Most points in NBA history -Points are the basis on which football games are won. In the game of basketball, every single point is important. We have seen games won by the smallest of margins hence a basketball team must score as many points as possible. Any player can score in the game but the power forwards are the players entrusted with the responsibility of putting the ball through the hoop.
If you were born in the 90s, the greatest basketball player sold to us was the great Michael Jordan. Don’t get me wrong. Jordan is a legend no doubt but only a few even know that he ranks fifth on the all-time list of players with most points in NBA history. For your pleasure, here are the top 10 players who have scored the most points in the history of American basketball.
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#10. Elvin Hayes (27,313)
Hayes played college basketball at Houston before he was drafted into the NBA by San Diego Rockets (now Houston Rockets) in 1968. He was the 1st overall pick in round 1. The power forward went on to play for Washington Bullets before retiring with Houston Rockets in 1984. He was also a 12-time NBA all-star and won one championship title.
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#9. Moses Malone (27,409)
Malone began his basketball career in the days of the defunct ABA. He was drafted in 1974 by Utah Stars and went on to play the game for the next 21 years. Some other teams he played for include Houston Rockets, Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and the San Antonio Spurs. The 12-time NBA all-star ranks ninth on our list of players with most points in NBA history.
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#8. Shaquille O’Neal (28,596)
The big guy knows how to enjoy a game of basketball and have fun too. If you don’t believe me, try to google his name and add dance to it. The New Jersey native was drafted into the NBA by Orlando Magic in 1992 as the 1st overall pick in round 1. His career spanned 19 years playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics amongst others. He won the NBA championship 4 times. O’Neal played as a center.
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#7. Wilt Chamberlain (31,419)
Chamberlain is the second center on our list of players with most points in NBA history. Chamberlain was drafted into the NBA in a territorial pick in 1959. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters before starring for San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. The 13-time NBA all-star is the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game. Chamberlain retired from playing with Los Angeles Lakers in 1973.
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#6. Dirk Nowitzki (31,560)
Nowitzki is the only player in this article that was not born in the USA. The power forward cum center was born in Wurzburg, West Germany. He played for Wuzburg’s basketball team before moving to the NBA with Dallas Mavericks. He would go on to play for them in for the next 21 years before retiring. He has one NBA championship title to his name and was part of the NBA all-star team 14 times. He made repeated appearances from 2002 to 2012.
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#5. Michael Jordan (32,292)
And here is our beloved Michael Jordan. Contrary to popular opinion, he is not the player with the most points in NBA history. He was drafted into the NBA in 1984 as the third overall pick in round 1 and played as a shooting guard. He starred for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards in a quite eventful career. Michael Jordan won 6 NBA championship titles. He also won the gold medal in every international tournament he participated in.
#4. Kobe Bryant (33,643)
Bryant may be gone but he will forever remain a legend of the game. He was drafted into the NBA in 1996 as the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets. This would have no negative impact on his career as Bryant went on to have a successful career. Strangely, he never starred for the Hornets in the NBA. His 20-year career was spent with Los Angeles Lakers only. The 5-time NBA champion tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26.
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#3. LeBron James (34,087)
James now aged 35 is still going toe-to-toe with the best in the NBA. He can play as a small forward and a power forward as well. He has been playing in the NBA since 2003 starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He is currently with Los Angeles Lakers whom he joined in 2018. James has won the NBA championship three times.
#2. Karl Malone (36,928)
Malone was drafted into the NBA in 1985 by Utah Jazz. The power forward would go on to play till 2004 starring for his draft team and Los Angeles Lakers. He ventured into coaching in 2007 serving as Louisiana Tech’s assistant coach till 2011. He has since retired from basketball. He ranks second on our list of players with most points in NBA history.
#1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387)
And here is the best of them all. No player has scored more points than Abdul-Jabbar in the history of the NBA. He entered into the NBA in 1969 starring for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers before retiring as a player in 1989. Abdul-Jabbar is a 6-time NBA champion.