Seven NBA Surprises: The Hidden Record-Breakers You Need to Know

It’s no secret that the NBA is brimming with talent. From marquee names like LeBron James and Nikola Jokić to emerging stars like Luka Dončić, the league constantly showcases jaw-dropping performances. However, there are players quietly making history—without the global spotlight beaming down on them every single night. Based on a lively discussion from the Spanish YouTube channel Drafteados, here are seven under-the-radar ballers who are setting remarkable, and sometimes downright shocking, NBA records this season.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)

Historic Feat: At least 25 points and 14 rebounds per game for a Knicks player.

Yes, you read that right. No player wearing a Knicks jersey had ever averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds in a season—until Karl-Anthony Towns came along. Even historically revered big men for the franchise never reached those benchmarks. The league-wide context is even more staggering: only ten players have ever posted numbers like this, and the last time it happened was over 30 years ago, courtesy of Moses Malone in 1982. Towns also sprinkles in two three-pointers per game, underscoring his versatility as a true “unicorn.”

2. Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics)

Historic Feat: Three made three-pointers and three assists per game off the bench.

Never in NBA history has a bench player averaged both three triples and three assists per game for an entire season. Four NBA players—Malik Beasley, Davis Bertans, Jordan Clarkson, and Eric Gordon—had reached the three-threes mark, but Pritchard’s also dishing out three assists. While other sixth-man scorers like Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford could fill the bucket, they never combined that volume of three-point makes with consistent playmaking. Pritchard is proving that you don’t need a starting role to leave a profound mark on the stats sheet.

3. LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)

Historic Feat: Over 10 three-point attempts per game, shooting below 35% from deep.

Joining rare company like Stephen Curry and James Harden in attempting double-digit threes each night is a bold move. But here’s the kicker: neither Curry, Harden, nor any other high-volume three-point shooter has ever done it below a 35% clip—until LaMelo Ball. He’s currently firing more than 13 threes a game, placing him among the NBA’s most trigger-happy shooters. Although his accuracy hovers around 34%, Ball’s confidence in launching from long range is redefining what’s possible (or at least permissible) for a team that encourages him to let it fly.

4. Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

Historic Feat: 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists per game—first-ever for a Pistons player.

The Motor City has had its fair share of legends—from Isiah Thomas to Grant Hill—yet no Pistons player has ever averaged a near 24/6/9 line. Cunningham is doing just that. In the past 50 years, only Grant Hill and Blake Griffin posted even a 20/5/5 in Detroit, so Cunningham’s rise to this all-around stat profile is borderline unprecedented in Pistons’ history. While the Pistons are in a rebuilding phase, Cade’s performance signals a bright future for the franchise.

5. Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)

Historic Feat: First Hawks player with 12 assists per game.

Surprised? Despite the Hawks having had talented passers (Doc Rivers, Mookie Blaylock, and even spottier stints from others), none ever hit a 12-assist average over a season. In NBA history, only five players have topped that threshold, the most recent being John Stockton in 1995. Combine those 12 assists with Trae’s 22 points per game, and he’s in a league of his own, right there with Magic Johnson—literally. Magic is the only player to hit that points-assists combo before. Young’s playmaking is rewriting the Hawks’ record books and placing him among the all-time great passers.

6. Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)

Historic Feat: 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game with 70% shooting from the field.

No one in NBA history has managed that exact line—10/10/2.5 while converting 70% from the field. That’s exactly what the Jazz’s second-year center is doing. True, shot-blocking specialists like Rudy Gobert and DeAndre Jordan have flirted with those numbers, but Kessler is the first to lock them in for a full season pace. From finishing alley-oops to swatting shots, he’s filling the stat sheet in a way that sets him apart from similarly skilled big men. Off the court, he’s also celebrating personal milestones—his partner was recently crowned Miss America, giving Kessler a dream season both on and off the hardwood.

7. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

Historic Feat: 25 points and 4 blocks per game—plus multiple three-pointers.

The hype around Wembanyama was astronomical before the season, and he’s still exceeding expectations. Only three NBA legends—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Patrick Ewing—have averaged at least 25 points and 4 blocks. The difference? None of them were anywhere near a consistent three-point threat while hitting those marks. Wemby is calmly draining over 100 threes, turning the notion of a 7-footer into an entirely new beast. This is uncharted territory: 25-point scorers who protect the rim at an elite level simply do not space the floor like this—until now.

Final Thoughts

These seven players are quietly weaving their way into the NBA’s stat-based folklore. While some play on lottery-bound teams and others share the stage with MVP candidates, each is carving out a unique place in league history. Their stories remind us that the NBA’s evolution continues season after season, sometimes led by the biggest superstars—but often just as powerfully by those who go unnoticed until the numbers speak for themselves.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/@DrafteadosNBA