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This article contains two charts: The first chart is a list of the top 50 all-time scorers in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The list includes only points scored in regular season games. The second chart is a progressive list of the leading all-time NBA scorers. LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.
| ^ | Active NBA player |
| Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team(s) played for (years) | Total points | Games played | Points per game | Field goalsmade | Three-pointfield goalsmade | Free throws made |
| 1 | LeBron James^ | SF | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)Miami Heat (2010–2014)Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) | 42,184 | 1,562 | 27.0 | 15,488 | 2,559 | 8,649 |
| 2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | C | Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) | 38,387 | 1,560 | 24.6 | 15,837 | 1 | 6,712 |
| 3 | Karl Malone* | PF | Utah Jazz (1985–2003)Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) | 36,928 | 1,476 | 25.0 | 13,528 | 85 | 9,787 |
| 4 | Kobe Bryant* | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) | 33,643 | 1,346 | 25.0 | 11,719 | 1,827 | 8,378 |
| 5 | Michael Jordan* | SG | Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)Washington Wizards (2001–2003) | 32,292 | 1,072 | 30.1 | 12,192 | 581 | 7,327 |
| 6 | Dirk Nowitzki* | PF | Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) | 31,546 | 1,522 | 20.7 | 11,169 | 1,982 | 7,240 |
| 7 | Wilt Chamberlain* | C | Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973) | 31,419 | 1,045 | 30.1 | 12,681 | n/a | 6,057 |
| 8 | Kevin Durant^ | SF/PF | Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007–2016)Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023)Phoenix Suns (2023–2025)Houston Rockets (2025–present) | 30,728 | 1,129 | 27.2 | 10,591 | 2,202 | 7,344 |
| 9 | Shaquille O'Neal* | C | Orlando Magic (1992–1996)Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)Miami Heat (2004–2008)Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)Boston Celtics (2010–2011) | 28,596 | 1,207 | 23.7 | 11,330 | 1 | 5,935 |
| 10 | Carmelo Anthony* | SF | Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)New York Knicks (2011–2017)Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)Houston Rockets (2018–2019)Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022) | 28,289 | 1,260 | 22.5 | 10,119 | 1,731 | 6,320 |
| 11 | James Harden^ | SG/PG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)Houston Rockets (2012–2021)Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present) | 27,850 | 1,158 | 24.1 | 8,222 | 3,200 | 8,206 |
| 12 | Moses Malone* | C | Buffalo Braves (1976)Houston Rockets (1976–1982)Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)Washington Bullets (1986–1988)Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) | 27,409 | 1,329 | 20.6 | 9,435 | 8 | 8,531 |
| 13 | Elvin Hayes* | PF/C | San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972–1981) | 27,313 | 1,303 | 21.0 | 10,976 | 5 | 5,356 |
| 14 | Hakeem Olajuwon* | C | Houston Rockets (1984–2001)Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) | 26,946 | 1,238 | 21.8 | 10,749 | 25 | 5,423 |
| 15 | Oscar Robertson* | PG | Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970)Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) | 26,710 | 1,040 | 25.7 | 9,508 | n/a | 7,694 |
| 16 | Dominique Wilkins* | SF | Atlanta Hawks (1982–1994)Los Angeles Clippers (1994)Boston Celtics (1994–1995)San Antonio Spurs (1996–1997)Orlando Magic (1999) | 26,668 | 1,074 | 24.8 | 9,963 | 711 | 6,031 |
| 17 | Tim Duncan* | PF/C | San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) | 26,496 | 1,392 | 19.0 | 10,285 | 30 | 5,896 |
| 18 | Paul Pierce* | SF/SG | Boston Celtics (1998–2013)Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)Washington Wizards (2014–2015)Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017) | 26,397 | 1,343 | 19.7 | 8,668 | 2,143 | 6,918 |
| 19 | John Havlicek* | SF/SG | Boston Celtics (1962–1978) | 26,395 | 1,270 | 20.8 | 10,513 | n/a | 5,369 |
| 20 | Russell Westbrook^ | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)Houston Rockets (2019–2020)Washington Wizards (2020–2021)Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)Denver Nuggets (2024–2025)Sacramento Kings (2025–present) | 26,302 | 1,244 | 21.1 | 9,463 | 1,380 | 5,996 |
| 21 | Kevin Garnett* | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)Boston Celtics (2007–2013)Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) | 26,071 | 1,462 | 17.8 | 10,505 | 174 | 4,887 |
| 22 | Vince Carter* | SG/SF | Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)Orlando Magic (2009–2010)Phoenix Suns (2010–2011)Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014)Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017)Sacramento Kings (2017–2018)Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020) | 25,728 | 1,541 | 16.7 | 9,293 | 2,290 | 4,852 |
| 23 | Alex English* | SF | Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1978)Indiana Pacers (1978–1980)Denver Nuggets (1980–1990)Dallas Mavericks (1990–1991) | 25,613 | 1,193 | 21.5 | 10,659 | 18 | 4,277 |
| 24 | Stephen Curry^ | PG | Golden State Warriors (2009–present) | 25,600 | 1,034 | 24.8 | 8,717 | 4,093 | 4,073 |
| 25 | DeMar DeRozan^ | SG/SF | Toronto Raptors (2009–2018)San Antonio Spurs (2018–2021)Chicago Bulls (2021–2024)Sacramento Kings (2024–present) | 25,435 | 1,194 | 21.3 | 9,118 | 618 | 6,581 |
| 26 | Reggie Miller* | SG | Indiana Pacers (1987–2005) | 25,279 | 1,389 | 18.2 | 8,241 | 2,560 | 6,237 |
| 27 | Jerry West* | PG/SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) | 25,192 | 932 | 27.0 | 9,016 | n/a | 7,160 |
| 28 | Patrick Ewing* | C | New York Knicks (1985–2000)Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)Orlando Magic (2001–2002) | 24,815 | 1,183 | 21.0 | 9,702 | 19 | 5,392 |
| 29 | Ray Allen* | SG | Milwaukee Bucks (1996–2003)Seattle SuperSonics (2003–2007)Boston Celtics (2007–2012)Miami Heat (2012–2014) | 24,505 | 1,300 | 18.9 | 8,567 | 2,973 | 4,398 |
| 30 | Allen Iverson* | SG/PG | Philadelphia 76ers (1996–2006, 2009–2010)Denver Nuggets (2006–2008)Detroit Pistons (2008–2009)Memphis Grizzlies (2009) | 24,368 | 914 | 26.7 | 8,467 | 1,059 | 6,375 |
| 31 | Charles Barkley* | PF | Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)Houston Rockets (1996–2000) | 23,757 | 1,073 | 22.1 | 8,435 | 538 | 6,349 |
| 32 | Robert Parish* | C | Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)Boston Celtics (1980–1994)Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) | 23,334 | 1,611 | 14.5 | 9,614 | 0 | 4,106 |
| 33 | Adrian Dantley* | SF | Buffalo Braves (1976–1977)Indiana Pacers (1977)Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1979)Utah Jazz (1979–1986)Detroit Pistons (1986–1989)Dallas Mavericks (1989–1990)Milwaukee Bucks (1991) | 23,177 | 955 | 24.3 | 8,169 | 7 | 6,832 |
| 34 | Dwyane Wade* | SG | Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019)Chicago Bulls (2016–2017) Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018) | 23,165 | 1,054 | 22.0 | 8,454 | 549 | 5,708 |
| 35 | Elgin Baylor* | SF | Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971) | 23,149 | 846 | 27.4 | 8,693 | n/a | 5,763 |
| 36 | Chris Paul^ | PG | New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017, 2025–present)Houston Rockets (2017–2019)Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)San Antonio Spurs (2024–2025) | 23,027 | 1,361 | 16.9 | 8,152 | 1,865 | 4,858 |
| 37 | Damian Lillard^ | PG | Portland Trail Blazers (2012–2023)Milwaukee Bucks (2023–2025) | 22,598 | 900 | 25.1 | 7,266 | 2,804 | 5,262 |
| 38 | Clyde Drexler* | SG | Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)Houston Rockets (1995–1998) | 22,195 | 1,086 | 20.4 | 8,335 | 827 | 4,698 |
| 39 | Gary Payton* | PG | Seattle SuperSonics (1990–2003)Milwaukee Bucks (2003)Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004)Boston Celtics (2004–2005)Miami Heat (2005–2007) | 21,813 | 1,335 | 16.3 | 8,708 | 1,132 | 3,265 |
| 40 | Larry Bird* | SF/PF | Boston Celtics (1979–1992) | 21,791 | 897 | 24.3 | 8,591 | 649 | 3,960 |
| 41 | Hal Greer* | SG/PG | Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) | 21,586 | 1,122 | 19.2 | 8,504 | n/a | 4,578 |
| 42 | Walt Bellamy* | C | Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets (1961–1965)New York Knicks (1965–1968)Detroit Pistons (1968–1970)Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)New Orleans Jazz (1974) | 20,941 | 1,043 | 20.1 | 7,914 | n/a | 5,113 |
| 43 | Pau Gasol* | PF/C | Memphis Grizzlies (2001–2008)Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014)Chicago Bulls (2014–2016)San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019)Milwaukee Bucks (2019) | 20,894 | 1,226 | 17.0 | 7,980 | 179 | 4,755 |
| 44 | Bob Pettit* | PF/C | Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965) | 20,880 | 792 | 26.4 | 7,349 | n/a | 6,182 |
| 45 | David Robinson* | C | San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) | 20,790 | 987 | 21.1 | 7,365 | 25 | 6,035 |
| 46 | Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | PF | Milwaukee Bucks (2013–present) | 20,764 | 866 | 24.0 | 7,613 | 548 | 4,990 |
| 47 | George Gervin* | SG/SF | San Antonio Spurs (1976–1985)Chicago Bulls (1985–1986) | 20,708 | 791 | 26.2 | 8,045 | 77 | 4,541 |
| 48 | LaMarcus Aldridge | PF/C | Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2015)San Antonio Spurs (2015–2021)Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022) | 20,558 | 1,076 | 19.1 | 8,311 | 227 | 3,709 |
| 49 | Mitch Richmond* | SG | Golden State Warriors (1988–1991)Sacramento Kings (1991–1998)Washington Wizards (1998–2001)Los Angeles Lakers (2001–2002) | 20,497 | 976 | 21.0 | 7,305 | 1,326 | 4,561 |
| ^ | Active NBA player |
| Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ATL | Atlanta Hawks | DET | Detroit Pistons | MIL | Milwaukee Bucks | PHW | Philadelphia Warriors |
| BOS | Boston Celtics | FTW | Fort Wayne Pistons | MIN | Minnesota Timberwolves | PHX | Phoenix Suns |
| BUF | Buffalo Braves | GSW | Golden State Warriors | MNL | Minneapolis Lakers | SAS | San Antonio Spurs |
| CHI | Chicago Bulls | HOU | Houston Rockets | NOJ | New Orleans Jazz | SDR | San Diego Rockets |
| CHS | Chicago Stags | IND | Indiana Pacers | NOP | New Orleans Pelicans | SFW | San Francisco Warriors |
| CLE | Cleveland Cavaliers | KCO | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder | STL | St. Louis Hawks |
| DAL | Dallas Mavericks | LAL | Los Angeles Lakers | ORL | Orlando Magic | SYR | Syracuse Nationals |
| DEN | Denver Nuggets | MIA | Miami Heat | PHI | Philadelphia 76ers | UTA | Utah Jazz |
| Season | Year-by-year leader | Points | Active player leader | Total points | Career record | Total points | Single-season record | Points | Season |
| 1946–47 | Joe Fulks*000PHW | 1,389 | Joe Fulks*000PHW | 1,389 | Joe Fulks*000PHW | 1,389 | Joe Fulks*000PHW | 1,389 | 1946–47 |
| 1947–48 | Max Zaslofsky000CHS | 1,007 | 2,338 | 2,338 | 1947–48 | ||||
| 1948–49 | George Mikan*000MNL | 1,698 | 3,898 | 3,898 | George Mikan*000MNL | 1,698 | 1948–49 | ||
| 1949–50 | 1,865 | 4,863 | 4,863 | 1,865 | 1949–50 | ||||
| 1950–51 | 1,932 | 6,099 | 6,099 | 1,932 | 1950–51 | ||||
| 1951–52 | Paul Arizin*000PHW | 1,674 | 7,021 | 7,021 | 1951–52 | ||||
| 1952–53 | Neil Johnston*000PHW | 1,564 | George Mikan*000MNL | 8,460 | George Mikan*000MNL | 8,460 | 1952–53 | ||
| 1953–54 | 1,759 | 9,766 | 9,766 | 1953–54 | |||||
| 1954–55 | 1,631 | Max Zaslofsky000FTW | 7,902 | 1954–55 | |||||
| 1955–56 | Bob Pettit*000STL | 1,849 | George Mikan*000MNL | 10,156 | 10,156 | 1955–56 | |||
| 1956–57 | Paul Arizin*000PHW | 1,817 | Ed Macauley*000STL | 10,150 | 1956–57 | ||||
| 1957–58 | George Yardley*000DET | 2,001 | Dolph Schayes*000SYR | 11,764 | Dolph Schayes*000SYR | 11,764 | George Yardley*000DET | 2,001 | 1957–58 |
| 1958–59 | Bob Pettit*000STL | 2,105 | 13,298 | 13,298 | Bob Pettit*000STL | 2,105 | 1958–59 | ||
| 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain*000PHW 1959–62000SFW 1962–65000PHI 1965–66 | 2,707 | 14,987 | 14,987 | Wilt Chamberlain*000PHW | 2,707 | 1959–60 | ||
| 1960–61 | 3,033 | 16,855 | 16,855 | 3,033 | 1960–61 | ||||
| 1961–62 | 4,029 | 17,677 | 17,677 | 4,029 | 1961–62 | ||||
| 1962–63 | 3,586 | 18,304 | 18,304 | 1962–63 | |||||
| 1963–64 | 2,948 | Bob Pettit*000STL | 19,756 | Bob Pettit*000STL | 19,756 | 1963–64 | |||
| 1964–65 | 2,534 | 20,880 | 20,880 | 1964–65 | |||||
| 1965–66 | 2,649 | Wilt Chamberlain*000PHI 1965–68000LAL 1968–73 | 21,486 | Wilt Chamberlain*000PHI 1965–68000LAL 1968–73 | 21,486 | 1965–66 | |||
| 1966–67 | Rick Barry*000SFW | 2,775 | 23,442 | 23,442 | 1966–67 | ||||
| 1967–68 | Dave Bing*000DET | 2,142 | 25,434 | 25,434 | 1967–68 | ||||
| 1968–69 | Elvin Hayes*000SDR | 2,327 | 27,098 | 27,098 | 1968–69 | ||||
| 1969–70 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000MIL | 2,361 | 27,426 | 27,426 | 1969–70 | ||||
| 1970–71 | 2,596 | 29,122 | 29,122 | 1970–71 | |||||
| 1971–72 | 2,822 | 30,335 | 30,335 | 1971–72 | |||||
| 1972–73 | Nate Archibald*000KCO | 2,719 | 31,419 | 31,419 | 1972–73 | ||||
| 1973–74 | Bob McAdoo*000BUF | 2,261 | Oscar Robertson*000MIL | 26,710 | 1973–74 | ||||
| 1974–75 | 2,831 | John Havlicek*000BOS | 22,389 | 1974–75 | |||||
| 1975–76 | 2,427 | 23,678 | 1975–76 | ||||||
| 1976–77 | Pete Maravich*000NOJ | 2,273 | 25,073 | 1976–77 | |||||
| 1977–78 | George Gervin*000SAS | 2,232 | 26,395 | 1977–78 | |||||
| 1978–79 | 2,365 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL | 22,141 | 1978–79 | |||||
| 1979–80 | 2,585 | 24,175 | 1979–80 | ||||||
| 1980–81 | Adrian Dantley*000UTA | 2,452 | 26,270 | 1980–81 | |||||
| 1981–82 | George Gervin*000SAS | 2,551 | 28,088 | 1981–82 | |||||
| 1982–83 | Alex English*000DEN | 2,326 | 29,810 | 1982–83 | |||||
| 1983–84 | Adrian Dantley*000UTA | 2,418 | 31,527 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*00LAL | 31,527 | 1983–84 | |||
| 1984–85 | Michael Jordan*000CHI | 2,313 | 33,262 | 33,262 | 1984–85 | ||||
| 1985–86 | Alex English*000DEN | 2,414 | 35,108 | 35,108 | 1985–86 | ||||
| 1986–87 | Michael Jordan*000CHI | 3,041 | 36,474 | 36,474 | 1986–87 | ||||
| 1987–88 | 2,868 | 37,639 | 37,639 | 1987–88 | |||||
| 1988–89 | 2,633 | 38,387 | 38,387 | 1988–89 | |||||
| 1989–90 | 2,753 | Moses Malone*000ATL 1989–91000MIL 1991–93000PHI 1993–94000SAS 1994–95 | 24,868 | 1989–90 | |||||
| 1990–91 | 2,580 | 25,737 | 1990–91 | ||||||
| 1991–92 | 2,404 | 27,016 | 1991–92 | ||||||
| 1992–93 | 2,541 | 27,066 | 1992–93 | ||||||
| 1993–94 | David Robinson*000SAS | 2,383 | 27,360 | 1993–94 | |||||
| 1994–95 | Shaquille O'Neal*000ORL | 2,315 | 27,409 | 1994–95 |