The NBA is the undisputed number-one Basketball league in the world. Whenever a game is live, thousands of fans flock to the arena to cheer on their favorite team. Superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant have taken this sport to new heights. They have scored some of the highest numbers of scores in NBA history. Check Top 10 NBA Scorers Of All Time.
LeBron James surpassed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart, moving up to No. 3 already padding an already storied legacy. Between the two, though, which player is the better scorer?
That question isn’t as simple as looking at point totals. Instead, it demands a nuanced approach that involves total production but also factors in efficiency, longevity, and the individual’s style. Some subjectivity is unavoidable since numbers are important, yet don’t tell a complete story in this particular case.
We would look back through NBA history and see the 10 best scorers, as well as highlighting several other deserving players.
Top 10 NBA Scorers Of All Time
James has been in third since he passed Kobe Bryant in January of 2020, but he is within striking distance of Karl Malone. With 35,367 points, King James needs 1,562 points to overtake the Mailman for the second position.
James has failed to score at least 1,562 points in a season just twice in his 18-year career, though both times have been over the last three years.
When James inevitably passes Malone, whether it’s this season or the next one, he’ll shift his sights toward Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA record of 38,387 points.
Meanwhile, Anthony knocked Elvin Hayes out of the top 10 in 2020-21, finishing the season with 924 points over 69 games and 27,370 points for his career.
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It should only take Anthony a handful of games to record the 40 points required for him to move into sole possession of ninth, where Moses Malone sits with 27,409 points.
Melo would have to score 1,227 points to pass Shaquille O’Neal for eighth, which would be his best scoring output since 2017-18 as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He could certainly claim the No. 8 spot at some point, but that may be as high as the 37-year-old Anthony can ultimately climb; Wilt Chamberlain is another 2,833 points ahead of Shaq in seventh.
Here’s a look at the top 35 scorers of all time (Including Inactive Players):
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387
- Karl Malone: 36,928
- LeBron James: 35,367
- Kobe Bryant: 33,643
- Michael Jordan: 32,292
- Dirk Nowitzki: 31,560
- Wilt Chamberlain: 31,419
- Shaquille O’Neal: 28,596
- Moses Malone : 27,409
- Carmelo Anthony: 27,370