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NBA History Lesson #1: The 30,000 Point Club

Piece by Juan Dimagiba


There are only 7 players in NBA History to have scored 30,000 career points. Here I will give you a short history lesson on those players.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA All-Time Leading Scorer) 38,387


Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975)

Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989)


38,387 Career Points (24.6 PPG)

1,560 Games in 20 Seasons

15,837 Field Goals Made-28,307 Field Goals Attempted (55.9% FG for career)


6x NBA Champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

6x NBA MVP (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980)

2x NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985) 1 of 3 In NBA History to win with 2 different teams 19x NBA All-Star (1970-1977, 1979-1989)

Highest PPG in a season: 34.8 (1971-1972)

Number 33 retired by Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers



Karl Malone (2nd All-Time Leading Scorer) 36,928


Utah Jazz (1985-2003)

Los Angeles Lakers (2003-2004)


36,928 Career Points (25 PPG)

1,476 Games in 19 Seasons

13,528 Field Goals Made-26, 210 Field Goals Attempted (51.6% FG for career)


2x NBA MVP (1997, 1999)

14x NBA All-Star (1988-1998, 2000-2002)

Highest PPG in a season: 31 (1989-1990)

Number 32 retired by the Utah Jazz



LeBron James (3rd All-Time Leading Scorer) 34,905 (Currently)


Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-2010)

Miami Heat (2010-2014)

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-2018)

Los Angeles Lakers (2018-Present)


34,597 Career Points as of today (27 PPG)

1,280 Games in 18 seasons

12,724 Field Goals Made-25,272 Field Goals Attempted (50.3% FG for career)


4x NBA Champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)

4x NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)

1 of 3 players to win with 2 different teams, only players to win with 3 different teams

4x NBA MVP (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)

16x NBA All-Star (2005-2020)

Highest PPG in a season: 31.4 (2005-2006)



Kobe Bryant (4th All-Time Leading Scorer) 33,643


Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2016)


33,643 Career Points (25 PPG)

1,346 Games in 20 Seasons

11,719 Field Goals Made-26,200 Field Goals Attempted (44.7% FG for career)


5x NBA Champion (2000-2002, 2009, 2010)

2x NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010)

1x NBA MVP (2008)

18x NBA All-Star (1998, 2000-2016)

Highest PPG in a season: 35.4 (2005-2006)

Numbers 8 and 24 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers



Michael Jordan (5th All-Time Leading Scorer) 32,292


Chicago Bulls (1984-1993, 1995-1998)

Washington Wizards (2001-2003)


32,292 Career Points (30.1 PPG)

1,072 Games in 15 seasons

12,192 Field Goals Made-24,537 Field Goals Attempted (49.7% FG for career)


6x NBA Champion (1991-1993, 1996-1998)

6x NBA Finals MVP (1991-1993, 1996-1998)

5x NBA MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)

14x NBA All-Star (1985-1993, 1996-1998, 2002, 2003)

Highest PPG in a season: 37.1 (1986-1987)

Number 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat



Dirk Nowitzki (6th All-Time Leading Scorer) 31,560


Dallas Mavericks (1998-2019)


31,560 Career Points (20.7 PPG)

1,522 Games in 21 Seasons

11-169 Field Goals Made-23,734 Field Goals Attempted (47.1% FG for career)


1x NBA Champion (2011)

1x NBA Finals MVP (2011)

1x NBA MVP (2007)

14x NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)

Highest PPG in a season: 26.6 (2005-2006)



Wilt Chamberlain (7th All-Time Leading Scorer) 31,419


Philadelphia-San Francisco Warriors (1959-1965)

Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1968)

Los Angeles Lakers (1968-1973)


31,419 Career Points (30.1 PPG)

12,681 Field Goals Made-23,497 Field Goals Attempted (54% FG for career)

1,045 Games in 14 Seasons

2x NBA Champion (1967, 1972)

1x NBA Finals MVP (1972)

4x NBA MVP (1960, 1966-1968)

13x NBA All-Star (1960-1969, 1971-1973)

Highest PPG in a season: 50.4 (1961-1962)

Number 13 retired by Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers Recap

NBA’s All-Time Scoring List

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387 Points

2. Karl Malone: 36,928 Points

3. Lebron James: 34,905 Points (Still Active)

4. Kobe Bryant: 33,643 Points

5. Michael Jordan: 32,292 Points

6. Dirk Nowitzki: 31,560 Points

7. Wilt Chamberlain: 31,419 Points


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