Many skilled scorers have gone on hot runs in the NBA, causing opposition coaches to shrug and shake their heads. A group of defenders had little choice but to pray that the following shot does not find its way into the hoop.

There are several honorable mentions for scorers. Averaging 30 points a game over the course of a season is incredible. Dropping 50 points in a single competition is absurd.

Those hot streaks may occasionally last until the buzzer goes off. Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant are recognized for their record-breaking streaks, but a lesser-known player may sometimes join the ranks of the all-time greats.

All-time leading scorer in NBA history

The number 38,387, on the other hand, continues to stand out. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has scored more points in a single career, putting him at the top of the all-time scoring list. Many NBA stars have tried unsuccessfully to dethrone the famous center. With 37,062 points in his career, LeBron James is now ranked second all-time in scoring.

The 37-year-old James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in both the regular season and the playoffs during the Los Angeles Lakers’ clash against the Golden State Warriors in February 2022. Between the regular season and the playoffs, LeBron amassed 44,152 points. In his successful NBA career, Kareem accumulated a total of 44,149 points.