LeBron James owns the scoring record
LeBron James became the NBA’s career scoring leader in February 2023, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During the 2025 to 2026 season, his 23rd NBA campaign, he continued extending that record with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On February 12, 2026, James became the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double. At age 41, he finished with 28 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds against Dallas in Los Angeles.
Michael Jordan owns 10 scoring titles
Michael Jordan won six NBA championships with Chicago and earned Finals MVP after every title. He also collected five regular-season MVP awards and remains the NBA record holder with 10 career scoring titles.
Jordan finished his career averaging 30.1 points per game, still the highest mark in NBA history. Chicago won three consecutive championships from 1991 through 1993, then repeated that achievement from 1996 through 1998.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six MVP awards
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and six regular-season MVP awards, the most in league history. He scored 38,387 career points before LeBron James passed that total in February 2023.
Abdul-Jabbar captured his first title with Milwaukee in 1971, then added five more with the Los Angeles Lakers. His Finals MVP honors came during that championship run and again in 1985, 14 years later.
Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships
Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships during 13 seasons with Boston, the most titles by any player. His Celtics also captured eight consecutive crowns from 1959 through 1966, another league record.
Russell won five regular-season MVP awards and averaged 22.5 rebounds across 963 games. His impact centered on defense, rebounding, and team success rather than the high-scoring totals recorded by several contemporaries.
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points
Wilt Chamberlain still owns the NBA single-game scoring record after producing 100 points on March 2, 1962. He added 25 rebounds while playing all 48 minutes in Philadelphia’s 169-147 victory over New York.
Chamberlain averaged a record 50.4 points per game during the 1961 to 1962 season. His résumé included four MVP awards, two NBA championships, seven scoring titles, and the league’s highest career rebounding average.
Magic Johnson combined size and passing
Magic Johnson spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five championships. The 6-foot-9 point guard also collected three regular-season MVP awards plus three Finals MVP trophies during 13 professional seasons.
Johnson helped define the Lakers’ fast-paced 1980s teams while combining unusual size with elite passing. He finished his playing days averaging 11.2 assists per game, the highest qualified career mark recognized by the NBA.
Larry Bird won three straight MVP awards
Larry Bird won three consecutive regular-season MVP awards from 1984 through 1986, a rare achievement in league history. The Boston forward also led the Celtics to championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986 during his career.
Bird earned two Finals MVP awards and made 12 All-Star teams during his 13-season career. His 1985 MVP campaign included averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game for Boston.
Tim Duncan delivered five Spurs titles
Tim Duncan spent 19 seasons with San Antonio and reached the playoffs every year of his career. He won five championships, three Finals MVP awards, and two regular-season MVP trophies with the Spurs.
Duncan became the only player to start for NBA championship teams in three different decades. His titles came in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, giving San Antonio sustained success across 15 years.
Shaquille O’Neal won three straight Finals MVPs
Shaquille O’Neal won four NBA championships, including three consecutive titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 through 2002. He earned Finals MVP in each series during that championship run.
O’Neal added his fourth championship with Miami in 2006. Across 216 career playoff games, he averaged 24.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while appearing in the postseason for six franchises.
Kobe Bryant scored 81 in one game
Kobe Bryant spent all 20 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five championships. He earned one regular-season MVP award, two Finals MVP trophies, and 18 consecutive All-Star selections from 1998 through 2016.
Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto on January 22, 2006, the second-highest individual total in NBA history. He finished his career with 33,643 points, placing him among the league’s leading all-time scorers.
Fun fact: Michael Jordan once wore No. 12 instead of 23 after his jersey went missing, then casually scored 49 points against Orlando.
Stephen Curry reached 4,000 three-pointers
Stephen Curry became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers on March 13, 2025. He had already passed Ray Allen’s previous career record at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2021.
Curry became the league’s first unanimous regular-season MVP in 2016 after making a record 402 three-pointers. He remains the NBA career leader from long range, extending the mark he first claimed in 2021.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 in Game 6
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals. Milwaukee beat Phoenix 105-98, securing its first league championship in 50 years before a home crowd.
Antetokounmpo earned Finals MVP for that series after winning regular-season MVP awards in 2019 and 2020. His Game 6 performance included 16 made field goals and 17 successful free throws during Milwaukee’s title-clinching victory.
Caitlin Clark continues adjusting to the physical demands of the WNBA, but why does Shaquille O’Neal believe she must become tougher? Dive into his reasoning and what he thinks Clark needs to change.
Kevin Durant owns four scoring titles
Kevin Durant has won four NBA scoring titles, the most among active players as of 2026. He captured three consecutive crowns from 2010 through 2012, then added his fourth in 2014.
Durant won NBA championships and Finals MVP awards with Golden State in 2017 and 2018. Through 19 seasons, he has averaged 27.1 points per game while shooting above 50% from the field.
Angel Reese has never avoided evaluating her own game, but what did the Chicago Sky star say after her latest performance? Dive into her blunt self-review and the numbers behind it.
Which NBA great stands above the rest when scoring records, championships, MVP awards, and career longevity are all considered? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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