List of NBA career scoring leaders
LeBron James has scored the most career regular season points in NBA history.
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.[ 1] 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 November 27, 2024.
Rank
Player
Pos
Team(s) played for (years)[ b]
Total points
Games played
Points per game [ c]
Field goals made
Three-point field goals made[ d]
Free throws made
1
LeBron James ^
SF
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003 –2010 , 2014 –2018 )Miami Heat (2010 –2014 )Los Angeles Lakers (2018 –present)
40,886
1,510
27.1
14,991
2,450
8,454
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 )
32,292
1,072
30.1
12,192
581
7,327
6
Dirk Nowitzki *
PF
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
Kevin Durant ^
SF/PF
Seattle SuperSonics /Oklahoma City Thunder (2007 –2016 )Golden State Warriors (2016 –2019 )Brooklyn Nets (2019 –2023 )Phoenix Suns (2023 –present)
29,225
1,072
27.3
10,058
2,061
7,048
9
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
10
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
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
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)
26,317
1,092
24.1
7,767
2,995
7,788
20
Kevin Garnett *
PF
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
21
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
22
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
23
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 –2024 )Denver Nuggets (2024 –present)
25,418
1,179
21.6
9,123
1,297
5,875
24
Reggie Miller *
SG
Indiana Pacers (1987 –2005 )
25,279
1,389
18.2
8,241
2,560
6,237
25
Jerry West *
PG/SG
Los Angeles Lakers (1960 –1974 )
25,192
932
27.0
9,016
n/a
7,160
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
Stephen Curry ^
PG
Golden State Warriors (2009 –present)
23,982
970
24.7
8,188
3,807
3,799
30
DeMar DeRozan ^
SG/SF
Toronto Raptors (2009 –2018 )San Antonio Spurs (2018 –2021 )Chicago Bulls (2021 –2024 )Sacramento Kings (2024 –present)
23,921
1,125
21.3
8,568
541
6,244
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
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
35
Elgin Baylor *
SF
Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958 –1971 )
23,149
846
27.4
8,693
n/a
5,763
36
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 (2023–2024 )San Antonio Spurs (2024 –present)
22,489
1,291
17.4
7,966
1,756
4,801
37
Clyde Drexler *
SG
Portland Trail Blazers (1983 –1995 )Houston Rockets (1995 –1998 )
22,195
1,086
20.4
8,335
827
4,698
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
Damian Lillard ^
PG
Portland Trail Blazers (2012 –2023 )Milwaukee Bucks (2023 –present)
21,541
857
25.1
6,941
2,655
5,004
42
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
43
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
44
Bob Pettit *
PF/C
Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954 –1965 )
20,880
792
26.4
7,349
n/a
6,182
45
David Robinson *
C
San Antonio Spurs (1989 –2003 )
20,790
987
21.1
7,365
25
6,035
46
George Gervin *
SG/SF
San Antonio Spurs (1976 –1985 )Chicago Bulls (1985–1986 )
20,708
791
26.2
8,045
77
4,541
47
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
48
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
49
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
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.[ 1]
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 November 27, 2024.
Scoring leader at the end of every season
Season
Year-by-year leader
Points
Active player leader
Total points
Career record
Total points
Single-season record
Points
Season
1946–47
Joe Fulks *0 0 0 PHW
1,389
Joe Fulks *0 0 0 PHW
1,389
Joe Fulks *0 0 0 PHW
1,389
Joe Fulks *0 0 0 PHW
1,389
1946–47
1947–48
Max Zaslofsky 0 0 0 CHS
1,007
2,338
2,338
1947–48
1948–49
George Mikan *0 0 0 MNL
1,698
3,898
3,898
George Mikan *0 0 0 MNL
1,698
1948–49
1949–50
1,865
4,863
4,863
1,865
1949–50
1950–51
1,932
6,099
6,099
1,932
1950–51
1951–52
Paul Arizin *0 0 0 PHW
1,674
7,021
7,021
1951–52
1952–53
Neil Johnston *0 0 0 PHW
1,564
George Mikan *0 0 0 MNL
8,460
George Mikan *0 0 0 MNL
8,460
1952–53
1953–54
1,759
9,766
9,766
1953–54
1954–55
1,631
Max Zaslofsky 0 0 0 FTW
7,902
1954–55
1955–56
Bob Pettit *0 0 0 STL
1,849
George Mikan *0 0 0 MNL
10,156
10,156
1955–56
1956–57
Paul Arizin *0 0 0 PHW
1,817
Ed Macauley *0 0 0 STL
10,150
1956–57
1957–58
George Yardley *0 0 0 DET
2,001
Dolph Schayes *0 0 0 SYR
11,764
Dolph Schayes *0 0 0 SYR
11,764
George Yardley *0 0 0 DET
2,001
1957–58
1958–59
Bob Pettit *0 0 0 STL
2,105
13,298
13,298
Bob Pettit *0 0 0 STL
2,105
1958–59
1959–60
Wilt Chamberlain *0 0 0 PHW 1959–62 0 0 0 SFW 1962–65 0 0 0 PHI 1965–66
2,707
14,987
14,987
Wilt Chamberlain *0 0 0 PHW
2,707
1959–60
1960–61
3,033
16,855
16,855
3,033
1960–61
1961–62
4,029
17,677
17,677
4,029
1961–62
1962–63
3,586
18,304
18,304
1962–63
1963–64
2,948
Bob Pettit *0 0 0 STL
19,756
Bob Pettit *0 0 0 STL
19,756
1963–64
1964–65
2,534
20,880
20,880
1964–65
1965–66
2,649
Wilt Chamberlain *0 0 0 PHI 1965–68 0 0 0 LAL 1968–73
21,486
Wilt Chamberlain *0 0 0 PHI 1965–68 0 0 0 LAL 1968–73
21,486
1965–66
1966–67
Rick Barry *0 0 0 SFW
2,775
23,442
23,442
1966–67
1967–68
Dave Bing *0 0 0 DET
2,142
25,434
25,434
1967–68
1968–69
Elvin Hayes *0 0 0 SDR
2,327
27,098
27,098
1968–69
1969–70
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar *0 0 0 MIL
2,361
27,426
27,426
1969–70
1970–71
2,596
29,122
29,122
1970–71
1971–72
2,822
30,335
30,335
1971–72
1972–73
Nate Archibald *0 0 0 KCO
2,719
31,419
31,419
1972–73
1973–74
Bob McAdoo *0 0 0 BUF
2,261
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 MIL
26,710
1973–74
1974–75
2,831
John Havlicek *0 0 0 BOS
22,389
1974–75
1975–76
2,427
23,678
1975–76
1976–77
Pete Maravich *0 0 0 NOJ
2,273
25,073
1976–77
1977–78
George Gervin *0 0 0 SAS
2,232
26,395
1977–78
1978–79
2,365
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar *0 0 0 LAL
22,141
1978–79
1979–80
2,585
24,175
1979–80
1980–81
Adrian Dantley *0 0 0 UTA
2,452
26,270
1980–81
1981–82
George Gervin *0 0 0 SAS
2,551
28,088
1981–82
1982–83
Alex English *0 0 0 DEN
2,326
29,810
1982–83
1983–84
Adrian Dantley *0 0 0 UTA
2,418
31,527
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar *0 0 LAL
31,527
1983–84
1984–85
Michael Jordan *0 0 0 CHI
2,313
33,262
33,262
1984–85
1985–86
Alex English *0 0 0 DEN
2,414
35,108
35,108
1985–86
1986–87
Michael Jordan *0 0 0 CHI
3,041
36,474
36,474
1986–87
1987–88
2,868
37,639
37,639
1987–88
1988–89
2,633
38,387
38,387
1988–89
1989–90
2,753
Moses Malone *0 0 0 ATL 1989–91 0 0 0 MIL 1991–93 0 0 0 PHI 1993–94 0 0 0 SAS 1994–95
24,868
1989–90
1990–91
2,580
25,737
1990–91
1991–92
2,404
27,016
1991–92
1992–93
2,541
27,066
1992–93
1993–94
David Robinson *0 0 0 SAS
2,383
27,360
1993–94
1994–95
Shaquille O'Neal *0 0 0 ORL
2,315
27,409
1994–95
1995–96
Michael Jordan *0 0 0 CHI
2,491
Michael Jordan *0 0 0 CHI
24,489
1995–96
1996–97
2,431
26,920
1996–97
1997–98
2,357
29,277
1997–98
1998–99
Shaquille O'Neal *0 0 0 LAL
1,289
Karl Malone *0 0 0 UTA 1998–2003 0 0 0 LAL 2003–04
28,946
1998–99
1999–00
2,344
31,041
1999–00
2000–01
Jerry Stackhouse 0 0 DET
2,380
32,919
2000–01
2001–02
Paul Pierce *0 0 0 BOS
2,144
34,707
2001–02
2002–03
Kobe Bryant *0 0 0 LAL
2,461
36,374
2002–03
2003–04
Kevin Garnett *0 0 0 MIN
1,987
36,928
2003–04
2004–05
Allen Iverson *0 0 0 PHI
2,302
Reggie Miller *0 0 0 IND
25,279
2004–05
2005–06
Kobe Bryant *0 0 0 LAL
2,832
Shaquille O'Neal *0 0 0 MIA 2005–08 0 0 0 PHX 2008–09 0 0 0 CLE 2009–10 0 0 0 BOS 2010–11
24,764
2005–06
2006–07
2,430
25,454
2006–07
2007–08
2,323
26,286
2007–08
2008–09
Dwyane Wade *0 0 0 MIA
2,386
27,619
2008–09
2009–10
Kevin Durant ^0 0 0 OKC
2,472
28,255
2009–10
2010–11
2,161
28,596
2010–11
2011–12
1,850
Kobe Bryant *0 0 0 LAL
29,484
2011–12
2012–13
2,280
31,617
2012–13
2013–14
2,593
31,700
2013–14
2014–15
James Harden ^0 0 0 HOU
2,217
32,482
2014–15
2015–16
2,376
33,643
2015–16
2016–17
Russell Westbrook ^0 0 0 OKC
2,558
Dirk Nowitzki *0 0 0 DAL
30,260
2016–17
2017–18
LeBron James ^0 0 0 CLE
2,251
31,187
2017–18
2018–19
James Harden ^0 0 0 HOU
2,818
LeBron James ^0 0 0 LAL
32,543
2018–19
2019–20
2,335
34,241
2019–20
2020–21
Stephen Curry ^0 0 0 GSW
2,015
35,367
2020–21
2021–22
Trae Young ^0 0 0 ATL
2,155
37,062
2021–22
2022–23
Jayson Tatum ^0 0 0 BOS
2,225
38,652
LeBron James ^0 0 0 LAL
38,652
2022–23
2023–24
Luka Dončić ^0 0 0 DAL
2,370
40,474
40,474
2023–24
2024–25
LaMelo Ball ^0 0 0 CHA
559
40,886
40,886
2024–25
Season
Year-by-year leader
Points
Active player leader
Total points
Career record
Total points
Single-season record
Points
Season
See also
Notes
References
External links