List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders explained

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.

Scoring leaders

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

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

^Active NBA player
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame-Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[1]
§1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[2] -->
RankPlayerPosition(s)Playoff team(s) played for (years)[3] Total
points
Games
played
Points
per game

average[4]
Field goals
made
Three-point
field goals

made[5]
Free throws
made
1^SFCleveland Cavaliers (20062010, 20152018)
Miami Heat (20112014)
Los Angeles Lakers (20202021, 20232024)
8,1622872,9284701,836
2SGChicago Bulls (19851993, 19951998)5,98717933.42,1881481,463
3 CMilwaukee Bucks (19701974)
Los Angeles Lakers (19771989)
5,76223724.32,35601,320
4SGLos Angeles Lakers (19972004, 20062012)5,64022025.62,0142921,269
5COrlando Magic (19941996)
Los Angeles Lakers (19972004)
Miami Heat (20052007)
Phoenix Suns (2008)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2010)
Boston Celtics (2011)
5,25021624.32,04101,217
6PF/CSan Antonio Spurs (19981999, 20012016)5,17225120.61,97551,213
7^SF/PFOklahoma City Thunder (20102014, 2016)
Golden State Warriors (20172019)
Brooklyn Nets (20212022)
Phoenix Suns (20232024)
4,9851701,6843661,251
8PFUtah Jazz (19862003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004)
4,76119324.71,74361,171
9PG/SGLos Angeles Lakers (19611970, 19721974)4,45715329.11,622n/a1,074
10PGSan Antonio Spurs (20022018)4,0452261,6131191,068
11^PGGolden State Warriors (20132019, 20222023)3,966147.01,326618696
12SGMiami Heat (20042007, 20092014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017)
3,9541771,450103951
13SF/PFBoston Celtics (19801988, 19901992)3,89716423.81,45880901
14SF/SGBoston Celtics (19631969, 19721977)3,77617222.01,451n/a874
15^SG/PGOklahoma City Thunder (20102012)
Houston Rockets (20132020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (20222023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2024)
3,7641661,1294181,088
16 CHouston Rockets (19851991, 19931999)
Toronto Raptors (2002)
3,75514525.91,5044743
17PGLos Angeles Lakers (19801991, 1996)3,70119019.51,291511,068
18PFDallas Mavericks (20012012, 20142016)3,6631451,2201491,074
19SFChicago Bulls (19881998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (20002003)
3,64220817.51,335200772
20SFMinneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (19591970)3,62313427.01,388n/a847
21CPhiladelphia/San Francisco Warriors (19601962, 1964)
Philadelphia 76ers (19651968)
Los Angeles Lakers (19691973)
3,60716022.51,425n/a757
22PFBoston Celtics (19811993)3,18216918.81,2048766
23SF/SGBoston Celtics (20022005, 20082013)
Brooklyn Nets (2014)
Washington Wizards (2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (20162017)
3,18017018.71,022276860
24PGSeattle SuperSonics (19781980)
Phoenix Suns (19811983)
Boston Celtics (19841990)
3,11618017.31,16726756
25SFPhiladelphia 76ers (19771987)3,08814121.91,1877707
RankPlayerPosition(s)Playoff team(s) played for (years)[8] Total
points
Games
played
Points
per game

average[9]
Field goals
made
Three-point
field goals

made[10]
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.[11]

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.[12]

^Active NBA player
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame-Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
§1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[13] -->
+Team(s) listed indicates the team(s) the player was on when the player established the record.
BALBaltimore BulletsGSWGolden State WarriorsMNLMinneapolis LakersPHXSTLSt. Louis Hawks
BOSBoston CelticsHOUHouston RocketsNYKROCRochester RoyalsSYRSyracuse Nationals
CHILALOKCOklahoma City ThunderSASSan Antonio SpursTORToronto Raptors
CLECleveland CavaliersMIAPHIPhiladelphia 76ersSEASeattle SuperSonicsUTAUtah Jazz
DALDallas MavericksMILMilwaukee BucksPHWPhiladelphia WarriorsSFWSan Francisco WarriorsWSBWashington Bullets
Playoff scoring leader at the end of every season
width=8%SeasonYear-by-year leaderPtsActive player leaderPtsCareer recordPtswidth=16%Single-season recordPtswidth=8%Season
1946–47 Joe Fulks align=center style="border-right: solid blue"222 Joe Fulks align=center style="border-right: solid blue"222Joe Fulks align=center style="border-right: solid blue"222Joe Fulks 2221946–47
1947–48 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"282504 5042821947–48
1948–49 George Mikan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"303George Mikan 3031948–49
1949–50 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"376George Mikan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"679George Mikan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"6793761949–50
1950–51 Arnie Risen align=center style="border-right: solid blue"273align=center style="border-right: solid blue"847align=center style="border-right: solid blue"8471950–51
1951–52 George Mikan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"307align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,154align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,1541951–52
1952–53 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"238align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,392align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,3921952–53
1953–54 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"252align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,6441,6441953–54
1954–55 Dolph Schayes align=center style="border-right: solid blue"209Jim Pollard align=center style="border-right: solid blue"9771954–55
1955–56 Paul Arizin align=center style="border-right: solid blue"289George Mikan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,6801,6801955–56
1956–57 Bob Pettit align=center style="border-right: solid blue"298Dolph Schayes align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,1921956–57
1957–58 Cliff Hagan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"305align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,2721957–58
1958–59 Elgin Baylor align=center style="border-right: solid blue"331align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,5261958–59
1959–60 Bob Pettit align=center style="border-right: solid blue"365align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,6141959–60
1960–61 Elgin Baylor align=center style="border-right: solid blue"457align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,779Dolph Schayes align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,779Elgin Baylor 4571960–61
1961–62 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"502align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,836align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1,8365021961–62
1962–63 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"424Bob Cousy align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,018Bob Cousy align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,0181962–63
1963–64 Wilt Chamberlain align=center style="border-right: solid blue"416Bob Pettit align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,194Bob Pettit align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,1941963–64
1964–65 Jerry West align=center style="border-right: solid blue"447align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,240align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,2401964–65
1965–66 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"479Elgin Baylor align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,511Elgin Baylor align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,5111965–66
1966–67 Rick Barry align=center style="border-right: solid blue"521align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,582align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,582Rick Barry 5211966–67
1967–68 John Havlicek align=center style="border-right: solid blue"493align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,010align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,0101967–68
1968–69 Jerry West align=center style="border-right: solid blue"556align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,287align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,287Jerry West 5561968–69
1969–70 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"562Jerry West align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,708Jerry West align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,7085621969–70
1970–71 Earl Monroe align=center style="border-right: solid blue"397align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,708align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,708align=center 1970–71
1971–72 Walt Frazier align=center style="border-right: solid blue"388align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,052align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,052align=center 1971–72
1972–73 Jerry West align=center style="border-right: solid blue"401align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,453align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,453align=center 1972–73
1973–74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar align=center style="border-right: solid blue"515align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,4574,4571973–74
1974–75 Rick Barry align=center style="border-right: solid blue"479John Havlicek align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,4131974–75
1975–76 Jo Jo White align=center style="border-right: solid blue"408align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,6111975–76
1976–77 Julius Erving align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5183,7761976–77
1977–78 Elvin Hayes align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4571977–78
1978–79 Gus WilliamsSEAalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"454Kareem Abdul-Jabbar align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,3821978–79
1979–80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar align=center style="border-right: solid blue"479align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,8611979–80
1980–81 Moses Malone align=center style="border-right: solid blue"562align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2,941Jerry West 1980–81
1981–82 Julius Erving align=center style="border-right: solid blue"461align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,2261981–82
1982–83 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar align=center style="border-right: solid blue"406align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,6321982–83
1983–84 Larry Bird align=center style="border-right: solid blue"632align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,134Larry Bird 6321983–84
1984–85 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"520align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,550Kareem Abdul-Jabbar align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,5501984–85
1985–86 Hakeem Olajuwon align=center style="border-right: solid blue"537align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,912align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,9121985–86
1986–87 Larry Bird align=center style="border-right: solid blue"622align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,257align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,2571986–87
1987–88 James Worthy align=center style="border-right: solid blue"506align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,595align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,5951987–88
1988–89 Michael Jordan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"591align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,7625,7621988–89
1989–90 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"587Larry Bird align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,6811989–90
1990–91 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"529align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,8521990–91
1991–92 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"759 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,897Michael Jordan 7591991–92
1992–93 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"666Michael Jordan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,8501992–93
1993–94 Hakeem Olajuwon align=center style="border-right: solid blue"664James Worthy align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,0221993–94
1994–95 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"725Michael Jordan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,1651994–95
1995–96 Michael Jordan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"552align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,7171995–96
1996–97 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"590align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,3071996–97
1997–98 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"680align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,987Michael Jordan 5,9871997–98
1998–99 Latrell SprewellNYKalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"407Karl Malone align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3,9311998–99
1999–00 Shaquille O'Neal align=center style="border-right: solid blue"707align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,2031999–00
2000–01 Allen Iverson align=center style="border-right: solid blue"723align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,3412000–01
2001–02 Shaquille O'Neal align=center style="border-right: solid blue"541Michael Jordan
  • CHI
5,9872001–02
2002–03 Tim Duncan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5932002–03
2003–04 Kobe Bryant align=center style="border-right: solid blue"539Karl Malone align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,7612003–04
2004–05 Tim Duncan align=center style="border-right: solid blue"542Shaquille O'Neal align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,5462004–05
2005–06 Dwyane Wade align=center style="border-right: solid blue"654align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4,9702005–06
2006–07 LeBron James^CLEalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"501align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,0452006–07
2007–08 Kobe Bryant align=center style="border-right: solid blue"6335,1212007–08
2008–09 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"6952008–09
2009–10 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"671align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,2482009–10
2010–11 Dirk Nowitzki align=center style="border-right: solid blue"582Kobe Bryant align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5,2802010–11
2011–12 LeBron James^MIAalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"697 5,6402011–12
2012–13 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"5962012–13
2013–14 Kevin Durant^OKCalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"5632013–14
2014–15 LeBron James^CLEalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"6012014–15
2015–16 Klay Thompson^GSW582align=center 2015–16
2016–17 LeBron James^CLE591LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–24
align=center style="border-right: solid blue"6,163LeBron James^
CLE 2016–18
LAL 2018–24
align=center style="border-right: solid blue"6,1632016–17
2017–18 748 align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2 6,911align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2 6,9112017–18
2018–19 Kawhi Leonard^TOR732 2018–19
2019–20 Anthony Davis^LAL 582 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"7,491 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"7,491 2019–20
2020–21 Giannis Antetokounmpo^MIL 634 align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2 7,631 align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2 7,631 2020–21
2021–22 Jayson Tatum^BOS 615 2021–22
2022–23 Nikola Jokić^DEN 600 8,023 8,023 2022–23
2023–24 Luka Dončić^DAL 635 8,162 8,162 2023–24
width=8%Season!Year-by-year leaderPtsActive player leaderPtsCareer recordPtsSingle-season recordPtswidth=8%Season

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  2. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.
  3. [American Basketball Association]
  4. Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  5. First adopted in the 1979–80 season.
  6. Previously known as Lew Alcindor prior to an official name change on May 1, 1971.
  7. Previously written as Akeem Olajuwon prior to an official spelling change on March 9, 1991.
  8. [American Basketball Association]
  9. Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  10. First adopted in the 1979–80 season.
  11. Web site: NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Points . Basketball-Reference.com . 25 March 2015.
  12. Web site: 2024 NBA Playoffs Leaders . Basketball-Reference.com . 25 April 2024.
  13. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.