Scoring Machines: The Greatest Scorers in NBA History
Welcome back to the "Greatest Ever" series, as we continue with the rankings of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
This league has been blessed to have the finest scorers to ever set foot on hardwood, which why it's been the most-watched basketball in the world for years.
You need to score points to win the game. There are dozens of ways to score: layups, dunks, post-up moves, jump shots and so on. It's easier said than done, trust me.
However, there are players who can score in bunches and make it look it easy, regardless of their position or playing style. There are specialists from the perimeter, post, transition game and so on.
Without further ado, here are the greatest scorers in NBA history.
20. Tracy McGrady
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At some point in the '00s, Tracy McGrady was in the conversation as the best player in the league, mainly because of his pure scoring skills.
T-Mac is an athletic guard/forward combo with a silky smooth touch from just about anywhere on the court and the ability to finish strong inside, thanks to his really quick first step. He also had a good back-to-the-basket game.
In his prime, he captured two back-to-back scoring titles, and he will be forever remembered for scoring 13 points in 33 seconds against the San Antonio Spurs.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Titles: two (32.1, 28.0)
- His playoff scoring average of 28.5 points is ranked No. 4 all time.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 17,555 points (21.4 per game) regular season; 1,084 points (28.5 per game) playoffs
19. Alex English
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Alex English was one of the best scorers to ever step foot on NBA hardwood.
He was fantastic at lighting up the scoreboard, marking the '80s in style, despite never being in the media spotlight.
He scored the most points in a very competitive era and was the first player ever to score at least 2,000 points in eight straight seasons.
He was one of the smoothest jump shooters of all times, with a high but very effective release, and he also shot for a high percentage from the stripe. He ranks high in the list of the top small forwards of all time, for sure.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Title: one (28.4)
- Leader twice in total points (2,326; 2,414)
- His playoff scoring average of 24.4 points per game is ranked No. 18 on the all-time list
- Has a career percent of 50.7 percent, which is one of the highest for all non-big men
- Is the all-time leader in most points scored, 25,613, in the history of the Denver Nuggets
- His career total of 25,613 points is ranked No. 16 on the all-time list
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 25,613 points (21.5 per game) career; 1,661 points (24.4 per game) playoffs
18. LeBron James
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Arguable the top player right now, LeBron James is already one of the finest scorers in NBA history, as well.
Even with only his seven year career, LeBron could go perhaps higher than my rank, but his stats will most likely go down now that he's playing in Miami with Wade, Bosh and the rest. But this guy is such a beast.
He's one of the most athletic players of all time. He's quick, strong and can jump really high, which allows him to consistently score well and at will. When he goes for a dunk, the only thing to do is just get out of the way.
LeBron is also a very smart player who knows how to use his body and get himself in a position to draw contact and get to the line. He has a streaky shot and is starting to use his post game a little more often now. When he improves that post game, he'll be truly scary.
He's also a very efficient scorer who once hit over 50 percent in field goals; almost all his seasons (expect his rookie year) are close to 50 percent, in fact. He consistently leads the league in most points in the paint, and he's perhaps the best driver to the rim.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Title: one (30 points per game)
- Is the youngest player in NBA history to reach 15,000 points
- His current scoring average of 27.8 is the highest for all active players and ranks third overall.
- His current playoff scoring average of 29.3 is third all time.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 15,353 points (27.8 per game) regular season; 2,081 points (29.3 per game) playoffs
17. Allen Iverson
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There's no doubt that the little man with the big heart, Allen Iverson, is one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game.
No one in the history of the league who was under 6'1" could score like The Answer did back in the day. His insane speed and quickness, combined with that sick crossover, were his great strengths.
He scored consistently well inside. Because he wasn't a good shooter, he knew to draw contact, earning himself many trips to the line. However, his problem was efficiency. He could score 30 points; however, he needed many, many shots to do so.
His highest field goal percent was 46.6 percent; he was never close to 50 percent. That's the only reason for holding him so far back in these rankings. But during his (likely) Hall of Fame career, Allen Iverson recorded great numbers in both the regular and postseason.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Titles: four (26.8, 31.1, 31.4, 30.7)
- His career scoring average of 26.7 points per game is ranked No. 6 on the all-time list.
- His career scoring average of 29.7 points per game is second all time.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 24,368 points (26.7 per game) regular season; 2,111 points (29.7 per game) playoffs
16. Bernard King
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One of the finest small forwards in NBA history, Bernard King was a phenomenal scorer throughout his pro career.
Although a serious knee injury in his prime damaged him, he bounced back and proved everyone wrong when he become an All-Star again. He was one of the most explosive scorers in the history of the game, and had a very good offensive arsenal.
He was excellent at getting to the rim, had a nice midrange jump shot, had solid percentages from the stripe, mastered the turnaround shot and had a good post game, as well. He was an excellent all-around forward on the court.
He was a offensive force who once led everyone in scoring with over 32 points per game, and shot at least 50 percent from the field most of his career.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring title: one (32.4)
- His career field goal percentage of 51.8 is ranked second best for all non-big men.
- He had eight years of shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
Career stats (regular season/playoffs):
-19,655 points (22.5 per game) regular season; 687 points (24.5 per game) playoffs
15. Adrian Dantley
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He is not as famous as most of the players are on this list, but there's no doubt that 6'5' wing Adrian Dantley was a phenomenal scorer.
He was a deadly outside shooter, an athletic forward with a quick first step that made him an explosive scorer. For a period of four straight seasons he averaged 30 points per game while capturing the scoring title twice, too.
He was also capable of getting to the line, as he hit 6,832 free throws out of 8351 attempts, 81.8 percent, which is beyond solid. He was very efficient with the ball and had an incredible 54.0 field goal percentage.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: two (30.7, 30.4)
- Led the NBA twice in scoring (2,452 total points; 2,418 total points)
- His totals of 6,832 free throws is ranked No. 6 on the all-time list
- His total of 23,177 points ranks No. 20 on the all-time list
- His scoring average of 24.3 points per game is ranked No. 17 on the all-time list
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 23,177 points (24.3 per game) regular season; 1,558 points (21.3 per game) playoffs
14. Hakeem Olajuwon
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Nicknamed "The Dream," a case can be made for Hakeem Olajuwon as the greatest player in the history of the NBA, where he established himself for a fine 18 years after being the No. 1 draft pick from a class which featured five or six Hall of Famers.
Olajuwon had a strong arsenal of post moves, which, combined with his quickness and athleticism, made him a good scorer with some finesse. Of all his post moves, by far the most known is the "Dream Shake" that to this very day is copied by many.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: zero
- His career total of 26,946 points is ranked No. 8 on the all-time list.
- He averaged 32.8 points in the 1996 Finals against Shaquille O'Neal.
- He's the all-time leader in total points in Houston Rockets franchise history.
- His playoff total of 3,755 points is ranked No. 10 in playoff history.
- His playoff average of 25.9 points per game is ranked No. 9 in playoff history.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 26,946 points (21.8 per game) regular season; 3,755 points (25.9 per game) playoffs
13.Dominique Wilkins
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Dominique Wilkins was called the Human Highlight Film for his spectacular ability to dunk with power and style. He is also known as one of the game's best small forwards of all time.
'Nique was a brilliant scorer anywhere inside the three-point line. He was a decent shooter but was a far bigger threat inside, thanks to his explosiveness, athleticism and jumping ability, with powerful slams that rocked the rim.
In many ways he defined the powerful highflier and set the bar for everyone who came after him. Although he only led the league once in scoring, he was indeed a fine player to watch.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: one (30.3)
- His career total of 26,668 points is ranked No. 10 on the all-time list
- His career scoring average of 24.8 points is ranked No. 13 on the all-time list
- His playoff scoring average of 25.4 points is ranked No. 13 on the all time list
- He is the Atlanta Hawks all-time leader in most points scored.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 26,668 points (24.8 per game) regular season; 1,423 points (25.4 per game) playoffs
12. Karl Malone
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Next on the list off with Hall of Fame power forward Karl Malone, who holds many records and was a great scorer.
He was an athletic freak who was really strong, had a killer midrange shot and was the master at drawing contact. He did get easy looks because he was playing with the all-time assist leader, John Stockton, but Stock couldn't get those assists without Karl.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Titles: 0
- Career points: 36,928 (2nd in the history of the NBA)
- Career average: 25.0 (impressive for a guy who played 20 seasons)
- Playoffs point total: 4,761 (ranked No. 5 on the all-time list)
- Playoffs scoring average: 24.7 (No. 15 on the all-time list)
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 36,928 points (25 per game) regular season; 4,761 points (24.7 per game) playoffs
11. Rick Barry
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Rick Barry was a nearly unstoppable offensive juggernaut in the '70s. He managed to lead the Golden State Warriors to their last title while earning honors as the Finals MVP.
He was one of the purest shooters in NBA history, with touch from anywhere. He was a leader who was fantastic in drawing contact, successfully converting almost all of his trips to the line, once missing only nine free throws in a season.
He was an effective gun from the West who once scored an insane 53 points in a Finals game. He was a complete player, leading the league once in scoring, with high-ranking NBA/ABA career totals.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: one (36.0)
- Recorded highest points total in 1966-67 with 2,775
- Barry scored 53 points in Game 3 of the 1966-67 Finals where he also twice scored over 40 points.
- His scoring average of 40.8 points in the Finals is second only to Michael Jordan's 41.0.
- His free throw percentage of 90.0 is ranked No. 2 on the all-time list.
- His career total of 25,279 points is ranked No. 17 on the all-time list.
- His career scoring average of 24.8 is ranked No. 14 on the all-time list (No. 1 in the ABA, at 30.5).
- His playoff total of 2,870 points is ranked No. 23 on the all-time list.
- His playoff average of 27.3 points is ranked No. 6 on the all-time list.
NBA/ABA-combined Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 25,279 points (24.8 per game) regular season; 2,870 points (27.3 per game) playoffs
10. Julius Erving
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A legendary forward who set the definition of a highflier, Julius Erving was indeed basketball's magical doctor.
He (and David Thompson) took the game to the rim. A true wizard with the ball, Dr. J was an explosive scorer who finished with acrobatic layups and powerful slams. He won the first Slam Dunk Contest which was held in 1976, in the ABA.
He had huge hands that made his attempts near the rim impossible to block. He captured three scoring titles in the ABA and had high averages in the league. His trademark layups and signature dunk over Michael Cooper will be remembered forever.
He was also an efficient scorer who shot 50.7 percent from the field, which is one of the highest averages for any non-big men.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: three (31.9, 27.4, 29.3)
- Career points: 30,026 (ranked No. 5 all time)
- Career scoring average: 24.4 points per game (20th all time)
- Playoff total: 4,580 points (No. 6 all time)
- Playoff average: 24.2 points per game (No. 20 all time)
NBA/ABA-combined Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 30,026 points (24.4 per game) regular season; 4,580 points (24.2 per game) playoffs
9. Oscar Robertson
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Judging by the triple doubles and stats that he had, no one was more complete than Oscar Robertson.
He was as deadly inside as he was from outside, a terrific shooter who possessed a sweet midrange shot and athleticism that he used to score inside. Robertson had the best post-up game for a guard.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: one (29.2)
- Career points: 26,710 (ranked No. 7 all time)
- Career scoring average: 25.7 points per game (ranked No. 9 all time)
- Playoff total: 1,910 points
- Playoff average: 22.2 points per game
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 26,710 points (25.7 per game)regular season; 1,910 points (22.2 per game) playoffs
8. Elgin Baylor
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An offensive force, Elgin Baylor was one of the top scoring machines to ever play in the NBA.
He was a complete player, as stats and highlights show. But he was also the first player to take the game off the ground and to shoot in variety of ways near the rim. He possessed a complete offensive arsenal: post-up game, midrange shot, inside layups and so on.
It's a shame that he had major knee problems in the second part of his career that changed this legend in different ways. Even though he played well, he never reached that level again.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: zero (Imagine scoring 38 points per game and still not leading the league in scoring...)
- Holds record for most points scored in a single Finals game: 61 (he also added 22 boards against the pretty good Celtics defense)
- He averaged 30 points per game after his first seven years as a pro, with years of 38, 32 and 34 points per game.
- Career points: 23,149 points (No. 21 all time)
- Career scoring average: 27.3 (No. 4 all time, but it might soon go to No. 3 because LeBron's average will most likely go down)
- Playoff points total: 3,623 (No. 13 all time)
- Playoff scoring average: 27.0 (No. 6 all time)
- Held NBA record for most playoff points scored, with 62, until Jordan broke it with 63
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 23,149 points (27.3 per game) regular season; 3,623 points (27.0 per game) playoffs
7. Shaquille O'Neal
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For nearly 15 years, Shaquille O'Neal was the most unstoppable offensive player in the NBA. He consistently got easy points inside. It often took three or four players to slow him down.
He was arguably the biggest physical force in the NBA, crushing rims with powerful dunks.
He's the most efficient scorer of all time, despite not being nearly as skilled a scorer as some on this list. He's still getting it done, though he should call it quits at the end of this season.
Shaq is proof of how good someone can be when he's using his capabilities to the max. He's possibly the best ever...
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Titles: two (29.7, 29.3)
- 10-time leader in field goal percentage
- Career points: 28,281 (No. 5 all time)
- Career scoring average: 24.2 (No. 19 all time)
- Playoff points: 5,248 (No. 3 all time)
- Playoff scoring average: 24.5 points per game (No. 17 all time)
- Career field goal percentage: 58.1 percent (No. 2 all time)
- Averaged 38 and 42 points per game in 2000 and 2002 Finals, respectively.
- Holds highest scoring averages for a center in the Finals
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
-28,281 points (24.1 per game) regular season; 5,248 points (24.5 per game) playoffs
6. Kobe Bryant
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He started as a really young, really talented baller who played sparingly on the court. But he put in phenomenal effort to be where he is now, in the discussion as being the most legendary basketball player ever.
Once the young Kobe owned the league with his jump shot, athleticism and jumping ability. He beat defenses like few ever. He had historical performances, like the 81-point game and an insane amount of games with 40, 50 and 60 points.
He has won two back-to-back scoring titles while having the highest scoring averages three times in the playoffs. Bryant is 32, has a ton of accomplishments behind his name already, and he isn't done.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: two (35.4, 31.6)
- He has led the league four times in scoring.
- Career points: 25,938 (No. 12 all time, second among active players)
- Career average: 25.3 (No. 11 all time, third among active players)
- Playoffs total points: 5,052 points (ranks No. 3 all time, has a chance to overtake Shaq)
- Playoffs scoring average: 25.5 (No. 12 all time)
- His career high is 81 points, the second highest scoring performances in NBA history.
- He scored 62 points against Dallas Mavericks, with 61 through three quarters alone.
- He is the Los Angeles Lakers all-time scoring leader.
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 25,938 points (25.3 per game) regular season; 5,052 points (25.5 per game) playoffs
5. Jerry West
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A legendary player, the NBA long ago decided to base its logo on this man, Jerry West.
That alone speaks to the legend that West earned thanks to his shot, tenacious defense and confidence. He had everything that a scorer of his caliber should have.
The Logo could nail jumpers from anywhere, he was terrific at finishing in traffic, could post up and hit variety of shots. He hit a lot of them from long distance, back when they counted only for two. Who knows where would he be on the list had he had three-point line like many of the legends from the '50s, '60s and '70s.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring Titles: one (31.2 at age 32)
- The NBA logo is based on him.
- No one ever lived up better to the nickname "Mr. Clutch" like West did, as with the 60-foot clutch shot versus the Knicks in Game 6 of the 1970 Finals.
- He averaged 46 points per game in a six game series!
- He averaged 40 points per game through the playoffs once.
- He was until recently the Lakers all-time scoring leader (Kobe surpassed him).
- Career points: 25,192 (No. 19 all time)
- Career scoring average: 27.0 (No. 5 all time, No. 2 in the history of LA)
- Playoff total points: 4,457 (No. 6 in playoff history)
- Playoff scoring average: 29.1 (No. 4 all time, No. 3 for retired players only)
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 25,192 points (27.0 per game) regular season; 4,457 points (29.1 per game) playoffs
4. George Gervin
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George Gervin was one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history. He was given the right nickname, "The Iceman."
In the '80s, a very competitive era of elite franchises, teams had trouble slowing down this guy. Their only hope was to catch him tired or something.
He was a silky smooth jump shooter from anywhere on the court. It was like art, watching that 25-foot shot burn the net. He was a strong inside finisher, and his trademark move, the finger roll, has been adopted by thousands of players.
The Iceman was capable of going over seven-footers and putting them on a poster. He could change with ease the direction of his shot and still make it.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: four
- He was the first guard ever to win three straight scoring titles.
- He won four scoring titles in his pro career.
- Career points: 26,595 (No. 13 all time)
- Career scoring average: 26.2 (NBA-only, including ABA stats it's 25.1)
- Playoff total points: 2,223
- Playoff scoring average: 26.5 points per game
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 26,710 points (25.1 per game) regular season; 2,223 points (26.5 per game) playoffs
3.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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A big man that's perhaps the most successful basketball player ever, with all of achievements that anyone could want, Kareem makes this list, too.
He's the NBA's all-time leading scorer. His body was perfect, as he could play more than 30 minutes in his late 30s and still be effective.
Most of the points he scored came from the most difficult shot in basketball, the sky hook. He turned it into an art form. With his size (7'2") and long arms, he made it almost impossible to block those shots.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: two
- Leader in total points: three times (five times in the playoffs)
- NBA all-time scoring leader: 38,387 points
- Career scoring average: 24.6 points per game (No. 16 all time)
- Playoff points total: 5,762 (No. 2 in playoff history)
- Playoff scoring average: 24.3 points per game (No. 19 in playoff history)
- Averaged great numbers in the Finals, and scored 36 points in Game 6 of a Finals game, at age 38
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs)
- 38,387 points (24.6 per game) regular season; 5,762 points (24.3 per game) playoffs
2. Michael Jordan
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Some may find this a little weird, but Jordan overall was the second-finest scorer that ever played in the NBA.
He was without a doubt the most fearless scorer in the playoffs, at his best in clutch time, a scoring machine that was trouble for many great defensive teams.
His offensive arsenal was filled with many skilled ways to beat any defense such as the ability to get to the rim, a turnaround shot, a nice post-up game, a pull-up shot...it was all good. He was also a very athletic player who drove to the rim with ease.
His competitiveness made him almost unguardable through his entire career.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: 10 (record)
- Leader in total points: 11 (record)
- He scored 63 points after coming off an injury against the Boston Celtics, a playoff record.
- He averaged 43 points per game through a playoffs series, highest ever.
- He averaged 41,0 points per game outmatching Barry's 40.8 through a Finals series
- He scored 55 points against the Suns in Game 4 of the 1992 Finals, he scored 45 in Game 6 of the '96 Finals, and he scored 36 points with six three-pointers in the first half against the Blazers in the Finals.
- His 37.1 points per game are the highest in the modern history of basketball.
- Career points: 32,292 (No. 3 all time)
- Career scoring average: 30.12 (No. 1 all time)
- Playoff points: 5,987 (No. 1 in playoff history)
- Playoff scoring average: 33.4 points per game (No. 1 in playoff history)
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 32,292 points (30.1 per game) regular season; 5,987 points (34.4 per game) playoffs
1. Wilt Chamberlain
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The greatest scorer in the history of basketball is Wilt Chamberlain. For many people, he's simply the best player ever.
Wilt was one of the most athletic freaks to ever step on an NBA basketball court. He was a track star back in college, bench-pressed like crazy, held track records and could jump with the best of them.
He was also extremely skilled. He had a trademark move called the finger roll, with hook shots and good post moves, too. He was a smart athlete, a mismatch for every team back in his day except the Celtics, as he got hack-a-Shaqued his entire career.
Notable Career Facts:
- Scoring titles: seven
- Leader in total points: seven times
- His 50.4 points per game are the highest scoring average in the history of the NBA
- The only one to average 40 and 50 points per game in the NBA History
- He scored 100 points in a single NBA game, the highest ever in the league's history.
- He had most consecutive games with at least 30 points,118.
- The only player to score 4,000 points in a single season
- Had the highest field goal percent ever in a season,72.7 percent
- Led the NBA nine times in field goal percentage
- Career points: 31,419 (No. 4 all time)
- Career scoring average: 30.07 (No. 2 all time)
- Playoff total points: 3,607
- Playoff scoring average: 22.5 points per game
Career Stats (regular season/playoffs):
- 31,419 points (30.1 per game) regular season; 3,607 points (22.5 per game) playoffs
In the Conversation
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Dwayne Wade, Reggie Miller, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Bob Pettit.
