American basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 38,387 points in total, is undoubtedly the best player to score the most points in the history of the National Basketball League. The current superstar of basketball, LeBron James, with 37,062 points, and former American player Karl Malone, with 36,928 points in his career, also deserve their mentions among the highest points scorers in NBA history.
Black Mamba Kobe Bryant is now the third most points in NBA history and finds himself a sandwich between Great Michael Jordan and Karl Malone in the NBA record books. Bryant reached the milestone in the 1,269 games of his superb career – after hitting two free throws during the second quarter of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Let’s take a look at the most points in NBA.
Highest Points Scorers In NBA History
Content Summery
With Kobe Bryant’s career in its twilight and the current fortunes of the Los Angeles Lakers, the focus now shifts more towards where Kobe Bryant the individual will end up in the record books vs. where a Kobe-led team will finish in the standings. And here goes the list of 25 players who are the highest points scorers in NBA history.
15. Paul Pierce – 26,397 Points
At number 15 among the highest points scorers in NBA history, we have Paul Pierce.
He won the championship once, was NBA Finals MVP once, and was named All-Star 10 times. With 26,397 points in his career, he is one of the leading point scorers in the NBA.
14. Tim Duncan – 26,496 Points
At number 14 in the list of highest points scorers in NBA history, we have Tim Duncan. He is the greatest power forwards of all time, having won five championships.
Besides, he has also achieved two MVPs, three NBA Finals MVPs, and was an All-Star 15 times. He also scored a staggering 26,496 points.
13. Dominique Wilkins – 26,668 Points
At number 13 in the list of most points in NBA history, we have Dominique Wilkins. NBA Hall of Famer Dominique is viewed as one of the greatest dunkers of all time.
He was also called “The Human Highlight Reel.” In his glittering career, he scored 26,668 points to become one of the NBA’s best scorers.
12. Oscar Robertson – 26,710 Points
At number 12, we have Oscar Robertson. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season.
Despite fighting racism all throughout his high school and college career, he became one of the greatest players of all time, scoring 26,710 points.
11. Hakeem Olajuwon – 26,946 Points
At number 11 in the list of highest points scorers in NBA history, we have Hakeem Olajuwon. He is also among the best NBA centers of all time.
Olajuwon was MVP once and NBA Finals MVP twice. He scored 26,946 points in his entire career.
10. Elvin Hayes – 27,313 Points
At number 10 in the list of All-Time Leaders in Point Scoring, we have Elvin Hayes. One of the best players in NBA history, he has scored 27,313 points in his career.
Besides his immense goals per game, he also averaged 12.5 rebounds a game in his entire career.
9. Moses Malone – 27,409 Points
At number 9 in the list of most points in NBA history, we have Moses Malone. A Hall of Famer, he was MVP thrice and an All-Star 12 times.
With 27,409 points, he is among the best scorers of all time. With 17,834 rebounds, he is third on the all-time total rebounds list.
8. Shaquille O’Neal – 28,596 Points
At number 8 in the list of most points in NBA history, we have Shaquille O’Neal. He was one of the heaviest players ever to play among the best teams in the NBA.
Shaq used his size to become one of the best centers of all time. He is among the top 10 scorers in NBA history and scored 28,596 points.
7. Wilt Chamberlain – 31,419 Points
At number 7 in the list of highest points scorers in NBA history, we have Wilt Chamberlain. One of the best NBA scorers of all time, he is the only player to score 100 points in a game and average 40-50 points in a season.
As a center, he is one of the best of all time, with several records in rebounding and scoring. Overall he scored 31,419 points.
6. Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560 Points
At number 6 is 44-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, who is also one of the oldest NBA players currently in action. He was one of the best power forwards in history and the first European to start an All-Star game and receive the MVP award.
One of the most prolific scorers in the NBA, he has one of the best NBA career stats of all time. He scored 31,560 points in his career.
5. Michael Jordan – 32,292 Points
At number 5 in the list of most points in NBA history, we have Michael Jordan. The greatest basketball player of all time, his persona transcends his on-court stats, not that they were shabby.
And who doesn’t know the basketball guy wearing the coolest Air-Jordan sneakers in the movie “Space Jam”. He has scored 32,292 points in his career and is also the top NBA playoff scorer, and won most NBA scoring titles.
4. Kobe Bryant – 33,643 Points
At number 3 in the list of points leaders of all time, we have Kobe Bryant. With a 20-year career, he remained loyal to the Lakers till his death which gave him the opportunity to play straight out of high school.
In his glittering career, he notched up 33,643 points and is one of the greatest basketball players in the NBA in the modern era.
3. Karl Malone – 36,928 Points
At number 3 in the list of Most Points In NBA History, we have Karl Malone. He is also one of the most followed athletes on Twitter.
Karl is among NBA’s all-time leading scorers, as he notched up 36,928 career points. He was MVP twice, All-star 14 times, and 11-time member of the All-NBA first team.
2. LeBron James – 37,062 Points
At number 2 is LeBron James. With 4 NBA titles, 4 MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs, and 18 All-Star, he is the Jordan of today’s basketball.
Apart from being one of the basketball players with the highest net worth, he is among the top 10 players in NBA history and has scored 37,062 points to date.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 38,387 Points
As we all know, he is one of the NBA players diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. At number 1, who has the most points in NBA history, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He is hands down the greatest college basketball player of all time, having won three national championships thrice and being named the MVP thrice. He is also the highest points scorer in NBA history, with 38,387 points in total.
Conclusion
These players on our list are the greatest and most prolific scorers in NBA history. Leave your opinion about the Highest Points Scorers In NBA History and their rankings in the comment box below.
Highest Point Scorers In NBA – All-Time Table
| Rank | Player | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | 38387 |
| 2. | LeBron James | 37062 |
| Karl Malone | 36928 | |
| 4. | Kobe Bryant* | 33643 |
| 5. | Michael Jordan* | 32292 |
| 6. | Dirk Nowitzki | 31560 |
| 7. | Wilt Chamberlain* | 31419 |
| 8. | Shaquille O’Neal* | 28596 |
| 9. | Carmelo Anthony | 27749 |
| 10. | Moses Malone* | 27409 |
| 11. | Elvin Hayes* | 27313 |
| 12. | Hakeem Olajuwon* | 26946 |
| 13. | Oscar Robertson* | 26710 |
| 14. | Dominique Wilkins* | 26668 |
| 15. | Tim Duncan* | 26496 |
| 16. | Paul Pierce* | 26397 |
| 17. | John Havlicek* | 26395 |
| 18. | Kevin Garnett* | 26071 |
| 19. | Vince Carter | 25728 |
| 20. | Alex English* | 25613 |
| 21. | Reggie Miller* | 25279 |
| 22. | Jerry West* | 25192 |
| 23. | Patrick Ewing* | 24815 |
| 24. | Kevin Durant | 24652 |
| 25. | Ray Allen* | 24505 |
Highest Points Scorers In NBA – Infographics
FAQs Regarding Highest Points Scorers In NBA
Q. Who has the most points in NBA history?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time scoring leader in NBA with 38,387 points.
Q. Who is the all-time best scorer in NBA?
In the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leader in points scored with 38,487. The closest active player is The King himself, Lebron James, with 35,367 points. The only way he can surpass Kareem is if he stays healthy.
Q. Who scored 70 points in an NBA game?
During his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, Elgin Baylor had the first 70-point game in NBA history with a 71-point, 25-rebound effort in November 1960. The following year, Chamberlain broke Baylor’s record with a 78-point game, which came against Baylor, who scored 63 points in the matchup, and the Lakers.
Q. Why do some NBA home teams sit on another side of the scorer’s table?
Since there are no fans and the stadium is one central location, you would think the home team would be on the right side of the scoreboard now more than ever. That’s why NBA home teams sit on another side of the scorer’s table.
Q. Why do basketball teams warm up opposite their bench?
In the first half, almost all teams shoot at the basket in front of their bench so the coach can shout defensive instructions to his team when the ball is in play in the second half. Originally developed by former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich.
Last Updated On: April 2024