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.

Statistics accurate as of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
LeBron James has scored the most points in NBA playoff history.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Rank Player 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)		 8,023 282 28.5 2,872 460 1,819
2 Michael Jordan* SG Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998) 5,987 179 33.4 2,188 148 1,463
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[5] C Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974)
Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1989)		 5,762 237 24.3 2,356 0 1,320
4 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012) 5,640 220 25.6 2,014 292 1,269
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)		 5,250 216 24.3 2,041 0 1,217
6 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1998–1999, 2001–2016) 5,172 251 20.6 1,975 5 1,213
7 Kevin Durant^ SF/PF Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016)
Golden State Warriors (2017–2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Phoenix Suns (2023)		 4,878 166 29.4 1,647 361 1,223
8 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1986–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004)		 4,761 193 24.7 1,743 6 1,171
9 Jerry West* PG/SG Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974) 4,457 153 29.1 1,622 n/a 1,074
10 Tony Parker* PG San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018) 4,045 226 17.9 1,613 119 1,068
11 Stephen Curry^ PG Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023) 3,966 147 27.0 1,326 618 696
12 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017)		 3,954 177 22.3 1,450 103 951
13 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992) 3,897 164 23.8 1,458 80 901
14 John Havlicek* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977) 3,776 172 22.0 1,451 n/a 874
15 Hakeem Olajuwon*[6] C Houston Rockets (1985–1991, 1993–1999)
Toronto Raptors (2002)		 3,755 145 25.9 1,504 4 743
16 Magic Johnson* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996) 3,701 190 19.5 1,291 51 1,068
17 Dirk Nowitzki* PF Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016) 3,663 145 25.3 1,220 149 1,074
18 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)		 3,642 208 17.5 1,335 200 772
19 James Harden^ SG Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2013–2020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)		 3,637 160 22.7 1,089 400 1,059
20 Elgin Baylor* SF Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959–1970) 3,623 134 27.0 1,388 n/a 847
21 Wilt Chamberlain* C Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1960–1962, 1964)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1973)		 3,607 160 22.5 1,425 n/a 757
22 Kevin McHale* PF Boston Celtics (1981–1993) 3,182 169 18.8 1,204 8 766
23 Paul Pierce* SF/SG Boston Celtics (2002–2005, 2008–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2014)
Washington Wizards (2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2016–2017)		 3,180 170 18.7 1,022 276 860
24 Dennis Johnson* PG Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990)		 3,116 180 17.3 1,167 26 756
25 Julius Erving* SF Philadelphia 76ers (1977–1987) 3,088 141 21.9 1,187 7 707
Rank Player 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 the 2023 NBA playoffs.[10]
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed indicates the team(s) the player was on when the player established the record.
BALBaltimore BulletsGSWGolden State WarriorsMNLMinneapolis LakersPHXPhoenix SunsSTLSt. Louis Hawks
BOSBoston CelticsHOUHouston RocketsNYKNew York KnicksROCRochester RoyalsSYRSyracuse Nationals
CHIChicago BullsLALLos Angeles LakersOKCOklahoma City ThunderSASSan Antonio SpursTORToronto Raptors
CLECleveland CavaliersMIAMiami HeatPHIPhiladelphia 76ersSEASeattle SuperSonicsUTAUtah Jazz
DALDallas MavericksMILMilwaukee BucksPHWPhiladelphia WarriorsSFWSan Francisco WarriorsWSBWashington Bullets
Playoff scoring leader at the end of every season
Season Year-by-year leader Pts Active player leader Pts Career record Pts Single-season record Pts Season
1946–47Joe Fulks*PHW222Joe Fulks*PHW222Joe Fulks*PHW222Joe Fulks*PHW2221946–47
1947–482825045042821947–48
1948–49George Mikan*MNL303George Mikan*MNL3031948–49
1949–50376George Mikan*MNL679George Mikan*MNL6793761949–50
1950–51Arnie Risen*ROC2738478471950–51
1951–52George Mikan*MNL3071,1541,1541951–52
1952–532381,3921,3921952–53
1953–542521,6441,6441953–54
1954–55Dolph Schayes*SYR209Jim Pollard*MNL9771954–55
1955–56Paul Arizin*PHW289George Mikan*MNL1,6801,6801955–56
1956–57Bob Pettit*STL298Dolph Schayes*SYR1,1921956–57
1957–58Cliff Hagan*STL3051,2721957–58
1958–59Elgin Baylor*MNL3311,5261958–59
1959–60Bob Pettit*STL3651,6141959–60
1960–61Elgin Baylor*LAL4571,779Dolph Schayes*SYR1,779Elgin Baylor*LAL4571960–61
1961–625021,8361,8365021961–62
1962–63424Bob Cousy*BOS2,018Bob Cousy*BOS2,0181962–63
1963–64Wilt Chamberlain*SFW416Bob Pettit*STL2,194Bob Pettit*STL2,1941963–64
1964–65Jerry West*LAL4472,2402,2401964–65
1965–66479Elgin Baylor*LAL2,511Elgin Baylor*LAL2,5111965–66
1966–67Rick Barry*SFW5212,5822,582Rick Barry*SFW5211966–67
1967–68John Havlicek*BOS4933,0103,0101967–68
1968–69Jerry West*LAL5563,2873,287Jerry West*LAL5561968–69
1969–70562Jerry West*LAL3,708Jerry West*LAL3,7085621969–70
1970–71Earl Monroe*BAL3973,7083,7081970–71
1971–72Walt Frazier*NYK3884,0524,0521971–72
1972–73Jerry West*LAL4014,4534,4531972–73
1973–74Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL5154,4574,4571973–74
1974–75Rick Barry*GSW479John Havlicek*BOS3,4131974–75
1975–76Jo Jo White*BOS4083,6111975–76
1976–77Julius Erving*PHI5183,7761976–77
1977–78Elvin Hayes*WSB4571977–78
1978–79Gus WilliamsSEA454Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL2,3821978–79
1979–80Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL4792,8611979–80
1980–81Moses Malone*HOU5622,941Jerry West*LAL
Moses Malone*HOU		1980–81
1981–82Julius Erving*PHI4613,2261981–82
1982–83Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL4063,6321982–83
1983–84Larry Bird*BOS6324,134Larry Bird*BOS6321983–84
1984–855204,550Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*LAL4,5501984–85
1985–86Hakeem Olajuwon*HOU5374,9124,9121985–86
1986–87Larry Bird*BOS6225,2575,2571986–87
1987–88James Worthy*LAL5065,5955,5951987–88
1988–89Michael Jordan*CHI5915,7625,7621988–89
1989–90587Larry Bird*BOS3,6811989–90
1990–915293,8521990–91
1991–927593,897Michael Jordan*CHI7591991–92
1992–93666Michael Jordan*CHI3,8501992–93
1993–94Hakeem Olajuwon*HOU664James Worthy*LAL3,0221993–94
1994–95725Michael Jordan*CHI4,1651994–95
1995–96Michael Jordan*CHI5524,7171995–96
1996–975905,3071996–97
1997–986805,987Michael Jordan*CHI5,9871997–98
1998–99Latrell SprewellNYK407Karl Malone*UTA3,9311998–99
1999–00Shaquille O'Neal*LAL7074,2031999–00
2000–01Allen Iverson*PHI7234,3412000–01
2001–02Shaquille O'Neal*LAL541Michael Jordan*CHI5,9872001–02
2002–03Tim Duncan*SAS5932002–03
2003–04Kobe Bryant*LAL539Karl Malone*LAL4,7612003–04
2004–05Tim Duncan*SAS542Shaquille O'Neal*
MIA 2004–07
PHX 2007–09
CLE 2009–10		4,5462004–05
2005–06Dwyane Wade*MIA6544,9702005–06
2006–07LeBron James^CLE5015,0452006–07
2007–08Kobe Bryant*LAL6335,1212007–08
2008–096952008–09
2009–106715,2482009–10
2010–11Dirk Nowitzki*DAL582Kobe Bryant*LAL5,2802010–11
2011–12LeBron James^MIA6975,6402011–12
2012–135962012–13
2013–14Kevin Durant^OKC5632013–14
2014–15LeBron James^CLE6012014–15
2015–16Klay Thompson^GSW5822015–16
2016–17LeBron James^CLE591LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–23		6,163LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–23		6,1632016–17
2017–187486,9116,9112017–18
2018–19Kawhi Leonard^TOR7322018–19
2019–20Anthony Davis^LAL5827,4917,4912019–20
2020–21Giannis Antetokounmpo^MIL6347,6317,6312020–21
2021–22Jayson Tatum^BOS6152021–22
2022–23Nikola Jokić^DEN6008,0238,0232022–23
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. ↑ "2023 NBA Playoffs Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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