List of Top 5 NBA Scorers of All-Time

2024/07/17

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is among the most famous sports leagues on the globe. Over the years, many legendary Basketballers have participated in this league and achieved great success and records to their names. Players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Karim Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Wilt Chamberlain have been stalwarts in this league during their respective eras. From a financial point of view, the NBA is among the top-paying leagues where players earn millions of dollars as their salaries and wages.

This blog will go through the list of the top 5 NBA scorers of all time as per the latest NBA News 2024 alongside their legacy and impact on the growth of this sport around the world. Furthermore, we will discuss the top scorers in the NBA season 2023-24 with their stats in a tabular form.

List of Top 5 NBA Scorers of All-Time

Top 5 NBA Scorers of All Time

Here are the top 5 point scorers of all time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) competitions over the years. Each player on this list is among the most popular athletes of all time.

These are full forms of the short terms used in the following table.

FGM = Field goals made, GP = Games Played, FTM = Free throws made, PPG = Points Per Game,TP = Total Points

Rank Player Pos GP TP FGM PPG FTM 3-Point FGM
1 LeBron James Small Forward 1,492 40,474 14,837 27.1 8,390 2,410
2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center 1,560 38,387 15,837 24.6 6,712 1
3 Karl Malone Power Forward 1,476 36,928 13,528 25.0 9,787 85
4 Kobe Bryant Shooting Guard 1,346 33,643 11,719 25.0 8,378 1,827
5 Michael Jordan Shooting Guard 1,072 32,292 12,192 30.1 7,327 581

1. Lebron James

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present), Miami Heat (2010–2014), Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)

  • Career points: 40,409
  • Average points: 27.1 per game
  • Highest scoring game: 61 (March 3, 2014)

LeBron James is at the top position among the top 5 NBA scorers of all time. He is currently averaging 27 points each game which is a remarkable feat. Furthermore, he is the only active player among the top 5 scorers of all-time and playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He has been an influential character who has created his own legacy and taken the NBA league to newer heights. According to the NBA News 2024, he also became the first player to reach the 40,000-point mark in the league.

2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989), Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)

  • Career points: 38,387
  • Average points: 24.6 per game
  • Highest scoring game: 55 (December 10, 1971)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA's all-time leading scorer on April 5, 1984. He surpassed Wilt Chamberlain with one of his famous skyhooks, assisted by Magic Johnson. While Abdul-Jabbar is well-known for his time with the Lakers, where he became their leading scorer, his scoring prowess began with the Milwaukee Bucks. 

He won his two top-scoring titles and achieved 10 of his 50-point games with the Bucks. Abdul-Jabbar held the top scorer position for an impressive 14,187 days until LeBron James surpassed him.

3. Karl Malone

Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004), Utah Jazz (1985–2003)

  • Career points: 36,928
  • Average points: 25 per game
  • Highest scoring game: 61 (January 27, 1990)

Karl Malone is one of the most underrated superstars in NBA history. He made history by being named to the All-NBA First Team for 11 consecutive seasons. Although he never won a scoring title, Malone averaged over 25 points per game for 11 straight seasons and 12 times in total. The only player to surpass this feat is LeBron James, who has averaged 25 points per game in 18 seasons.

4. Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016)

  • Career points: 33,643
  • Average points: 25 per game
  • Highest scoring game: 81 (January 22, 2006)

Kobe Bryant will definitely be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He left this world in a helicopter crash in 2020 alongside his little daughter. However, his legacy has been etched forever in the hearts of true basketball lovers.

Kobe is ranked 4th on the list of top 5 NBA scorers of all time. Besides this record, he previously held the record for second highest number of points in a single game with 81 points against the Raptors. In his last match in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, he scored 60 points and ended his career on a high note. 

5. Michael Jordan

Washington Wizards (2001–2003), Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)

  • Career points: 32,292
  • Average points: 30.1 per game
  • Highest scoring game: 69 (March 28, 1990)

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly yeh biggest name in the history of basketball sport. Jordan has a record of 10 NBA scoring titles and he averaged 30.12 points per game which is definitely the highest in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). With this record, he left the legendary Wilt Chamberlain just behind him who finished with 30.07.

Michael Jordan left a great basketball legacy behind him and his influence on this sport is still unmatchable. A lot of people around the globe don't know this sport very much but they do remember the name Michael Jordan. Such was the charisma and aura of Jordan during his prime career days.


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Top 5 NBA Scorers in 2023-24 Season

As per the NBA News 2024, here is the list of top 5 point scorers in the NBA 2023-24 season.

NAME Team Position Points Scored PPG GP FGM 3 PM FTM
Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks Point Guard 2,370 33.9 70 11.5 4.1 6.8
Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward 2,222 30.4 73 11.5 0.5 7.0
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard 2,254 30.1 75 10.6 1.3 7.6
Jalen Brunson New York Knicks Point Guard 2,212 28.7 77 10.3 2.7 5.5
Kevin Durant Phoenix Suns Power Forward 2,032 27.1 75 10.0 2.2 4.8

Conclusion

Here's an overview of the Top 5 NBA Scorers in NBA history, detailing the extraordinary achievements and successes of LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. heritage. It highlights their career points, scoring averages and top-scoring games, showcasing their impact on the NBA and their contributions to the sport's global popularity. Additionally, the NBA's top scorers for the 2023-24 season are provided, with an in-depth look at the performance of players like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, highlighting their current rankings and statistics.

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