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Career points in basketball refer to the total number of points scored by a player over the course of their professional career. This includes points scored during regular season games and does not take into account points scored during playoff games. Career points are a significant metric in evaluating a player's performance and contribution to the sport. Some of the top NBA players with the highest career points include LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant, each of whom has left a remarkable legacy in the world of basketball.
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What You'll Learn
All-time top scorers
Basketball is a sport with a rich history of talented players who have achieved immense success in their careers. When it comes to all-time top scorers, several names stand out for their remarkable career points across various leagues and competitions. Here is an overview of some of the greatest scorers in basketball history:
LeBron James, often referred to by his nickname "King James," is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players of all time. As of March 30, 2025, he holds the record for being the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with over 50,000 points scored during his illustrious 22-year career. James surpassed the record of Oscar Schmidt, who held an impressive 49,737 points, on April 2, 2024. James's achievements also include scoring 434 points in NBA All-Star Games and showcasing his talent in international club games.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is another legendary name in basketball. He held the record for being the NBA's all-time leading scorer for an astonishing 38 years, 10 months, and 2 days, from 1984 to 2023. Abdul-Jabbar was the first player to surpass 35,000 career points, a testament to his enduring greatness.
While James and Abdul-Jabbar hold the top spots in the NBA, other players have achieved remarkable scoring feats in domestic leagues outside of the NBA. Hervé Dubuisson, for example, scored 19,013 points in the French league, while Andrew Gaze dominated the NBL with 18,908 points. Ramon Fernandez is another notable player, accumulating 18,996 points in the PBA.
In other domestic leagues, players like Wilfredo Ruiz (Uruguayan Championship), Héctor Campana (Argentina's league), and George Torres (Puerto Rico's league) have left their mark. Each of these players has scored well over 10,000 points in their respective leagues, showcasing their exceptional talent and consistency.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Michael Jordan, whose scoring prowess in the NBA All-Star Games and international club games has earned him a legendary status. Jordan scored 262 points in the NBA All-Star Games and showcased his talent in international competitions, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.
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Top scorers by team
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), career points refer to the total points scored by a player during their regular season games. This does not include points scored during playoff games. The leading scorer in NBA history is LeBron James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. As of March 30, 2025, he has accumulated over 50,000 career points, a milestone that no other player has reached.
On February 7, 2023, James broke the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, scoring 38 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder to give himself a total of 38,390 regular-season points. James has continued to extend his record, surpassing 39,000 and 40,000 regular-season points and progressing beyond 40,000 on March 2, 2024, in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
Prior to Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA career scoring record was held by several other players throughout the league's history. Joe Fulks held the record from the league's inaugural season in 1946 to 1952, becoming the first player to surpass 5,000 career points. George Mikan then held the record from 1952 to 1958 and was the first to eclipse 10,000 career points. Ed Macauley briefly held the record for 39 days in 1958, the shortest record-holding period in NBA history.
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Top scorers by season
As of March 30, 2025, LeBron James is the leading scorer in NBA history. He is the first player to pass 50,000 points in all NBA play. James, a four-time Team USA Olympian and three-time Olympic champion, broke the regular-season career points record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. On February 7, 2023, he scored 38 points, bringing his total to 38,390 regular-season points.
Before James, the record was held by several players over the years. Joe Fulks held the record from the league's inaugural season in 1946 to 1952, becoming the first player to eclipse 5,000 career points. George Mikan then held the record from 1952 to 1958 and was the first to surpass 10,000 career points. Ed Macauley briefly held the record for 39 days in 1958, the shortest record-holding period in NBA history.
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Top scorers by number of seasons
Career points in basketball refer to the total number of points a player has scored throughout their time in a league, usually the NBA. This includes points scored during the regular season and does not take into account any pre-season or playoff games.
LeBron James - 22 Seasons
LeBron James is the NBA's all-time top scorer, passing 50,000 career points. He broke the record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on February 7, 2023, and has continued to extend his lead. As of the 2022-23 season, he had accumulated 38,652 regular-season points. James is a four-time Olympian with three gold medals and has won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant - 20 Seasons
Kobe Bryant is considered one of the best players in basketball history and a dominant scorer. Over his 20 seasons, all played with the Lakers, he scored 33,643 points. Bryant won five championships, was a two-time Finals MVP, and a one-time NBA MVP in 2007-08. He was also a 14-time All-Star and All-NBA selection and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
Michael Jordan - 15 Seasons
Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the most dominant scorers and players in NBA history. In his 15 seasons, he scored 32,292 points and averaged an NBA record of 30.1 points per game. Jordan won six championships and was a five-time NBA MVP. He was also a part of two of the best duos in NBA history, alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol.
Karl Malone - 19 Seasons
Despite never winning an NBA championship, Karl Malone ended his career as one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history. In his 19 seasons, he accumulated 36,928 points. Malone began his career with the Utah Jazz in 1985 and spent his first 18 seasons with the team, forming a legendary duo with John Stockton.
Kevin Durant - 16 Seasons
Kevin Durant is the only other active player besides LeBron James on this list. As of 2024, Durant has played 16 seasons and scored 28,924 points. Durant has won two championships and was the Finals MVP both times. He was selected second overall by the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2006 and spent his first nine seasons with them before signing with the Warriors in 2016.
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Top scorers still active
Career points in basketball refer to the total number of points a player has scored throughout their time in a league, usually the NBA. The NBA's all-time top scorer is LeBron James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. As of 2025, he had scored over 50,000 points in all NBA play, breaking the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. James is a four-time Team USA Olympian and three-time Olympic champion, and he holds four Olympic medals, three of them gold.
Other top scorers who are still active in the NBA include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Paul, James Harden, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
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Frequently asked questions
Career points in basketball refer to the total number of points a player has scored over the course of their career. This includes points scored in regular season games and can also include points from playoff games.
Some of the top players with the most career points in the National Basketball Association (NBA) include:
- LeBron James, who currently holds the record for most career points
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the record before LeBron James
- Kevin Durant, who is the eighth player to surpass 30,000 career points
- Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers
Career points are typically tracked and recorded by official statisticians and organisations like the NBA. These points are tallied and recorded for each game, and cumulative totals are maintained to track career milestones and records.
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