The Leading Scorers For Every NBA Team: Kobe, Jordan And LeBron Lead Their Franchises

At least over the past two decades, we have been seeing unbelievable scoring performances from some of the league's best players. The NBA's paradigm shift in recent years has encouraged free-flowing to a point where offense has been a positive for the league's best scorers because they can get buckets without worrying too much about defensive resistance. Luckily for fans of defensive schemes, new rules this season has changed the way defenses prepare for the better.

But when looking at every NBA franchise, there is a standout offensive player who ranks first all-time in total points scored. We have collected the points leader for every NBA franchise based on total points to get an indication on which star has the most legendary status as an offensive player. While some names will be expected, there might be some surprises for some NBA franchises.

Atlanta Hawks - Dominique Wilkins 23,292 Points

2nd place: Bob Pettit 20,880 Points

Whenever you think of the Atlanta Hawks, you think of Dominique Wilkins. That alone is something very rare in the NBA, where players constantly move around and rarely have an impact on a franchise the way Dominique did. Wilkins was a sensational scorer and athlete who was arguably the most exciting player in the league during his playing time. Second is Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, who is considered one of the most dominant bigs ever.

Boston Celtics - John Havlicek 26,395 Points

2nd place: Paul Pierce 24,021 Points

A13-time All-Star and a Finals MVP winner, Havlicek’s scoring ability was truly exceptional as he is one of the best to ever wear the Boston Celtics uniform. A whopping 8 NBA titles and one Finals MVP places him in elite lore, but his offensive game was his greatest skill. Second is 2008 Finals MVP Paul Pierce, one of the game’s best mid-range scorers to ever grace the NBA.

Brooklyn Nets - Brook Lopez 10,444 Points

2nd place: Buck Williams 10,440 Points

It may seem surprising to see Brook Lopez on the list as the greatest scorer for the Nets franchise, but the center was a very effective low-post scorer in his prime. While he is reduced to a three-point spacer at this stage of his career, Lopez was a legitimate 20 PPG scorer per season. Second is Buck Williams, a 6’8” power forward who averaged a career 16.4 PPG with the New Jersey Nets.

Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker 12,009 Points

2nd place: Dell Curry - 9,839 Points

Quite simply one of the greatest offensive players to ever play for the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker was an electric guard. He had supreme handles, an accurate three-point shot, and a willingness to create his own shot at any time. He has 2,000 points over Dell Curry in most points, as the father of Stephen Curry was one of the most accurate shooters ever (40.2% 3-PT FG).

Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan - 29,277 Points

2nd place: Scottie Pippen 15,123 Points

Who else would appear as the greatest scorer for the Chicago Bulls franchise? Ranked as the 5th all-time scorer in NBA history in total points, Jordan won an amazing 10 scoring titles with the Bulls. Blessed with skill and athleticism, we have not seen a more dominant perimeter player than the 6-time NBA champion. Second is unsurprisingly Scottie Pippen, Jordan’s long-term sidekick that completed 12 seasons in Chicago.

Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron James 23,119 Points

2nd place: Zydrunas Ilgauskas 10,616 Points

LeBron James is the greatest athlete in the history of Cleveland sports, and the man who did the unthinkable by delivering the franchise an NBA championship. The King is mainly considered as a pass-first player, but still managed to score over 23k points for the Cavaliers and has a chance to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest scorer of all time. Second is LeBron’s former teammate, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a 2-time All-Star who spent 12 seasons with the Cleveland franchise.

Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki 31,560 Points

2nd place: Rolando Blackman 16,643 Points

Just like LeBron with Cleveland or Michael Jordan with Chicago, the player that comes to mind when thinking of the Dallas Mavericks is Dirk Nowitzki. The unstoppable German delivered the elusive NBA title to Dallas in 2011 and is regarded as one of the top-5 power forwards ever. Armed with his one-legged fadeaway, Dirk accumulated over 31k points in an efficient manner. He is also one of the greatest shooters ever, nailing 38.0% of his threes over his career. Second is Rolando Blackman, a 4-time All-Star who held averages of 19.2 PPG with the Mavericks.

Denver Nuggets - Alex English 21,645 Points

2nd place: Dan Issel 16,589 Points

No, Carmelo Anthony is not the greatest scorer in Denver Nuggets history. That honor goes to Alex English, a Hall of Fame superstar who played for the Nuggets between 1980 and 1990. Averaging 25.9 PPG over those years, English might be the most iconic player to ever play for the Nuggets. Second is Dan Issel, a 6’9” center who averaged 20.7 PPG for the Nuggets franchise. Carmelo Anthony is actually third with “only” 13,970 total points, a far cry from Issel and the great Alex English.

Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas 18,822 Points

2nd place: Joe Dumars 16,401 Points

It is only fitting that Hall of Fame backcourt Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars are the two greatest scorers in Detroit Pistons history. Thomas and Dumars won 2 NBA titles together, with each guard sharing Finals MVP honors. Thomas is ahead of Dumars in total points because he was a slightly better offensive player who made a living by attacking the rack and shooting from mid-range. Dumars was also an exceptional scorer, and the two-way star averaged 16.1 PPG over his career with the Pistons.

Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry 19,321 Points

2nd place: Wilt Chamberlain 17,783 Points

The greatest 3-point shooter ever, Stephen Curry has plenty of time to continue building his lead from legendary center Wilt Chamberlain as the greatest Warriors scorer ever. The point guard did not have the physical dominance that Wilt brought for 6 seasons, but he was certainly more skilled with creating offense and shooting. Steph is already one of the greatest point guards ever, and he did it his way. Wilt is second with over 17k points during the first 6 seasons of his career and had seasons that included 50.4 PPG, 44.8 PPG, and 38.4 PPG, which was something that no one will ever repeat.

Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon 26,511 Points

2nd place: James Harden 18,365 Points

No player captured the hearts of Rockets fans like Hakeem Olajuwon, a 2-time NBA champion and 2-time Finals MVP that dominated the league with Michael Jordan retired. “The Dream” had it all on the offensive end, from low-post skills to a mid-range jumper. There is no doubt that Olajuwon is a top-5 center ever and that will never change. Second is former Rocket James Harden, a shooting guard who put up 30.4 PPG, 36.1 PPG, and 34.3 PPG in 3 straight seasons that resulted in 3 scoring titles for The Beard.

Indiana Pacers - Reggie Miller 25,279 Points

2nd place: Rik Smits 12,871 Points

It is hard to think of any other player than Reggie Miller when analyzing Indiana Pacers’ history. An all-time great clutch shooter with an automatic three-point shot, Reggie leads all players in points scored for the Pacers. Reggie holds averages of 18.2 PPG on 39.5% shooting from deep, playing his entire career in Indiana. Rik Smits, a 7’4” beast from the Netherlands, also played his entire career for the Pacers and averaged 14.8 PPG.

Los Angeles Clippers - Randy Smith 12,735 Points

2nd place: Blake Griffin 10,863 Points

A 2-time All-Star with the Buffalo Braves, Randy Smith averaged 17.6 PPG over 7 seasons with the Braves and 2 seasons with the San Diego Clippers. The 6’3” guard never had a three-point shot, but he was effective at creating his own shot and had 4 seasons averaging over 20 PPG. During the 70s, Smith was truly the go-to source for the Braves and Clippers franchise. In second place comes Blake Griffin, one of the most iconic dunkers ever. Griffin got his career off to a bang and sits comfortably behind smith as the second-greatest Clippers scorer ever.

Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant 33,643 Points

2nd place: Jerry West 25,192 Points

Kobe Bryant is the greatest scorer for the Los Angeles Laker and it isn’t very close. The Black Mamba averaged 25.0 PPG over his career with the Purple and Gold and did it in the most spectacular way. Bryant could create his own shot with ease and had a ton of counter-moves to stun defenders and get buckets. Other than Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant might be the most unstoppable perimeter player ever. Second is the NBA's logo, Jerry West. West was a prolific scorer and shooter, and averaged 27.0 PPG over his entire career with the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies - Mike Conley 11,733 Points

2nd place: Marc Gasol 11,684 Points

The Memphis Grizzlies franchise never had the amount of superstar offensive talents that other franchises had, but they had a great team when Mike Conley and Marc Gasol teamed up in Memphis. The steady point guard only averaged at least 20 PPG twice with the Grizzlies, but he was incredibly consistent as a shooter with an effective teardrop at the rim. Second is Marc Gasol, a powerhouse center who was mainly known for his defense. But Marc could score in the paint using his size and skill, and he had his best season in 2017 with the Grizzlies by averaging a career-high 19.5 PPG.

Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade 21,556 Points

2nd place: Alonzo Mourning 9,459 Points

Mr. Miami Heat himself, Dwyane Wade is the most unstoppable offensive player who played for the Heat franchise. Wade could slash to the basket with ease, while also creating his own shots from mid-range. Known as Flash early on in his career, Wade was consistent as a scorer throughout his career with Miami. He has over 11k more points than the second-place Alonzo Mourning, a center who was a dominant defensive player who could also score in the paint. Wade is easily a top-5 shooting guard ever, and his scoring was the reason why.

Milwaukee Bucks - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14,211 Points

2nd place: Giannis Antetokounmpo 13,086 Points

The legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played the first 6 seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning an NBA title and making 6 All-Star Teams along with capturing 3 MVPs. Known as Lou Alcindor, the center was unstoppable on offense as he put up 30.4 PPG over his career with the Bucks. Of course, Kareem would go on to win more titles with the Lakers after his 6 seasons with Milwaukee. In second comes Giannis Antetokounmpo, the man who will soon be the all-time leader in points scored for the Bucks. The 2-time MVP will likely end his career as the greatest Bucks player ever if he continues winning titles, and that would be amazing to see.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett 19,201 Points

2nd place: Karl-Anthony Towns 10,086 Points

For the Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett is their greatest player ever. The Big Ticket is mainly known for his defense and intense competitiveness because hardly any player in history compares to him in those aspects. With his finesse offensive style, KG is the all-time leader in points scored by a wide margin. Karl-Anthony Towns comes in at second with a great three-point shot and post-game, although he tends to focus on the former in his play.

New Orleans Pelicans - Anthony Davis 11,059 Points

2nd place: David West 8,690 Points

Anthony Davis is currently on the Los Angeles Lakers, but he had his best individual years with the New Orleans Pelicans. Drafted No. 1 overall and winning Rookie of the Year, Davis was destined for greatness as a talent. He has guard-like skills at 6’10”, a solid jumper, and efficiency across the board. That is why Davis scored over 11k points in 7 seasons with New Orleans before forcing his way out. David West comes in second place, a mid-range shooting power forward who made 2 All-Star Teams with the New Orleans Hornets.

New York Knicks - Patrick Ewing 23,665 Points

2nd place: Walt Frazier 14,617 Points

One of the most impactful centers of his era, Patrick Ewing averaged 22.8 PPG in 15 seasons with the New York Knicks. The center had a tremendous post-game and did not mind getting physical, which is why the 11-time All-Star was such a dominant star during his time. Scoring over 23k points is a tremendous feat, but Ewing was able to do that through his play. He has over 9k points more than Walt Frazier, a 2-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer who played his best years with the Knicks.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Russell Westbrook 18,859 Points

2nd place: Gary Payton 18,207 Points

No surprise to see 2-time scoring champion hold the #1 spot because Russell Westbrook was one of the most unstoppable guards during his stint with Oklahoma City. With and even without Kevin Durant, Westbrook was an all-time great scorer for the franchise. Russ had averages of 31.6 PPG and 28.1 PPG to win 2 scoring titles with the Thunder and completed 11 seasons with the franchise. Kevin Durant won 4 scoring titles with the Thunder but did not usurp Gary Payton in second place with the SuperSonics. The Glove completed 13 seasons to Durant’s 9, which explains why the point guard accumulated over 18k points.

Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard 11,435 Points

2nd place: Nick Anderson 10,650 Points

For the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard had a legendary career. The 3-time Defensive Player of the Year winner was a solid scorer, even if he never possessed a go-to move in the post. As a rim-runner, offensive rebounder, and lob target; Howard was incredibly effective on offense. That is why the All-Star center averaged 18.4 PPG over 8 seasons with the Magic. Nick Anderson completed 10 seasons with Orlando, putting up 15.4 PPG during that span as a shooter (36.3% 3-PT FG) who normally had a very short memory in terms of missed shots.

Philadelphia 76ers - Hal Greer 21,586 Points

2nd place: Allen Iverson 19,931 Points

Allen Iverson is not the greatest scorer in 76ers history, that honor goes to Hall of Famer Hal Greer. Greer amassed over 21,000 points in his career and ended up with a 19.2 PPG average over 15 seasons with the franchise. Based on his incredible longevity and consistency as an offensive threat, Greer is unsurprisingly a name appearing as the best scorer in Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers history. Iverson does come in second because he scored over 19k points and created some of the greatest memories for Philadelphia fans.

Phoenix Suns - Walter Davis 15,666 Points

2nd place: Alvan Adams 13,910 Points

For the Phoenix Suns, neither Charles Barkley nor Steve Nash appears on the top-2 in scoring. The best scorer in Suns history goes to Walter Davis, a 6-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year winner who started off his career with a bang. The 6’6” shooting guard averaged 24.2 PPG and 23.6 PPG to start his career, solid numbers for a young player. Second place goes to Alvan Adams, an All-Star caliber big man who completed 13 seasons with the franchise. Adams averaged 14.1 PPG over his career, but he started out his career with 2 seasons averaging 19.0 PPG and 18.0 PPG.

Portland Trail Blazers - Clyde Drexler 18,040 Points

2nd place: Damian Lillard 17,460 Points

Legendary shooting guard Clyde Drexler completed 12 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, making 8 All-Star Teams and solidifying himself as a top-50 player ever. If not for Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler is probably recognized as the most dominant off-guard in the game during his era. With his classy demeanor and incredible offensive game, Drexler won’t be the greatest Trail Blazers scorer for too long. Damian Lillard is closing in on Drexler’s scoring record for the franchise and should pass him up by the end of this season.

Sacramento Kings - Oscar Robertson 22,009 Points

2nd place: Jack Twyman 15,840 Points

The Kings had some all-time great offensive players, but the best was easily Oscar Robertson (with the Cincinnati Royals). The triple-double threat was a special talent which is why some people place him as one of the top 15 players ever. Robertson had 6 seasons averaging over 30 PPG, and another 4 seasons averaging over 24 PPG. Using a mix of skill, athleticism, and grace; The Big O was a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Second is Jack Twyman, a 6’6” small forward who averaged 19.2 PPG with the Rochester Royals and Cincinnati Royals.

San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan 26,496 Points

2nd place: George Gervin 23,602 Points

Any surprises that Tim Duncan is number one? The greatest power forward ever has accumulated over 26k points over his legendary career, and he did it by averaging over 20 PPG 9 times in his career. Playing his entire career with San Antonio, Tim Duncan captured 5 NBA titles and 3 Finals MVPs while using his patented jumper off the backboard and low-post game to destroy defenses. 4-time scoring champion and Hall of Fame forward George Gervin scored over 23k points with the Spurs as well, ripping defenses for 12 seasons with the Spurs.

Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan 13,296 Points

2nd place: Kyle Lowry 10,540 Points

DeMar DeRozan is one of the best scorers in Raptors history, but he goes underrated because he never quite made it to the Finals with the team. But looking at his scoring record, DeMar was truly fantastic offensively. He averaged 19.7 PPG over 9 seasons with the franchise, averaging over 20 PPG 5 times. His best season came in 2017 when he dropped 27.3 PPG. Meanwhile, his best friend Kyle Lowry accumulated over 10,000 points with the Raptors with his best individual season coming in 2017 when he put up 22.4 PPG.

Utah Jazz - Karl Malone 36,374 Points

2nd place: John Stockton 19,711 Points

The 2nd greatest scorer ever in total points, Karl Malone sits comfortably in first place. Current star Donovan Mitchell is a great scorer, but he will likely never come close to The Mailman as an offensive player. Karl Malone was so great, that he is regarded as a top-15 player ever because of his scoring ability. The man who gave him the ball on almost every occasion was John Stockton, the all-time leader in assists. Known as a pass-first player, Stockton’s goal was to feed Stockton but still accumulated over 19k points with the Utah Jazz.

Washington Wizards - Elvin Hayes 15,551 Points

2nd place: Bradley Beal 13,955 Points

Elvin Hayes is one of the greatest big men ever and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer was dominant with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets. Hayes averaged 21.3 PPG with the Bullets, and he chipped in over 12 RPG as well. As great as Hayes was, current Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal has a chance to become #1 in due time. Beal almost has 14k points and could pass up Hayes as long as he remains a Washington player for the rest of the calendar year. 

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