Top Ten Leading Scorers in NBA History

Where do Michael Jordan and LeBron James rank on the list of the top ten scorers in NBA history? 

The NBA has seen some great basketball players, who are called ‘buckets’ because of their scoring ability

After all, the main objective of a basketball game is to score more points than the opposing team. 

Since the NBA became a thing, there have been some great scorers in the league. Whether it is a three-pointer, a mid-range shot, or a slam dunk, these players will always get the buckets irrespective of the defence they are facing. 

In this piece, we want to take a look at the top ten leading scorers in NBA history. 

10. Carmelo Anthony- 28,289 points 

Kicking off the list in tenth place is Carmelo Anthony, who played in the NBA from 2003 to 2022. Anthony is one of the best pure scorers the NBA has ever seen, scoring a total of 28,289 points during his time in the league. 

The father of Kiyan Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2003, playing for the side until 2011 before moving to the Knicks, where he played his best basketball. 

Anthony played a total of 1,260 games in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points per game. He scored 

10,119 field goals,  made 1,731 three-pointers, and 6,320 free throws.  

9. Shaquille O’Neal- 28,596 points 

One of the great centers in NBA history sits in ninth place on this list. Shaq, as he is famously called, scored 28,596 points during a stellar career that included four titles, including three successive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Drafted in 1992 by the Orlando Magic, Shaq played for the Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics. 

Of the 28,596 points he scored, the big man scored 11,330 field goals, made 5,935 free throws, and just one three-pointer. 

8. Kevin Durant- 30,571 points 

Given that he is still one of the best players in the NBA at 37, Durant will definitely move up on the list when his career is over. 

However, he currently has 30,571 points, putting him in the eighth position. On scoring ability alone, Durant ranks up there. He attempts a variety of shots from the mid-range to the three-pointers to the fade-away jumper. 

As of the time of writing this piece, Durant is averaging 27.2 points per game, having played 1,123 games. He has a total of 10,542 field goals, 2,191 three-pointers, and 7,296 free throws. 

7. Wilt Chamberlain- 31,419 points 

One of the earliest superstars in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain was a giant, standing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) tall. 

He scored 31,149 points during his career and remains the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game. 

Chamberlain played a total of 1,045 games in the NBA, averaging 30.1 points per game. He scored 12,681 and made 6,057 free throws. 

6. Dirk Nowitzki- 31,546 points 

Dirk is arguably the greatest European player in the history of the NBA, and he has the stats to back the argument up. 

An NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk scored 31,546 points during his time in the NBA. 

He only played for the Mavs after he was drafted in 1998. Known for his versatility, Dirk is known for his one-legged fadeaway jumper. 

He scored 11,169 field goals, made 11,169 three-pointers, and 7,240 free throws. The German 20.7 points per game after playing a total of 1,522 games. 

5. Michael Jordan- 32,292 points 

Jordan is seen by many as the greatest basketball player of all time, but the Chicago Bulls legend is fifth on the all-time scoring list. 

This is still impressive, considering he took a break from the NBA for a period of time. Jordan played most his NBA career with the Bulls before ending his time with the Washington Wizards in 2003. 

During his time in the NBA, Jordan scored 32,292 in 1,072, averaging 30.1 points per game. A six-time NBA champion, Jordan made 12,192 field goals, 581 three pointers and 7,327 free throws. 

4. Kobe Bryant- 33,643 points 

The late great Kobe Bryant is fourth on the list with 33,643 points, all in the colours of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Kobe was a force of nature during his time with the Lakers, winning three straight championships with Shaq before winning another two with Pau Gasol. 

He averaged 25.0 points per game, playing 1,346 games. Kobe made 11,719 field goals, 1,827 three-pointers and 8,378 free throws. 

3. Karl Malone- 36,928 points 

One of the best power forwards in NBA history, Karl Malone, is third on the list with 36,928 points. 

Malone’s off pitch problems may have tainted his legacy, but he was a scoring machine. He averaged 25.0 per game after playing 1,476 games.  He made 13,528 field goals, 85 three-pointers and 9,787 free throws. 

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- 38,387 points 

Mr Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the No.1 spot for a very long time, but the 38,387 points he scored playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Lakers put him second on the list. 

Kareem remains arguably the greatest center in NBA history and he showed it by dominating the paint. He played a total of 1,560 games, averaging 24.6 points per game. 

He made 15,837, 1 three-pointer and 6,712.

1. Lebron James- 42,184 points 

For a very long time, it looked like Kareem’s point haul will not be overhauled, but Lebron James changed everything when he broke the record on February 7, 2023. 

James was not even born when Kareem set his record, but the Lakers star now stand alone at the top with 42,184 points and counting. 

The 40-year-old is averaging 27.0 points per game, having played 1,562 games. He has made 15,488 field goals, 2,559 three-pointers and 8,649 free throws. 

Depending on how long he continues to play, James could reach a half century of points.