You know what they say: Offense wins games but defense wins championships. Well, that may not always apply in the NBA, a league that favors scoring. The rules of the game and the way it’s played have changed a lot throughout the course of time. We’re seeing players pulling up from all over the court and favoring three-point friendly offenses now more than ever, and the good-old post scorer seems like a dying breed nowadays. That, plus the fact that players enter the league at just 19 years old, is helping younger players break all kinds of records.
Then again, there have been just three players in NBA history that have been able to top the 35,000 points-plateau throughout their career: LeBron James, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Notably, neither of those players have been exactly solid three-point shooters, but their physical traits, durability, and versatility, made them unstoppable offensive juggernauts for nearly two decades. Today, we’re going to let you know a little more about them.
The Only Players To Score 35,000+ Career Points In NBA History
3. LeBron James – 35,017 Points (And Counting)
LeBron James. (Getty)
Once it’s all said and done, LeBron James will finish his career as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down despite being in his 18th season, and he could be leading the MVP race at 36 years old.
LeBron is the true definition of durability. While it’s not usual to see him play all 82 games in a season – mostly due to rest ahead of the playoffs – he’s rarely hurt and has been a 25+ points-per-game scorer throughout his entire career.
2. Karl Malone – 36,928 Points
Karl Malone. (Getty)
Karl Malone doesn’t get enough recognition nowadays because of his issues off the court, and that’s fair. But talking merely in basketball terms, he’s one of the most dominant scorers to ever lace them up.
The Mailman always delivered. He had sweet footwork and could finish with both hands. While not the most gifted shooter, he had some range as well. However, his strength and athleticism were the main reasons why he scored nearly 37,000 points.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 38,387 Points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (Getty)
Scoring north of 38,000 points in the NBA is something not many people could even think about but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t like most people. He was a bonafide winner and one of the most unguardable forces of nature.
His length, size, and skillsmade him a nightmare for opposing big men night in and night out. He never averaged under double-digits and rarely missed a game in his career. With 6 rings, 6 MVPs, and this record, it’s funny to me how he’s never mentioned in the GOAT debate. On a side note, it’s funny how the top-3 leading scorers in NBA history played for the Lakers at some point in their careers.
