NBA All-Time Scoring Leaders: The Complete Top 25 List
The NBA's all-time scoring list is a who's who of basketball greatness. From LeBron James at the top to legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, these are the players who put the ball in the basket better than anyone else. Here is the complete top 25.
The top 10
1. LeBron James — 40,474 points (and counting)
LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 2023 and has been adding to his total ever since. In his final season, he's averaging 18.2 points per game, pushing his career total past 40,000. This record may never be broken — it requires elite scoring ability AND unprecedented longevity.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 38,387 points
Kareem held the record for 39 years before LeBron passed him. His skyhook was the most unstoppable shot in basketball history. He played 20 seasons and won 6 championships.
3. Karl Malone — 36,928 points
The Mailman delivered for 19 seasons, mostly with the Utah Jazz. His pick-and-roll with John Stockton was the most devastating play in NBA history. He never won a championship, but his scoring consistency was remarkable.
4. Kobe Bryant — 33,643 points
Kobe's 81-point game against the Raptors in 2006 is the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. His 60-point farewell game in 2016 was the perfect ending to a legendary career.
5. Michael Jordan — 32,292 points
Jordan's scoring average of 30.1 points per game is the highest in NBA history. He won 10 scoring titles and scored 63 points in a playoff game against the Celtics. The greatest scorer pound-for-pound in basketball history.
6. Dirk Nowitzki — 31,560 points
The greatest European player in NBA history. His one-legged fadeaway was unguardable. He spent his entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks and won the 2011 championship.
7. Wilt Chamberlain — 31,419 points
Wilt scored 100 points in a single game. He averaged 50.4 points per game in the 1961-62 season. Numbers that will never be matched.
8. Shaquille O'Neal — 28,596 points
The most dominant physical force in NBA history. Shaq's combination of size, strength, and skill was unstoppable in his prime. He won 4 championships and 3 Finals MVPs.
9. Carmelo Anthony — 28,289 points
One of the purest scorers in NBA history. Melo could score from anywhere on the court — his jab step and midrange game were works of art.
10. Moses Malone — 27,409 points
The original offensive rebounding machine. Malone won 3 MVPs and led the 76ers to the 1983 championship with his famous "Fo', Fo', Fo'" prediction.
Active players on the list
Besides LeBron, several active players are climbing the all-time scoring list. Kevin Durant is 12th with 27,000+ points. Stephen Curry is 16th with 23,000+ points. James Harden is 18th with 22,000+ points. All three will finish in the top 15 by the time they retire.
Who could challenge LeBron?
Nobody anytime soon. To break LeBron's record, a player would need to average 25+ points per game for 20+ seasons. The only active player with a realistic (if unlikely) shot is Luka Doncic, who is 27 and already has 14,000+ career points. But he'd need to play until he's 40 at an elite level. LeBron's record is safe for decades.