LeBron James has scored the most career regular season points in NBA history, is the youngest to reach every career point milestone from 1,000 to 38,000, and is the only player to reach 39,000.[1]

This article contains two charts: The first chart is a list of the top 50 all-time scorers in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The list includes only points scored in regular season games. The second chart is a progressive list of the leading all-time NBA scorers.[2] LeBron James is the leading scorer in NBA history.

Scoring leaders

The following is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season points scored.

Statistics accurate as of January 12, 2024.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[lower-alpha 1]
§ 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[3]
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years)[lower-alpha 2] Total points Games
played		 Points
per game[lower-alpha 3]		 Field goals
made		 Three-point
field goals
made[lower-alpha 4]		 Free
throws
made
1 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)		 39,541 1,457 27.1 14,483 2,338 8,237
2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)		 38,387 1,560 24.6 15,837 1 6,712
3 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)		 36,928 1,476 25.0 13,528 85 9,787
4 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) 33,643 1,346 25.0 11,719 1,827 8,378
5 Michael Jordan* SG Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)
Washington Wizards (2001–2003)		 32,293 1,072 30.1 12,192 581 7,327
6 Dirk Nowitzki* PF/C Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) 31,560 1,522 20.7 11,169 1,982 7,240
7 Wilt Chamberlain* C Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973)		 31,419 1,045 30.1 12,681 n/a 6,057
8 Shaquille O'Neal* C Orlando Magic (1992–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)
Miami Heat (2004–2008)
Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2011)		 28,596 1,207 23.7 11,330 1 5,935
9 Carmelo Anthony† SF Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)
New York Knicks (2011–2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)		 28,289 1,260 22.5 10,119 1,731 6,320
10 Kevin Durant^ SF/PF Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007–2016)
Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023)
Phoenix Suns (2023–present)		 27,799 1,017 27.3 9,517 1,929 6,836
11 Moses Malone* C Buffalo Braves (1976)
Houston Rockets (1976–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995)		 27,409 1,329 20.6 9,435 8 8,531
12 Elvin Hayes* PF/C San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972–1981)		 27,313 1,303 21.0 10,976 5 5,356
13 Hakeem Olajuwon* C Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)		 26,946 1,238 21.8 10,749 25 5,423
14 Oscar Robertson* PG Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970)
Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974)		 26,710 1,040 25.7 9,508 n/a 7,694
15 Dominique Wilkins* SF Atlanta Hawks (1982–1994)
Los Angeles Clippers (1994)
Boston Celtics (1994–1995)
San Antonio Spurs (1996–1997)
Orlando Magic (1999)		 26,668 1,074 24.8 9,963 711 6,031
16 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) 26,496 1,392 19.0 10,285 30 5,896
17 Paul Pierce* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1998–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)		 26,397 1,343 19.7 8,668 2,143 6,918
18 John Havlicek* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1962–1978) 26,395 1,270 20.8 10,513 n/a 5,369
19 Kevin Garnett* PF/C Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015)		 26,071 1,462 17.8 10,505 174 4,887
20 Vince Carter§ SG/SF Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)
New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)
Orlando Magic (2009–2010)
Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)
Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)
Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)
Sacramento Kings (2017–2018)
Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020)		 25,728 1,541 16.7 9,293 2,290 4,852
21 Alex English* SF Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1978)
Indiana Pacers (1978–1980)
Denver Nuggets (1980–1990)
Dallas Mavericks (1990–1991)		 25,613 1,193 21.5 10,659 18 4,277
22 Reggie Miller* SG Indiana Pacers (1987–2005) 25,279 1,389 18.2 8,241 2,560 6,237
23 James Harden^ SG/PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012–2021)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)		 25,256 1,033 24.4 7,458 2,843 7,497
24 Jerry West* PG/SG Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) 25,192 932 27.0 9,016 n/a 7,160
25 Russell Westbrook^ PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)		 24,869 1,132 22.0 8,921 1,255 5,772
26 Patrick Ewing* C New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002)		 24,815 1,183 21.0 9,702 19 5,392
27 Ray Allen* SG Milwaukee Bucks (1996–2003)
Seattle SuperSonics (2003–2007)
Boston Celtics (2007–2012)
Miami Heat (2012–2014)		 24,505 1,300 18.9 8,567 2,973 4,398
28 Allen Iverson* SG/PG Philadelphia 76ers (1996–2006, 2009–2010)
Denver Nuggets (2006–2008)
Detroit Pistons (2008–2009)
Memphis Grizzlies (2009)		 24,368 914 26.7 8,467 1,059 6,375
29 Charles Barkley* PF Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)		 23,757 1,073 22.1 8,435 538 6,349
30 Robert Parish* C Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997)		 23,334 1,611 14.5 9,614 0 4,106
31

Adrian Dantley*

 SF Buffalo Braves (1976–1977)
Indiana Pacers (1977)
Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1979)
Utah Jazz (1979–1986)
Detroit Pistons (1986–1989)
Dallas Mavericks (1989–1990)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991)		 23,177 955 24.3 8,169 7 6,832
32 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019)
Chicago Bulls (2016–2017)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018)		 23,165 1,054 22.0 8,454 549 5,708
33 Elgin Baylor* SF Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971) 23,149 846 27.4 8,693 n/a 5,763
34 Stephen Curry^ PG Golden State Warriors (2009–present) 22,674 918 24.7 7,736 3,554 3,648
35 DeMar DeRozan^ SG/SF Toronto Raptors (2009–2018)
San Antonio Spurs (2018–2021)
Chicago Bulls (2021–present)		 22,538 1,069 21.1 8,086 494 5,872
36 Clyde Drexler* SG Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)		 22,195 1,086 20.4 8,335 827 4,698
37 Chris Paul^ PG New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
Golden State Warriors (2023–present)		 22,041 1,246 17.7 7,796 1,685 4,764
38 Gary Payton* PG Seattle SuperSonics (1990–2003)
Milwaukee Bucks (2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)
Boston Celtics (2004–2005)
Miami Heat (2005–2007)		 21,813 1,335 16.3 8,708 1,132 3,265
39 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1979–1992) 21,791 897 24.3 8,591 649 3,960
40 Hal Greer* SG/PG Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) 21,586 1,122 19.2 8,504 n/a 4,578
41 Walt Bellamy* C Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets (1961–1965)
New York Knicks (1965–1968)
Detroit Pistons (1968–1970)
Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans Jazz (1974)		 20,941 1,043 20.1 7,914 n/a 5,113
42 Pau Gasol* PF/C Memphis Grizzlies (2001–2008)
Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014)
Chicago Bulls (2014–2016)
San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019)
Milwaukee Bucks (2019)		 20,894 1,226 17.0 7,980 179 4,755
43 Bob Pettit* PF/C Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965) 20,880 792 26.4 7,349 n/a 6,182
44 David Robinson* C San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) 20,790 987 21.1 7,365 25 6,035
45 George Gervin* SG/SF San Antonio Spurs (1976–1985)
Chicago Bulls (1985–1986)		 20,708 791 26.2 8,045 77 4,541
46 LaMarcus Aldridge† PF/C Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2015)
San Antonio Spurs (2015–2021)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)		 20,558 1,076 19.1 8,311 227 3,709
47 Mitch Richmond* SG Golden State Warriors (1988–1991)
Sacramento Kings (1991–1998)
Washington Wizards (1998–2001)
Los Angeles Lakers (2001–2002)		 20,497 976 21.0 7,305 1,326 4,561
48 Joe Johnson† SG/SF Boston Celtics (2001–2002, 2021–2022)
Phoenix Suns (2002–2005)
Atlanta Hawks (2005–2012)
Brooklyn Nets (2012–2016)
Miami Heat (2016)
Utah Jazz (2016–2018)
Houston Rockets (2018)		 20,407 1,277 16.0 7,823 1,978 2,783
49 Damian Lillard^ PG Portland Trail Blazers (2012–2023)
Milwaukee Bucks (2023–present)		 20,252 804 25.2 6,537 2,493 4,685
50 Tom Chambers PF San Diego Clippers (1981–1983)
Seattle SuperSonics (1983–1988)
Phoenix Suns (1988–1993)
Utah Jazz (1993–1995)
Charlotte Hornets (1997)
Philadelphia 76ers (1997)		 20,049 1,107 18.1 7,378 227 5,066

Progressive list of scoring leaders

This is a progressive list of scoring leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[2]

Progression of career scoring leaders
Joe Fulks held the career scoring record from the league's inaugural season in 1946 to 1952 and was the first player to eclipse 5,000 career points.
George Mikan held the record from 1952 to 1958 and was the first player to eclipse 10,000 career points.
Ed Macauley held the record for 39 days in 1958, the shortest in NBA history.
Dolph Schayes held the record from 1958 to 1964 and was the first player to eclipse 15,000 career points.
Bob Pettit held the record from 1964 to 1966 and is the first player to eclipse 20,000 career points.
Wilt Chamberlain held the record from 1966 to 1984 and was the first player to eclipse 25,000 and 30,000 career points. He played the fewest games to reach every point milestone from 1,000 to 31,000 in NBA history.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the record for 38 years, 10 months, and 2 days (14,187 days) from 1984 to 2023, the longest in NBA history. He is the first player to eclipse 35,000 career points.
Statistics accurate as of January 12, 2024.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATLAtlanta HawksDETDetroit PistonsMILMilwaukee BucksPHWPhiladelphia Warriors
BOSBoston CelticsFTWFort Wayne PistonsMINMinnesota TimberwolvesPHXPhoenix Suns
BUFBuffalo BravesGSWGolden State WarriorsMNLMinneapolis LakersSASSan Antonio Spurs
CHIChicago BullsHOUHouston RocketsNOJNew Orleans JazzSDRSan Diego Rockets
CHSChicago StagsINDIndiana PacersNOPNew Orleans PelicansSFWSan Francisco Warriors
CLECleveland CavaliersKCOKansas City-Omaha KingsOKCOklahoma City ThunderSTLSt. Louis Hawks
DALDallas MavericksLALLos Angeles LakersORLOrlando MagicSYRSyracuse Nationals
DENDenver NuggetsMIAMiami HeatPHIPhiladelphia 76ersUTAUtah Jazz
Scoring leader at the end of every season
SeasonYear-by-year leaderPointsActive player leaderTotal pointsCareer recordTotal pointsSingle-season recordPointsSeason
1946–47Joe Fulks*PHW1,389Joe Fulks*PHW1,389Joe Fulks*PHW1,389Joe Fulks*PHW1,3891946–47
1947–48Max ZaslofskyCHS1,0072,3382,3381947–48
1948–49George Mikan*MNL1,6983,8983,898George Mikan*MNL1,6981948–49
1949–501,8654,8634,8631,8651949–50
1950–511,9326,0996,0991,9321950–51
1951–52Paul Arizin*PHW1,6747,0217,0211951–52
1952–53Neil Johnston*PHW1,564George Mikan*MNL8,460George Mikan*MNL8,4601952–53
1953–541,7599,7669,7661953–54
1954–551,631Max ZaslofskyFTW7,9021954–55
1955–56Bob Pettit*STL1,849George Mikan*MNL10,15610,1561955–56
1956–57Paul Arizin*PHW1,817Ed Macauley*STL10,1501956–57
1957–58George Yardley*DET2,001Dolph Schayes*SYR11,764Dolph Schayes*SYR11,764George Yardley*DET2,0011957–58
1958–59Bob Pettit*STL2,10513,29813,298Bob Pettit*STL2,1051958–59
1959–60Wilt Chamberlain*
PHW 1959–62
SFW 1962–65
PHI 1965–66		2,70714,98714,987Wilt Chamberlain*PHW2,7071959–60
1960–613,03316,85516,8553,0331960–61
1961–624,02917,67717,6774,0291961–62
1962–633,58618,30418,3041962–63
1963–642,948Bob Pettit*STL19,756Bob Pettit*STL19,7561963–64
1964–652,53420,88020,8801964–65
1965–662,649Wilt Chamberlain*
PHI 1965–68
LAL 1968–73		21,486Wilt Chamberlain*
PHI 1965–68
LAL 1968–73		21,4861965–66
1966–67Rick Barry*SFW2,77523,44223,4421966–67
1967–68Dave Bing*DET2,14225,43425,4341967–68
1968–69Elvin Hayes*SDR2,32727,09827,0981968–69
1969–70Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*MIL2,36127,42627,4261969–70
1970–712,59629,12229,1221970–71
1971–722,82230,33530,3351971–72
1972–73Nate Archibald*KCO2,71931,41931,4191972–73
1973–74Bob McAdoo*BUF2,261Oscar Robertson*MIL26,7101973–74
1974–752,831John Havlicek*BOS22,3891974–75
1975–762,42723,6781975–76
1976–77Pete Maravich*NOJ2,27325,0731976–77
1977–78George Gervin*SAS2,23226,3951977–78
1978–792,365Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL22,1411978–79
1979–802,58524,1751979–80
1980–81Adrian Dantley*UTA2,45226,2701980–81
1981–82George Gervin*SAS2,55128,0881981–82
1982–83Alex English*DEN2,32629,8101982–83
1983–84Adrian Dantley*UTA2,41831,527Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL31,5271983–84
1984–85Michael Jordan*CHI2,31333,26233,2621984–85
1985–86Alex English*DEN2,41435,10835,1081985–86
1986–87Michael Jordan*CHI3,04136,47436,4741986–87
1987–882,86837,63937,6391987–88
1988–892,63338,38738,3871988–89
1989–902,753Moses Malone*
ATL 1989–91
MIL 1991–93
PHI 1993–94
SAS 1994–95		24,8681989–90
1990–912,58025,7371990–91
1991–922,40427,0161991–92
1992–932,54127,0661992–93
1993–94David Robinson*SAS2,38327,3601993–94
1994–95Shaquille O'Neal*ORL2,31527,4091994–95
1995–96Michael Jordan*CHI2,491Michael Jordan*CHI24,4891995–96
1996–972,43126,9201996–97
1997–982,35729,2771997–98
1998–99Shaquille O'Neal*LAL1,289Karl Malone*
UTA 1998–2003
LAL 2003–04		28,9461998–99
1999–002,34431,0411999–00
2000–01Jerry StackhouseDET2,38032,9192000–01
2001–02Paul Pierce*BOS2,14434,7072001–02
2002–03Kobe Bryant*LAL2,46136,3742002–03
2003–04Kevin Garnett*MIN1,98736,9282003–04
2004–05Allen Iverson*PHI2,302Reggie Miller*IND25,2792004–05
2005–06Kobe Bryant*LAL2,832Shaquille O'Neal*
MIA 2005–08
PHX 2008–09
CLE 2009–10
BOS 2010–11		24,7642005–06
2006–072,43025,4542006–07
2007–082,32326,2862007–08
2008–09Dwyane Wade*MIA2,38627,6192008–09
2009–10Kevin Durant^OKC2,47228,2552009–10
2010–112,16128,5962010–11
2011–121,850Kobe Bryant*LAL29,4842011–12
2012–132,28031,6172012–13
2013–142,59331,7002013–14
2014–15James Harden^HOU2,21732,4822014–15
2015–162,37633,6432015–16
2016–17Russell Westbrook^OKC2,558Dirk Nowitzki*DAL30,2602016–17
2017–18LeBron James^CLE2,25131,1872017–18
2018–19James Harden^HOU2,818LeBron James^LAL32,5432018–19
2019–202,33534,2412019–20
2020–21Stephen Curry^GSW2,01535,3672020–21
2021–22Trae Young^ATL2,15537,0622021–22
2022–23Jayson Tatum^BOS2,22538,652LeBron James^LAL38,6522022–23
2023–24Giannis Antetokounmpo^MIL1,15639,54139,5412023–24
SeasonYear-by-year leaderPointsActive player leaderTotal pointsCareer recordTotal pointsSingle-season recordPointsSeason


See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  2. ↑ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
  3. ↑ Rounded to the nearest tenth.
  4. ↑ First adopted in the 1979–80 season.

References

  1. ↑ "LeBron James is the Youngest Player to Reach Every Single 1000 Career Point Total from 1K to 38K". January 16, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Points". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
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