1791961–62
1962–63Zelmo Beaty*STL3123,3563,3561962–63
1963–64Wayne Embry*CIN3253,4323,4321963–64
1964–65Bailey Howell*BAL345Jack Twyman*CIN2,660Bailey Howell*BAL3451964–65
1965–66Zelmo Beaty*STL3442,7821965–66
1966–67Joe StrawderDETRichie Guerin*STL2,6941966–67
1967–68Bill BridgesSTL366Bailey Howell*BOS2,718Bill BridgesSTL3661967–68
1968–69Billy Cunningham*PHI3293,0031968–69
1969–70Jim DavisATL3353,2641969–70
1970–71Dave Cowens*BOS350Hal Greer*PHI3,511Hal Greer*PHI3,5111970–71
1971–723143,7793,7791971–72
1972–73Neal WalkPHX3233,8553,8551972–73
1973–74Kevin PorterCAP319Walt Bellamy*
ATL 1973–74
NOJ 1974		3,5341973–74
1974–75Bob Dandridge*MIL
Phil Jackson*[d]NYK		3303,5361974–75
1975–76Charlie Scott*BOS356John Havlicek*BOS2,8881975–76
1976–77Lonnie SheltonNYK3633,0961976–77
1977–783503,2811977–78
1978–79Bill RobinzineKCK367Paul SilasSEA2,985Bill RobinzineKCK3671978–79
1979–80Darryl DawkinsPHI328Elvin Hayes*
WSB 1979–81
HOU 1981–84		3,2511979–80
1980–81Ben PoquetteUTA3423,5511980–81
1981–82Steve JohnsonKCK3723,838Steve JohnsonKCK3721981–82
1982–83Darryl DawkinsNJN3794,070Elvin Hayes*HOU4,070Darryl DawkinsNJN3791982–83
1983–843864,1934,1933861983–84
1984–85Hakeem Olajuwon*HOU344Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL3,7521984–85
1985–86Charles Barkley*PHI3334,0001985–86
1986–87Steve JohnsonPOR3404,245Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL4,2451986–87
1987–88Patrick Ewing*NYK3324,4614,4611987–88
1988–89Grant LongMIA3374,6574,6571988–89
1989–90Rik SmitsIND328Jack Sikma*MIL3,6611989–90
1990–91Sam MitchellMIN3383,8791990–91
1991–92Tyrone HillGSW315Robert Parish*
BOS 1991–94
CHO 1994–96
CHI 1996–97		3,8001991–92
1992–93Stanley RobertsLAC3324,0011992–93
1993–94Shawn KempSEA3124,1911993–94
1994–95Shawn BradleyPHI3384,3231994–95
1995–96Elden CampbellLAL
Otis ThorpeDET		3004,4031995–96
1996–97Shawn KempSEA3204,4431996–97
1997–98Ervin JohnsonMIL321Buck WilliamsNYK4,2671997–98
1998–99Danny FortsonDEN212Hakeem Olajuwon*
HOU 1998–2001
TOR 2001–02		4,0071998–99
1999–00Shawn KempCLE3714,0951999–2000
2000–01Aaron WilliamsNJN3194,2362000–01
2001–02Kurt ThomasNYK3414,3832001–02
2002–03344Karl Malone*
UTA 2002–03
LAL 2003–04		4,4622002–03
2003–04Theo RatliffATL & POR3004,5782003–04
2004–05Jason CollinsNJN322Kevin WillisATL4,1612004–05
2005–06Al HarringtonATL301Clifford RobinsonNJN4,0772005–06
2006–07Andris BiedriņšGSW3044,1752006–07
2007–08Mikki MooreSAC310Shaquille O'Neal*
MIA 2007–08
PHX 2008–09
CLE 2009–10
BOS 2010–11		3,6042007–08
2008–09Jason ThompsonSAC3143,8572008–09
2009–10Dwight Howard*ORL2874,0262009–10
2010–11DeMarcus CousinsSAC3324,1462010–11
2011–12257Kurt Thomas
POR 2011–12
NYK 2012–13		3,5272011–12
2012–13Amir JohnsonTOR3013,5792012–13
2013–14Andre Drummond^DET273Kevin Garnett*
BKN 2013–15
MIN 2015		3,3822013–14
2014–152853,4912014–15
2015–16Giannis Antetokounmpo^MIL258Paul Pierce*LAC3,6032015–16
2016–17DeMarcus CousinsSAC & NOP278Vince Carter*
MEM 2016–17
SAC 2017–18
ATL 2018–20		3,6682016–17
2017–18Karl-Anthony Towns^MIN2853,7642017–18
2018–192923,9052018–19
2019–20Dillon Brooks^MEM2783,9952019–20
2020–21237Dwight Howard*
PHI 2020–21
LAL 2021–22		3,7972020–21
2021–22Jae'Sean Tate^HOU2863,9122021–22
2022–23Domantas Sabonis^SAC279Kyle Lowry^
MIA 2022–24
PHI 2024		2,9532022–23
2023–24Jusuf Nurkić^PHX2543,0992023–24
2024–25Jaren Jackson Jr.^MEM257Chris Paul†SAS3,1852024–25
2025–26Wendell Carter Jr.^ORL267Russell Westbrook^SAC3,3042025–26
SeasonYear-by-year leaderPFActive player leaderPFCareer recordPFSingle-season recordPFSeason

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for two calendar years.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth.
  4. ↑ Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach.

References

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  1. ↑ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Personal Fouls". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Personal Fouls". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2026 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ "NBA Regular Season PF - Season Leaders". NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
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