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] -->

Rank	Player	Position(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	^	SF	Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2018) Miami Heat (2011–2014) Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023–2024)	8,162	287		2,928	470	1,836
2		SG	Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998)	5,987	179	33.4	2,188	148	1,463
3	^[6]	C	Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1989)	5,762	237	24.3	2,356	0	1,320
4		SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)	5,640	220	25.6	2,014	292	1,269
5		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		PF/C	San Antonio Spurs (1998–1999, 2001–2016)	5,172	251	20.6	1,975	5	1,213
7	^	SF/PF	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016) Golden State Warriors (2017–2019) Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022) Phoenix Suns (2023–2024)	4,985	170		1,684	366	1,251
8		PF	Utah Jazz (1986–2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2004)	4,761	193	24.7	1,743	6	1,171
9		PG/SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974)	4,457	153	29.1	1,622	n/a	1,074
10		PG	San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018)	4,045	226		1,613	119	1,068
11	^	PG	Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023)	3,966	147	.0	1,326	618	696
12		SG	Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018) Chicago Bulls (2017)	3,954	177		1,450	103	951
13		SF/PF	Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)	3,897	164	23.8	1,458	80	901
14		SF/SG	Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977)	3,776	172	22.0	1,451	n/a	874
15	^	SG/PG	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012) Houston Rockets (2013–2020) Brooklyn Nets (2021) Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) Los Angeles Clippers (2024)	3,764	166		1,129	418	1,088
16	^[7]	C	Houston Rockets (1985–1991, 1993–1999) Toronto Raptors (2002)	3,755	145	25.9	1,504	4	743
17		PG	Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)	3,701	190	19.5	1,291	51	1,068
18		PF	Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016)	3,663	145		1,220	149	1,074
19		SF	Chicago Bulls (1988–1998) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)	3,642	208	17.5	1,335	200	772
20		SF	Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959–1970)	3,623	134	27.0	1,388	n/a	847
21		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		PF	Boston Celtics (1981–1993)	3,182	169	18.8	1,204	8	766
23		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		PG	Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980) Phoenix Suns (1981–1983) Boston Celtics (1984–1990)	3,116	180	17.3	1,167	26	756
25		SF	Philadelphia 76ers (1977–1987)	3,088	141	21.9	1,187	7	707
Rank	Player	Position(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.

BAL	Baltimore Bullets	GSW	Golden State Warriors	MNL	Minneapolis Lakers	PHX		STL	St. Louis Hawks
BOS	Boston Celtics	HOU	Houston Rockets	NYK		ROC	Rochester Royals	SYR	Syracuse Nationals
CHI		LAL		OKC	Oklahoma City Thunder	SAS	San Antonio Spurs	TOR	Toronto Raptors
CLE	Cleveland Cavaliers	MIA		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

width=8%	Season	Year-by-year leader	Pts	Active player leader	Pts	Career record	Pts	width=16%	Single-season record	Pts	width=8%	Season
1946–47	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	222	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	222	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	222	Joe Fulks PHW	222	1946–47
1947–48	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	282	504	504	282	1947–48
1948–49	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	303	George Mikan MNL	303	1948–49
1949–50	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	376	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	679	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	679	376	1949–50
1950–51	Arnie Risen ROC	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	273	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	847	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	847	1950–51
1951–52	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	307	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,154	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,154	1951–52
1952–53	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	238	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,392	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,392	1952–53
1953–54	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	252	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,644	1,644	1953–54
1954–55	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	209	Jim Pollard MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	977	1954–55
1955–56	Paul Arizin PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	289	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,680	1,680	1955–56
1956–57	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	298	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,192	1956–57
1957–58	Cliff Hagan STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	305	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,272	1957–58
1958–59	Elgin Baylor MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	331	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,526	1958–59
1959–60	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	365	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,614	1959–60
1960–61	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	457	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,779	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,779	Elgin Baylor LAL	457	1960–61
1961–62	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	502	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,836	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,836	502	1961–62
1962–63	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	424	Bob Cousy BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,018	Bob Cousy BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,018	1962–63
1963–64	Wilt Chamberlain SFW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	416	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,194	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,194	1963–64
1964–65	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	447	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,240	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,240	1964–65
1965–66	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	479	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,511	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,511	1965–66
1966–67	Rick Barry SFW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	521	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,582	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,582	Rick Barry SFW	521	1966–67
1967–68	John Havlicek BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	493	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,010	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,010	1967–68
1968–69	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	556	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,287	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,287	Jerry West LAL	556	1968–69
1969–70	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	562	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,708	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,708	562	1969–70
1970–71	Earl Monroe BAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	397	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,708	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,708	align=center	1970–71
1971–72	Walt Frazier NYK	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	388	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,052	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,052	align=center	1971–72
1972–73	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	401	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,453	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,453	align=center	1972–73
1973–74	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	515	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,457	4,457	1973–74
1974–75	Rick Barry GSW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	479	John Havlicek BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,413	1974–75
1975–76	Jo Jo White BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	408	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,611	1975–76
1976–77	Julius Erving PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	518	3,776	1976–77
1977–78	Elvin Hayes WSB	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	457	1977–78
1978–79	Gus WilliamsSEA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	454	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,382	1978–79
1979–80	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	479	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,861	1979–80
1980–81	Moses Malone HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	562	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	2,941	Jerry West LAL Moses Malone HOU	1980–81
1981–82	Julius Erving PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	461	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,226	1981–82
1982–83	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	406	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,632	1982–83
1983–84	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	632	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,134	Larry Bird BOS	632	1983–84
1984–85	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	520	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,550	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,550	1984–85
1985–86	Hakeem Olajuwon HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	537	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,912	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,912	1985–86
1986–87	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	622	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,257	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,257	1986–87
1987–88	James Worthy LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	506	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,595	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,595	1987–88
1988–89	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	591	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,762	5,762	1988–89
1989–90	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	587	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,681	1989–90
1990–91	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	529	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,852	1990–91
1991–92	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	759	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,897	Michael Jordan CHI	759	1991–92
1992–93	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	666	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,850	1992–93
1993–94	Hakeem Olajuwon HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	664	James Worthy LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,022	1993–94
1994–95	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	725	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,165	1994–95
1995–96	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	552	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,717	1995–96
1996–97	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	590	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,307	1996–97
1997–98	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	680	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,987	Michael Jordan CHI	5,987	1997–98
1998–99	Latrell SprewellNYK	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	407	Karl Malone UTA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	3,931	1998–99
1999–00	Shaquille O'Neal LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	707	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,203	1999–00
2000–01	Allen Iverson PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	723	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,341	2000–01
2001–02	Shaquille O'Neal LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	541	Michael Jordan CHI	5,987	2001–02
2002–03	Tim Duncan SAS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	593	2002–03
2003–04	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	539	Karl Malone LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,761	2003–04
2004–05	Tim Duncan SAS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	542	Shaquille O'Neal MIA 2004–07 PHX 2007–09 CLE 2009–10	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,546	2004–05
2005–06	Dwyane Wade MIA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	654	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	4,970	2005–06
2006–07	LeBron James^CLE	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	501	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,045	2006–07
2007–08	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	633	5,121	2007–08
2008–09	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	695	2008–09
2009–10	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	671	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,248	2009–10
2010–11	Dirk Nowitzki DAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	582	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	5,280	2010–11
2011–12	LeBron James^MIA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	697	5,640	2011–12
2012–13	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	596	2012–13
2013–14	Kevin Durant^OKC	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	563	2013–14
2014–15	LeBron James^CLE	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	601	2014–15
2015–16	Klay Thompson^GSW	582	align=center	2015–16
2016–17	LeBron James^CLE	591	LeBron James^ CLE 2016–18 LAL 2018–24	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	6,163	LeBron James^ CLE 2016–18 LAL 2018–24	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	6,163	2016–17
2017–18	748	align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2	6,911	align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2	6,911	2017–18
2018–19	Kawhi Leonard^TOR	732	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 leader	Pts	Active player leader	Pts	Career record	Pts	Single-season record	Pts	width=8%	Season

See also

• Basketball statistics
• NBA post-season records

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com enumeration of NBA career playoff leaders in points scored

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.