LeBron James scored his 40,000th regular-season point in March 2024 — the only player ever to reach the milestone.
How to Play: Guess if the player on the right scored HIGHER or LOWER regular-season career points than the one on the left.
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Top 10 NBA All-Time Scorers
The all-time NBA scoring leaderboard is mostly a list of players who lasted 18 or more seasons in the league. Longevity beats peak scoring — Wilt Chamberlain averaged more points per game than anyone, but he played fewer seasons than Kareem, Karl Malone, or LeBron.
Numbers are regular-season points only. Playoff scoring is tracked separately and would reshape the chart (Michael Jordan moves up; Karl Malone moves down).
| # | Name | Points | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeBron James | 42,000 | points |
| 2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | points |
| 3 | Karl Malone | 36,928 | points |
| 4 | Kobe Bryant | 33,643 | points |
| 5 | Michael Jordan | 32,292 | points |
| 6 | Dirk Nowitzki | 31,560 | points |
| 7 | Wilt Chamberlain | 31,419 | points |
| 8 | Kevin Durant | 29,000 | points |
| 9 | Shaquille O'Neal | 28,596 | points |
| 10 | Carmelo Anthony | 28,289 | points |
How NBA Scoring Records Work
NBA career points refer to regular-season scoring only. Playoff and All-Star game points are tracked separately. The league’s official source is NBA.com, which updates standings continuously through the season and reports historical totals back to 1946.
LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time record on February 7, 2023 — a record Kareem had held for nearly 39 years since 1984. LeBron then crossed 40,000 points in March 2024, becoming the only player ever to do so. As of late 2024 he is still active and adding to the total.
Longevity dominates the leaderboard. Of the 10 highest scorers, six played 19 or more seasons; Kareem played 20, Karl Malone 19, Dirk Nowitzki 21, LeBron 22 and counting. Players who flame out early — even superstars like Allen Iverson — never accumulate enough volume.
If career points were measured per game, the order changes drastically. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points per game, the highest ever. Michael Jordan is second at 30.1 (essentially tied). LeBron averages 27.2. Karl Malone averages 25.0. The all-time list rewards endurance, not peak performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most career points in NBA history?
LeBron James, with over 42,000 regular-season points as of late 2024 and still active. He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record in February 2023.
How long did Kareem hold the scoring record?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA all-time scoring record from 1984 to 2023 — nearly 39 years.
Are these regular-season or playoff points?
These are regular-season points only. Playoff scoring is tracked separately. By that measure LeBron also leads, with over 8,000 playoff points.
Why isn't Stephen Curry higher on the list?
Curry’s career points are limited by injuries early in his career and a relative deficit of free-throw and inside-the-arc scoring versus traditional volume scorers. He is still climbing the chart.
Note: Career points are regular-season totals as of late 2024 from NBA.com. Active players’ totals are subject to change.