All Time NBA Stats Leaders and The Playoffs

I love following the all time leaders in the NBA when it comes to scoring, rebounds, blocks, assists, and steals. I regularly track the progress that all of the old timers make each month as they continue to move up the chart. Last month Kobe passing Wilt Chamberlain was probably the most notable one.

One thing that I just don't understand is why the NBA does not count playoff games as part of a player's all time stats totals. I can no longer update my stats spreadsheet each April even though I still continue to see players like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, and Steve Nash playing. When the regular season ends, the NBA does not acknowledge their continued accomplishments until next season.

It would seem that playoff ball should be the most deserving of being acknowledged in their stats since the intensity is ratcheted up and the players are playing so much harder than during the regular season. I can understand not including pre-season or exhibition games in a players total stats but I think it is ridiculous that the NBA does not include the hard work and efforts of the playoffs into a players career totals. If they did, then players like Kareem would actually have over 40,000 career points.

I understand that the NBA tracks playoff stats separately, but I think it is a misrepresentation of a player's achievement to not include playoff numbers in their all time stats. I suggest you write your congressmen and have them put some pressure on David Stern to correct this problem and have them re-calculate every player's career stats to include playoff games.