Which Active NBA Player Has Scored the Most Career Points? Where LeBron, Steph & More Rank
Let's take a look at the NBA's current highest scorers on the all-time list.
In the long history of the National Basketball Association, we've seen a lot of offensive powerhouses. Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant... these players are remembered for their personalities and their championships yes, but also because they could put up points in ways that made the players around them look like they were almost standing still.
While those three big names are no longer in the league, fortunately there are still plenty of major offensive forces at work in the NBA right now. So, as we continue to look ahead to the return of the NBA on NBC this fall, let's take a peek at which active players currently boast the highest all-time point totals during the regular season.
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The highest-scoring active players in the NBA
1. LeBron James
Over the course of more than two decades and more than 1,500 games in the NBA, LeBron James has set himself apart as a contender for the title of Greatest of All Time, and that includes his scoring. With 41,759 points as of this writing, he has surpassed the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the highest-scoring player in NBA history, and he's not done yet. He also holds a bevy of other scoring records, including the most double-digit scoring games (more than 1,500), the most 30 point games (more than 560), and stands as the only player in league history to score 40 points or more against all 30 NBA teams.
2. Kevin Durant
The brilliant Kevin Durant has now topped the 30,000-point mark in less than 1,200 games, and he's been putting up big numbers since the very beginning. KD is still the youngest player in NBA history to ever lead the league in scoring (a feat he achieved before turning 22), and he's one of only two players on this list, along with James, to rank in the Top 10 all-time in scoring. As of this writing, he's about 1,000 points behind Wilt Chamberlain, at No. 8 on the all-time list.
3. James Harden
In a career that's seen him play for six different teams, most famously the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden has been a consistent scoring force throughout the league. His current career points total is a little more than 27,000, putting him third place among active players and 13th on the all-time list. He's also, along with Jordan and Allen Iverson, one of just three players to ever lead the league in both points and steals in the same season.
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4. Russell Westbrook
Now with the Denver Nuggets, Russell Westbrook made a name for himself as a star in Oklahoma City, where he emerged as one of the league's most dynamic players. He might not be putting up as many points as he once did, but after more than 15 years in the league, Westbrook remains one of the NBA's top scorers, with a grand total coming in at almost 26,000.
5. Stephen Curry
One of the most successful NBA players in any era, Stephen Curry is credited with changing the shape of scoring in the modern league with his three-point prowess, and he's still out there dropping incredible shots from behind the arc. His current point total is a little less than 25,000, and he already holds several records and distinctions. He's the all-time league leader for three-point shots made with more than 3,700, and remains the only player in NBA history to win the league's MVP award by a unanimous vote.
6. DeMar DeRozan
Now in his 16th season, DeMar DeRozan is perhaps best known for his time with the Toronto Raptors, where he put up enough points to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer and took the squad to five NBA Playoffs. He's been away from Toronto for a while now, bouncing around from San Antonio to Chicago to, these days, Sacramento, but the six-time All-Star has never stopped putting up serious points. He's closing in on 25,000 career points, just like Curry.
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7. Chris Paul
One of the greatest point guards to ever play the game, Chris Paul is perhaps best known among NBA stat nerds for his ability to facilitate scoring by other players. He's led the league multiple times in assists and steals, which means he knows how to get the ball and where to put the ball, but that hasn't stopped him from putting up impressive scoring numbers along the way. Now in his 20th year with the NBA, and playing for the Spurs, his sixth team, Paul has notched almost 23,000 points so far, and he's not done just yet.
8. Damian Lillard
First in Portland, where he became a local hero, and then in Milwaukee, where he's still putting up big numbers, Damian Lillard has been an offensive force to be reckoned with since he entered the league. The nine-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year, nicknamed "Dame Time" for his ability to take control of a game when it counts, has achieved some truly jaw-dropping scoring feats in his time in the NBA, including a 71-point game at age 32 that made him the oldest player to achieve that feat. Now in his 13th season, Lillard has topped 22,000 points, with plenty of time left to hit 23,000 and beyond.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The biggest star in Milwaukee in quite some time, Giannis Antetokounmpo established himself long ago as the Bucks' de facto team leader, taking the team to an NBA Finals victory in 2021 and earning league MVP honors two times. Now in his 12th season in Milwaukee, the only NBA team he's played for so far, Giannis remains a force on the court, and one of the top offensive forces in the league right now. As of this writing, he's just a few points shy of 20,000 in his career, with lots of room to grow.
10. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis can do it all. As a dominant power forward, AD can rebound, block, dish the ball out to other scorers, and of course, he can put up a lot of points himself. Now with his third NBA team following a trade to Dallas in early 2025, Davis is a force whenever he's on the court: a 10-time All-Star, a former NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, and yes, one of the league's leading scorers. He's closing in on 19,000 career points right now, and we're only just beginning to see how life as a Maverick is going to treat him.
The NBA returns to NBC this fall. For more league news and stats, head to NBC Sports.
