NBA all-time leading scorers: Kevin Durant passes Oscar Robertson on full scoring list

Scott Rafferty

NBA all-time leading scorers: Kevin Durant passes Oscar Robertson on full scoring list image

LeBron James is now the NBA's all-time leading scorer, but he's not the only active player rewriting history.

With 26,707 career points, Suns star Kevin Durant currently ranks 13th on the NBA's scoring list after surpassing Oscar Robertson and inching closer to the top 10.

Durant needed just four points to pass Robertson, climbing to 13th all-time with a signature mid-range jumper in the first quarter of the Phoenix Suns' matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

Durant might even catch Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place soon. He currently trails the Rockets legend by just over 200 points with 19 games remaining in the 2022-23 season.

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Kevin Durant career high points

Durant's career-high is 55, which he set with the Nets on April 2, 2022 against the Hawks. That replaced his previous career high of 54, which he put up back in 2014 with the Thunder during his MVP season in 2013-14.

As of March 3, 2023, Durant has nine 50-point games.

Kevin Durant career scoring average

While Durant is not yet in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, he does rank fourth all-time in scoring average. He holds a slight edge over LeBron James and is within earshot of Elgin Baylor for third.

Given he's played over 400 fewer games than James, it's difficult to imagine Durant someday catching him on the all-time total points list. That said, the full seasons missed while recovering from his Achilles injury does leave quite a bit to the imagination about what might have been.

Top 5 Scoring Averages
Rank Player PPG
1. Michael Jordan 30.12
2. Wilt Chamberlain 30.07
3. Elgin Baylor 27.36
4. Kevin Durant 27.28
5. LeBron James 27.21

Who are the all-time leading scorers in NBA history?

LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer during the 2022-23 season. The only other active players currently in the top 25 are Carmelo Anthony (9th) and Kevin Durant (14th).

The No. 3 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Anthony has not played a game in the 2022-23 season, but the 10-time All-Star has not retired.

Durant earned the 13th All-Star selection of his career in 2022-23. While injuries have limited him once again, he continues to play at an All-NBA level in his mid-30s.

Top 25 scorers in NBA history
Rank Player Points
1. LeBron James 38,450
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
3. Karl Malone 36,928
4. Kobe Bryant 33,643
5. Michael Jordan 32,292
6. Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
7. Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
8. Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
9. Carmelo Anthony 28,289
10. Moses Malone 27,409
11. Elvin Hayes 27,313
12. Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946
13. Oscar Robertson 26,710
14. Kevin Durant 26,707
15. Dominique Wilkins 26,668
16. Tim Duncan 26,496
17. Paul Pierce 26,397
18. John Havlicek 26,395
19. Kevin Garnett 26,071
20. Vince Carter 25,728
21. Alex English 25,613
22. Reggie Miller 25,279
23. Jerry West 25,192
24. Patrick Ewing 24,815
25. Ray Allen 24,505

James Harden is the active player closest to entering the top 25, sitting 29 points away from passing Ray Allen.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.