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The Whiteboard: Weird statistical nuggets from the 2019-20 NBA season

By Ian Levy

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks is introduced prior to an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks is introduced prior to an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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A hypothetical conclusion to the 2019-20 season is still way off in the distance and memories of the actual regular season have already started to fade during this extended hiatus. The biggest moments and biggest players won’t be lost, but the minutia might. That’s why I pulled together a few fun, weird and totally random statistical nuggets from the season to populate today’s edition of The Whiteboard.

Have fun impressing your friends and co-workers with these on Zoom later.

Khris Middleton was one made basket short of joining the 50-40-90 club. Just eight players in NBA history have finished a season shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent on 3-pointers and 90 percent from the free-throw line (the NBA has minimum requirements to qualify). Middleton had a career-year for the Bucks, finishing at 49.9 percent from the field, 41.8 percent on 3s and 90.8 percent on free-throws and meeting all the minimums for makes to qualify. His overall shooting line was 424-of-850 from the field. If just one more shot had rolled in he would have been part of this historic group.

LeBron James assisted Anthony Davis 172 times this season, 42 times more than the next closest assist combination (Damian Lillard to Hassan Whiteside). That gap is the same as the different between Lillard-Whiteside and James Harden to Russell Westbrook, the 18th most-frequent combination.

Rookie Matisse Thybulle became just the seventh player in NBA history, and the first rookie, to play at least 1000 minutes in a season and post steal and block percentages of 3.0 or higher.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson led the league in 3-pointers blocked for the second consecutive season. Over the past two seasons, he’s blocked 40 opponent 3-point attempts. No one else has blocked more than 24.

JaVale McGee was tied for the league-lead with 17 goaltending violations this season. Since 2008-09, his rookie season, he’s been called for goaltending 240 times. The only player with more goal-tending violations over the same time period is his current teammate, Dwight Howard, with 328. Their combined totals for that time period are more than the combined totals for the next four players on the list.

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