The NBA has changed significantly since the turn of the century, and scoring has arguably never been easier. The relaxation of certain rules over the years has only added to the ease with which players can score, so it's no surprise that scoring averages and points totals within games have gone through the roof. Scoring a basket has always been an art form, and it's often the teams who boast the best at it, that often go on to win the NBA title.
Whether it's a barrage of three-point shooting, relentless drives into the paint, or some old-school post moves, there are a variety of ways to get points on the board. But who can claim to be the best of the lot?
Below is a ranking of the 10 best scorers of all-time in the NBA, and there are some legendary names to miss out, including the likes of Tracy McGrady, Larry Bird and Shaquille O'Neal.
Ranking Factors
Scoring titles won
Points per game averages
How they scored
Scoring in clutch moments
MVPs and NBA titles
10 James Harden
While fans watching the NBA right now might raise their eyebrows at James Harden, there's no questioning 'The Beard' was one of the game's absolute best scorers in his prime. His tenure at the Houston Rockets catapulted him into superstardom, and whilst he couldn't quite deliver an NBA title - the Golden State Warriors generally put paid to that - he remained one of the most potent weapons in the league.
His ability to get to the free-throw line was second-to-none, and his efficiency when there, meant he was virtually guaranteed double-digits in points every night. Three years in a row between 2018 and 2020 did Harden win the scoring title, while he also had a devastating step-back to fall back on when needed.
9 George Gervin
Known as the 'Iceman', George Gervin is one of only three players to win the NBA scoring title four times. One of the greatest shooting guards in history, Gervin would average at least 14 points per game in every season of his career, and was unsurprisingly named into the 50 Greatest Players of All-Time back in 1996.
Gervin's trademark shot was the finger roll, which he seemed to perfect with exquisite touch and control. Indeed, while others looked to use it in and around the post, Gervin's ability with the shot extended even towards the free throw line.
8 Allen Iverson
One of the most influential players in NBA history, Allen Iverson arguably transcended the basketball world through his sheer style and charisma. Despite standing at just six foot tall, AI was hands-down one of the best scorers of his era. His regular season scoring average of 26.7 points per game ranks him seventh all-time, while Iverson stepped it up in the play-offs - his mark of 29.7 PPG in the post-season is only behind Luka Doncic and Michael Jordan.
A four-time scoring champion, Iverson's career high was a phenomenal 60 against the Orlando Magic. While his efficiency might not have been the best, there could be no questioning that even on bad shooting nights, Iverson was never scared of taking on the responsibility of leading his team.
7 Stephen Curry
In the conversation for the best point guard in NBA history, Stephen Curry has revolutionised the way we look at the game of basketball today. His incredible ability to hit three-pointers from virtually anywhere on the court has inspired a generation, and whether for the betterment of the game or not, has made teams around the league change strategy to keep up.
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It's somewhat of a surprise that Curry only has two scoring titles to his name - in 2016 and 2021 - he could never be described as being selfish or taking shots for the sake of taking them. He was more than happy to defer to Kevin Durant when the now Phoenix Suns star was in Golden State, and would share the scoring load with Klay Thompson too. Despite that, Curry undeniably remains one of the greatest scorers of the modern era and has been breaking records left, right and centre.
6 LeBron James
It is a testament to LeBron James' longevity, that his game has evolved to such an extent over the years since he burst onto the scene straight from high school. Having relied on his athleticism and explosiveness to get to the basket in his early years, to his much improved three-point shooting and play-making skills in recent seasons, James has adjusted his game to stay with the times.
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While he may only have scoring title to his name - he did so in the 2007/2008 season while with the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 30.0 points per game - James' combination of skills and talents has made him one of the hardest players to guard against. Despite now being in his 40s, opposition teams must still respect King James.
5 Wilt Chamberlain
Alongside Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most dominant players to ever play the game, Wilt Chamberlain's exploits in the 1960s beggars belief. A seven-time scoring champion, the 7 foot 1 center simply bullied opposition teams up and down the country. All in all, he holds a whopping 72 NBA records, including being the only player to score 100 points in a single game.
To underline his dominance, Chamberlain is also the only man to average 30 points and 20 rebounds over a season - a feat he managed a remarkable seven times over his career. The 'Big Dipper's fade away and finger roll were virtually impossible to stop, while one incredible year saw him average 50 points a game.
4 Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was one of the game's elite scorers, taking over the mantle from Michael Jordan and becoming the face of the league. Much is made of Bryant's work ethic and relentless will to win, and that all built into a character who looked to dominate every game regardless of the opposition or what was at stake.
Back-to-back scoring titles in 2006 and 2007 were inevitable once he didn't have to share the limelight with Shaquille O'Neal, and while there is some talk of Bryant being an inefficient scorer, that is not necessarily the truth. There was a three-year stretch where Bryant averaged over 30 points per game on just a touch over 57.1% true shooting, while his post-season numbers during that period were equally impressive - he scored 29.8 points per game on 56.9% true shooting.
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Before LeBron James took over top spot, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the man with the most points in NBA history. Armed with a devastating sky-hook shot that has never been replicated and only at best imitated, the Lakers big man caused major problems over his lengthy career.
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His two scoring titles came back-to-back in 1971 and 1972 while with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he carried on that offensive firepower well into his Lakers days too. Abdul-Jabbar remains the all-time leader in field goals made, and was a key reason behind the Lakers' extraordinary success during the 1980s.
2 Kevin Durant
Standing at a height of 6 foot 11 and with an extremely slight frame, Kevin Durant becoming the incredibly talented scorer he has become may not have been what anyone could have imagined. Some tight handles and an eye for both the three-point shot and the mid-range, Durant could lay claim to being the best scorer of this current generation.
A four-time scoring champion, the 'Durantula' boasts a career average of 27.2 points per game, placing him in the top four all-time for those players with at least 500 career games to their name. A true three-level scorer, Durant isn't someone who needs a high volume of shots either, and has shown some impressive efficiency to his game - indeed, he joins only Larry Bird and Steve Nash as the three players in total who have finished with multiple 50-40-90 seasons.
1 Michael Jordan
Could it have been anyone else? A 10-time scoring champion - including a stretch of him doing so seven years in a row between 1987 and 1993 - Michael Jordan is the ultimate scorer of the basketball. Whether it's showing the speed and skill to either dunk or do an acrobatic lay-up, or the poise to deliver a clutch shot from mid-range or from beyond the three-point line, Jordan had absolutely everything to his game, making him one of the most unguardable players in NBA history.
And it was that ability to hit big shots in big moments that made Jordan so great, stepping into the limelight when the playoff lights were at its brightest. While others have sought to emulate the great man, none have truly stepped into his Air Jordans, and it remains to be seen whether anyone will be able to take his crown of being the greatest scorer of all-time.
Stats taken from Basketball Reference