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The 2024 NBA Playoffs are about to arrive, with the first round slated to begin April 20. The playoffs are known for bringing out the best or worst in NBA players, as the stakes are higher than usual, and every team is competing for victory.
The postseason provides a platform for rewriting longstanding records and for players to etch their names in history.
One of the most intriguing facets of the playoffs is its leading scorers. Let's look at the five players who have scored the most points in playoff history.
Top 5 NBA Playoff Scorers All Time
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#5 Shaquille O’Neal
Legendary big man Shaquille O'Neal ranks fifth in all-time playoff scoring with 5,250 points over 216 games.
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His 19-year career included 17 playoff appearances, notably with the LA Lakers and Miami Heat. O'Neal scored 3383 points for the Lakers and 751 points for the Heat in the playoffs. He won the NBA Finals MVP three times from 2000 to 2002.
#4 Kobe Bryant
A list about the playoffs wouldn't be complete without the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant, who remains one of the most thrilling performers in NBA playoff history.
Bryant's legacy is immortalized in his impressive fourth-place ranking on the all-time playoff points list, with 5,640 points scored over 220 playoff games. He secured five NBA titles during his tenure with the LA Lakers, winning the Finals MVP award twice.
#3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accumulated 5,762 points over 237 playoff appearances. His career also boasted six championships, and he held the title of the NBA's all-time leading scorer until LeBron James surpassed him.
#2 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was the NBA’s leading playoff scorer until his record was broken in 2017. Despite playing just 179 playoff games, Jordan piled up an impressive 5,987 points. That’s 33.4 points per game in the NBA Playoffs in his career.
He's remembered for many clutch performances in the playoffs, including shots that clinched championships. In 35 games in the NBA finals, Jordan averaged 33.6 points per game.
#1 LeBron James
LeBron James has displayed remarkable longevity, holding the NBA record for the most playoff games played with 282 and the most playoff points scored with 8,023. Throughout his playoff career, James has averaged 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
He's poised to extend this record as his Lakers face off against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
