Top 10 NBA Scorers of all-time

When we think of top NBA scorers, names like Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Kevin Durant come into our minds, and while they might be unreal scorers, they are far from making it into the top 10 for now. 

Here’s a list of 10 players who have scored the highest points in NBA history:

10. Elvin Hayes – 27,313 points

We kick-start our list of highest points scored in NBA history with Elvin Hayes. "The Big E" might have started his NBA career a little later than everyone else but he exploded into the scene right away, as he averaged 28.4 points in his first season. 

He continued his scoring form for a few years to only slow down by a little. Hayes still gave MVP performances every few seasons. He led the Washington Bullets to a Championship in the 77-78 season. 

9. Moses Malone – 27,409 points

Next up on the list of highest points scored in NBA history is the late Moses Malone. Malone had a long career, wherein he represented various NBA teams. He took off in the early ’80s when he started putting up numbers on board every night. 

Malone took the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship run in 1983, where he was awarded the finals MVP. Malone had a great career, a few more rings to his name would’ve definitely put him in the GOAT discussion. 

8. Shaquille O’ Neal – 28,596 points

The 'Diesel', as known by many fans, has been one of the most dominant players in the NBA players. 

Also, the last big man to win the MVP, Shaquille O'Neal was a one-dimensional offensive player throughout his NBA career, yet there was no stopping the big man. And his dominance is the reason he was able to achieve 4 NBA rings. 

With 28,596 career points, Shaq earns the number eighth spot on our list of highest points scored in NBA history. 

7. Wilt Chamberlain – 31,419 points

This list of the highest points accumulated in NBA history would’ve been incomplete without Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain. 

It would come as a surprise for some that he is not at the top of this list, it is because he started his career late and ended it at the age of 36. He also missed a lot of games in between some of his seasons. 

Almost half the NBA records belong to this man. He averaged an absolutely unreal 50.4 points per game in the season 61-62. Wilt is truly one of the greatest scorers of all time, as he scored all these points without a 3 point line. 

6. Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560 points

The greatest European player to ever play in the NBA, Nowitzki was one of the most underrated players throughout his career. Playing 20 years for the Mavericks, he managed to win his deserving championship in 2010-11, beating Kobe’s Lakers and LeBron’s Heat in the process. 

It is fair to say that Dirk gave his all to the Dallas Mavericks and will be their biggest legend for a long time. 

5. Michael Jordan – 32,292 points

The G.O.A.T of NBA had to be on the list of course! Only Michael Jordan can leave the NBA in his prime, come back for a few years then retire fairly early, come back again after 4 years, and still score well above 30,000 points with 6 NBA championships to his name. 

Michael Jordan was an unstoppable force of nature his entire career and his numbers speak for it. We really cannot fathom Michael 'Air' Jordan not being in our list of highest points scored in NBA history.

4. Kobe Bryant – 33,643 points

The 'Black Mamba' is somehow still not included in some people’s greatest of all-time list, even after scoring 33,643, winning 5 championships, and staying loyal to his team this whole time when he could’ve teamed up with a few all-stars to secure himself a few more championships. 

Regardless of what anyone says, Kobe Bryant is without a doubt, one of the greats of the game. Kobe also became injury-prone as his career went by, and still managed to achieve what many players could only dream of. 

Hence, with an astonishing 33,643 career points, Kobe Bryant makes it the number four spot in our list of highest points scored in NBA history. 

3. LeBron James – 35,283 points (and counting)

LeBron James is the only active player on this list, and with the way he is playing, we do not expect him to become inactive anytime soon. 

LeBron has managed to win a ring with every team he has played for. He has managed to put his name up with the greats such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. 

'King James' will only look forward to winning more championships and scoring more points, as he does not seem to slow down anytime soon. 

2. Karl Malone – 36,928 points

His name has discredited a lot since everyone remembers him for his actions off the court. Scoring 36,928 points in his whole career is still credible as a basketball player. 

Karl Malone was always brilliant in the regular seasons but his team would never perform in the playoffs, which was the major reason he never won a ring his entire career. However, with 36,928 points accumulated in his whole career, Malone deserves the runner-up place on our list of highest points scored in NBA history.

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar – 38,387 points

We wrap up our list of highest points scored in NBA history with 'The Captain' himself. There is some relation between being a Laker and scoring buckets. 

Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s record has been unbreakable for years now, with only LeBron James having the only real chance to break it. Kareem was a superstar for as long as he played in the NBA. 

He is also one of the greatest players of all time, scoring the highest points complemented with six championships to his name. Even if his record is broken in the future, there will still be no denying of how good he really was. 

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