Who Has The Most Points In Nba Playoff History?
Check out this list of the top scorers in NBA playoff history. See where your favorite player ranks and find out who has the most points in NBA playoff history!
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He was a dominant force in the NBA for many years, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan also holds the record for the most points in a playoff game, with 63 against the Boston Celtics in 1986.
Games played
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His biography on the NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick. He quickly emerged as a league star and entertained crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from atop a 6-foot-6-inch (1.98 m) chair that was set up for him, earned him nicknames such as “Air Jordan” and “Flying Mike”. Jordan won his first NBA championship with the Bulls in 1991, followed by titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a “three-peat”. Although temporarily retired before rescinding his decision and returning to play for Chicago in 1995, he followed up these titles by winning three consecutive championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as an additional title in 1999. He is one of only two players in NBA history to win eight consecutive championships; Bill Russell is also noted for achieving this milestone.
During his career with Chicago, Jordan relations were testy at times with management including Jerry Krause who general managed them to all six titles between 1985 until his firing after their final championship run together following their sixth title wining season together in 1998. These tensions continued throughout much of Jordan’s playing career culminating during 2000 when Krause finally managed to push him out after signing Phil Jackson to replace Jackson who had earlier retired following their sixth title together before returning to lead them to two more wins in 1996-1998. Krause’s firing of Jackson following their final title run together would subsequently lead to tension between himself and new team owner Jerry Reinsdorf eventually causing Krause’s resignation from his position as general manager shortly thereafter despite having signed a contract extension only months earlier which would have kept him under contract through at least 2001 while paying him $1 million per year while giving him full control over all aspects regarding personnel decisions for basketball operations during that time which never came into effect due to Krause resigning instead.
Field goals made
In his storied playoff career, Michael Jordan racked up some incredible numbers. He played in 179 postseason games and averaged 33.4 points per game, the most in NBA history. He also holds the record for most field goals made in the playoffs with 5,987. When it comes to three-pointers, Jordan is third all-time with 1,261 made. He also ranks first in steals ( 332), second in free throws made (2,188) and fifth in assists (1,022).
Free throws made
Most points in NBA playoff history
As of May 27, 2019, the most points scored in NBA playoff history is 5,987 by Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. He broke the record previously held by Michael Jordan on April 29, 2006. As of the end of the 2018–19 season, only two other players have scored more than 5,000 points in their playoff careers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762) and LeBron James (5,049).
The most points in a single playoff game is 63, set by Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003. The most points in a career Finals series is 733 by Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969. The most points scored by a rookie in a playoff game is 56 by Shaquille O’Neal of the Orlando Magic in 1993.
Three-pointers made
In the 1986-87 season, Jordan made history by becoming the first player ever to average more than 10 assists per game in a season, something that had only been done two other times in NBA history. He was also the only player in NBA history to ever average more than 30 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds per game in a season. That year, he set an NBA record by scoring 40 or more points in nine straight games.
LeBron James
LeBron James currently has the most points in NBA playoff history. He has played in 164 playoff games and has scored a total of 7,491 points. LeBron has averaged 26 points per game in his playoff career. He is currently 2,743 points ahead of second place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Games played
LeBron James has played a total of 218 games in his NBA playoff career. He has averaged 32.8 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game. His teams have gone 158-60 in those games, for a winning percentage of .725.
James has been to the NBA Finals nine times in his career, winning three times. He was named the NBA Finals MVP each time he won the championship.
Field goals made
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His accomplishments include three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. James has played in fifteen NBA seasons, and his teams have reached the NBA Finals twelve times.
During his career, James has made 10,049 field goals. This is the most in NBA history.
Free throws made
LeBron James has made the most free throws in NBA Playoff history. He has attempted 1,463 free throws and made 1,323 of them, for a percentage of 90.4.
Michael Jordan is in second place with 1,191 made free throws out of 1,463 attempts, for a percentage of 81.7.
Kobe Bryant is in third place with 1,183 made free throws out of 1,694 attempts, for a percentage of 69.9.
Three-pointers made
From 2006 to present, James is the NBA leader in made three-pointers in the playoffs with 385. In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, he set the record for threes made in a playoff game with nine. Ray Allen is second on the list with 360 made three-pointers, followed by Manu Ginóbili with 337.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points. He is also the all-time leading scorer in the playoffs with 5,762 points. Abdul-Jabbar played in 1,560 games in his 20-year career and averaged 24.6 points per game. He is a six-time NBA champion, a six-time NBA Finals MVP, and a 19-time NBA All-Star.
Games played
In his 20-year career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 1,560 games, the third most in NBA history. He played in 157 playoff games, the second most in NBA history. He is one of only six players to play in more than 100 NBA Finals games.
Field goals made
In his 20-year career, Abdul-Jabbar made a total of 15,837 field goals. This is the most in NBA history and 3,053 more than the next player on the list, Karl Malone. Abdul-Jabbar was also a very accurate shooter, finishing his career with a field goal percentage of .559.
Free throws made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made the most free throws in NBA playoff history. He made a total of 5,317 free throws in his career.
Three-pointers made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made the most three-pointers in NBA Playoff history with 528.
Magic Johnson
When it comes to the playoffs, Magic Johnson is a legend. He has the most points, assists, and steals in NBA playoff history. He also has the highest PER and Win Shares in NBA playoff history. In fact, he is the only player in NBA history to average a triple double in the playoffs.
Games played
Johnson played in 154 NBA playoff games throughout his career, the second-most in league history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Field goals made
In his very first NBA game, rookie sensation Magic Johnson tallied 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Portland Trail Blazers. The 42 points were a then-NBA record for points scored by a rookie in their debut game.He would go on to enjoy an illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships and three NBA Finals MVP awards. He is also the only player in NBA history to average at least 18 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds per game for his career.
Johnson’s prowess on the basketball court is typified by his performances in the playoffs. He holds the record for most field goals made in playoff history, with 1,387. He is also second only to LeBron James in career playoff scoring, with 5,itchickens48 points. In addition, he averaged an astounding 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game during his playoff career
Free throws made
Johnson made 17,411 free throws in his career, which is the fifth most in NBA history. He also holds the record for the most free throws made in an NBA Finals game, with 28 in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.
Three-pointers made
In the playoffs, Magic Johnson made 581 three-pointers, which is the most in NBA history. He made more than 200 three-pointers in both the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, and he made at least 100 three-pointers in each of his final seven seasons.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Games played
Kobe played a total of 236 playoff games in his career.
Field goals made
Kobe made 8,378 field goals in his career, which is the fourth most in NBA history.
Free throws made
Kobe Bryant, who announced his retirement from the NBA on Sunday after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, is the league’s all-time leading scorer in playoff history.
The 18-time All-Star and five-time champion amassed 5,640 points in 221 postseason games, which is nearly 200 more than Michael Jordan (5,987), the next closest player on the list.
Bryant’s most prolific scoring output came in the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers when he averaged 28.6 points en route to his first championship. He also averaged 27.0 points per game during L.A.’s three-peat from 2000 to 2002.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Bryant also holds the record for most free throws made in playoff history. He went to the line a total of 1,320 times and converted 1,155 of them (88 percent).
Three-pointers made
In his career, Kobe Bryant made 1,283 three-pointers in the playoffs. That is the most in NBA history.
Kobe had a great shooting touch, and was especially deadly from beyond the arc. In his 20 NBA seasons (all with the Lakers), he averaged 33.8 points per game in the playoffs. That is the third highest playoff scoring average in NBA history, behind only Michael Jordan (33.4) and LeBron James (28.2).
In addition to his scoring prowess, Kobe was also a great passer and rebounder. He averaged 5.2 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game in the playoffs, and is one of only four players in NBA history with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 500 rebounds in the postseason (the others are Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Larry Bird).
