Every NBA Team’s Active Player Who Is Highest On Their Franchise Scoring List

With the offensive explosion in the NBA over the last few years, several scoring records are seeing new players take ownership at an exponential rate. We have already seen more 50, 60, and 70-point games in the 2020s than we have in previous decades while the all-time three-point and all-time scoring record have both fallen in the last few seasons. There are also several players within reach of their respective franchise’s scoring record, an achievement in itself in this era of player movement and uncertainty. 

Today, we dive into the history of every NBA team to see which active players can catch the ghosts of the past, those who already have, and those who will likely fall short.

Atlanta Hawks – Trae Young (9th)

1. Dominique Wilkins – 23,292 Points

2. Bob Pettit – 20,880 Points

3. Lou Hudson – 16,049 Points

9. Trae Young – 10,334 Points

Kicking things off for the Atlanta Hawks is 2023-24 All-Star Trae Young who is ninth in team history with 10,334 points. Young, in his sixth season this year, reached the top 10 in Hawks scoring in just 404 career games averaging 25.6 points per game for his career. If it weren’t for surgery on his finger this season, Young would have likely moved into the top six past Joe Johnson by the end.

Young has the chance to break Dominique Wilkins’ franchise record down the road in his career given the rate at which he has scored in his first six seasons. However, rumors continue to swirl about Young’s future with the team with trade talks likely to heat up this summer. If Young indeed misses the rest of the season with his finger injury, it could mean the end of Youngs’ run in Atlanta.

Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum (13th)

1. John Havlicek – 26,395 Points

2. Paul Pierce – 24,021 Points

3. Larry Bird – 21,791 Points

13. Jayson Tatum – 11,568 Points

Representing the Boston Celtics as the current player with the most points in franchise history is Jayson Tatum. Over the last six-plus seasons, Tatum has poured in 11,568 points, placing him 13th in franchise history. If he continues to average 1,700 points per season, Tatum would be able to catch John Havlicek in eight more seasons give or take a season or two. As Boston’s franchise cornerstone in 2023-24, Tatum is likely to remain with the Celtics for a long time, making his assault on their scoring record an interesting watch over the next decade.

It should also be noted that Tatum’s teammate Jaylen Brown is 16th in franchise history with 9,816 points.

Brooklyn Nets – Brook Lopez (1st)

1. Brook Lopez – 10,444 Points

2. Buck Williams – 10,440 Points

3. Vince Carter – 8,834 Points

After becoming the Brooklyn Nets’ 10th overall pick in 2008, Brook Lopez would go on to pass Buck Williams as the team’s all-time leading scorer in a nine-season stint with the team through 2017. Lopez helped the Nets transition from New Jersey to Brooklyn, becoming an All-Star in 2013 and averaging 18.6 points per game during his time there. Lopez amassed 10,444 points with seven different 1,000-point seasons with the team.

Charlotte Hornets – Terry Rozier (5th)

1. Kemba Walker – 12,009 Points

2. Dell Curry – 9,839 Points

3. Gerald Wallace – 7,437 Points

5. Terry Rozier – 5,974 Points

After a solid four-year run in Boston to begin his career from 2016 through 2019, Terry Rozier was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that returned Kemba Walker to Boston. Over the next four-plus seasons, Rozier would crack the top-five in Hornets career scoring with 5,974 points and a scoring average of 20.0 points per game. He recorded at least 1,000 points in all four full seasons he spent in Charlotte but was dealt to the Miami Heat this past January, ending his pursuit of Kemba Walker’s franchise scoring record.

Chicago Bulls – Zach LaVine – (8th)

1. Michael Jordan – 29,277 Points

2. Scottie Pippen – 15,123 Points

3. Bob Love – 12,623 Points

8. Zach LaVine – 9,049 Points

Zach LaVine is yet another current superstar to reside in the top 10 for scoring with their current team. Unfortunately for him, it looks as if he has played his last game for the franchise with another injury taking him out for the season, and reports that the Bulls will once again try to trade him this summer. LaVine has scored 9,049 points in seven seasons with the Bulls, averaging 24.2 points per game on 47.1% shooting.

In all honesty, he was never going to catch Michael Jordan’s record of 29,277 points. Now, it will be left up to DeMar DeRozan, who is going on 35 years old, as the next active Bulls player to chase the GOAT but even his future in the city is uncertain as is the total time he has left on the court.

Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James (1st)

1. LeBron James – 23,119 Points

2. Zydrunas Ilgauskas – 10,616 Points

3. Brad Daugherty – 10,389 Points

As far as the current state of things, the Cleveland Cavaliers scoring record held by LeBron James is as safe as it gets. In his 11 total seasons with the Cavaliers, James totaled 23,119 points while averaging 27.2 points per game, the highest scoring average of any of the three stops he has made in his career. Along with the NBA championship and Finals MVP he delivered in 2016, James was also a two-time MVP and 10-time All-Star in Cleveland, producing 57.6% of his 40,114 career points in their uniform. 

Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic (6th)

1. Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560 Points

2. Rolando Blackman – 16,643 Points

3. Mark Aguirre – 13,390 Points

6. Luka Doncic – 11,091 Points

While there is still a long way to go for Luka Doncic to catch Dirk Nowitzki in total points, the Dallas Mavericks point guard is well on his way to making it happen. In just six-plus seasons, Doncic has already poured in 11,091 points, good for sixth in team history. At 28.6 points per game, Doncic will no doubt move into the top three within two years.

Nowitzki was able to build up such a record thanks to 20 seasons with the franchise on his way to becoming their GOAT. If Doncic continues to trust and believe in the way things are going in Dallas, he will eventually shatter Nowitzki’s record.

Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic – (4th)

1. Alex English – 21,645

2. Dan Issel – 14,659 Points

3. Carmelo Anthony – 13,970 Points

4. Nikola Jokic – 13,746 Points

Currently, there may be no other current player closer to taking their franchise’s all-time scoring lead than Nikola Jokic with the Denver Nuggets. Aside from being a playmaking machine, Jokic has also been a consistent scorer over the last four seasons and is likely to add to his two MVP awards, NBA title, and Finals MVP award.

As it stands, Jokic is just 7,899 points behind Alex English for the top spot. Jokic will likely pass Carmelo Anthony for third by the end of 2023-24 and Dan Issel for second by the end of 2024-25. At the rate he is scoring over the last four years, Jokic should be able to surpass English by the 2028-29 season.

Detroit Pistons – Andre Drummond (11th)

1. Isiah Thomas – 18,822 Points

2. Joe Dumars – 16,401 Points

3. Bob Lanier – 15,488 Points

11. Andre Drummond – 8,531 Points

Former Detroit Pistons and current Chicago Bulls big man Andre Drummond is the highest-scoring active player in Pistons history with 8,531 points. Drummond played seven and a half seasons in Detroit from 2013 through 2020 where he was a two-time All-Star and four-time league rebounding champ. In his time with the Pistons, Drummond recorded 8,531 points and 14.4 points per game with six straight 1,000-point seasons from 2014 through 2020. 

As it stands, there is no current player for the Pistons who ranks inside the top 50 in franchise history in scoring. 

Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry – (1st)

1. Stephen Curry – 23,302 Points

2. Wilt Chamberlain – 17,783 Points

3. Rick Barry 16,447 Points

With the Golden State Warriors, we meet our first active player who is already their franchise’s all-time leading scorer. By changing the game with his efficient and voluminous three-point shooting, Stephen Curry passed Wilt Chamberlain for the franchise record back during the 2021-22 season in which Curry would lead the Warriors to their fourth NBA title since 2015.

As he continues to add to his Warriors scoring record, the closest active player to catching Curry is fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson who is sixth in team history with 15,205 points. Likely, it will be Thompson who leaves town first, making Curry’s record almost untouchable for now.

Houston Rockets – James Harden (2nd)

1. Hakeem Olajuwon – 26,511 Points

2. James Harden – 18,365 Points

3. Calvin Murphy – 17,949 Points

Any NBA fan from the 2010s will tell you that James Harden’s run with the Houston Rockets was special. With his patented step-back three-pointers and Eurostep, Harden helped usher in a new era of the NBA as one of the best players of the entire decade. 

In eight and a half seasons with the Rockets, Harden would record a total of 18,365 points averaging 29.6 points per game. He won three consecutive scoring titles from 2018 through 2019 which included an MVP award in 2018 and a 36.1 points per game season in 2019. Although he feel short of Hakeem Olajuwon’s franchise scoring record, James Harden’s torrid pace in Houston will be remembered forever.

Indiana Pacers – Paul George (8th)

1. Reggie Miller – 25,279 Points

2. Rik Smits – 12,871 Points

3. Jermaine O’Neal – 9,580 Points

8. Paul George – 8,090 Points

When it comes to active NBA stars, Paul George narrowly remains the greatest scorer in Pacers history with 8,090 points. George spent the first seven seasons of his career in Indiana where he averaged 18.1 points per game and was a four-time All-Star. George made his way up the Pacers’ all-time scoring list with four different 1,000-point seasons and three 1,500-point seasons. 

George may not hold onto this title for long though. Longtime Pacers center Myles Turner chasing down George’s spot, just 399 points away with 7,691.

Los Angeles Clippers – Chris Paul (6th)

1. Randy Smith – 12,735 Points

2. Blake Griffin – 10,863 Points

3. Bob McAdoo – 9,434 Points

6. Chris Paul – 7,674 Points

Randy Smith’s franchise record of 12,735 points has stood since 1978 with Blake Griffin being the only other Clippers player to ever record at least 10,000 points in their uniform as well. When it comes to active player though, Chris Paul reigns in sixth place with 7,674 points. Paul spent six seasons in Los Angeles where he averaged 18.8 points per game with two assists titles and three steals titles.

Paul would go on to crack the top 10 in Clippers scoring with 1,000-point seasons every year he spent in their uniform.

Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James (13th)

1. Kobe Bryant – 33,643 Points

2. Jerry West – 25,192 Points

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 24,176 Points

13. LeBron James – 9,076 Points

LeBron James has been no stranger to breaking elite scoring records while wearing a Lakers uniform. In 2022-23, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring record and just two weeks ago, became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 points. With that being said, one record he will not be catching is Kobe Bryant’s 21-year output of 33,643 Points in a Lakers uniform. While James has defied everything Mother Nature and Father Time have thrown at him, not even he has the longevity to accomplish that feat.

Memphis Grizzlies – Mike Conley (1st)

1. Mike Conley – 11,733 Points

2. Marc Gasol – 11,684 Points

3. Zach Randolph – 9,261 Points

Mike Conley’s franchise record of 11,733 points is one of the few that will likely fall anytime in the near future. Conley played 12 seasons with Memphis from 2008 through 2019, totaling 11,733 points on 14.9 points per game. Conley’s march to becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer came with six seasons of 1,000 points or more.

In 2023-24, Conley is still serving an impactful role as the starting point guard of the 45-21 Minnesota Timberwolves. He is averaging 10.7 points and 6.1 assists per game on 44.5% shooting.

Miami Heat – LeBron James (4th)

1. Dwyane Wade – 21,556 Points

2. Alonzo Mourning – 9,459 Points

3. Glen Rice – 9,248 Points

4. LeBron James – 7,919 Points

When it comes to the Miami Heat, they have only had one player reach 10,000 points in their uniform which is Dwyane Wade’s record of 21,556 points. As for current stars, it should be no surprise that LeBron James finds himself in the top five, even if he spent just four seasons in South Beach. James finished with 7,919 points and 26.9 points per game in Miami, leading them to four NBA Finals appearances and two NBA championships in the process as well.

Current Heat center Bam Adebayo is closing in on James’ spot on the team’s all-time scoring list, currently in fifth with 7,236 points.

Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo (1st)

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 18,252 Points

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 14,211 Points

3. Khris Middleton – 12,104 Points

The Milwaukee Bucks present the first time that two current teammates happen to be in the top three in scoring for the franchise. Giannis Antetokounmpo has put plenty of space between him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a Bucks jersey after passing him in 2022-23. Antetokounmpo is still the only player in Bucks history with more than 15,000 points and will likely join the 20K club in 2024-25.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns (2nd)

1. Kevin Garnett – 19,201 Points

2. Karl-Anthony Towns – 13,100 Points

3. Andrew Wiggins – 8,710 Points

The race for the scoring crown in Minnesota Timberwolves history will be an interesting one to watch over the next few seasons. In the last nine seasons, Karl-Anthony Towns has made his way into second with 13,100 points, putting him 6,101 points behind leader Kevin Garnett. With injuries piling up the last two seasons and trade rumors also being floated, it could shape up that Towns misses out on Garnett’s record by the end of his career. It could also be that Towns stays with Minnesota his entire career which is rare these days but still possible. If that is the case, look for Towns to pass Garnett in the next five seasons.

New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis (1st)

1. Anthony Davis – 11,059 Points

2. David West – 8,690 Points

3. Chris Paul – 7,936 Points

Current Los Angeles lakers star center Anthony Davis is also the New Orleans Pelicans’ all-time leader in scoring. As a matter of fact, five of the six top scorers in franchise history are still playing in 2023-24 including three players currently on their roster. As for Davis, his record of 11,059 points was accomplished from 2013 through 2019 as he averaged 23.7 points per game and recorded four 1,500-point seasons and two 2,000-point seasons. 

Current Pelicans teammates Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson hold the fifth and sixth spots in team history with 6,557 and 4,181 points, respectively.

New York Knicks – Julius Randle (17th)

1. Patrick Ewing – 23,665 Points

2. Walt Frazier – 14,617 Points

3. Willis Reed – 12,183 Points

17. Julius Randle – 7,445 Points

With the Knicks organization since 2019-20, power forward Julius Randle has had an up-and-down tenure that has seen him earn three All-Star selections and a Most Improved Player award in 2021. Randle has made his way into the top 20 in scoring in franchise history with 7,445 points while averaging 22.6 points per game.

While Randle has almost no chance of catching Patrick Ewing’s 23,665 points, the only things stopping Randle from getting into the top 10 and beyond are his health and the Knicks’ eagerness to move on from him down the line.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook (1st)

1. Russell Westbrook – 18,859 Points

2. Gary Payton – 18,207 Points

3. Kevin Durant – 17,566 Points

While his role in 2023-24 looks nothing like his peak days in Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook still remains the greatest scorer in franchise history. The former MVP’s record stands at 18,859 points accumulated between 2009 and 2019 with the Thunder organization. Westbrook is a former MVP and two-time scoring champ with Oklahoma City, recording eight different 1,500-point seasons and two 2,000-point seasons out of 11 spent with the team that drafted him.

Orlando Magic – Nikola Vucevic (3rd)

1. Dwight Howard – 11,435 Points

2. Nick Anderson – 10,650 Points

3. Nikola Vucevic – 10,423 Points

In the history of the Orlando Magic, only three players have reached the 10,000-point mark. One of those players is current Bulls center Nikola Vucevic who spent nine seasons in Orlando from 2013 through 2021. Vucevic’s 10,423 points are third in Magic history which he achieved with a 17.6 points per game scoring average and seven different 1,000-point seasons. Vucevic was traded from the Magic to the Bulls in 2021 where he has been since, scoring 4,390 points in 242 games.

Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid (7th)

1. Hal Greer – 21,586 Points

2. Allen Iverson – 19,931 Points

3. Dolph Schayes – 18,438 Points

7. Joel Embiid – 11,919 Points

For Joel Embiid to take his rightful spot among the five most voluminous scorers in 76ers history, it will come down to one thing, health. After two straight seasons with over 65 games played and 2,000 points scored, yet another knee injury robbed Joel Embiid of what was going to be a second straight MVP season and third straight scoring title. This cut into his pursuit of the 76ers’ franchise scoring record significantly.

Embiid will soon be 30 years old coming off a meniscus tear heading into the offseason in 2024. With 9,667 points left to catch Hal Greer, concerns about his health or even the possibility of a rebuild down the line that includes trading the star, raise serious doubt as to whether Embiid can get to the top of the 76ers’ scoring list.

Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker (2nd)

1. Walter Davis – 15,666 Points

2. Devin Booker – 14,115 Points

3. Alvan Adams – 13,910 Points

For Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, it is not a matter of if he will break the franchise’s all-time scoring record, but when. As it stands, Booker is just 1,551 points behind Walter Davis for the top spot. With limited time left in 2023-24, at best, he can cut the deficit to 1,200 points by the end of the season if he maintains his scoring average. Barring any major setbacks, Devin Booker will become the third active player to lead their respective team in all-time scoring in 2024-25.

Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard (1st)

1. Damian Lillard – 19,376 Points

2. Clyde Drexler – 18,040 Points

3. LaMarcus Aldridge – 12,562 Points

Although his time with Portland came to a somewhat ugly end this past summer, Damian Lillard will always be a beloved figure in franchise history. Over the course of 11 memorable seasons, Lillard became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 19,376 points, knocking down 2,387 three-pointers and breaking the backs of many opponents who got in his way. Lillard’s franchise scoring record is why many would consider him the Trail Blazers’ franchise GOAT. 

Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox (7th)

1. Oscar Robertson – 22,009 Points

2. Jack Twyman – 15,840 Points

3. Mitch Richmond – 12,070 Points

7. De’Aaron Fox – 9,511 Points

Oscar Robertson’s 22,009-point franchise record is a bit out of reach for current star De’Aaron Fox right now given the 12,519-point difference in scoring. With Fox’s continued production of 1,300 to 1,800 points per season, it is something that could come into focus within the next several seasons.

Though that is true, Fox will likely pass DeMarcus Cousins and Sam Lacey by the start of next season to move into the top five in scoring in Kings history. From there, it will be a long milestone watch on his march toward Robertson’s record.

San Antonio Spurs – Kawhi Leonard (10th)

1. Tim Duncan – 26,496 Points

2. David Robinson – 20,790 Points

3. George Gervin – 19,383 Points

10. Kawhi Leonard – 6,654 Points

When it comes to active current or former Spurs in the NBA, none are held in higher regard in franchise history than Kawhi Leonard. Spending the first seven seasons of his career in San Antonio, Leonard was molded by Gregg Popovich into a champion, Finals MVP, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Leonard would also climb his way into 10th in team history in scoring with 6,654 total points and three 1,000-point seasons. 

Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan (1st)

1. DeMar DeRozan – 13,296 Points

2. Kyle Lowry – 10,540 Points

3. Chris Bosh – 10,275 Points

The Toronto Raptors are a rare franchise on this list to have their top-two leading scorers in franchise history still in the league today. Comfortably atop that list is current Bulls star DeMar DeRozan who is on his second stop after being dealt away from Toronto in 2018. In the nine seasons he did spend in Toronto, DeRozan was a four-time All-Star who averaged 19.7 points per game on 44.8% shooting. He would record eight 1,000-point seasons, four 1,500-point seasons, and one 2,000-point season during his time North of the Border.

Utah Jazz – Donovan Mitchell (8th)

1. Karl Malone – 36,374 Points

2. John Stockton – 19,711 Points

3. Adrian Dantley – 13,635 Points

8. Donovan Mitchell – 8,234 Points

Let’s be honest about something. Karl Malone’s 36,374 points in a Utah Jazz uniform is a franchise scoring record we may never see fall in our lifetimes. Of any player in recent memory, All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell got the closest with just 8,234 points in five seasons from 2018 through 2022. Mitchell’s23.9 points per game led us to believe he was on track to chase Malone’s record down but a 2022 deal to the Cavaliers put a halt to that. In five seasons in Utah, Mitchell recorded four 1,500-point seasons and was a three-time All-Star.

Washington Wizards – Bradley Beal (2nd)

1. Elvin Hayes – 15,551 Points

2. Bradley Beal – 15,391 Points

3. Jeff Malone – 11,083 Points

The Washington Wizards’ all-time scoring record is easily the most interesting one in the NBA today. It is that way due to how close Bradley Beal is to breaking it even though he is no longer playing in D.C. Beal played the first 11 seasons of his career in Washington, where he scored 15,391 points, just 160 points away from Elvin Hayes’ record. He achieved this with seven 1,000-point seasons, four 1,500-point seasons, and one 2,000-point season.

It will be interesting to see if Beal lands back with the Wizards toward the end of his career and can muster up the 161 points he needs to become their franchise scoring king.