A complete list of the NBA's all-time regular season scoring leaders, headlined by LeBron James.
Stats entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
Top 10 All-Time NBA Scoring Leaders
Rank | Player | Points | Years Active | |
1 | LeBron James | 43,440 | 2003- | |
2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | 1969-1989 | |
3 | Karl Malone | 36,928 | 1985-2004 | |
4 | Kobe Bryant | 33,643 | 1996-2016 | |
5 | Kevin Durant | 32,597 | 2007- | |
6 | Michael Jordan | 32,292 | 1984-2003 | |
7 | Dirk Nowitzki | 31,560 | 1998-2019 | |
8 | Wilt Chamberlain | 31,419 | 1959-1973 | |
9 | James Harden | 29,339 | 2009- | |
10 | Shaquille O'Neal | 28,596 | 1992-2011 | |
Top 5 NBA Scoring Leaders: Stats and History
LeBron James
LeBron James broke the NBA's all-time regular season scoring record on February 7, 2023, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387 points.
James' accomplishment is widely considered to be one of the greatest in NBA history. He has now broken one of the most hallowed records in all of sports, and he has done so while playing at a high level for more than two decades.
James is still playing at an elite level, and he is poised to continue adding to his scoring record. He is also the NBA's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs (8,521).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time regular season scoring record for 33 years, from 1984 to 2023. He scored 38,387 points in 1,560 games over his 20-year career.
Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force in the NBA for two decades. He won six NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and six regular season MVP awards. He was also a 19-time All-Star and 15-time All-NBA selection.
Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record was considered to be one of the most unbreakable records in all of sports. He held the record for so long that many people believed it would never be broken.
Karl Malone
Karl Malone scored 36,928 points in his NBA career, which ranks third all-time behind LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He held the record for second all-time from 2003 to 2023.
Malone was a two-time NBA MVP and a 14-time All-Star. He was known for his durability, consistency, and physical style of play. He averaged 25.0 points per game for his career, and he scored at least 20 points per game in 18 consecutive seasons.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant scored 33,643 points in his NBA career, which ranks fourth all-time behind LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Karl Malone. He was also the fourth-leading scorer in NBA playoff history, with 5,640 points.
Bryant was known for his incredible scoring ability.
He was a five-time NBA scoring champion, and he scored 50 or more points in 25 games throughout his career. His most famous scoring performance came on January 22, 2006, when he scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.
This is the third-most points scored in a single NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, and Bam Adebayo's 83-point game in 2026.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant has steadily climbed the all-time leading scorers list and passed Michael Jordan for fifth place in all-time NBA scoring on March 21, 2026.
Widely regarded as the greatest pure scorer of the 21st century, he is capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor. At 6 feet 11 inches tall, Durant is one of the first players of his stature to possess such an incredible touch from behind the three-point arc.
He is now fewer than 1,000 points away from passing Kobe Bryant—a milestone he is on track to reach next season, provided he stays healthy and maintains an average of 23+ points per game throughout the 2026-27 campaign.
Does the NBA all-time scoring list include playoffs?
No, the NBA all-time scoring list does not include playoffs. The all-time scoring list is based on regular season points only.
Who has the highest scoring average in NBA history?
Michael Jordan has the highest scoring average in NBA history, with 30.12 points per game. He achieved this average over the course of his 15-season career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.
Who has the most points in a game in NBA history?
The most points scored in a game in NBA history is 100, by Wilt Chamberlain on March 2, 1962, while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. Chamberlain shot 36-for-63 from the field and 28-for-32 from the free throw line in the game.
Who is the youngest player to reach 10,000 NBA points?
LeBron James is the youngest NBA player to reach 10,000 points. He achieved this milestone on January 18, 2008, at the age of 23 years and 59 days.
Who is the youngest player to reach 20,000 NBA points?
LeBron James is the youngest NBA player to reach 20,000 points. He achieved this milestone on January 16, 2013, at the age of 28 years and 17 days.
Who is the youngest player to reach 30,000 NBA points?
LeBron James is the youngest NBA player to reach 30,000 points. He accomplished this feat on January 24, 2018, at the age of 33 years and 24 days.
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