Candace Parker Filling the Box Score Like Few Have Before


Note: This article was originally published on Aug. 18 and was updated on Aug. 24 and Sept. 14.

In her eighth WNBA season, Candace Parker filled the box score like few have before. Anyone who’s ever watched the 29-year-old forward play knows that she has the skills to be a nightly double-double threat, and her averages of 19.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game fall right in line with her career averages.

But it’s her next-level play-making that has vaulted Parker right back into the conversation regarding the league’s best all-around threats. In 16 regular-season games, she averaged 6.3 assists, two more than her previous career high.

In the 19-year history of the WNBA, just seven players have averaged at least six assists per game; all were guards. No player has ever averaged more than 10 rebounds while also averaging at least four assists per game, let alone six. And only two players have ever averaged at least 5.0 rebounds and assists per game for a full season: Nikki Teasley (2003) and Lindsay Whalen (2008).

Combine those numbers with Parker’s 1.8 blocks and career-high 1.9 steals per game, and her season line looks even more impressive. In fact, if she played enough games to qualify, Parker would have ranked in the top five among league leaders in points (4th), rebounds (1st), assists (1st), blocks (4th) and steals (5th) per game.

Candace Parker’s 2015 Statistics (League Rank*)
Points Per Game Rebounds Per Game Assists Per Game Blocks Per Game Steals Per Game
19.4 (4th) 10.1 (1st) 6.3 (1st) 1.8 (4th) 1.9 (5th)

(*Note: Parker has not played enough games to qualify for the league leaders.)