Stat du Jour: 1000th Block will put the Smoove One in Rare Air

[lethalweapon3]

In a couple weeks, as Dolfan23 already noted, Josh Smith will reject the shot of some unfortunate soul for the 1000th time in his NBA career. The style and ferocity of many of his swats are impressive and sensational fodder for numerous http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtVCGa0YkAM. Perhaps even more impressive is the speed at which he will achieve Block # 1000 relative to other players his size.

This season, Josh will join Sammy Dalembert and Shawn Marion as entrants in the club of 77 players, drafted in the 35-plus years since the ABA (1972-73) and NBA (1973-74) began officially counting the stat, to amass 1000 blocked shots. Of this group, only seven are/were listed 6’8” or below in height. And none among this subset, other than Josh, will have returned 1000 shots to sender before the end of their sixth pro season.

Players below 6’9” with 1000 blocks** – Ranked by Career Blocks

Elton Brand (6’8”) 1382 Career blocks through 10+ seasons (active)

Terry Tyler (6’7”) 1342 Career blocks through 11 seasons

Bo Outlaw (6’8”) 1192 Career blocks through 15 seasons

Dan Roundfield (6’8”) 1117 Career blocks through 11 seasons (ABA+NBA)

Buck Williams (6’8”) 1100 Career blocks through 17 seasons

Shawn Marion (6’7”) 1014 Career blocks through 10+ seasons (active)

Josh Smith (6’8”) 987 Career blocks through 5+ seasons (active)

**(Players drafted in NBA since 1973-74, or in ABA since 1972-73, first season either league began counting blocked-shot statistics)

Of the 16 members of the Get-Those-1000-Shots-Outta-Here Club below 6’10”, only one player, the mercurial Andrei Kirilenko, blocked shots at a faster per-game pace than J-Smoove through the first six pro seasons. AK-47’s plummeting performance in recent years has brought his career average down below Josh’s, to 2.13 BPGs.

Players below 6’10” with 1000 blocks** – Ranked by blocks per game (BPG) through first 6 pro seasons

Andrei Kirlienko (6’9”) 1272 Career blocks through 8+ seasons (active) – 1049 blocks through first 420 games (2.50 BPG)

Josh Smith (6’8”) 987 Career blocks through 5+ seasons (active) – 987 blocks through first 418 games (2.36 BPG)

Charles Jones (6’9”) 1134 Career blocks through 15 seasons – 665 blocks through first 314 games (2.12 BPG)

Dan Roundfield (6’8”) 1117 Career blocks through 11 seasons (ABA+NBA) – 757 blocks through first 368 games (2.06 BPG)

Elton Brand (6’8”) 1382 Career blocks through 10+ seasons (active) – 894 blocks through first 447 games (2.00 BPG)

Terry Tyler (6’7”) 1342 Career blocks through 11 seasons – 980 blocks through first 492 games (1.99 BPG)

Ben Wallace (6’9”) 1994 Career blocks through 13+ seasons (active) – 767 blocks through first 388 games (1.98 BPG)

Chris Webber (6’9”) 1200 Career blocks through 15 seasons – 608 blocks through first 330 games (1.84 BPG)

Harvey Catchings (6’9”) 1226 Career blocks through 11 seasons – 622 blocks through first 355 games (1.75 BPG)

Bobby Jones (6’9”) 1387 Career blocks through 12 seasons (ABA+NBA) – 839 blocks through first 485 games (1.73 BPG)

Antonio McDyess (6’9”) 1047 Career blocks through 13+ seasons (active) – 728 blocks through first 432 games (1.69 BPG)

Bo Outlaw (6’8”) 1192 Career blocks through 15 seasons – 644 blocks through first 393 games (1.64 BPG)

Buck Williams (6’8”) 1100 Career blocks through 17 seasons – 616 blocks through first 491 games (1.25 BPG)

Shawn Marion (6’7”) 1014 Career blocks through 10+ seasons (active) – 566 blocks through first 452 games (1.25 BPG)

Robert Horry (6’9”) 1034 Career blocks through 16 seasons – 491 blocks through first 421 games (1.17 BPG)

Karl Malone (6’9”) 1145 Career blocks through 19 seasons – 353 blocks through first 489 games (0.72 BPG)

**(Players drafted in NBA since 1973-74, or in ABA since 1972-73, first season either league began counting blocked-shot statistics)

Sources: NBA, databasebasketball.com

~lw3

[RedDawg#8]

I always thougth Josh was listed as 6'9, and something like 6'8 1/2 officially.

And he will be the youngest player to do so as well

Edited January 25, 2010 by RedDawg#8

[lethalweapon3]

I always thougth Josh was listed as 6'9, and something like 6'8 1/2 officially.

And he will be the youngest player to do so as well

You're correct, RedDawg. NBA (not databasebasketball) should be the source of record for height, and not only do they have him (and Elton Brand) listed at 6'9" now, they had him listed at that height back when he was drafted. So that first "Gang of Seven" is no good. I'm guessing 6.850 - 6.875 feet and the NBA just rounds up.

~lw3