Who Holds the NBA All Time Points Record
LeBron James is the NBA all time leading scorer, having surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar to claim the record. The milestone was reached during the 2023 NBA season, and the total continues to climb as he remains active. His combination of longevity, usage, and efficiency makes the career point total historically unique Forbes.
The record is defined by cumulative regular season points, and LeBron James now sits well above the previous benchmark. The previous record holder, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, retired with 38,387 points, a total that stood for decades NBA.com.
How LeBron James Built the Largest Career Point Total
LeBron James accumulated points through elite scoring efficiency, high usage, and extraordinary durability across multiple franchises. His ability to remain a primary offensive option deep into his late 30s and beyond is a key driver of the record NBA.com.
Scoring volume alone does not explain the gap, because Kareem Abdul Jabbar also posted elite numbers over a long career. The difference comes from LeBron James maintaining a high scoring rate while adding assists and playmaking, extending his prime years and total minutes Forbes.
How the All Time Scoring Leader Compares to Other Top Scorers
Career Point Totals of the Top NBA Scorers
Behind LeBron James, Kareem Abdul Jabbar remains second on the all time list, while Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant round out the top historical totals. Modern stars such as Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony also appear on the career scoring leaderboard, but none have yet approached the all time record NBA.com.
When adjusting for era, pace, and rule changes, comparisons become more nuanced, but the raw totals still place LeBron James far ahead. The current NBA scoring environment, with increased three point volume and pace, makes sustained high scoring even more demanding Forbes.