List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders

Last updated

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff points scored.
A progressive list of scoring leaders showing how the record increased through the years. [1]

Scoring leaders

This article provides a list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff points scored.

Contents

Statistics accurate as of April 25, 2024.
LeBron James has scored the most points in NBA playoff history. LeBron James Lakers.jpg
LeBron James has scored the most points in NBA playoff history.
^Active NBA player
*Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
RankPlayer Position(s) Playoff team(s) played for (years) [2] Total
points 		Games
played		 Points
per game
average [3] 		Field goals
made		 Three-point
field goals
made [4] 		Free throws
made
1 LeBron James ^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2018)
Miami Heat (2011–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023–2024)		8,10228528.42,9034671,829
2 Michael Jordan * SG Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998)5,98717933.42,1881481,463
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar * [5] C Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974)
Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1989)		5,76223724.32,35601,320
4 Kobe Bryant *SG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)5,64022025.62,0142921,269
5 Shaquille O'Neal *C Orlando Magic (1994–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004)
Miami Heat (2005–2007)
Phoenix Suns (2008)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2010)
Boston Celtics (2011)		5,25021624.32,04101,217
6 Tim Duncan * PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1998–1999, 2001–2016)5,17225120.61,97551,213
7 Kevin Durant ^SF/PF Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016)
Golden State Warriors (2017–2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Phoenix Suns (2023–2024)		4,92716829.31,6643631,236
8 Karl Malone *PF Utah Jazz (1986–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004)		4,76119324.71,74361,171
9 Jerry West * PG/SG Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974)4,45715329.11,622n/a1,074
10 Tony Parker *PG San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018)4,04522617.91,6131191,068
11 Stephen Curry ^PG Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023)3,96614727.01,326618696
12 Dwyane Wade *SG Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017)		3,95417722.31,450103951
13 Larry Bird *SF/PF Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)3,89716423.81,45880901
14 John Havlicek *SF/SG Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977)3,77617222.01,451n/a874
15 Hakeem Olajuwon * [6] C Houston Rockets (1985–1991, 1993–1999)
Toronto Raptors (2002)		3,75514525.91,5044743
16 Magic Johnson *PG Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)3,70119019.51,291511,068
17 James Harden ^SG/PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2013–2020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2024)		3,68716222.81,1034081,073
18 Dirk Nowitzki *PF Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016)3,66314525.31,2201491,074
19 Scottie Pippen *SF Chicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)		3,64220817.51,335200772
20 Elgin Baylor *SF Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959–1970)3,62313427.01,388n/a847
21 Wilt Chamberlain *C Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1960–1962, 1964)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1973)		3,60716022.51,425n/a757
22 Kevin McHale *PF Boston Celtics (1981–1993)3,18216918.81,2048766
23 Paul Pierce *SF/SG Boston Celtics (2002–2005, 2008–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2014)
Washington Wizards (2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2016–2017)		3,18017018.71,022276860
24 Dennis Johnson *PG Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990)		3,11618017.31,16726756
25 Julius Erving *SF Philadelphia 76ers (1977–1987)3,08814121.91,1877707
RankPlayer Position(s) Playoff team(s) played for (years) [7] Total
points 		Games
played		 Points
per game
average [8] 		Field goals
made		 Three-point
field goals
made [9] 		Free throws
made

Progressive list of playoff scoring leaders

This is a progressive list of scoring leaders showing how the record increased through the years. [1]

Statistics accurate as of April 25, 2024. [10]
^Active NBA player
*Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Team abbreviationsTeam(s) listed indicates the team(s) the player was on when the player established the record.
BAL Baltimore Bullets GSW Golden State Warriors MNL Minneapolis Lakers PHX Phoenix Suns STL St. Louis Hawks
BOS Boston Celtics HOU Houston Rockets NYK New York Knicks ROC Rochester Royals SYR Syracuse Nationals
CHI Chicago Bulls LAL Los Angeles Lakers OKC Oklahoma City Thunder SAS San Antonio Spurs TOR Toronto Raptors
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers MIA Miami Heat PHI Philadelphia 76ers SEA Seattle SuperSonics UTA Utah Jazz
DAL Dallas Mavericks MIL Milwaukee Bucks PHW Philadelphia Warriors SFW San Francisco Warriors WSB Washington Bullets
Playoff scoring leader at the end of every season
SeasonYear-by-year leaderPtsActive player leaderPtsCareer recordPtsSingle-season recordPtsSeason
1946–47 Joe Fulks* PHW 222 Joe Fulks* PHW 222 Joe Fulks* PHW 222 Joe Fulks* PHW 2221946–47
1947–482825045042821947–48
1948–49 George Mikan* MNL 303 George Mikan* MNL 3031948–49
1949–50376 George Mikan* MNL 679 George Mikan* MNL 6793761949–50
1950–51 Arnie Risen* ROC 2738478471950–51
1951–52 George Mikan* MNL 3071,1541,1541951–52
1952–532381,3921,3921952–53
1953–542521,6441,6441953–54
1954–55 Dolph Schayes* SYR 209 Jim Pollard* MNL 9771954–55
1955–56 Paul Arizin* PHW 289 George Mikan* MNL 1,6801,6801955–56
1956–57 Bob Pettit* STL 298 Dolph Schayes* SYR 1,1921956–57
1957–58 Cliff Hagan* STL 3051,2721957–58
1958–59 Elgin Baylor* MNL 3311,5261958–59
1959–60 Bob Pettit* STL 3651,6141959–60
1960–61 Elgin Baylor* LAL 4571,779 Dolph Schayes* SYR 1,779 Elgin Baylor* LAL 4571960–61
1961–625021,8361,8365021961–62
1962–63424 Bob Cousy* BOS 2,018 Bob Cousy* BOS 2,0181962–63
1963–64 Wilt Chamberlain* SFW 416 Bob Pettit* STL 2,194 Bob Pettit* STL 2,1941963–64
1964–65 Jerry West* LAL 4472,2402,2401964–65
1965–66479 Elgin Baylor* LAL 2,511 Elgin Baylor* LAL 2,5111965–66
1966–67 Rick Barry* SFW 5212,5822,582 Rick Barry* SFW 5211966–67
1967–68 John Havlicek* BOS 4933,0103,0101967–68
1968–69 Jerry West* LAL 5563,2873,287 Jerry West* LAL 5561968–69
1969–70562 Jerry West* LAL 3,708 Jerry West* LAL 3,7085621969–70
1970–71 Earl Monroe* BAL 3973,7083,7081970–71
1971–72 Walt Frazier* NYK 3884,0524,0521971–72
1972–73 Jerry West* LAL 4014,4534,4531972–73
1973–74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* LAL 5154,4574,4571973–74
1974–75 Rick Barry* GSW 479 John Havlicek* BOS 3,4131974–75
1975–76 Jo Jo White* BOS 4083,6111975–76
1976–77 Julius Erving* PHI 5183,7761976–77
1977–78 Elvin Hayes* WSB 4571977–78
1978–79 Gus Williams SEA 454 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* LAL 2,3821978–79
1979–80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* LAL 4792,8611979–80
1980–81 Moses Malone* HOU 5622,941 Jerry West* LAL
Moses Malone* HOU 		1980–81
1981–82 Julius Erving* PHI 4613,2261981–82
1982–83 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* LAL 4063,6321982–83
1983–84 Larry Bird* BOS 6324,134 Larry Bird* BOS 6321983–84
1984–855204,550 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* LAL 4,5501984–85
1985–86 Hakeem Olajuwon* HOU 5374,9124,9121985–86
1986–87 Larry Bird* BOS 6225,2575,2571986–87
1987–88 James Worthy* LAL 5065,5955,5951987–88
1988–89 Michael Jordan* CHI 5915,7625,7621988–89
1989–90587 Larry Bird* BOS 3,6811989–90
1990–915293,8521990–91
1991–927593,897 Michael Jordan* CHI 7591991–92
1992–93666 Michael Jordan* CHI 3,8501992–93
1993–94 Hakeem Olajuwon* HOU 664 James Worthy* LAL 3,0221993–94
1994–95725 Michael Jordan* CHI 4,1651994–95
1995–96 Michael Jordan* CHI 5524,7171995–96
1996–975905,3071996–97
1997–986805,987 Michael Jordan* CHI 5,9871997–98
1998–99 Latrell Sprewell NYK 407 Karl Malone* UTA 3,9311998–99
1999–00 Shaquille O'Neal* LAL 7074,2031999–00
2000–01 Allen Iverson* PHI 7234,3412000–01
2001–02 Shaquille O'Neal* LAL 541 Michael Jordan*CHI5,9872001–02
2002–03 Tim Duncan* SAS 5932002–03
2003–04 Kobe Bryant* LAL 539 Karl Malone* LAL 4,7612003–04
2004–05 Tim Duncan* SAS 542 Shaquille O'Neal*
MIA 2004–07
PHX 2007–09
CLE 2009–10 		4,5462004–05
2005–06 Dwyane Wade* MIA 6544,9702005–06
2006–07 LeBron James^ CLE 5015,0452006–07
2007–08 Kobe Bryant* LAL 6335,1212007–08
2008–096952008–09
2009–106715,2482009–10
2010–11 Dirk Nowitzki* DAL 582 Kobe Bryant* LAL 5,2802010–11
2011–12 LeBron James^ MIA 6975,6402011–12
2012–135962012–13
2013–14 Kevin Durant^ OKC 5632013–14
2014–15 LeBron James^ CLE 6012014–15
2015–16 Klay Thompson^ GSW 5822015–16
2016–17 LeBron James^ CLE 591 LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–24 		6,163 LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–24 		6,1632016–17
2017–187486,9116,9112017–18
2018–19 Kawhi Leonard^ TOR 7322018–19
2019–20 Anthony Davis^ LAL 5827,4917,4912019–20
2020–21 Giannis Antetokounmpo^ MIL 6347,6317,6312020–21
2021–22 Jayson Tatum^ BOS 6152021–22
2022–23 Nikola Jokić^ DEN 6008,0238,0232022–23
2023–24 Joel Embiid^ PHI 1138,1028,1022023–24
SeasonYear-by-year leaderPtsActive player leaderPtsCareer recordPtsSingle-season recordPtsSeason


See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Points". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ↑ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season. The years listed are only ones in which the player played in a playoff game.
  3. ↑ Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  4. ↑ First adopted in the 1979–80 season.
  5. ↑ Previously known as Lew Alcindor prior to an official name change on May 1, 1971.
  6. ↑ Previously written as Akeem Olajuwon prior to an official spelling change on March 9, 1991.
  7. ↑ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season. The years listed are only ones in which the player played in a playoff game.
  8. ↑ Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  9. ↑ First adopted in the 1979–80 season.
  10. ↑ "2024 NBA Playoffs Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
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