NBA milestones watch: 8 players who could make history in 2025-26

Some of the NBA's most tenured stars are looking to move up historic lists featuring all-time greats during the upcoming campaign.

Here's a look at eight players chasing career milestones heading into the 2025-26 season.

Already revered for his unmatched longevity, James is entering his 23rd season, which will surpass Vince Carter for the most in league history. Last year, James became the first player in NBA history to appear in a game as a teenager and a 40-year-old, and he's now 50 appearances from passing Robert Parish for the most regular-season games played (1,611) as well.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer, James is 350 field goals from supplanting Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 15,837. (James made 651 field goals in 2024-25.) He's also poised to vault Reggie Miller for sixth in career 3-pointers, as the four-time MVP is only one triple behind the Indiana Pacers great.

Durant is approaching his 17th season with his fifth team, the Houston Rockets, and looks to continue climbing the all-time scoring ranks. The two-time Finals MVP is 849 points away from passing Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on the NBA's all-time list. Durant should reach this milestone, considering he's scored at least 1,000 points in 15 campaigns. He fell short in the 2014-15 and 2020-21 seasons due to injuries that restricted him to 27 and 35 games, respectively.

Sticking with former Oklahoma City Thunder stars moving up the scoring charts, Harden is 603 points away from passing Carmelo Anthony for 12th in career points and 910 from overtaking Shaquille O'Neal for the 11th spot. The three-time scoring champion has recorded at least 910 points in every season he's played except his rookie campaign. Harden dropped 1,802 points in 2024-25, the 10th-highest mark in the league.

Curry's 17th year in the NBA could see the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter reach an astounding milestone. The league's all-time leader in regular-season 3-pointers (4,058) is 292 triples away from becoming the first player to record 5,000 threes in the regular season and playoffs combined. Curry drained 311 3-pointers in 2024-25 and 357 the prior season, meaning this will likely happen later in the 2025-26 campaign.

Former Splash Brother Klay Thompson is also hoping to climb the league's all-time list for proficiency from distance. The Dallas Maverick is 108 3-pointers from surpassing Damian Lillard (2,804) for the fourth most in a career. This is doable, as Lillard is expected to miss the entire campaign due to injury. Thompson could also catch Ray Allen for third all time with 277 threes made this season, a mark he's reached just once (2022-23) in his decorated 12-season career. Harden is second on the list with 3,175.

Might as well mention George while we're discussing the all-time 3-pointers list. The Philadelphia 76ers forward would surpass Kyle Korver (2,450) for eighth place if he drains 102 shots from deep. George, who's entering his 16th NBA season, hit 243 threes in his last fully healthy year with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023-24. The 35-year-old appeared in just 41 games during his maiden campaign with the 76ers because of adductor and knee injuries.

A three-time MVP, Jokic set an NBA record last season with the first 30-20-20 triple-double. The playmaking big man is 18 triple-doubles away from passing Oscar Robertson (181) for the second most in league history. Jokic's 34 such games led the league in 2024-25. The Serbian begins the year with 164 career regular-season triple-doubles, sitting 39 shy of Russell Westbrook's all-time mark (203). Westbrook is currently a free agent after declining his player option with the Denver Nuggets in June.

Speaking of Balkan MVP candidates, newly trim Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is 18 triple-doubles away from becoming the seventh player with 100 in a career. Doncic, who already has the seventh most all time (Harden sits eighth with 80), would overtake Jason Kidd (107) for sixth if he adds 26 triple-doubles this season. The most Doncic has recorded in a single campaign is 21, which he did in 2023-24 as a member of the Mavericks under the tutelage of Kidd.