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NBA’s 15 Greatest Scorers: The Players Who Put Up the Numbers

The NBA is a league that thrives on scoring. Throughout its long history, the league has been home to a select group of players with an unmatched ability to put the ball in the basket. These players have a wide range of offensive skills, from silky-smooth jump shots to explosive drives to the rim.

Their scoring feats have gone beyond simple numbers and established themselves as a defining characteristic of their legacies. These players have consistently produced clutch baskets and influenced the outcome of countless games. They have dazzled fans with their remarkable offensive arsenal, rendering defences helpless and leaving spectators in awe.

Despite their different scoring styles, they all have a natural talent for scoring points. Their efforts have helped them achieve great things, such as winning championships, being selected to the All-NBA team, and setting scoring records.

As we celebrate their achievements on the court, let us find out who are 15 of the best scorers in the NBA. 

1. LeBron James

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LeBron James is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and ranks fourth in career assists.

He has been in ten NBA Finals and won four NBA titles, two with the Miami Heat, one with the Los Angeles Lakers, and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2018, James exercised his contract option and left the Cavaliers to join the Lakers, where he went on to win the 2020 NBA championship and receive his fourth Finals MVP award. On February 7, 2023, James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, with 38,652 points.

Also Read: NBA’s All-Time Team: The 15 Players Who Would Make the Ultimate Starting Five

2. Michael Jordan

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Michael Jordan is without a doubt the greatest NBA basketball player to ever play, even though numerous genuinely outstanding players came before him. He has won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, and in each of those memorable wins, he was named the Finals MVP.

 Jordan also won the league MVP award five times. Jordan participated in 14 All-Star games, winning the MVP prize in three of them. He was selected for 10 First Team All-NBA teams. He won nine NBA All-Defensive First Team honours and was named the league’s defensive player of the Year in 1988.

He was the NBA’s top scorer ten times throughout his career, which was a remarkable accomplishment. He retired with a record of 32,292 points.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played centre for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons, winning six NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Kareem was selected for the NBA All-Star Game 19 times, All-NBA Team 15 times, and NBA All-Defensive Team 11 times.

Kareem won six NBA titles with two different clubs and was awarded MVP twice. He also coached and won two more championships. From 1984 to 2023, he held the most points record of any active or former NBA player, until he was surpassed by LeBron James. At the time of his retirement, his record stood at 38,387 points in regular season games.

4. Kobe Bryant

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The late Kobe Bryant was the NBA’s closest player to perfection. Bryant was a prolific scorer who led the league in scoring twice, averaging 25 points per game and is presently ranked fourth all-time. Bryant distinguished himself from other high-profile scorers by his ability to win.

Jordan won six finals MVPs to Bryant’s two, despite the latter winning five NBA championships. Bryant’s winning mindset spilt over to the defensive end, where he was named to the NBA’s defensive team’s first team nine times.

With 81 points, he holds the record for the second-most points ever scored in an NBA game. He retired with a total of 33,643 points under his belt.

5. Shaquille O’Neal

O’Neal was the most physically intimidating player in NBA history. Opposing teams frequently used the “Hack A Shaq” technique to simply foul the 7’1″ and 325-pound Shaq, forcing him to rely on his one weakness: hitting free throws. This did not prevent O’Neal from winning four NBA championships, three of which featured the MVP award.

In 2000, he won the NBA MVP award. He also appeared in 15 All-Star games and was named All-Star MVP three times. During his career, O’Neal was named to 14 All-NBA teams. He has also won two NBA scoring titles. “Shaq” averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game over his career. He finished his career with a total of 28,596 points.

6. Tim Duncan

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Tim Duncan was a one-of-a-kind, low-maintenance superstar who left an indelible mark on his squad throughout his career. Duncan, one of the all-time great big men, excelled on offence, defence, and clutch play. He has averaged 21.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 0.8 steals in his career.

His career field goal and free throw percentages are also 50.8 and 68.4, respectively. Ten All-Star teams have chosen him, and he earned the All-Star Game MVP title in 2000. He retired with a career total of 26,496 points.

7. Kevin Durant

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The inclusion of Durant among the NBA’s All-Time Greats is bound to provoke mixed emotions. Nonetheless, one undeniable quality is his amazing ability to score while in command of the basketball. He is a four-time NBA scoring champion with a career average of 27.0 points per game.

Joining GSW was a successful move for him because he won two NBA championships with the team and was awarded Finals MVP both times. He presently holds the record of 26,892 points.

8. Karl Malone

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Karl Malone joins a long line of great players who were sometimes overlooked by Michael Jordan and the dominating Chicago Bulls. Malone’s legacy was harmed by losses in two NBA Finals games against Jordan and his colleagues.

Despite this, he remains the NBA’s third-best scorer, averaging 25.0 points per game throughout his incredible 19-year career and finishing with 36,928 points. Malone’s statistics position him among the top 20 players in NBA history, with two NBA MVP awards, 14 All-Star appearances, and 11 selections to the All-NBA first team.

9. Jerry West

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Jerry West is a retired basketball player from the United States. From 1960 until 1974, he was a point guard with the Los Angeles Lakers. His silhouette is used on the NBA logo. He had a phenomenally successful career and was named to the All-NBA First and Second Teams 12 times.

With 46.3 as his average points per game in a playoff series, he holds the NBA record for the highest points per game. He finished his career with a record 25,192 points.

10. Tony Parker

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Tony Parker is a retired French-American basketball player who played from 1999 to 2019. The Spurs selected him with the 28th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, and he quickly established himself as their main point guard. He finished the NBA playoffs as the fifth-leading passer and ninth-leading scorer.

He established the record for most points scored in EuroBasket history, which Paul Gasol exceeded two years later. He retired with career points of 19,473 points.

Related: NBA’s Unsung MVPs: 20 Players Who Deserve More Recognition

11. Stephen Curry

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Despite his small size and ability to outshoot taller opponents from long range, Curry is usually regarded as one of the finest basketball players in history. His distinguishing trait and testimony to his renowned reputation have been his amazing ability to easily drain shots from a distance despite not witnessing their landing.

To keep up with shifting scoring trends, offensive strategies now rely on players’ ability to score three-pointers. While Curry’s shooting ability has earned him the title of the greatest shooter of all time by a huge margin, his playmaking abilities are sometimes overlooked. He currently has 21,712 points in his account.

12. Dwyane Wade

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Wade has three NBA titles to his credit, and he was awarded Finals MVP in 2006. His exceptional talent and influence on the court earned him 13 All-Star selections and a berth on the All-NBA squad seven times. He was chosen to the All-Defensive team three times, demonstrating his defensive abilities.

Wade also earned the prestigious NBA scoring title. He has distinguished himself as a one-of-a-kind talent since he arrived in 2003, leaving fans in awe with each stunning moment. He retired with a total of 23,165 career points.

13. Larry Bird

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From 1979 through 1992, Larry Bird was a member of the National Basketball Association. He is considered to have had a fantastic experience playing basketball, and many fans and analysts consider him to be one of the best basketball players of all time. He was selected to the NBA All-Star squad 12 times.

He helped the Celtics win the NBA titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986, as well as two finals MVP awards. He concluded his career with a total of 21,791 points.

14. John Havlicek

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American professional basketball player John Havlicek spent his whole career with the NBA Boston Celtics, where he won eight NBA championships in sixteen seasons. He is one of just four players in NBA history to have won eight championships, and Havlicek is one of three with an unblemished 8-0 record in NBA Finals.

He is the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer with 26,395 points and 1,270 games played. He averaged 28.9 points per game, with the 1970-71 season being his greatest scoring season. 

15. Hakeem Olajuwon

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Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, the league’s leading shot blocker with 3,830 blocks, was more than just a big man near the basket. He also ranks among the top 14 in points (26,946), rebounds (13,748), and steals (2,162).

He demonstrated his brilliance in big-game situations by winning two NBA titles and two Finals MVP awards. His biography also includes six All-NBA First Team honours, 12 All-Stars, two Defensive Player of the Year titles, and five All-Defensive 1st Team accolades. In 1993-94, he became the first non-American to earn Defensive Player of the Year.

Read More: NBA’s 20 Best Defenders: The Players Who Stopped Their Opponents