In the NBA, offensive charges add a strategic defensive element to the game, where players position themselves in front of the opposing team’s ball handler in a bid to draw a foul. This move requires not just quick thinking but also a deep understanding of an opponent’s tactics and a readiness to take a hit for the team. 

While taking an offensive charge isn’t going to make many highlight reels and they’re not as impactful as say a  clutch midrange jumper, it is  one of the many defensive tactics that NBA players can leverage to stop their opponents from scoring.  The other thing that a charge does, is it adds a foul to the total for the player who was driving the ball. This can be a big deal later in the game too. 

A question that comes up with curious NBA fans is which players have drawn the most offensive charges in a NBA season? The stat is relatively new compared to other metrics we track for NBA games. Players taking charges have only been tracked since 2000 or so. 

Most Charges Drawn in a NBA Season   

When it comes to drawing charges, Ersan Ilyasova has the record for most drawn in a season with 51 and the Turkish power forward shows up four times on the list. Kyle Lowry should be no surprise, the heady guard has used the player control foul to his benefit since he came into the league. He’s second on the list and shows up three times. The former all-star guard has always used charges as an effective measure on defense.  He has the most in a career (since the NBA started keeping track) wit 282 charges and counting. Some fans might be surprised seeing Boogie Cousins on the list as well. 

When you look at the full list of most charges drawn, Ilyasova, Cousins and Lowry tend to lead the way over the years. We’ll go down the top 20 list of most charges in a NBA season for you next. 

Of course, there are a few players like Brandin Podziemski who can sneak up on you if you are not a fan of their respective team (in his case the Warriors). And that was just in Podziemski’s first season in the league. We’ll likely see the fiery swiss-army knife guard all over this list going forward.

Just as players eye these critical defensive moments to turn the game around, enthusiasts looking for game-changing offers might eye promotions like 80 bonus spins for $1, seeking to maximize value from minimal investment, much like a well-placed charge can shift the momentum of a basketball game.

One player that I was surprised at seeing on the list was Glen Davis. I always remembered his play for being strong defensively, but it just never dawned on me how many charges he took. One player that’s a but of a shock to see he’s not on the list is Marcus Smart. 

Charge Stats Only Since 2010-11

I know what you’re thinking, where is Shane Battier?! Unfortunately, like most niche stats in the NBA, taking charges has only been tracked since the 2010-11 season so that’s why you’re not seeing frustrating players from the 1980’s and 1990’s like Dennis Rodman, Anderson Varejao, Derek Fisher, Bill Laimbeer, Andres Nocioni, Battier, and Raja Bell.

Speaking of Raja Bell, the excellent website 82games.com was keeping track of offensive charges taken way back in 2005-06 and by their count, Bell drew 76 offensive charges that season. If we accept that to be true then Raja Bell would be atop this list by a mile. The Steph Curry of Offensive Fouls Drawn. At least from the available data that is available. As a Pistons fan I would love to see how many charges Rodman took in his heyday.

Unlike in a pickup game where no one likes a charge being taken, the NBA values the defensive move. When a player takes a charge, it takes away a scoring opportunity for the other team. Especially during the NBA Playoffs when many of the games can come down to one or two good (or bad) possessions.