The NBA has nurtured some of the best sporting talents the world has ever seen. Some of the most well-known sports personalities of all time came out of the NBA, and with good reason. As sports betting is now legal in many parts of the US, the money involved with sponsorship is bigger than ever. Out of the hundreds of bookmakers in the UK, many sponsor football teams, and this trend is likely to continue in the USA with the sponsorship of NBA stars and teams.
The number of It cannot be overstated how staggering the achievements of the highest scoring NBA players are. Today, we’re going to look at some of the greatest NBA players of all time in terms of total points scored over the course of their careers. There’s a lot to look at, so let’s get started.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Playing over the course of a twenty-season career, Adbul-Jabbar would play primarily for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Lakers. He was a record-holding six-time MVP, 19-time NBA All-Star, and countless other staggering titles. Over the course of 1,560 games played in his career, he personally scored a total of 38,387 points, making him the single highest point scorer in the history of the NBA.
At an average of 24.6 points scored per game, his average was not the highest, but his field goals certainly were. At 15,837 field goals over his career, he’s over 2,000 goals above the next closest player. As a center player, he only ever scored a single three-point throw, too; just going to show the sheer quantity of baskets he scored. Jabbar is no doubt a timeless legend of the NBA.
LeBron James
No list of outstanding NBA stars would be complete without LeBron James. He is the greatest small forward in NBA history, and though his total number of points is lower than Abdul-Jabbar, many argue he is the single greatest player in basketball. He totaled 37,062 total points over the course of his career—so far! He currently still plays for the LA Lakers and has since 2018.
To date, he has played 1,366 games in his career, scoring 13,543 field goals and an indescribably impressive 2,140 three-point throws—more than any other player. His average points per game are also among the highest of any NBA player at 27.1.
It’s hard to deny the impact James has had on the sport and the legacy of his talent.
Karl Malone
During a long stint with the Utah Jazz team from ’85 to ’03 and another season with the Lakers thereafter, Karl Malone managed to become one of the highest-scoring players in the NBA. Today, he is third only to James and Jabbar. Over the course of 1,476 games, he scored 36,928 points, with an average of 25 points per game. In addition, he scored 13,483 baskets during that time and landed the most free throws of any player at 9,787.
In his position as a power forward, he was known as “the mailman” and is generally considered to be the greatest power forward the NBA has ever seen. Without a doubt, his legacy is one of the biggest in the sport.
Kobe Bryant
A loyal shooting guard of the LA Lakers from 1996 until 2016, Kobe Bryant is again undoubtedly one of the best-known players in the NBA—and with good reason. He took home 33,643 points over the course of his career, playing 1,346 games. His per-game point average was an impressive 25, and he managed to make a total of 11,719 field goals. His three-point record is equally impressive, at 1,827. He also follows closely behind Malone for free throws scored, at 8,378.
Bryant secured five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star and 15-time member of the All-NBA team. He was the 2008 NBA MVP and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He led the Lakers to multiple championships over the years, particularly with three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. Unfortunately, he tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in early 2020.
Michael Jordan
Widely regarded as the best all-around player the NBA has ever seen, Michael Jordan takes the next place on our list. In terms of points scored, he is the fifth-highest in NBA history. He scored a total of 32,292 points over the course of a twenty-year career, playing first for the Chicago Bulls and later for the Washington Wizards.
He played a total of 1,072 games, with one of the highest averages per game points of any player at 30.1. At 12,192 field goals scored and 7,327 free throws made, his career was absolutely rip-roaring from start to finish. He was also selected for the US National Team for the Olympics, where he would win gold medals in 1984 and two separate tournaments in 1992.
Without a doubt, then, the NBA is the greatest basketball league in the world. Over the years, the league has seen without doubt the best players the world has ever known, and with some unbelievably high statistics. Those are these players, but those behind them are not far behind, so there is always more world-class talent to talk about.
Body Post Image
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
